A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF } THE UNITED STATES. FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. AUTHOR OF "THE PICTORIAL FIELD BOOK OF BY BENSON J. G REVOLUTION," ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY OVER 200 ENGRAVINGS. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY MASON BROTHERS, 108 AND 110 DUANE STREET. DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONTISPIECE. In front sits HISTORY, with her pen and tablet, making her records of human progress. Before her lies the open book of THE PAST, full of her chronicles. Near her is a globe, emblem of the theater of those achievements, whose memory she preserves. At her side is ART, delineating a map of the New World, in which we live, with the word Excelsior at the top, meaning "more lofty"-the destiny of our country. Upon a pedestal is a marble bust of Franklin, under which was written, by a distinguished French statesman, "He wrested the thunder from heaven, and the sceptre from tyrants." It indicates the perpetuity of the memory of the founders of our Republic, to be like that of marble. Above the group, just soaring, is winged FAME, bearing a medallion likeness of Washington in one hand, and her trumpets in the other. In the back ground is an unfinished Pyramid, emblematic of our Confederacy of States, continually increasing, and adding block after block of imperishable material to the wonderful structure, so high already as to overlook the nations of the earth. The branches of the olive and oak, on either side, symbolize the peace which prevails within our Lorders, and the strength which it imparts. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by F. J. HUNTINGTON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. ELECTROTYPED BY C PRINTED BY N. Y. INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. Before commencing the preparation of the following pages, I carefully examined the various small histories of the United States in use, noted their obvious excellences and defects, and endeavored to learn what was needed in the arrangement of a plan more attractive and efficient for instructing the young people of our country in its wonderful story, than had been hitherto employed. Using the best results of the labors of others in this special field, for a foundation, I have constructed this volume of materials taken from the earlier, most elaborate and most reliable historians of our continent, on a plan which I believe will be found, by instructors and pupils, to possess superior advantages as an easy and thorough method for teaching and acquiring an accurate general knowledge of events relating to the birth and growth of knowledge of events relating our Republic The work is arranged in six chapters, each containing the records of an important period. The first exhibits a general view of the Aboriginal race who occupied the continent when the Europeans came. The second is a record all the Discoveries and preparations for settleThe ment, made by individuals and governments he third delineates the progress of all the Set tlements until colonial governments were formed. The fourth tells the story of these Colonies from their infancy to maturity, and illustrates the continual development of democratic ideas and republican tendencies which finally resulted in a political confederation The fifth has a full account of the important events of the War for Independence, and the sixth gives a concise history of the Republic, Rom its formation to the present time. I have endeavored to show the cause of every important event, and thus, by developing the philosophy of our history, to make it more attractive and instructive than a bald record of facts. And wherever the text appeared to need further elucidation, I have given additional facts in foot-notes. These may be profitably consulted by teacher and pupil, for they will greatly aid them in obtaining a clear understanding of the subject. The system of concordance interwoven with the foot-notes throughout the entire work, is of great importance to instructor and learner. When a fact is named which bears a relation to another fact elsewhere recorded in the volume, a reference is made to the verse and page where such fact is mentioned. A knowledge of this relationship of separate events is often essential to a clear view of the subject, and without this concordance, a great deal of time would be spent in searching for that relationship. With the concordance the matter may be found in a moment. Favorable examples of the utility of this new feature may be found on page 84. If strict attention shall be given to these references, the whole subject will be presented to the mind of the student, in a comprehensive aspect of unity not to be given by any other method. It will greatly lessen the labors of the teacher, and facilitate the progress of the learner. To economize space and prevent confusion, the dates have been put in brackets in their proper places in the text. When the volume shall be used as a reading book, these inclosed figures may easily be omitted. So with the references: they may be passed without notice; and by these omissions the sentences will appear unbroken: The questions are few, and are suggestive and comprehensive. They are so constructed that the student will be compelled to acquire a thorough knowledge of the subject under consideration before a correct answer to the question can be given. Much of this part of the labor is left to the judgment of the teacher. The engravings are introduced not for the sole purpose of embellishing the volume, but to enhance its utility as an instructor. Every picture is intended to illustrate a fact, not merely to beautify a page. Great care has been taken to secure accuracy in all the delineations of men and things, so that they may not convey false instruction. Geographical maps have been omitted, because they must necessarily be too small to be of essential service. History should never be studied without the aid of an accurate Atlas. With these few observations concerning the general plan of this work, I submit the volume to the public, willing to have its reputation rest upon its own merits. 2012522 |