Conway forms a conspiracy against Washington. 1778. France acknowledges the independence of the United States and agrees to help her cause with money, ships, and men (February 6).

Baron Steuben helps Washington to discipline his army (May).

England offers to make peace by repealing her op-
pressive laws (June).

The British, hearing of the French alliance, leave
Philadelphia for New York (June 18).

The Americans under Washington pursue the British
under Clinton and attack them at Monmouth Court-
house (June 28).

Washington encamps at White Plains, Clinton at New
York.

The Tories and Iroquois, under Butler and Brandt,
massacre the inhabitants of the Wyoming Valley
(July 3).

'A French fleet under D'Estaing arrives in America (July 29).

The Tories and Iroquois under Johnson and Brandt massacre inhabitants of Cherry Valley (November). The British under General Prevost capture Savannah from the Americans under Lincoln (December 29). Paul Jones, as captain of the Ranger, incessantly harasses British vessels.

1779. The Americans under General Wayne recapture Stony Point from the British (July 15).

The Americans under Lighthorse Harry Lee capture
Paulus Hook.

The Americans under Sullivan completely overthrow
the combined forces of Johnson, Butler, and Brandt
at the present site of Elmira, New York (July).
George Rogers Clark finally captures Vincennes and
thus wins the Northwest for the United States.

Paul Jones captures the British frigates Serapis and Scarborough off coast of Flamborough (September 23). The Americans under Lincoln, and the French under D'Estaing, attempting to recapture Savannah, are repulsed by the British. The brave Pulaski is killed (October 9).

1780. The Americans under Lincoln surrender at Charleston to the British under Clinton (May 12).

The first French army arrives at Newport, Rhode
Island (July 10).

The Americans under Gates are defeated by the Brit-
ish under Cornwallis at Camden (August 16),
Arnold betrays his country and makes good his es-
cape to the British army (September),

Major André is executed as a spy (October 2).

The western pioneers under Sevier and other militia. captains defeat the British under Ferguson at King's Mountain (October 7).

Greene is put in command of the Southern army (December 2).

Patriot bands harass the British army in the South. 1781. A part of Washington's army revolts, but is persuaded to return to duty.

The Americans under Morgan defeat the British under Tarleton at Cowpens (January 17).

Greene retreats before Cornwallis (January and February).

The Articles of Confederation are ratified by Maryland, the thirteenth and last State to take this action, and the Continental Congress becomes the Congress of the Confederation (March 1).

The Americans under Greene are defeated by the British at Guilford Court House. The British, badly crippled, retreat to Wilmington (March 15).

The French and American armies watch New York
(June and July).

A French fleet arrives in Chesapeake Bay (Aug. 30).
The Americans under Greene are defeated by the
British under Rawdon at Eutaw Springs. The Caro-
linas and Georgia are practically recovered from
British rule (September 8).

The combined American and French land and water
forces begin the siege of Yorktown (September 28).
The British under Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown,
Virginia (October 19).

1782. The British evacuate Savannah (July).

1783. Peace is signed with England by the United States, France, and Spain, at Paris (September 3).

1786.

The American army is disbanded (November 3).
The British evacuate New York (November 25).
The British evacuate Charleston (December 14).
Washington resigns his command to Congress (De-
cember 23).

1784-1789

Shays' Rebellion occurs in Massachusetts.

1787. The Constitution of the United States is adopted by the Convention (September 17).

Congress passes the "Ordinance of 1787."

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists, our first two political parties, are formed.

1788. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, publish the "Federalist" in defense of the Constitution.

1789. The Congress of the Confederation, having accepted the Constitution, decides that it should go into effect March 4, 1789.

PERIOD OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE

STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR

CHAPTER XVI

T

CONDITIONS OF THE NEW NATION

321. Extent and Significance. The period of the development of the States to the Civil War extends from the adoption of the Constitution in 1789 to the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861. The principal events included in this period are the great accessions of territory to the original United States, the increase of the number of states from thirteen to thirtyfour, and the rapid progress of the country in population, wealth, and industrial achievements. Having seen how the Constitution was framed and adopted, we are now to learn how the new government was put into operation under this Constitution. 322. Area-Extent-Population. Before studying the next epoch of our history, let us dwell briefly on the general social conditions of the young nation about to begin its career under the new Constitution. We cannot expect to recount any immediate progress after the hardships and confusion of the war. The people stood still, as it were, in the face of the overwhelming recollections of the past and the political disturbances of the present. This condition, however, was soon to give way to an outburst of great national activity.

The United States in 1783 included an area of about eight hundred thousand square miles and was bounded on the north by the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence; on the east, by the Atlantic; and on the south and west, by Spanish territory. These boundaries were in dispute at points east and west of the Great Lakes.