Chapter I: Front Matter

A NEW HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

The Greater Republic

EMBRACING

THE GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR COUNTRY FROM THE
EARLIEST DAYS OF DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT
TO THE PRESENT EVENTFUL YEAR

SHOWING HOW FROM THIRTEEN COLONIES WITH A SCATTERED POPULATION ALONG THE
ATLANTIC COAST A GREAT REPUBLIC HAS BEEN FORMED, EMBRACING
FORTY-FIVE STATES WITH 75,000,000 INHABITANTS AND VAST
COLONIAL POSSESSIONS IN TWO HEMISPHERES

By CHARLES MORRIS, LL.D.

Author of "Decisive Events in American History," "Half Hours with the Best American Authors," "An Historical Review of Civilization," Etc., Etc.

Embellished With Over 300 New Engravings

ILLUSTRATING ALL THAT IS INTERESTING AND INSPIRING IN OUR HISTORY

JOHN C. WINSTON & CO.
PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO TORONTO
1899

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1899, by

W.E. SCULL.

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

* * * * *

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION.

The late war with Spain marks a momentous epoch in the progress of our country, whose history, stretching through the centuries of discovery, exploration, settlement, the struggle for independence, foreign and domestic war, lofty achievement in all departments of knowledge and progress, is the most interesting in human annals. It is a record full of instruction and incitement to endeavor, which must fill every American with pride in his birthright, and with gratitude to Him who holds the earth and the sea in the hollow of His hand.

The following pages contain a complete, accurate, and graphic history of our country from the first visit of the Northmen, a thousand years ago, to the opening of its new destiny, through the late struggle, resulting in the freeing of Cuba, the wresting of the Philippines, Porto Rico, and the Ladrones from the tyranny of the most cruel of modern nations, and the addition of Hawaii to our domain. The Greater United States, at one bound, assumes its place in the van of nations, and becomes the foremost agent in civilizing and christianizing the world.

The task, long committed to England, Germany, France, Russia, and later to Japan, must henceforth be shared with us, whose glowing future gives promise of the crowning achievement of the ages. With a fervent trust in a guiding Providence, and an abiding confidence in our ability, we enter upon the new and grander career, as in obedience to the divine behest that the Latin race must decrease and the Anglo-Saxon increase, and that the latter, in a human sense, must be the regenerator of all who are groping in the night of ignorance and barbarism.

It is a wonderful story that is traced in the pages that follow. A comprehension of the present and of the promise of the future necessitates an understanding of the past. The history of the Greater United States, therefore, is complete, from the first glimpse, in the early morning of October 12, 1492, of San Salvador by Columbus, through the settlement of the colonies, their struggles for existence, the colonial wars, the supreme contest between England and France for mastery in the New World, the long gloom of the Revolution that brought independence, the founding of the Republic, in 1787, the growth and expansion of the nation, the mighty War for the Union that united the divided house and planted it upon a rock, and the later "war for humanity," when the perishing islands, stretching their hands to us in helpless anguish, were gathered under the flag of freedom, there to remain through all time to come.

There have been many leaders in this great work. Not the story of the deeds alone, but of those who performed them is told. History, biography, and all that is interesting and profitable to know are here truthfully set forth, for their lesson is one whose value is beyond measurement.

In addition to the history of that which was simply the United States, a complete account is given of our new colonial possessions, Hawaii, Porto Rico, the Philippines, the Ladrones, and of Cuba, the child of our adoption. Their geography, their soil, climate, productions, inhabitants, and capabilities are set forth with fullness and accuracy.

In conclusion, the publishers confidently claim that "The Greater Republic" is the fullest, most interesting, reliable, and instructive work of the kind ever offered the public.

In 1798 our Government was about to declare war against France. Congress appointed Washington Commander-in-chief of the American Army. The Secretary of War carried the commission in person to Mt. Vernon. The old hero, sitting on his horse in the harvest field, accepted in the above patriotic words.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION.

The Visits of the Northmen to the New World--The Indians and Mound Builders--Christopher Columbus--His Discovery of America--Amerigo Vespucci--John Cabot--_Spanish Explorers_--Balboa--His Discovery of the Pacific--Magellan--Ponce de Leon--De Narvaez--De Soto--Menendez --_French Explorers_--Verrazzani--Cartier--Ribault--Laudonniere--Champlain --La Salle--_English Explorers_--Sir Hugh Willoughby--Martin Frobisher--Sir Humphrey Gilbert--Sir Walter Raleigh--The Lost Colony--_Dutch Explorer_--Henry Hudson 33

CHAPTER II.

SETTLEMENT OF THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES.

_Virginia_,--Founding of Jamestown--Captain John Smith--Introduction of African Slavery--Indian Wars--Bacon's Rebellion--Forms of Government--Prosperity--Education--_New England_,--Plymouth--Massachusetts Bay Colony--Union of the Colonies--Religious Persecution--King Philip's War--The Witchcraft Delusion--_New Hampshire_,--_The Connecticut Colony_,--_The New Haven Colony_,--Union of the Colonies--Indian Wars--The Charter Oak--_Rhode Island_,--Different Forms of Government--_New York_,--The Dutch and English Settlers--_New Jersey_,--_Delaware_,--_Pennsylvania_,--_Maryland_,--Mason and Dixon's Line--_The Carolinas_,--_Georgia_ 47

CHAPTER III.

THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS AND THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

King William's War--Queen Anne's War--King George's War--The French and Indian War--England and France Rivals in the Old World and the New--The Early French Settlements--The Disputed Territory--France's Fatal Weakness--Washington's Journey Through the Wilderness--The First Fight of the War--The War Wholly American for Two Years--The Braddock Massacre--The Great Change Wrought by William Pitt--Fall of Quebec--Momentous Consequences of the Great English Victory--The Growth and Progress of the Colonies and their Home Life 75

CHAPTER IV.

THE REVOLUTION--THE WAR IN NEW ENGLAND.

Causes of the Revolution--The Stamp Act--The Boston Tea Party--England's Unbearable Measures--The First Continental Congress--The Boston Massacre--Lexington and Concord--The Second Continental Congress--Battle of Bunker Hill--Assumption of Command by Washington--British Evacuation of Boston--Disastrous Invasion of Canada 89

CHAPTER V.

THE REVOLUTION (CONTINUED). THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE STATES AND ON THE SEA.

Declaration of Independence--The American Flag--Battle of Long Island--Washington's Retreat Through the Jerseys--Trenton and Princeton--In Winter Quarters--Lafayette--Brandywine and Germantown--At Valley Forge--Burgoyne's Campaign--Port Schuyler and Bennington--Bemis Heights and Stillwater--The Conway Cabal--Aid from France--Battle of Monmouth--Molly Pitcher--Failure of French Aid--Massacre at Wyoming--Continental Money--Stony Point--Treason of Arnold--Paul Jones' Great Victory 103

CHAPTER VI.

THE REVOLUTION IN THE SOUTH (CONCLUDED).

Capture of Savannah--British Conquest of Georgia--Fall of Charleston--Bitter Warfare in South Carolina--Battle of Camden--Of King's Mountain--Of the Cowpens--Battle of Guilford Court-House--Movements of Cornwallis--The Final Campaign--Peace and Independence 131

CHAPTER VII.

ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

The Method of Government During the Revolution--Impending Anarchy--The State Boundaries--State Cessions of Land--Shays' Rebellion--Adoption of the Constitution--Its Leading Features--The Ordinance of 1787--Formation of Parties--Election of the First President and Vice-President 143