PREFATORY NOTE. THIS work follows the same general lines as the author's "Leading Facts of American History." It differs, however, from the more elementary manual in many important respects. It is much fuller in its treatment of political and constitutional history, and of the chief events bearing on the development of the nation. It quotes the statements of public men, original documents, and authorities, in order that the history of our country may speak for itself on the points of greatest interest to the student and the teacher. As a help to further research, note numbers have been inserted throughout the book referring to upwards of two thousand works of acknowledged merit cited in the Appendix. The author is particularly indebted to the Trustees and the Librarian of the Boston Athenæum for the privilege of making use of the admirable collection of books under their charge. CONTENTS. SECTION I. The Discovery and Naming of America, 1492 to 1521. II. Attempts at Exploring and Colonizing America (the Country, the Natives, Effects of the Discovery of America on Europe), III. Permanent English and French Settlements (the Thirteen Col- V. The Union, National Development (Presidents from Washing- 1. The Declaration of Independence (with an Introduction). 2. The Constitution (with an Introduction and Notes). 7. Period of the Revolution - New England (colored) FACING PAGE 4 18 20 26 42 130 174 182 188 190 10. Period of the Revolution Middle Colonies (colored) 11. Burgoyne's Expedition; Washington's Movement against York town; Yorktown 12. Period of the Revolution Southern Colonies (colored) 13. The United States at the Close of the Revolution (colored) 14. The Northwest Territory (colored) . 15. The United States in 1792 (colored) 16. Indian Land Cessions in Ohio 19. The Mexican War . . 20. The Area of Freedom and of Slavery 21. The Civil War (colored) 22. The Defences of Washington . '350 1384 412 414 28. The United States at the Present Time (colored) 516 29. The United States and Dependent Territories (colored). LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 13. Secession Bulletin . 1. Medallion of Washington and Lincoln . 2. Extract from the "Body of Liberties" of 1641 6. Signatures to the Declaration of Independence. 7. Signatures to the Treaty of Peace of 1783 . Frontispiece FACING PAGE 8. Abstract of Constitutional Decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States, 1790-1835; with portrait of Chief Justice Marshall 9. Key's "The Star Spangled Banner" 10. A Railway Time-Table of 1843 11. Morse's Letter respecting the First Telegram 12. Letter of John Brown 70 152 166 184 186 212 244 272 318 344 390 14. Letter of Secretary Dix on the Flag 15. Grant's "Unconditional Surrender" Despatch 16. Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation 394 396 418 cially Iron and Steel, with Imports and Exports. 21. Diagram and Statistics showing Increase of Manufactures, espe 476 526 |