A history of the United States of America, its people, and its institutions
Morris, Charles, 1833-1922
'^ L^ -n^. .SS^ '% <^'^' '""^ ' •^^ ^^' .<^^^ ^^. .^ V ■'b ^ .^■^ -^ct .v^^ vx ^' ' <■ 0, - - ^ J- ^'J^ V" .: •ft ^ ^^ aV 'Z^.. )v" ■=^. ^■„ ,A^^ -4 O V ,-0' oo^ -0' ^ ^v ^ %<* ^v'^^.,. --^^■^^' N ^... V^ V <b^ ^. 'J^, A o V B „ -/ ^,. V^ A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS INSTITUTIONS BY CHARLES MORRIS AUTHOR OF "an elementary HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES," " HISTORICAL TALES." "half-hours with AMERICAN HISTORY," ETC. WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY ills' Copyright, 1897, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright. 1907, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright, 1909, by J. B, Lippincott Company Copyright, 1911, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright, 1912, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright, 1913, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright, 1914, by J. B. Lippincott Company Copyright, 1915, by J. B. Lippincott Company Electrotyped and Printed by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A^ QGT 181915 j-n. PREFACE In the intellectual development of the youth of America there can be no more healthful and important discipline than a study of the history of their own country in its events, institutions, and social and industrial movements. As an aid to the acquirement of such knowledge this work has been prepared. It is necessarily condensed in state- ment, yet even in a volume of this extent it is quite possi- ble to indicate the leading events of United States history, show their relations and historical significance, and give a fair general comprehension of the circumstances attending the civilized occupation of America. In the preparation of this work several essential consid- erations have been kept steadily in view. These include clearness and accuracy of statement, simplicity of language, and avoidance of partisan or sectional opinions, impartiality being made a leading requisite. This country has been the scene not only of rapid progress in times of peace, but of several wars of great political significance. While it was not deemed expedient to dwell on the details of these wars, their causes, general movements, and results have been given in each instance in such fulness as its importance seemed to demand. The public conception of what constitutes history has greatly broadened within the present century. Formerly the doings of courts and kings and the details of battles and sieges were the leading considerations. Now the doings of the people are deemed equally, if not more, important, and iii iv PREFACE. the social, economical, ethical, and other elements of human life and progress attract the careful attention of the histo- rian. In the present work these leading elements of his- torical deA^elopment have been somewhat fully dwelt upon,, the more important of them being specially treated, in sep- arate chapters. For example, the subject of the develop- ment of political institutions has been thus epitomized, in order that the student, instead of being obliged to seek throughout the book for references to this subject, may read its history consecutively. Other elements of our national life have been similarly treated. After Section 1 there will be found an analytical table of the subjects embraced in that section. This is given simply as an example to guide pupils in preparing similar analyses of the succeeding sections, an exercise which will have its value in impressing upon their minds the succession and relations of historical events. No series of consecutive questions has been given, since it is well known that ad- vanced modern teachers prefer to make their own ques- tions from the text. As a useful aid in this, the subject- matter of every distinctive paragraph has been indicated by a word or phrase which will serve as a ready basis for ques- tions on the topics embraced, and also as an aid in im- pressmg the subject treated on the pupil's mind. The writer has therefore confined himself to a chronological table of important events and a series of questions useful for review. As additional aids to the student, maps and illustrations have been somewhat abundantly provided, while much anecdotal, biographical, and other information has been appended in the form of notes. With these remarks this work is offered to the world of schools, where the best test of merit, that of actual use, can be applied. CONTENTS. PART I. DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. PAGE 1. The Era of Discovery 11 2. The Indians, their Characteristics and Customs 28 PART II. THE ERA OF EXPLORATION. 1. The Spanish Explorers 41 2. The French Explorers 45 3. The English Explorers 53 4. The Dutch Explorers 58 PART III. THE ERA OF SETTLEMENT. 1. The Colony in Virginia 61 2. The New England Colonies 77 Plymouth 77 Massachusetts Bay 83 Maine and New Hampshire 90 Rhode Island 92 Connecticut 94 The Confederated Colonies 98 3. New York and New Jersey 102 New Netherland „ 102 New York 106 New Jersey 108 V vi CONTENTS. PAGB 4. Pennsylvania and Delaware 110 5. Maryland 116 6. North and South Carolina 121 7. Georgia 126 8. Louisiana 129 9. Customs and Conditions of the Colonies 131 New England 131 The Middle Colonies 138 The Southern Colonies 141 PART IV. THE ERA OF COLONIAL WARS. 1. King William's War 145 2, Queen Anne's War 148 3, King George's War 149 4. The French and Indian War 152 PART V. FROM COLONIES TO UNITED STATES. 1. A New King and a New Policy 172 2. The Colonies in Rebellion 188 3. The Struggle for Independence 203 4. The War in the South 223 5. The Birth of a Nation 233 6. The Condition of the Country 241 PART VI. THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE REPUBLIC. 1. Washington's Administration 247 2. John Adams's Administration 256 3. Jefferson's Administration 261 4. Madison's Administration 270 5. Thh Second War with Great Britain 274 CONTENTS. vii PART VII. THIRTY YEARS OF PEACE AND PROGRESS. PAGS 1. Monroe's Administration 286 2. John Quincy Adams's Administration 295 3. Jackson's Administration 299 4 . Van Buren's Administration 307 5. The Harrison and Tyler Administrations 311 PART VIII. THE SLAVERY CONTEST. 1. Polk's Administration 320 2. The Taylor and Fillmore Administrations 330 3. Pierce's Administration 334 4. Buchanan's Administration 340 PART IX. THE CIVIL WAR. 1. Lincoln's Administration . .- 348 2. The North and the South 352 3. The Opening of the War 355 4. The War in Kentucky and Tennessee 363 5. The East in 1862 371 6.' The Campaigns of 1863 380 7. The Final Campaigns of the War 390 8, The Country during the War 407 PART X. DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION. 1. Johnson's Administration 412 2. Grant's Administration 418 3. Hayes's Administration 428 viii CONTENTS PAGE 4. The Garfield and Arthur Ad.>[inistrations 432 5. Cleveland's Administration 435 6. Benjamin Harrison's Administration 438 7. Cleveland's Second Administration 445 8. McKinley's Administration 450 9. Roosevelt's Administration 465 10. Taft's Administration • 469 11. Wilson's Administration 474 PART XI. STAGES OF PROGRESS IN THE UNITED ST.^TES. 1. Governmental Conditions in the Colonies 479 2. Later Development of Government 48g 3. Political Parties 492 4. The Story of Slavery 49g 5. Progress of Finance 503 6. Population and Immigration 51 1 7. Transportation and Postal Facilities 517 8. Industrial Conditions and Development 525 9. Literature, Science, and Art 535 10. Educational Progress 540 11. The Nation of To-day 545 12. The Mayflower Compact 552 13. The Declaration of Independence 553 14. The Constitution of the United States 558 15. Table of States and Territories 574 16. Table of the Presidents 575 17. Summary of Chronology 577 18. List of Books for Reference 583 19. Questions for Review 585 20. Index 595 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGV The ships of the Northmen 13 Christopher Columbus 18 The ships of Columbus 21 Indian chief 28 Indian woman 29 Indian pottery 30 Indian woman weaving 30 Indian bow and arrow 31 Indian quiver and bow-case 32 An Indian shield 33 Indians building a canoe 34 Penn treaty wampum belt 36 Indian stone implements 37 Indian implements of shell 37 A Pueblo habitation 39 Fort San Marco, St. Augustine » 47 Ruins of Fo'rt Ticonderoga 50 A French woodsman 52 Sir Walter Ealeigh 55 The Half-Moon in the Hudson 58 John Smith on an exploring expedition 63 Smith meeting the Indians 64 Marriage of Pocahontas 68 John "Winthrop 84 Placing the charter in the oak 100 Peter Stuy vesant 105 William Pemi, age 21 110 Early Philadelphia 112 Penn's treaty with the Indians 113 Proprietary seal of Pennsylvania 115 Cecilius Calvert (second Lord Baltimore) 116 James Oglethorpe 127 Costumes of French settlers 130 ix X LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE A block-house 133 Pioneer dwelling 134 Costumes of the Puritans 136 Scene in New Amsterdam 139 Dutch settlers 140 Colonial fireplace 141 Costume of English settlers .• 142 Braddock's defeat ] 58 Expulsion of the Acadians 161 General Wolfe 167 A stamp-act stamp 178 Patrick Henry 179 Faneuil Hall 182 Boston tea-party 186 Revolutionary soldier 191 John Hancock 195 Signing the Declaration of Independence 202 Washington's army crossing the Delaware 207 The Chew House 211 Washington's head-quarters at Valley Forge 212 Pine-tree and rattlesnake flags 215 Anthony Wayne 221 John Paul Jones 222 The Andre captors' medal 226 Nathaniel Greene 227 Surrender of Cornwallis 232 Capture of Daniel Boone 233 Independence Hall ^ 238 Mississippi flat-boat 242 A colonial chair , 244 George Washington 248 Alexander Hamilton 251 Mount Yernon 255 John Adams 256 Chief Justice John Marshall , 260 Thomas Jefierson 261 Commodore Decatur 262 James Madison 270 Capture of the Cyane and Levant by the Constitution 277 James Monroe 286 Henry Clay ^ 291 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XI PAGE On the Erie Oanal , 293 Marquis de Lafayette 294 John Quiney Adams 296 Andrew Jackson 300 John C. Calhoun 301 Daniel Webster 301 Chicago in 1832 306 Martin Van Buren 308 William Henry Harrison 311 John Tyler 312 James K. Polk 320 Winfield Scott 324 Chapultepec to-day „ 325 San Francisco in 1848 .,...., , 327 Zachary Taylor 330 Millard Fillmore 332 Franklin Pierce 334 James Buchanan 340 Laying the Atlantic cable 344 Jefferson Davis 346 Abraham Lincoln 348 United States flag 356 Confederate flags 356 Battle of the Monitor and Merriraac 362 George B. McClellan 373 Robert E. Lee 375 Confederate works at Fredericksburg 378 A scene at Gettysburg 384 Night scene on the retreat from Gettysburg 385 Battle of Chickamauga 388 Philip Sheridan 394 William T. Sherman 395 Sherman's march to the sea 399 Battle in Mobile Bay 401 The last Confederate battle line 405 Andrew Johnson 412 Ulysses S. Grant 418 Meeting of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads 420 Battle at the Little Big Horn 424 Rutherford B. Hayes 428 James A. Garfield ^32 Xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Chester A. Arthur 433 Grover Cleveland 435 Benjamin Harrison 439 The Court of Honor at Chicago , . 444 Pleet of United States war-vessels in harbor . . , 449 "William McKinley 45I Theodore Koosevelt i 453 William H. Taft 468 Woodrow Wilson 474 Benjamin Franklin 48fi Pine-tree shilling 595 Continental money 505 An emigrant train 514 The Conestoga wagon 5I9 Fulton's steamboat , 519 The ocean steamer of to-day 520 The locomotive of to-day 522 The pony express 524 Cutting grass with the scythe 525 Threshing with the flail 526 Colonial plough 528 Steam-plough 528 Steam threshing-machine , 529 Harvesting and binding machine 53O A modern power woolen loom „ . 533 An irrigation canal 545 MAPS. PAGE United States (colored) Front of volume. Acquisitions of territory (colored) End of volume. Early French settlements in Canada 49 English, French, Spanish, and Dutch claims 59 The middle colonies 70 New England and New Netherland 91 Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware 114 The Carolinas and Georgia 122 French settlements in the West and South 129 English territory before the French and Indian War 152 The Fort Duquesne campaign 156 The seat of war in New York 163 The siege of Quebec 165 English territory after the French and Indian War 168 Boston and vicinity 194 The New Jersey campaign 206 General map of the Revolutionary War ( colored ) 209 Burgoyne's route 213 Siege of Yorktown • • • 231 Battle-fields on the Niagara 279 Northern Battle-fields of the war of 1812-15 281 New Orleans and the Creek War 283 War with Mexico ■ • 321 Battle-fields of Kentucky and Tennessee 363 McClellan's campaign, Yorktown to Richmond 372 Battle-fields of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania 377 Plan of the battle of Gettysburg 382 Grant's Vicksburg campaign 387 Grant's campaign, Wilderness to Petersburg 391 Sherman's march, Atlanta to Raleigh 398 Hawaii 446 Cuba 452 Philippine Islands 460 Puerto Rico 546 xiii HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. F»ART I. DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. I. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. Mediaeval Conditions. — If we could go back to a period more than four hundred years ago we should find Europe in a very different condition from what travellers see there to-day. Then its population was much smaller, its wealth much less. There were little commerce, little enterprise, and little liberty. The great industries of to-day were un- known. Wars were common, oppression and injustice were universal. People could neither do nor think as they pleased. They must accept the religion provided for them by their rulers or suffer imprisonment and torture. Super- stition and ignorance everywhere prevailed. Even the most learned men knew very little of the earth upon which they lived. Europe was fairly well known, and something was known of Southern and Eastern Asia and Northern Africa ; but the vast oceans which are now the highways of com- merce had never been traversed, and no one had dreamed of the great continent of America. 11 12 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. The Northmen. — It is true that America had been visited from Europe more than four hundred years earlier. But nothing of this was known in Southern Europe until cen- turies afterward. The people of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, often spoken of as the Northmen, were then rude and barbarous in character, but had long been skilful and daring navigators. In their small, open vessels they did not fear to make long voyages and venture far out to sea. For centuries they made piratical raids upon the countries of the south, and about the year 850 a.d. one of their vessels was driven by a storm to Iceland, an island of the far northern seas. Here they formed a settlement in 874, from which their light ships ventured farther west, till at length one of them reached the southern coast of Greenland.^ Here a colony was formed in 986 near Cape Farewell, which lasted about five hundred years.^ The Continent Discovered. — Not long afterward a ves- sel on its way to Greenland was driven from its course by a storm, and its crew saw land far to the south. In the year 1000 Leif, son of Eric the Red, the discoverer of Greenland, sailed south to explore this land. He landed at several points, and at length reached a region where wild grapes grew in abundance, for which reason he named it Vinland (Vine-land). Where Vinland was we do not know. It may have been as far south as Massachusetts, or it may have been farther north.^ ^ In their voyages the Northmen are said to have often taken ravens with them. When in doubt where to find land they set the birds free and followed the direction of their flight. ^ The ruins of several villages and churches, built of stone, still remain at this locality, but the present settlements in Greenland were made at a later date. ^ Many supposed relics of the Northmen have been found in New England. The most famous of these is a curious old tower, called THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 13 Other Voyag-es. — Other voyages were made to Vin- land, and one explorer tried to found a colony there, but the savage people of the country gave the colonists so much trouble that after three years they v^ent away.^ Not The Ships of the Northmen. long afterward all visits to Vinland ceased. At a later date the story of this discovery was written down in Iceland. Three manuscript accounts still exist, which contain much the "Old Stone Mill," at Newport, Rhode Island. But it is now be- lieved that this was built by Governor Benedict Arnold about 1675. Another is an inscription in picture-writing on Dighton Rock, near Taunton, Massachusetts, But this is now known to be an Indian inscription. No undoubted relic of the Northmen has been found. ^ Snorri, the son of one of these settlers, was the first child of white parents born on this continent. It is interesting to learn that from this first "American" descended a family of much note in the north, Thorwaldsen, the famous sculptor of Denmark, is said to have been one of his descendants 14 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. information about the country, its plants and animals, the habits of its people, etc. But nothing of this was known in the south of Europe, the existence of the continent was in time forgotten in the north, and it remained to be dis- covered over again. Changed Conditions in Europe. — By the fifteenth cen- tury Europe had gained a greater degree of civilized devel- opment. Its nations had become more strongly organized, its kings had gained more power and authority, its mer- chants and artisans were rising in importance, and its peo- ple were no longer helpless slaves of the lords. Peaceful' enterprise was beginning to take the place of war. Human knowledge was growing, learned men appeared outside the monasteries, and there arose a desire to learn more about the world. The Eastward Movement. — The vast continent of Asia, stretching thousands of miles to the east, was little known to the men of that age, though there had long been trade with its civilized nations. After the Crusades,^ which lasted from about 1100 to 1300, this trade grew more active. Caravans crossed the deserts, bringing the shawls, silks, muslins, spices, and pearls of Persia and India to Alexan- dria in Egypt and to the ports of the Black Sea. Thence merchant vessels bore them to Venice, Genoa, and other European ports. Marco Polo. — Travellers also made their way through Asia. The chief of these was Marco Polo, a Venetian, who ^ The Crusades were great military expeditions from Europe to Asia to defend the rights of Christian pilgrims in Palestine and recover the Holy Land from the Mohammedans. Thousands of men perished in these efforts, but Jerusalem and Palestine were not recovered. The name "crusaders" was given to these warriors because they wore the sign of the cross. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 15 journeyed overland through Central Asia to China, where he remained for many years, returning in 12^5. His ad- ventures were described in a book which was full of in- formation of great interest to the people of Europe. In this book was given the first account of the island country of Cipango, or Japan, which has lately become so impor- tant. The story told by Marco Polo went far to arouse an interest in the discovery of new countries.^ The Turks. — In 1453 the Turks captured Constantinople and put an end to the Asiatic commerce of Genoa, whose fleets were obliged to pass that city on their way to the Black Sea. The ships of Venice traded with Alexandria, and their commerce continued longer. But it also was at length brought to an end by the Turks, and the trade of Europe with Asia, which had existed for many centuries, was destroyed. New Routes of Commerce. — The luxuries obtained from Asia had now become necessary to the comfort of the people of Europe. Yet unless other trade routes could ^ Marco Polo was the son of Niccolb Polo, who with his brother Matteo made a journey through Asia between 1255 and 1269. They went again about 1272 with young Marco, who was the first European to enter China, and who gained high favor with the Great Khan of Tartary. They returned to Venice in 1295, bringing great wealth in precious stones, but dressed in ragged clothes, which they had worn to prevent being robbed. They invited their friends and relatives, who had forgotten them, to a costly banquet, where they appeared in the richest garments. After the feast they ripped open their old clothes, and from them fell an untold wealth in diamonds, rubies, and other gems. They were quickly remembered after that. Marco was afterward taken prisoner in a battle with the Genoese and kept long in prison. While there he told the story of his travels to a fellow- captive, who wrote it down. The book, when published, made a great sensation, and is still of much value. 16 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. be discovered all this rich commerce would be lost. For- tunately, at that period navigators were growing more bold. The mariner's compass had been brought into use ; the astrolabe — an instrument for reckoning latitude — soon after was employed ; sailors no longer felt it necessary to creep along shore as of old, but began to venture daringly far from sight of land. The route to Asia by way of the Medi- terranean was closed against the ships of Europe. Could not a new route be found by way of the great ocean of the west? Portuguese Enterprise. — Portugal was one of the most enterprising nations of that period. It was not content to let the cities of Italy enjoy all the trade of Asia, and had conceived the idea that India might be reached by saiKng around the continent of Africa. This enterprise began in 1418, under King Henry, known as Henry the Navigator. Step by step the ships of Portugal made their way down the African coast. Madeira, the Azores, and other islands were discovered, but it was not until 1471 that a Portuguese captain reached and crossed the equator. It had been supposed that Africa extended no farther south ; but its coast was found to stretch still southward, and the navigators of Portugal began to lose heart.^ ^ The southern cape of Africa was finally reached by Bartholomew Diaz in 1487. He called it the Cape of Storms, but the king renamed it the Cape of Good Hope. In 1497 — after the discovery of America— Vasco da Gama sailed round this cape and entered the Indian Ocean up which he passed northward to Hindustan. He returned in the summer of 1499 with a cargo of the spices, silks, jewels, and other rich products of that land of wealth. This was the beginning of a valuable Portuguese commerce with the East. Bartholomew Colum- bus, the younger brother of the great discoverer, accompanied Diaz on his voyage. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 17 Christopher Columbus. — Among the enterprising spirits of that age was one who has made himself famous for all time. This was the celebrated Christopher Columbus [Italian name Cristoforo Colombo (cr^s-tdfo-ro co-ldm^bo)^ Spanish name Cristoval Colon {cris-to'val c^-ldn'y\. He was a native of Genoa, Italy, where he was born about 1435, or per- haps several years later, the date of his birth being uncer- tain. He became a sailor at the age of fourteen, and for years Avas engaged in commerce and adventure. He sailed with several Portuguese expeditions down the coast of Africa, and may have sailed as far north as Iceland. He says, " In 1477 I navigated one hundred leagues beyond Thule" (supposed to be Iceland). A New Idea. — Columbus was a thinker and student. In common with the best geographers of that century, he believed that the earth was round, and advanced the prop- osition that by sailing due west across the ocean India might be reached. To most of the people then living this seemed an incredible absurdity. To reach the east by sail- ing to the west ! It appeared the talk of a madman. The general belief was that the earth was flat and inhabited on its upper side only. But Columbus was persistent in his belief,^ though he had no conception of the real size of the earth. He imagined that a few thousand miles would bring him to the shores of Asia. Had he dreamed of the vast width of space that lay between Europe and Asia in this ^ Columbus had spent some time in the island of Madeira, and there had been told of strange objects seen by sailors. These included pieces of carved wood, seeds of unknown plants, canes long enough to hold four quarts of wine between their joints, and, more striking still, the bodies of two men, differing in face and color from the people of Europe. Westerly winds had brought these ashore, and they seemed to come from lands to the west. 18 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. direction he might have been afraid to venture upon such mighty seas. Columbus Seeks Aid. — The Genoese adventurer had a very difficult task before him. He had no money himself, and he spent many years of his life in trying to induce gov- ernments to aid his proposed enterprise. He first wished to go as the agent of his native city, Genoa, but the authori- ties rejected his plan as folly or madness. He then tried Portugal, where he spent years in vain endeavor.^ Columbus in Spain. — Columbus left Portugal in 1484 and proceeded to Spain, which country was then governed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who were at war! with the Moors, a peo- ple who had once held nearly the whole \ of Spain. For seven years he begged [)ersistently for aid, but in vain. He Avas looked upon as a visionary, and the very boys in the street mocked him as a lunatic. At length he was permitted to lay his plans before a committee of Christopher Columbus- , . -,. learned men, but only to have them ridi- culed, the council dismissing him as a foolish enthusiast.^ ^ The Portuguese king was intelligent, and at length listened favor- ably to the statements of Columbus, though his geographers told him that the scheme was visionary. King John, who still thought it worth trying, but did not wish to give Columbus the high reward he de- manded in case of success, played the traitor to him, and secretly sent out a vessel to try the westward route, giving the captain the charts of Columbus as guides. The captain sailed for a few days westward into the unknown ocean, and then, frightened by stormy weather and what seemed an endless waste of waters, returned and laughed to scorn the scheme of the adventurer. ^ They could not be made to believe that the earth was round. " Do you mean to tell us/' they asked, "that on the other side the rain falls THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 19 Other Appeals for Aid. — Columbus before this had sent his brother Bartholomew to England to seek for aid. He now himself set out for France, but stopped at the convent of La Rabida/ near the little town of Palos, where he was forced to beg bread for himself and his httle son, who ac- companied him. Here he found a friend in the prior, who had influence with Queen Isabella, and wrote to her. Columbus was called back to the court, but again met with disappointment, and once more set out for France. He had not gone far when a messenger recalled him. Some of his friends had pleaded his cause with the queen, and she became so earnest in his behalf that it is said she offered to pledge her jewels to raise the money. The Vessels Supplied. — The queen did not need to pledge her jewels. There was money enough in the treas- ury, despite the cost of the war. The part of the money which Columbus was to supply was advanced by some friends at Palos. But though ships were ready, crews were not easily to be had. Sailors were ignorant and supersti- tious. They feared the perils of unknown seas. But at length three small vessels, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina {nen'yah)^ were obtained, with crews to man them. upward and men walk with their heads downward ? If the earth were round, as you say, your ships, in going west, would sail down a curved surface, and would have to sail up-hill to return to Spain. The torrid zone, through which you must pass, is a region of fire, where the very waters boil. And who can say what dense fogs, what frightful mon- sters, what unimagined terrors exist in these unknown seas?" * A fac-simile of the La Rabida convent, and also one of the Santa Maria, the flag-ship of Columbus in his famous voyage, were shown at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. These con- tained many ancient relics, and were among the most attractive features of the fair. The vessel was one in which few men would venture to cross the ocean to-day. 20 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. Only the largest of these, the Santa Maria, of about one hundred tons burden, had a complete deck. The others were open amidships. The crews consisted of ninety sailors, and there were also thirty gentlemen adventurers and priests. With this small fleet, on the 3d of August, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, on the most memorable voyage that had ever been undertaken. The Voyage. — The fleet sailed first to the Canary Islands. One of the vessels was injured on the way, and the expedi- tion was detained there a month for repairs. On the 6th of September they again sailed boldly into the " Sea of Darkness," as the Atlantic was then commonly called. As the land faded from the eyes of the sailors some of them burst into tears, and the boldest were full of superstitious fears. What monstrous creatures they would meet in those untried waters, what black fogs or terrifying visions they would encounter, none could tell. They might glide down a watery curve up which no ship could climb again. They might reach the edge of the earth's surface and plunge to swift destruction. The wind w^hich carried them onward blew steadily to the west. Could they return against this persistent wind? The unknown lay before them, and the unknown is the abode of terrors. New Difficulties. — As they went on the compass to which they trusted for safety ceased to point directly to the north.^ Here was a new cause for fear. Ten days after leaving the Canary Islands they entered what is now known as the ^ It has long been known that the needle of the compass does not always point directly north. The magnetic pole is hundreds of miles away from the north pole, and only where the two poles are in a line does the needle point north. In other places it points east or west of north. In Spain at that day the needle pointed nearly due north, and hence the sailors were alarmed to see it deviate. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 21 Sargasso Sea. Here were vast tracts of sea-weed which filled them with fresh terror, for they seemed to be in a shallow sea, in which the vessels might be wrecked on bars or plunge deep into mud-banks.^ Signs of Land. — Columbus alone kept firm of heart, and did his utmost to cheer up his despondent followers. He shrewdly deceived them as to the distance they had gone. As they went on, signs of land ap- peared. Pelicans and other birds were seen. The clouds looked Hke distant shores. But as day by day passed with- out land appearing the crews lost all hope, and secret plans were made to throw their leader overboard and sail for home again. Fortunately, the signs of land grew more de- cided. A branch with fresh berries was seen floating by. A carved stick was picked up from the waters. Other floating objects were observed. Hope replaced despair. At length, about ten o'clock on the evening of October 11, 1492, Columbus The Ships of Columbus. ^ The Sargasso Sea is now known to be due to great currents in the Atlantic, which here whirl round in a vast circle and carry to this point floating sea-weed from far-distant waters. The weed remains alive and many small ocean animals dwell in its midst. 22 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. saw a distant light, which moved as if it were carried. At two o'clock on the following morning the glad cry of " Land !" came from one of the other vessels. A sailor had seen land in the clear moonlight. When day broke the joyful mariners beheld close before them a low, green shore, on which the sunlight gleamed like the beacon light of hope. The voyage was at an end. A new world lay before their eyes. On Shore in the New World. — On the morning of Fri- day, the 12th of October, 1492, the happy discoverer set foot on the shores of the new land. He was clad in a full suit of armor, and bore in his hand the royal ban- ner of Spain. The brothers Pinzon (pen-thdn'), captains of the other vessels, bore banners of the green cross, a de- vice of his own. Kneeling on the shore, he kissed the ground with tears of joy, while the mutinous members of the crews fell weeping at his feet and humbly begged his pardon. Rising, he took possession of the land in the name of the monarchs of Spain, and gave it the name of San Salvador.^ It was an island he had discovered, as he soon learned. It was inhabited by a gentle-faced people, of reddish com- plexion, and unlike any men Columbus had seen in his many voyages. They had a few gold ornaments, and were .asked by signs where gold was to be found. In reply they pointed to the southward. The simple islanders supposed the ships to be great white-winged birds, and believed that their white-faced visitors had come from heaven. The Voyag'e Continued. — Leaving San Salvador, the fleet ^ The natives called this island Guanahani (gwd-nd-hd^ne). It was one of the group of the Bahamas, but it is not sure which. Most prob- ably it was the one now known as Watling's Island. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 23 sailed southward, passing other islands, and soon reaching the great islands of Cuba and Hayti. On the latter island, which Columbus named Hispaniola, the Santa Maria was wrecked. Here Columbus built a fort and planted a small colony, and then set sail for Spain. The Belief of Columbus. — Columbus never dreamed that he had discovered a new continent. He believed that it was Asia he had reached. The islands he thought to be either those of Japan or others off the coast of India. Cuba he supposed to be the mainland of India. He therefore called the dark-skinned natives Indians. By this name, which is based on a wrong conception, they are still known. He asked everywhere for the spices, jewels, and gold of Asia, and was disappointed in finding none. He sent par- ties into the interior, and was astonished that no trace of the cities or civilization of Asia could be discovered. He sent an expedition into Cuba to visit a great chief, whom he supposed to be the King or Khan of Tartary. To the day of his death he believed that it was Asia he had reached. Reception of Columbus in Spain. — Columbus reached the port of Palos on his return on the 15th of March, 1493. The news of his discovery spread rapidly through the land, and was hailed everywhere with joy. Wherever he ap- peared exulting crowds gathered and the bells were loudly rung. His journey to Barcelona, where the court then was, seemed like a triumphal procession. The king and queen received him with the highest honor, and listened in wonder to the story of his discoveries. He displayed to them the gold, the xiew plants, the unknown birds and beasts, the curious weapons and utensils, of the new- discovered country, and nine of the natives whom he had brought to Spain. In the end the monarchs fell on their 24 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. knees and thanked God for the honor conferred upon their kingdom by this great achievement. Further Honors. — Columbus was given the title of Don and treated as a grandee of Spain. He rode in the streets at the king's side. On sea he ranked as admiral, and in the new world he was the king's viceroy, and was to receive a tenth of all the gold, precious stones, and other valuables found and an eighth of all the profit by trade. Thus ended the famous enterprise through which a new continent was discov- ered and great glory and wealth were conferred upon Spain.^ ^ The remainder of the story of Columbus has no immediate con- nection with the United States, and may therefore be disposed of in a note. He made three more voyages to this country. In the second (1493-96) he discovered many more islands. He started on a third in 1498. In this he discovered the mainland of South America and the mouth of the great Orinoco River. Meanwhile, his government of the colonies had made him many enemies. He also offended the king and queen by sending five ship-loads of Indians to Spain to be sold as slaves. They were all sent back, and a new governor was sent to His- paniola. This man seized Columbus and his two brothers and sent them in irons to Spain. On his arrival in that country great indigna- tion was aroused by the outrage, the offending governor was removed, and the property of Columbus restored. His office of viceroy was not restored. He always afterward kept hanging in his room the fetters which had been placed on his limbs, and requested that they should be buried with him. He sailed on a fourth voyage in 1502, in which he traversed the Caribbean Sea and sailed far along the coast of Honduras. He still hoped to find the riches of India, but in vain. He returned to Spain in 1504, where he was treated with shameful neglect and reduced to poverty. He died May 20, 1506. He was first buried at Valladolid, but his body was removed in 1513 to Seville, and in 1536 to the city of San Domingo in Hayti. In 1796 what were supposed to be his remains were taken to Havana. This was probably a mistake, for in 1877 a leaden coffin containing human bones was found under the Cathedral of San Domingo, which bore the inscription in Spanish, ^'Illustrious and renowned man, Christopher Columbus." THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 25 Enslavement of the Natives. — The feeling of displeasure which Queen Isabella displayed when Columbus sent Indians as slaves to Spain was not shared by the Spanish colonists. The natives were everywhere reduced to slavery, and were treated with such barbarity that they rapidly perished. In time they all disappeared from the islands ' which had so long been their own, and negro slaves were brought from Africa to take their place. Naming the Continent. — Many adventurers made their way to the new land which Columbus had discovered. One of the earliest of these was an Italian named Amerigo Vespucci {ah-md-re'go ves-poot'che)^ a native of Florence in the service of Spain, who made several voyages to this country, and published an account of his observations in 1504. This was used in 1507 by a German geographer named Martin Waldseemliller in a little book called "An In- troduction to Geography." In it was this sentence : "And the fourth part of the world having been discovered by Amerigo or Americus, we may call it Amerige, or America."^ Discovery of North America. — Columbus was not the first to discover the continent of America. He first saw the mainland of South America in 1498. That of North ^ The name by which these islands are known, the West Indies, arose from the mistaken idea of Columbus that they formed part of India in Asia. ^ Vespucci had sailed far south along the coast of Brazil, and it was thought that, while Columbus had discovered Asia, he had discovered a continent south of Asia, It had long been supposed that there was such a continent, which was known as the " fourth part of the world." Thus it was to Brazil that the name America was first given. After- ward it was applied to all South America. Finally it became the name of the northern continent also. Thus without any intention Columbus was deprived of the honor of giving his name to the great continent he had discovered. 26 DISCOVERY AND INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. America had been seen the year before. In 1496, John Cabot, an ItaUan residing in Bristol, England, proposed a voyage to the new-discovered country. He was aided and encouraged in this by Henry VII., King of England, and set sail westward in May, 1497. He first saw land on June 24 of that year. Where this land was we do not know. Some think it was Labrador, others Cape Breton Island. He sailed hundreds of miles along the coast, his purpose being to find a northern passage to Asia. He discovered instead a new continent. Sebastian Cabot's Voyage. — The next year his son Sebastian, who had accompanied his father, sailed to America with several ships, and traced the coast for a long distance. He reached the region of icebergs on the north, and sailed south as far as Cape Hatteras, or perhaps to a still lower latitude. He laid claim to all the land dis- covered for Henry VII. of England.^ Honors to the Cabots. — The Cabots gained great honor, but little profit, from their discovery. John Cabot went about dressed in silk, and was known as the " Great Admiral." Sebastian was also much honored, and was called " The Great Seaman." He lived to become an active explorer, and made afterward several important voyages of discovery in the service of Spain. 