TO THE SCHOOL EDITION OF THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. In offering the following History to the public, a few remarks appear necessary, kt order to point out those particulars in which it is believed to possess peculiar merits Of the adaptation of the style to the object intended, and of the moral and general in Auence of the work, the public alone must be the judges. Those who would compare its historical accuracy with other histories on the same subject, are referred to a Criti cal Review of American Histories, by the same author, first published in the Biblical Repository for July, 1845; which may give some idea of the labor and care bestowed upon the compilation of the following work. We would, however, here inform the reader that a uniformity in the system of dates has been preserved, the dates being given throughout in New Style. See this important subject examined in the before mentioned Review. It will be observed that the marginal dates and references in the following work are numerous; carrying along a minute chronology with the history. This plan avoida the necessity of encumbering the text with dates, and at the same time furnishes, to the inquiring reader, a history far more minute and circumstantial than could otherwise be embraced in a volume much larger than the present. The more prominent features in the PLAN of the work, in which it differs from any other History, are, the Arrangement of the Questions in the margin, and the introduction of numerous Maps, Charts, and Geographical Notes. The QUESTIONs are arranged in the margin, each opposite that portion of the text to which it refers, and numbered to correspond with similar divisions of the text. In point of convenience and utility, it is believed that this plan of arrangement is far more desirable than that hitherto adopted, of placing the questions at the bottoms of the pages, or at the end of the volume. Moreover, the questions are designedly so constructed as to require from the pupil a knowledge of the whole text.-The supposed utility of the CHART, (pages 10 and 11,) may be learned from the description of the same on page 9. The progressive series of the three LARGE MAPS, on pages 46, 284, and 375, show the state of the country at different periods. The First represents the country as occupied by the Indian Tribes, fifty years after the settlement of Jamestown, when only a few bright spots of civilization relieved the darkness of the picture. The Second, as it was at the close of the Revolution, when almost the entire region west of the Alleghanies was a wilderness,-showing how slowly settlements had advanced during the long period that the colonies were under the dominion of Great Britain. The Third represents the country as it now is, and as it has become under the influence of republican institutions. In place of the recent wilderness, we observe a confederacy of many states, each with its numerous cities, towns, and villages, denoting the existence of a great and happy people. The GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTES, and SMALL MAPS, at the bottoms of the pages, give the localities of all important places mentioned, and furnish that kind of geographical information respecting them, without which the history can be read with little interest or profit. Maps of important sections of the Union, the vicinities of our large towns, plans of battle grounds and sieges, &c., are here given on the same pages with the events referring to them, where they necessarily catch the eye of the pupil, so that they can hardly fail to arrest his attention, and increase the interest that he feels in the history. On the whole, it is believed that the plan here adopted, considered apart from whatever other merits the work may possess, affords unusual facilities for the acquisition of historical knowledge. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. PART I. VOYAGES AND DISCOVERIES. XTENDING FROM THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, BY COLUMBUS, IN Of what does Perti treat? CHAPTER I. EARLY SPANISH VOYAGES, CONQUESTS, AND DISCOVERIES, DIVISIONS. Ofrohat does Chapter I. treat? What are I. Discovery of America by Columbus.-II. Juan Ponce de Leon in Florida.-III. De Ayllon in Carolina.-IV Con- the Divisions quest of Mexico.-V. Pamphilo de Narvaez.-VI. Ferdinand de Soto. The I. DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY COLUMBUS.-1. discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, may be regarded as the most important event that has ever resulted from individual genius and enterprise. Although other claims to the honor of discovering the Western hemisphere have been advanced, and with some appearance of probability, yet no clear historic evidence exists in their favor. It has been asserted that an Iceland* bark, in the early part of the eleventh century, having been driven southwest from Greenland of Chapter I.? * GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES.-1. Iceland is an island in the Northern Ocean, remarkable for its boiling springs (the Geysers), and its flaming volcano, Mount Hecla It was discovered by a Norwegian pirate, in the year 861, and was soon after settled by the Norwegians; but it is supposed that the English and the Irish had previously made settlements there, which were abandoned before the time of the Norwegian discovery. † Greenland is an extensive tract of barren country, in the northern frozen regions; separated from the western continent by Baffin's Bay and Davis's Strait. It was discovered by the Norwegians thirty years after the discovery of Iceland, and a thriving colony was planted there; but from 1406 until after the discovery by Columbus all correspondence with Greenland was cut off, and all knowledge of the country seemed to be buried in oblivion. 1492. by adverse winds, touched upon the coast of Lab rador;*-that subsequent voyages were made; and that colonies were established in Nova Scotia,† or in Newfoundland.‡ a. 1001. 1. What is said of the claims of The 2. But even if it be admitted that such a discov superior ery was made, it does not in the least detract from merit of the the honor so universally ascribed to Columbus. Columbus? Icelandic discovery, if real, resulted from chance,—was not even known to Europe,-was thought of little im portance, and was soon forgotten; and the curtain of darkness again fell between the Old world and the New. The discovery by Columbus, on the contrary, was the result of a theory matured by long reflection and experience; opposed to the learning and the bigotry of the age; and brought to a successful demonstration, after years of toil against opposing difficulties and discouragements. 2. What was 'ong the pre respecting the discov ery by CoJumbus? b 3. The nature of the great discovery, however, valent error was long unknown; and it remained for subsequent adventurers to dispel the prevalent error, that the voy age of Columbus had only opened a new route to the wealthy, but then scarcely known regions of Eastern Asia. During several years, the discoveries of Columbus were confined to the islands of the West Indies;§ and it was not until August, 1498, six years after his first that he discovered the main land, near the voyage, c. Aug. 10th. mouth of the Orinoco;|| and he was then ignorant that it was any thing more than an island. the extent of eries? b. 1492 to 1198. 4. What is said of the C 4. The principal islands of the West Indies,W. Indies? Cuba, St. Domingo,** and Porto Rico,†† were soon Labrador, or New Britain, is that part of the American coast between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Hudson's Bay; a bleak and barren country, little known, and inhab ited chiefly by Indians. † Nova Scotia is a large peninsula, southeast from New Brunswick, separated fro it by the Bay of Fundy, and connected with it by a narrow isthmus only nine miles across. Newfoundland is a hilly and mountainous island on the east side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; nearly a thousand miles in circumference, deriving all its importance from its extensive fisheries. The West Indies consist of a large number of islands between North and Sonth America, the most important of which are Cuba, St. Domingo, Jamaica, and Porto Rico. The Orinoco is a river on the northeast coast of South America. Cuba, one of the richest islands in the world, is the largest of the West Indies, be ing 760 miles in length from southeast to northwest, and about 50 miles in breadth Its northern coast is 150 miles south from Florida. ** St. Domingo, or Hayti, formerly called Hispaniola, is a large island, lying between Cuba and Porto Rico, and about equally distant from each. tt Porto Rico is a fertile island of the West Indies, 60 miles southeast from St. Do Bingo. It is 140 miles long from east to west, and 36 broad. 1506. tan, and of ony on the colonized, and subjected to Spanish authority. 'In 1506 the eastern coast of Yucatan* was discovered; and in 1510 the first colony on the continent was planted on 1. of Yuca the Isthmus of Darien.† Soon after, Vasco Nunez the first col de Balboa, governor of the colony, crossed the Isthmus, Continent? and from a mountain on the other side of the Continent discovered an Ocean, which being seen in a Discovery of southerly direction, at first received the name of the the Pacific? South Sea. 2. Of the a. 1513. the tradition tain of Life? II. JUAN PONCE DE LEON IN FLORIDA.-1. In 1512 3. What is said of De Juan Ponce de Leon, an aged veteran, and former gov- Leon? ernor of Porto Rico, fitted out three ships, at his own expense, for a voyage of discovery. A tradition prevailed. What eas among the natives of Porto Rico, that in a neighboring of the Foun island of the Bahamas‡ was a fountain which possessed the remarkable properties of restoring the youth, and of perpetuating the life of any one who should bathe in its stream, and drink of its waters. Nor was this fabu- 5. By whom lous tale credited by the uninstructed natives only. It was generally believed in Spain, and even by men distinguished for virtue and intelligence. was it credited? 6. Give an thediscovery account of of Florida? 2. In quest of this fountain of youth Ponce de Leon sailed from Porto Rico in March, 1512; and, after cruising some time among the Bahamas, discovered an unknown country, to which, from the abun- b. dance of flowers that adorned the forests, and from its being first seen on Easter Sunday, (which the Spaniards call Pascua Florida,) he gave the name of Florida. March 13. c. April 6. 7. What was the extent of De Leon's 3. After landingd some miles north of where St. discoveries? Augustine now stands, and taking formal possession d. April 18. * Yucatan, one of the States of Mexico, is an extensive peninsula, 150 miles 8 W from Cuba, and lying between the Bays of Honduras and Campeachy. The Isthmus of Darren is that narrow neck of land which connects North and South America. It is about 300 miles in length, and, in the narrowest part, is only about 80 miles across. The Bahamas are an extensive group of islands lying east and southeast from Florida. They have been estimated at about 600 in number, most of them mere cliffs and rocks, only 14 of them being of any considerable size. Easter day, a church festival observed in commemoration of our Savior's resur reckon, is the Sunday following the first full moon that happens after the 20th of March. Florida, the most southern portion of the United States, is a large peninsula about two thirds of the size of Yucatan. The surface is level, and is intersected by numerous ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. See note and map, p. 36. |