It

executive government from the people, and vesting the appointment of the important officers in the crown. was also enacted, that a person indicted for a capital offence, committed in aiding the magistrates, might be sent to Great Britain for trial.

95. In the same year, General Gage, the British commander-in-chief, and governor of Massachusetts, arrived in Boston to enforce the Bostonians into a compliance with the oppressive acts of parliament. In this crisis, the other colonies made common cause with Massachusetts. Deputies from most of the colonies met in congress at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Congress published a declaration of rights, protesting against the right of Great Britain to tax the colonies, or to interfere in their internal policy; with a statement of grievances, declaring the late acts of parliament to be violations of the rights of the colonists.

96. They next proceeded to interrupt all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, pledging themselves not to import or use British goods, till the acts complained of should be repealed. Addresses, petitions and remonstrances were resorted to, but all to no effect. Instead of changing its policy, the British government imposed additional restrictions upon the trade of the colonies. Preparations now began to be made for resistance. Gunpowder was manufactured, the militia was trained, and military stores were collected.

97. In April, 1775, a detachment of troops was sent to destroy the military stores collected at Concord. At Lexington, the militia were collected to oppose the incursion of the British forces. They were fired upon by the British troops, and eight men were killed. After having proceeded to Concord, and destroyed a few military stores, the troops returned, and were pursued by the Americans to Boston. Here was spilled the first blood

were passed in 1774? 95, 96. What measure was taken to enforce a compliance with these acts? What course was pursued by the colonies in this crisis? Did the British government change its policy? 97. When and where did the first engagement take place?

in the war which severed the American colonies from Great Britain.

98. In May, 1775, a second congress met from all the states, and immediately determined to organize an army; and Washington was appointed, June 15, commander-inchief of the colonial forces. Congress authorized the emission of two millions of dollars in bills of credit, for the redemption of which the colonies were pledged; and an appointment was made of the quota to be paid by each colony of the bills emitted. A general post office was established, and rules were framed for the government of the army. Congress also published a solemn declaration of the causes of taking up arms, an address to the king, entreating a change of measures, and an address to the people of Great Britain, requesting their aid, and admonishing them of the threatening evils of a separation.

99. At the next meeting of the same congress, rules were adopted for the regulation of the navy; a further emission of bills was authorized; and a treasury department was established. A general system of measures for resistance was now adopted throughout the colonies. General Washington had been at Cambridge at the head of an army, whose term of service expired with the year, 1775, without ammunition, and but imperfectly supplied with arms.

100. By the beginning of March, 1776, 14,000 regular troops had been enlisted, and the British were obliged to evacuate Boston, March 13. On the 10th of June, a committee was appointed by congress to prepare a declaration, "that these colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." On the 11th of June, a committee was appointed to prepare the form of a confederation between the colonies. On the 2d day of July, congress adopted the resolution of independence; and on the 4th of July, they adopted the Declaration of Independence.

98. When did the second congress meet? What measures did congress adopt at this meeting? 99. What was done by this congress at its next meeting? What was the state of the army at the close of the year 1775? 100. What occurred in March 1776?

CHAPTER III.

Sketch of the War-Adoption of the Articles of Confederation-Peace-State of the Country.

arms.

101. THE American revolution may properly be said to have been complete on the adoption of the Declaration of Independence; but it still remained to be defended by The military operations which closed the year, were, the defeat of the Americans on Long Island, August 27; the capture of New York by the British forces under lord Howe, September 15; the battle of White Plains, October 28; and the battle of Trenton, December 26, in which general Washington gained a victory over the British army, capturing a large body of Hessians who were cantoned at Trenton; and soon after, January 3, 1777, the battle of Trenton, in which he gained another decisive victory over the British troops.

102. The campaign of 1777 was more favorable than that of the preceding year. Philadelphia had been taken by the British, September 27, and the Americans had been defeated on the Brandywine, September 11; also at Germantown, October 4; but the northern army were to a considerable degree successful. General Burgoyne, who commanded the British northern army, had taken possession of Ticonderoga; but, while pushing his successes southward, his progress was arrested at Saratoga, by the militia which had assembled there from various parts of New England for that purpose. These, with the regular troops, formed a respectable army, and were commanded by general Gates. After two severe actions, Burgoyne, finding himself enclosed with brave troops, surrendered to the Americans his entire army of seven

What memorable event took place in July of this year? 101. What military operations closed the year 1776? 102. What was the campaign of 1777, compared with that of the preceding year? What noted achievment was effected by the northern army in

Thus was cut

thousand men, on the 17th of October. off the communication which had been attempted to be kept up between New York and Canada.

103. When the intelligence of this reached Europe, the French government entered into treaties of amity and commerce with the United States, thus recognizing their existence as an independent nation. When the British ministry were informed that this treaty was on foot, they despatched commissioners to America to effect a reconciliation. But their offers were not accepted.

104. In the spring, a French fleet arrived, having on board about 5000 French troops, which had been sent to assist America. In June, the British army left Philadelphia, with the intention of concentrating their forces at New York. While on their march, they were attacked by general Washington at Monmouth, on the 28th of June, and repulsed with great loss.

105. Congress had hitherto consisted of delegates from thirteen independent states, with little more authority than that of advising the states to adopt certain measures. Money could not be raised without the consent of the states; which were held together by force of circumstances, congress having no power to enforce obedience. But during the heat of the revolutionary contest, men were little disposed to discuss or scrutinize such subjects; and the people confided in the wisdom of congress, and yielded to their authority.

106. But in order to give stability to the union, and to define more precisely the nature of the federal compact, and the powers of congress, the articles of confederation were agreed on by congress, November 15, 1777, and submitted to the state legislatures for ratification. The articles bear date July 6, 1778: they were ratified the same year by all the states except Delaware and Mary

October of this year? 103. What was done by the governments of France and Great Britain, on hearing of this event? 104. What assistance did America receive from France in the spring? What battle was fought in June! 105. In what respects was the authority of congress found deficient? 106. For what purposes, and when,

land; by the former, in 1779, and by the latter, the first of March, 1781; being nearly five years after the first action on the subject by congress. By these articles, the exclusive control of our foreign relations, the right to declare war and make peace, and the right to make requisitions of men and money, were confided to congress.

107. But the confederation was in many respects defective. It did not possess the power to carry its own constitutional measures into effect; for like all mere confederations, the decrees of the federal government operated on the states in their independent capacity, and not upon individual citizens. But perhaps the greatest defect was the want of power to provide for defraying the expenses of the government. Congress had power to ascertain the sums necessary to be raised for the service of the United States;" and to apportion the quota to each state: but as the power was reserved to the states to lay the taxes, and prescribe the time and manner of payment; it depended upon the good will of each of the legislatures of the thirteen independent states whether, any measure of defence could be carried into operation. And, when danger from abroad was past, this confederacy was found to be incompetent to govern the country.

108. In the same year Georgia was invaded, and Savannah, its capital was taken, by the British; and in the year following, (1779,) the south became the principal theatre of war. Depredations to a great extent were committed on the coasts, and a partisan warfare was carried on in the interior; but with no decisive results. In 1780, May 12, Charleston was taken by the British; and on the 19th of October, 1781, the contest was ended by the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, to the combined American and French forces under Washington and Rochambeau.

were the articles of confederation adopted? When were they ratified? What powers did they confer upon congress? 107. In what respects were they defective? 108. When was Georgia invaded, and Savannah taken? What was the character of the war in 1779? What occurred in 1780, and 1781? 109. When was