These features have been adopted with a double aim in view. In the first place, it is believed that they will render the volume more useful and attractive to students employing it in connection with the Problems. In the second place, it is hoped that these features will encourage the use of the volume independently of the editor's text. The editor believes that these selections may profitably be used not only by classes studying the problems of American democracy as such, but by classes in civics, government, economics, and sociology. Further, it is hoped that the book may find some favor with the general reader who seeks representative material upon a field of increasing importance, namely, the great national problems confronting the American people. The procedure usual in preparing volumes of this kind has been followed. Points indicate omissions, and brackets the insertion of editorial material. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, each selection is intended to be an exact reproduction of the original. Wherever feasible, however, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation have been modernized, and where a slight grammatical error threatened to confuse or divert the attention of the student, there has been no hesitancy in correcting the defect. No attempt has been made, on the other hand, to tamper with the style of the selections. While assuming responsibility for the defects of the book, the editor asks the indulgence of the reader on two grounds: First, because the great scope of the subject has rendered extremely difficult the selection of material which will adequately represent the historical, economic, social, and political phases of our national problems; and second, because in attempting this task the editor is breaking new ground, venturing into a field until now avoided by educators. The thanks of the editor are due to the authors from whose writings the selections have been taken, and to the publishers who have kindly permitted the use of copyrighted material. February 19, 1922 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS THAMES ROSS WILLIAMSON ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks are due to the following publishers and periodicals for permission to reprint extracts from copyrighted material: To Longmans, Green & Co. for Nos. 31, 58, 200, and 225; to the Macmillan Company for Nos. 37, 54, 59, 60, 154, 195, 199, 228, 229, and 230; to the Quarterly Journal of Economics for Nos. 40, 42, and 184; to the Johns Hopkins Press for No. 44; to Ginn & Company for Nos. 50 and 57; to Silver, Burdett & Co. for No. 51; to Henry Holt & Co. for Nos. 52 and 56; to Princeton University Press for Nos. 66, 185, and 186; to the National Industrial Conference Board for Nos. 68 and 105; to the American Journal of Sociology for Nos. 69 and 139; to the Coöperative League of America for Nos. 70 and 71; to Charles H. Kerr & Co. for No. 74; to Thomas Y. Crowell Co. for Nos. 91, 95, and 96; to Charles Scribner's Sons for Nos. 92, 226, and 227; to the American Statistical Association for No. 93; to the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science for Nos. 102, 118, and 120; to the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America for No. 107; to the Carnegie Foundation for No. 122; to the Arbor Press for No. 129; to Columbia University Press for Nos. 133 and 193; to the Pilgrim Press for No. 138; to the American Economic Review for No. 147; to B. W. Huebsch, Inc. for No. 144; to the National Civic Federation for No. 145; to the National Tax Association for Nos. 151, 187, and 188; to the National Citizens' League for No. 182; to the American Law Review for No. 196; to the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York for Nos. 197, 198, and 216; to G. P. Putnam's Sons for No. 205; to the National Municipal Review for Nos. 206, 217, 219, 223, and 224; to the American Political Science Association for No. 211; and to the following authors: to Dr. Frederick Starr for No. 39; and to Dr. T. N. Carver for No. 97. CONTENTS 1. Christopher Columbus discovers America... From Christopher Columbus, Journal. 2. Captain John Smith on conditions at Jamestown From Captain John Smith, Works. 3. The Pilgrims resolve to leave Holland. PAGE CHAPTER II - THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 7. King John is forced to sign the Magna Charta.... 8. The Pilgrims agree to establish a pure democracy. 9. Representative government in America From the Ordinance for Virginia. 10. A republic established in the Connecticut wilderness From the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. II. Virginia asserts the principles of just government. From the Virginia Bill of Rights. 14. The union of all of the colonies is proposed.... From the Albany Plan of Union. 15. The states enter a league of friendship. From the Articles of Confederation. 16. Washington outlines the needs of the country. From George Washington, Circular Letter addressed to the 17. Hamilton summarizes the defects of the Confederation..... From Alexander Hamilton, Works. 18. Franklin calls for the ratification of the Constitution...... From Jonathan Elliot, Debates on the Adoption of the Federal CHAPTER IV-ESSENTIALS OF AMERICAN 19. Individual rights under the Federal Constitution. From the Constitution of the United States. 20. States' rights under the Federal Constitution.. From the Constitution of the United States. 21. The powers of the Federal government. . . . From the Constitution of the United States. 22. The extent of Federal powers. 24. Significance of the judiciary in American government.... From Andrew Jackson, Second Inaugural Address. 27. Lincoln on the spirit of lawlessness. From the Sangamon (Ill.), Journal. 28. Roosevelt on the problems of American life... From Theodore Roosevelt, Second Inaugural Address. 29. Wilson on the dangers of the World War period... From Woodrow Wilson, Second Inaugural Address. 30. Harding on the issues of the Twentieth Century.. From Warren G. Harding, Address to Ohio Society of New York. 70 |