Chapter I: Preface

THE lamented death of President Adams entails on me the duty of writing the preface to our joint work,—a duty which, had he lived, would naturally have fallen to him, since to his initiative and energy the volume owes its existence. Fortunately, the entire manuscript had the benefit of his wisdom and experience as teacher and investigator, and the proofs of about half the book passed under his watchful supervision.

Five years ago, in a letter to me proposing the book, Dr. Adams gave, among his reasons for wishing to add to the long list of school histories of the United States, three principal objects:—

First, to present fully and with fairness the Southern point of view in the great controversies that long threatened to divide the Union.

Second, to treat the Revolutionary War, and the causes that led to it, impartially and with more regard for British contentions than has been usual among American writers.

Third, to emphasize the importance of the West in the growth and development of the United States.

These objects have been kept constantly in view. We felt, moreover, that the development of institutions and government may justly be considered of great importance, although naturally lacking in picturesqueness, and we have endeavored to set in relief this evolutionary process. How far we have succeeded in accomplishing the objects sought remains for others to judge.

I cannot forbear to place on record here my appreciation of the fortitude with which Dr. Adams bore his protracted sufferings and did his work; of his conscientiousness in matters of minutest detail; of his fairness and sympathy toward those with whom he did not agree, and of the unfailing courtesy that marked every line of his correspondence.

Acknowledgment is due to the highly competent services of Miss May Langdon White of New York, whom Dr. Adams selected to assist in the revision of the work.

W. P. TRENT.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY,
NEW YORK, November, 1902.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
LIST OF MAPS xvi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xvii
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE xx

PART I.—PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND
SETTLEMENT, 1492–1765.

CHAPTER I.—DISCOVERY.
SECTION
1-3. The American Indians 1
4. Pre-Columbian Discoverers 4
5-13. Columbus and the Spanish Discoverers 7
14-16. The French Explorers 18
17-18. The English Explorers 20
19-20. Summary of Results 22
References 23

CHAPTER II.—THE FIRST PLANTATIONS AND COLONIES,
1607–1630.

21-28. The Settlement of Virginia 24
29-30. The Settlement of New York 29
31-36. The Pilgrims at Plymouth 31
37-38. The Settlement of Massachusetts 34
References 36

CHAPTER III.—SPREAD OF PLANTATIONS, 1630–1689.

39-41. The Settlement and Growth of Maryland 37
42-45. Development of Virginia 40
46-52. Development of New England 42
53-60. The New England Confederacy 46
61-71. Development of the Middle Colonies 51
72-76. The Southern Colonies 57
References 59

CHAPTER IV.—THE COUNTRY AT THE END OF THE
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

77-78. General Conditions 60
79-84. Characteristics of New England 61
85-86. Characteristics of the Middle Colonies 65
87-90. Characteristics of the Southern Colonies 66
References 68

CHAPTER V.—DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONIES, 1690–1765.

91-94. Colonial Disputes 69
95-97. Virginia and Georgia 71
98-100. French Discoveries and Claims 73
101-116. Wars with the French 75
References 86

PART II.—PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION, 1765–1789.

CHAPTER VI.—CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.

117-120. General Causes 87
121-126. The Question of Taxation 91
127-132. The Resistance of the Colonies 93
133-135. The Tax on Tea 98
136-139. New Legislation and Opposition 100
140-143. The Crisis 103
References 106

CHAPTER VII.—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1775 AND 1776.

144-147. Early Movements 107
148-152. Washington in Command 110
153-158. The War in New York 114
159-160. General Condition of the Country 118
161-162. Failure of British Expeditions 119
163-165. The Declaration of Independence 121
166-176. The War in New Jersey 126

CHAPTER VIII.—THE CAMPAIGN OF 1777.

177-187. The Struggle for the Center 135

CHAPTER IX.—THE FRENCH ALLIANCE AND THE CAMPAIGNS
OF 1778 AND 1779.

188-193. A Winter of Discouragement 144
194-198. Prospects Brighten 149
199-207. Conditions West of the Alleghanies 152
208-209. The Conquest of the Northwest 158
210-212. The Victories of Paul Jones 159

CHAPTER X.—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1780 AND 1781.

213-214. The War in the South 162
215-220. The Treason of Benedict Arnold 164
221-223. Causes of Discouragement 167
224-228. American Successes in the South 168
229-237. The Close of the War 172

CHAPTER XI.—THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND THE
CONSTITUTION.

238-243. Difficulties of Confederation 178
244-256. The Constitution 181
References 190

PART III.—THE ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES,
1789–1825.

CHAPTER XII.—THE COUNTRY AT THE CLOSE OF THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

257-262. General Conditions 191
263-264. Spirit of the People 194
References 195

CHAPTER XIII.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF WASHINGTON,
1789–1797.

265-268. Early Legislation and Parties 196
269-274. Difficulties of Administration 200
References 204

CHAPTER XIV.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN ADAMS,
1797–1801.

275-281. A Period of Dissensions 205
References 210

CHAPTER XV.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF JEFFERSON,
1801–1809.

282-284. Jeffersonian Policy 211
285-295. Measures and Events 214
296-297. Character of Jefferson’s Statesmanship 222
References 224

CHAPTER XVI.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF MADISON,
1809–1817.

298-303. Outbreak of War 225
304-305. Exploits of the Navy 230
306-310. Reverses and Successes 234
311-312. End of the War 238
313-315. The Disaffection of New England 240
316-319. Consequences of the War 242
References 244

CHAPTER XVII.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF MONROE,
1817–1825.

320-322. Character of the Period 245
323-326. Diplomatic Achievements 247
327-331. Slavery comes to the Front 250
332-334. Factional Politics 254
References 256

PART IV.—SPREAD OF DEMOCRACY AND EXTENSION OF
TERRITORY, 1825–1850.

CHAPTER XVIII.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS, 1825—1829.

335-339. Failures of the Administration 257
340-342. The Tariff Question 260
References 262

CHAPTER XIX.—THE JACKSONIAN EPOCH, 1829–1837.

343-345. Political Conditions 263
346-350. Progress of the Nation 265

CHAPTER XX.—JACKSON’S FIRST ADMINISTRATION,
1829–1833.

351-354. A Popular Autocrat 271
355-356. The Debate over the Nature of the Constitution 274
357-358. The Tariff and Nullification 278
References 280

CHAPTER XXI.—JACKSON’S SECOND ADMINISTRATION,
1833—1837.

359-360. The Abolitionists 281
361-367. Financial Disturbances 283
References 287

CHAPTER XXII.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF VAN BUREN AND
OF HARRISON AND TYLER, 1837–1845.

368-371. A Period of Confusion 288
372-373. The Embarrassments of the Whigs 290
374-376. Texas and Oregon 293
References 295

CHAPTER XXIII.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF POLK,
1845–1849.

377-379. The Opening of the Mexican War 296
380-389. The Conduct and Results of the War 299
References 304

PART V.—THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1850–1861.

CHAPTER XXIV.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF TAYLOR AND
FILLMORE, 1849–1853.

390-394. The Question of California 305
395-400. The Compromise of 1850 308
401-404. International and Domestic Affairs 313

CHAPTER XXV.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF PIERCE,
1853–1857.

405-410. The Confusion of Parties 317
411-415. Kansas-Nebraska Legislation 320
416-417. The Republican Party 323

CHAPTER XXVI.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF BUCHANAN,
1857–1861.

418-422. The Supreme Court and Slavery 326
423-427. Kansas and Utah 329
428-431. The Great Debates 332
432-434. John Brown and Public Opinion 336
435-439. The Presidential Campaign of 1860 339
440-446. Secession of the South 342
447-449. The Country in 1860–1861 348
References 350

PART VI.—THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION,
1861–1869.

CHAPTER XXVII.—THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CIVIL WAR.

450-453. Opening of Hostilities 353
454-458. Military and Financial Strength of the Combatants 357
459-461. Description of the Seat of War 360
462-465. Domestic and Foreign Complications 362
466-471. Military Movements of 1861 365
472-474. International Difficulties 369

CHAPTER XXVIII.—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1862.

475-483. The War in the West 372
484-489. The Work of the Navy 381
490-498. The War in the East 387
499-502. Public Feeling in the North and Great Britain 394
503-506. The War in the East continued 397
507-513. Domestic and Foreign Effects of the Campaigns of
1862 402
References 406

CHAPTER XXIX.—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1863.

514-517. Vicksburg 408
518-522. The Chattanooga Campaign 411
523-525. The Eastern Campaigns 414
526-529. Embarrassment of the Federal Government 419
References 421

CHAPTER XXX.—THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864.

530-533. Grant and Lee in Virginia 422
534-538. Sherman’s Campaigns 426
539-541. Naval Victories 430
542-546. Political Affairs 432
References 435

CHAPTER XXXI.—END OF THE WAR, 1865.

547-551. Movements of Sherman and Grant 436
552-554. The Death of President Lincoln 440
555-561. The Magnitude of the War 441
References 445

CHAPTER XXXII.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHNSON:
RECONSTRUCTION, 1865–1869.

562-573. Different Policies of Reconstruction 446
574-576. Effects of Reconstruction 452
577-580. Johnson and Congress 454
References 457

PART VII.—PERIOD OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
1869–1902.

CHAPTER XXXIII.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF GRANT,
1869–1877.

581-588. Grant’s First Administration, 1869–1873 458
589-595. Grant’s Second Administration, 1873–1877 463
596-599. Party Politics 468
References 472

CHAPTER XXXIV.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF HAYES AND OF
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR, 1877–1885.

600-603. Industrial Problems 473
604-605. Financial Problems 475
606-609. Political Affairs 476
610-613. Chief Features of Arthur’s Administration 480
614-617. Political Events 483
618-619. The Presidential Campaign of 1884 485
References 487

CHAPTER XXXV.—FIRST ADMINISTRATION OF CLEVELAND,
1885–1889.

620-623. Important Measures and Reforms 488
624-628. Industrial and Financial Disturbances 491
References 494

CHAPTER XXXVI.—THE ADMINISTRATION OF BENJAMIN
HARRISON, 1889–1893.

629-638. Domestic Events and Measures 495
639-641. Foreign Affairs 500
642-643. Political Affairs 502

CHAPTER XXXVII.—SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF
CLEVELAND, 1893–1897.

644-649. Financial Legislation 504
650-651. Foreign Affairs 507
652-655. Domestic Events 510
References 513

CHAPTER XXXVIII.—THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF McKINLEY
AND ROOSEVELT, 1897–1902.

656-657. The Beginning of McKinley’s Administration 514
658-670. The War with Spain 515
671-676. Consequences of the War 524
677-681. The Close of McKinley’s First Administration 527
682-683. McKinley’s Second Administration 531
684-701. Roosevelt’s Administration 532
References 550

CHAPTER XXXIX.—PROGRESS OF THE EPOCH.

702-705. Spread and Character of the Population 551
706-709. National Development 553