Outlines of American history: from the first discovery to the present time. For families and schools
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CCCC fC4L^:^<^< ; iBRARY OF CONGRESS, i !| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. OUTLINES AMERICAN HISTORY FROM THE FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE PRESENT TIME. FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. 3i®iti) Numerous Hnarabfiifis, aUESTIO.\S FOR THE EXAMINATION OF PUPILS. PHILADELPHIA THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO AND CAREY & HART^ 1845. n 5 PREFACE. The design of giving an Outline of the History of the United States, in which the principal facts should be succinctly and clearly set forth, was suggested by the successful manner in which the same thing had been already done in reference to the History of Rome, and of England, which form a part of this series. The writer has adopted these able outline histories by way of model, using the best authorities attainable for his facts. The style is necessarily condensed ; but it is believed to be sufficiently clear for the comprehension even of the younger students of history. Questions are appended at the end of the work for the convenience of instructors and pupils in our common schools, and embellishments suited to the character of the work. It is submitted, with all deference, to the judgment of a candid public. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by Carey & Hart, in the office of tlie clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 6 z ^^ CONTENTS. Chap. I. The Discovery. — The Northmen. — Columbus. — Vespucci. — The Cabots. — Ponce de Leon. — Ver- razani. — Gomez, — Cartier. -- De Soto. — Ribault. — Frobisher.— Drake.— Gilbert Page 7 II. Settlement of America. — Raleigh. — Gosnold. — Gil- bert.— Weymouth. — Settlement of Virginia. — Smith. — Harvey. — Berkeley. — Bacon's Rebellion. — Cul- peper. — Old French War. — Washington 15 III. Settlement of Quebec. — Hudson. — Settlement of New- York. — Argall. — Van Twiller. — Kiefl. — Stuyvesant. — Nicholls. — Lovelace. — Andros. — Leisler, — Slough- ter. — Massacre at Sclienectady. — French War 23 IV. Settlement of Massachusetts. — The Pilgrims. — Car- ver.— Charles II. — James II. — Andros. — William and Mary.— Old French War.— The Stamp Act.. . . 29 V. Settlement of Delaioare. — Printz. — Risingh. — Stuyve- sant.— Carr. — Penn. — French War 37 VI. Settlement of Connecticut. — Andros 43 VII. Settlement of Maryland. — Baltimore. — Clayborne, — Settlement of Rhode Island. — Roger Williams. — Andros 47 VIII. Settlement of New Hampshire and Maine. — Mason and Gorges. — Cranfield. — Andros ', 56 IX. Settlement of North Cfarolina. — Raleigh. — Lane. — Berkeley. — Locke's Constitution. — Indian Massacre. — The Regulators. — Settlement of South Carolina. — Sayle. — Moore. — War with the French and Spa- niards.— Indian Wars 64 X. Settlement of Neio Jersey. — Berkeley and Carteret. — Andros. — Penn. — Barclay. — Cornbury. — French War. — Morris. — Franklin 73 XI. Settlement of Pennsylvania. — William Penn. — De- claration of Independence 78 1* (V) Vi CONTENTS. XII. Settlement of Georgia. — Oglethorpe. — War with Spain. — Wright. — Kevolution 84 XIII. Summary of Events before the Revolution. — Frencli War. — Braddock's Defeat. — Stamp Act. — Convention of Delegates 89 XIV. The Revolution. — Buttle of Lexington. — Retreat from Concord. — Bunker Hill. — Siege of Boston. — Fort Moultrie. — Long Island. — Trenton. — Prince- ton. — Brandywine. — Retreat to Philadelphia. — Battle of Germantown. — Surrender of Burgoyne. Baron Steuben. — Retreat of the British from Philadelphia. — Storming of Stony Point. — Capture of the Serapis. — Countess of Scarborough. — Battle of Camden. — Revolt among the troops.— Retreat of La Fayette. — Washington moves South. — Siege of Yorktown. — Surrender of Lord Corhwallis. — General Greene 96 XV. The United States. — Washington. — Adams. — Wayne. — French W ar. — Jefferson. — Aggressions on American Commerce. — The Non-Intercourse Act. — Madison. — The Little Belt.— Battle of Tippe- canoe 1 22 XVI. The War of 1812.— Surrender of Hull.— Consti- tution and Guerriere. — United States and Ma- cedonian.— Wasp and Frolic. — Constitution and Java. — Hornet and Peacock. — Operations on the Lakes. — Frenchtovvn. — Fort Meigs. — Battle of Lake Firie. — Outrages on the Atlantic frontier. — Battle of Tohopeka. — Capture of Fort Erie. — Battle of Phittsburg.— Battle of Lake ChampLiin. Burning of Washington. Negotiations of Peace. Battle of New Orleans. Treaty of Ghent 128 XVII. 77'e United Slates since the War of 1812.— Algiers. — Monroe. — Florida War. — La Fayette's Visit. — Adams. — Black Hawk War. — Jackson. — Florida War. — Van Bnrcn. — The Canadian Rebel- lion. — Harrison. — Tyler. — North-Eastern Bound- ary.— Annexation of Texas. — James K. Polk 154 Sailing of Columbus. CHAPTER I. THE DISCOVERY. The Northmen. — Columbus. — Vespucci. — The Cabots. — Ponce de Leon. — Verrazani. — Gomez. — Cartier. — De Soto. — Ribault. — Frobisher. — Drake. — Gil- bert. It has been believed by many that America was not unknown to the ancients ; and from certain passages in the works of some of the writers of antiquity, as well as from the coincidences in the lang-uag-es and customs of the nations of the old and new continent, plausibliJ reasons have been advanced in favour of this theory. Whatever knowledge, however, the inhabitants of Europe possessed of America, no traces of it existed at the period of the revival of letters ; and it was geneially (7) e COLUMBUS. supposed that the Canaries, or Fortunate Islands, formed the western boundary of their world. Towards the end of the tenth or the beginning of the eleventh century, the northern coast of America was discovered by the Northmen, who attempted to colonize it; but the colonists, being neglected by the mother country, were soon either exterminated by the hostilities of the savages by whom they were surrounded, or driven to preserve their lives by amalgamating with them. For the knowledge of this great continent now pos- sessed by the civilized world, we are, however, in- debted to the genius and enterprise of Christoval Colon, a native of Genoa, better known to us by the name of Christopher Columbus*. From a long and close appli- cation to the study of Geography, this great man had obtained a knowledge of the true figure of the earth, far beyond what was common to the age in which he lived. Another continent, he believed, necessarily, existed to complete the balance of the terraqueous globe; but he erroneously conceived it to be connected with that of India, or a continuation of the same continent. This error arose from the construction of the maps of that period, which represented the oriental countries of Asia as stretching vastly farther to the east than actual observation has proved them to extend. Having fully satisfied himself of the theoretical truth of his system, his adventurous spirit made him eager to verify it by experiment. For this purpose he applied to the senate of Genoa, developing his views, and representing the advantages which would accrue to the republic from the possession of a new route to the great source of opulence. The Genoese, however, treated the idea as absurd and chimerical, and rejected the proposal with contempt. Although disappointed in this first attempt, Columbus was not discouraged. He made application to the court iif Portugal, which had, in that age, greatly distinguished * His real name was Colomb, buf he latinized it into Columbus, and after his adoption by Spain, changed it according to the lan- guase of that country to Colon, COLUMBUS. 9 itself by favouring the spirit of discovery along the African coast. Here he met with an additional mortifi- cation, from an attempt to anticipate him in the enter- prise, which, however, proved abortive at an early period. Disgusted with the treachery designed against him, he would not listen to the entreaties of the kmg of Portu- gal; but through his brother Bartholomew, he applied to Henry VII., of England, for support in his project. The voyage of Bartholomew was long, and the cautious prudence of the king great, so that he could not make known his favourable disposition to Columbus until the discovery was effected, and another snatched the wreath of glory which might have immortalized him. As a last resource, Columbus now presented his scheme to the court of Spain. After eight years of anxious solicitation and contemptuous neglect, he at last obtained a gleam of royal favour on his bold and original project. The interest of Queen Isabella, vv^ho gene- rously pledged her own jewels, that she might aid him, procured him three small vessels, witn which he set sail from the port of Palos, in Andalusia, on the 3d of August, 1492. He steered directly for the Canaries, whence, after having refitted as well as he could, his crazy and ill-appointed flotilla, he again sailed on the 6th of September, keeping a due westerly course over an unknown ocean. Several days passed without a sight of land, and the anxieties of the sailors arising from this circumstance, were heightened by the variations of the compass, then first perceived. An open mutiny took place, which required alt the courage and address of the great navigator to quell it. They pursued their course ; but when thirty days had elapsed, without any indication of an approach to land, both officers and men joined in a second revolt. Columbus was forced partially to give w^ay to their remonstrances. He consented to return, if, after pro- ceeding three days longer, nothing appeared to confirm his expectations. With these assurances they again proceeded, and, about midnight, on the 11th of October, Columbus, who was standing on the poop, discovered a 10 COLUMBUS. Landing of Columbus. light ahead. Morning displayed the joyful sight of land ; and the sailors were now as ardent in their expressions of repentance and admiration, as they had before been insolent and ungovernable. The Island of St. Salvador, one of the Bahamas, was the first part of America where they had landed. From the rude poverty of the inhabitants, Columbus soon perceived that he was still at a distance from the shores of India. The island of Cuba was next discovered, and although no gold waa found, the natives pointed to the east, where, in an island which they called Hayti, this metal was sai 1 to abound. Columbus proceeded in that direction, and dit^covered Hayti on the 6th of December. Here he found some specimens of gold; and leaving some men to form a colony, he returned to Spain. On his arrival, he immediately proceeded to court, where he was received with admiration and respect. The glory and benefit which promised to result from tho discovery, rendered the government eager to forward hia CABOT. 11 design. A fleet of seventeen sail was prepared ; and Columbus, who was now appointed viceroy of all the countries he should discover, departed on his second voyage, accompanied by many persons of rank and dis- tinction. During the progress of this voyage, he dis- covered the islands of Dominica, I\]ariegalante, Guada- loupe, Montserrat, Antigua, Porto Rico, and Jamaica. The success of this great man, did not fail to excite envy and intrigue against him, at the court of Spain. An officer was sent to act as a spy over his actions ; and Columbus soon found it necessary to return to Europe, for the purpose of defeating the machinations of his ene- mies. He afterwards made several voyages to the New World, and touched at the continent at the mouth of the river Orinoco, in South America ; not, however, before the continent had been discovered by an English navi- gator. Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine, a man of science and genius, who had sailed with Columbus, visited the con- tinent m 1499, but made very little addition to the former discoveries. He, however, published on his return, the first description of the new countries that had appeared, and the injustice of mankind has given his name to the whole continent, an honour to v/hich Columbus was so much more justly entitled. The fame which Columbus had gained by his dis- coveries, spread through Europe, and inspired many with a similar spirit of enterprise. As early as the year 1495, John Cabot, a Venetian, obtained from Henry VII., of England, a commission for himself and his three sons, " to navigate all parts of the ocean, for the purpose of discovering islands, countries, regions, or provinces, either of Gentiles or Infidels which have been hitherto unknown to all Christian people ; with power to set up his standard and to take possession of the same as vassals of the crown of England." Such were the terms of this grant, which rivalled the bulls of the papal see, in tlie extent of the power and authority it professed to confer. In pursuance of this commission, John Cabot sailed from England in 1496, carrying with him his three 12 CAEOT. sons. His voyage was intended for liie discovery of a north-west passage to China, but terminated by -his fall- ing in with the north side of the coast of Labrador, which he traced northerly as far as the 67th degree of latitude. In the succeeding year, he made a second voyage, on board a ship furnished by Henry VII., and accompanied by four small barks provided by the merchants of Bristol. Of this voyage, Sebastian, his second son, had the direction. Cabot discovering the Continent. On the 24th of June, 1497, he discovered a large island, to which he gave the name of Prima Vista, or the First Seen. It is now called Newfoundland. He then changed his course, steering to the north ; but meeting with land in that direction, and finding no ap- pearance of a passage to India, of which he was in search, he tacked about, and stood to the south, following the coast as far as Florida. In 1502, he again visited Newfoundland, and on his return carried several of the natives of the island home to England, where they were exhibited to Henry. PONCE DE LEON — FERDINAND DE SOTO. 13 Eleven years afterwards, Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, sailed from Puerto Rico northwardly, and discovered the continent in 30'^ 8' north latitude. He landed on Eas- ter day, whence, according to some, Florida derives its name ; hut, according to others, it was so called from the verdure and bloom, with which, at that season the country was covered. For many years, the name was applied to the whole of the continent. Several years now elapsed without any further pro- gress being made in the discovery of North America. The French, who had not displayed the same spirit of enterprise as their neiglibours, entered the lists in 1524. In that year Francis I., sent John Verrazani, a Floren- tine, to America, for the purpose of making discoveries. He traversed and explored the coast from latitude 28 degrees to 50 degrees north ; but in a second voyage, some time after, was unfortunately lost. In 1525, Stephen Gomez, the first Spaniard who came upon the North American coast, with a view to discovery, sailed from Groyn, in Spain, to Cuba and Florida, thence north- ward to Cape Razo, in 46 degrees north latitude, in search of a northern passage to the East Indies. In the spring of 1534, a fleet was fitted out at St. Ma- loes, in France, by direction of Francis I., with the de- sign of attempting discoveries. The command of the fleet was given to James Cartier. He arrived at New- foundland, in May of the same year. Thence he sailed northwardly, and on the day of the festival of St. Law- rence, he found himself in the midst of a wide gulf, which he named the St. Lawrence. He gave the same name to the river which empties into it. In this voyage he sailed as far north as latitude 51 degrees, expecting in vain to find a passage to China. In the following year he sailed up the river St. Lawrence as far as the falls. He called the country New France ; built a fort, in which he spent the winter, and returned the following spring to France. On the 12th day of May, 1539, Ferdinand de Soto, with nine hundred men, besides sailors, sailed from Cuba, having for his object, the conquest of Florida. 2 14 CARTIER — RIBAULT GILBERT. On the 30th of May, he arrived at Spirito Santo, from whence he travelled into the interior, and died on the banks of the Mississippi. Cartier, in the next year, made a third voyage to Canada, built a fort, and began a settle- ment in 1541 or lb^2, which he called Charlebourg. tw^elve miles above Port vSt. Croix. He soon afterwards broke up the settlement and sailed for Newfoundlami. In 1542, Francis La Roche was sent to Canada, by the French king", with two hundred men, women, and chil- dren, but returned with his colony the next spring. In 1550, a number of adventurers sailed for Canada, but were not afterwards heard of No other attempt ap- pears to have been made to settle Canada during this century. In 1562, a French squadron, under the command of John Ribault, arrived on the coast of Florida, and dis- covered a river, which is supposed to be the St. Mary's. As he coasted northward, he discovered several other rivers, one of which he named Port Royal. The attempts to find a north-eastern passage to India having failed, the English sent out, in 1576, Captain Frobisher, to find a north-western passage. The first land which he made was a cape, which he named Queen Elizabeth's Foreland. In coasting northerly, he discovered the straits which bear his name. The two following years, he made a second and third voyage, which produced no material dis- covery. In the same year. Sir Francis Drake, being on a cruise against the Spaniards in the Pacific ocean, landed on the continent of North America, northward of California, took possession of a harbour, and called the surrounding country New Albion. Three years after- wards. Sir Humphrey Gilbert obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth for lands not yet possessed by any Christian prince, provided he would take possession within &ix years. In 1583, he sailed to Newfoundland, and took formal possession of the continent of North America, in the name of the crown of I]ngland. In pursuing his discoveries, he lost one of his ships on the fchoals of Sable, and on his return home, a storm overtook him, in which he was unfortunately lost. Settlement at Roanoke. CHAPTER II. Raleigh. — Gosnold. — Gilbert. — Weymouth. — Settle- ment of Virginia. — Smith. — Harvey. — Berkely. — Bacon's Rebellion. — Culpeper. — Old French War. — Washington. In 1584, a patent was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Ralei^^h, by the authority of which, he sent out a colony the next year. They arrived on the coast, and anchored a few leag-ues from Roanoke Island. Here they landed, and took posssession of the country on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, calling- it, in honour of her, Virginia. This colony returned to England in 1586, with Sir Francis Drake. Another attempt was (15) 16 GOSNOLD — GILBERT — WEYMOUTH. made in the year last mentioned, to establish a colony in Virginia, but with similar ill success. A third at- tempt, made in 1587, also failed : the colonists perished miserably ; having either died of famine, or been mas- sacred by the Indians. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, with thirty-two per- sons, made a voyage to North Virginia, as it was then called, and discovered and named Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands. Attempts were made to form a settlement in the vicinity, but without suc- cess ; and it is believed that, at the beginning of the sevente<Mith century, there was not one European family settled on all the vast extent of coast, from Greenland to Florida. In 1608, Bartholomew Gilbert, in a voyage to south Virginia, in search of the colony, which was left there in 1587, landed near Chesapeake Bay, where, in a skirmish with the Indians, he was slain. In the same year, the king of France granted by patent to M. de Mons, all the country from the 40th to the 46th degree of north latitude, under the name of Acadia. In 1605, George's Islands and Pentecost harbour, were discovered by Captain Weymouth, who soon afterwards entered a large river, now supposed to be the Kennebeck or Penobscot. In 1606, James 1. divided Virginia into two colonies, the northern and southern, which were granted to different companies. One of these companies was called the Plymouth Company, and to them was en- trusted the settlement of New England. The other was called the London Company. This latter company, in December, 1606, sent out three ships from London, with one hundred and five persons, to effect a settlement in the country, granted to them by a patent by James I. After a tedious and circuitous passage, they entered Chesapeake Bay, in April, 1607. On a peninsula, a little distance up James River, thej' began their settlement, calling the place Jamestown ; both the river and town being named after James I. The colony soon began to experience some of the hard- ships incidental to new settlers. Their provisions be- 17 Smith showing the Compass. gan to fail ; and mismanagement, added to famine, brought the colony to the brink of ruin. To the great exertions and talents of Captain John Smith, one of the most distinguished persons connected with the early history of this country, the colony is indebted for its pre- servation. His resolute and persevering spirit pre- vailed on the adventurers not to abandon the settle- ment, while his activity and courage provided the means of continuance. An incident, which occurred durinir this period, has lent to his history the attractions of romance. While on an exploring journey in search of provisions, he was taken prisoner by a large party of Indians, who determined to put him to death. His c in- ters, however, were diverted from their purpose by his showing them a pocket conipass, and explaining its pro- perties. He was conducted to the king Powhatan, who after a short detention condemned him to death. His head was placed upon a stone, and the savages were 2* IS LORD DELAWARE. about to beat out his brains witli clubs, wlien Pocahon- tas, the daughter of the principal chief, Powhatan, after in vain implorin<^ mercy for him, rushed forward, and resting her head upon that of the captive, and clasping his body with her arms, appeared determined to share his fate. Powhatan relented, and soon afterwards per- mitted Smith to return home. Two years afterwards, when the Indians had plotted the destruction of the whole colony, Pocahontas, faithful to the attachments she had formed, disclosed the plan to the English ; and the Indians, finding them on their guard, abandoned the project. Such was the distress of the colony, in 1610, that the survivors had actually embarked on their return to Eng- land, when Lord Delaware, who had been appointed governor the preceding year, under a new charter, ar- rived with a supply of provisions, and one hundred and fifty men. Under this governor and his successor, the affairs of the infant settlement were administered with so rnucli prudence and vigor, that it soon began to ac- quire solidity and strength. Useful industry succeeded to their previous habits of indolence ; and, aided by a fertile soil, they were enabled to raise large stocks of provisions. In 1619, the first legislature was convened, eleven townships or boroughs, sending representatives, counties not then being laid off*; from which circum- stance the lower house was first called the house of burgesses, which name it retained until the revolution. About this period upwards of twelve hundred additional emigrants arrived, among whom were one hundred and fifty young women, who were sold to the planters for wives, at one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco each. In 1620, were introduced the first negro slaves. They were imported in a Dutch vessel, and were soon followed by many others. In 1622, a dreadful massacre of the settlers took place. They were surprised by the Indians, who destroyed three hundred and forty-seven persons. Fortunately, a friend- ly Indian gave previous notice to the inhabitants of Jamestown, in time to put them on their guard, other- HARVEY BERKELEY. 19 wise the whole settlement, probably, would have been destroyed. To the distress occasioned by this horri- ble act, succeeded a famine, which was, however, alle- viated by the arrival of provisions from England. A reinforcement of settlers, arriving- at the same time, a g-eneral war was levied against the savages ; and, in a short time, most of the neighbouring tribes were exter- minated. On the 15th of July, 1624, James I. suspended the powers of the London company by proclamation, re- sumed the charter, and issued a special commission for the government of the colony. All legislative and ex- ecutive powers were vested in these commissioners, from whose arbitrary regulations, the colony suffered se- verely. So oppressive was the government of Sir John Harvey, appointed in 1629, that the people seized and sent him to England, a prisoner. He was succeeded by Sir William Berkeley, who called an assembly of the burgesses, and governed the province with mildness and prudence. At the commencement of the civil war in England, when the contest was so violent between the king and the parliament, as to bring Charles I. to the scaffold, the Virginians adhered to the cause of the monarch ; and, refusing to acknowledge the authority of the common- wealth, a formidable armament was sent over by the par- liament, in 1651, to reduce them to subjection. Unable to offer any effectual resistance, the Virginians were compelled to submit, but did not lay down their arms, until they had secured their most essential rights, by a solemn convention, entered into between the commission- ers of the parliament, and the governor, council, and burgesses of Virginia. The principal stipulations were, for the enjoyment of the ancient limits of the colony, as granted by the charters of the former kings ; for a free trade ; an exemption from taxation ; the exclusion of military force without the consent of the Grand Assem- bly ; and the privilege of using the book of common prayer for one year, omitting those parts which relate to kingship. During the existence of the conunonwealth 20 BERKELEY. of England, the governors of Virginia were all elected by the assembly. In 1658, a severe conflict arose be- tween the governor and council and the house of bur- gesses. The former liaving ordered a dissolution of the assembly, they peremptorily refused to be dissolved, and displaced the governor and all the council, but afterwards elected the same governor. On the death of Cromwell in 165S, his son Richard was acknowledged as his suc- cessor. But, he resigning in 1658, and it being uncer- tain what kind of government might be adopted in lilng- land, the assembly of Virginia, in March, 1660, declared, that, " there being in England no resident, absolute, and general confessed power," did expressly take the pov/ers of government into their own hands, " until such a com- mand and commission came out of England, as shall by the assembly be adjudged lawful." They then elected Sir William Berkeley, governor, with injunctions that he should govern according to the ancient laws of England and the established laws of the colony; directed that all writs be issued in the name of the Grand Assembly ; and made it the duty of the governor to call an assembly once in two years, or oftener, if necessary ; gave him the liberty of making choice of a secretary, and council of state, with the approbation of the assembly ; restrained him from dissolving the assembly, without the consent of the majority of the house ; all laws, inconsistent with the government then established, were repealed ; and penalties imposed for speaking or acting in derogation of it. The religion of the Church of England was also declared to be the established religion of the colony ; all ministers were ordered to conform, or were not permit- ted to " teach or preach publicly or privately ;" and the governor and council were authorized to compel nan conformists to leave the colony with all conveni^t speed. The effects of the navigation act, and other measures of a similar nature, adopted about this time, were severely felt by the trade of Virginia. In addition to this cause of discontent, the landed proprietors were alarmed by the conduct of the kin"- in grantino- to his courtiers larsfo BACON — BERKELEY LORD CULPEPER. 21 tracts of land, the titles to which had been regularly vested in others. From these causes rose an insurrec- tion memorable in the history of Virginia, and known by the name of Bacon's Rebellion. Colonel Nathaniel Bacon, an eloquent and ambitious man, put himself at the head of the people who had assem- bled, with the ostensible object of engaging in hostilities against the Indians. An injudicious step on the part of the assembly, then sitting, in advising the governor to issue a proclamation of rebellion against him, deter- mined their purpose. They marched to Jamestown, and, after dispersing the assembly, Bacon called a con- vention, and assumed the reigns of government. A civil war now ensued with all its horrors. Jamestown was burnt by Bacon's followers, and many parts of the colony were given up to pillage. At length, after several months of bloodshed and confusion, Bacon sud- denly died. The loss of this man proved the ruin of his party. The people returned to their homes, and the authority of Berkeley was re-established. It was long, however, before the prosperity of Virginia was restored. Husbandry had been neglected, and licentious habits introduced, which many years of order did not eradi- cate. Soon after these events, Berkeley returned to Eng- land, and w^as succeeded by Lord Culpeper, who brought with him several bills, drawn up by the ministry in Eng- land, to which he required the assent of the legislature, on pain of being treated as rebels. The object of these acts, which were ratified, was the increase of his official emoluments; and the effect was the oppression and im- poverishment of the people. During the reign of Charles II., and his successor James, Virginia suffer- ed in common with her sister colonies, from the en- deavours of the Stuarts, to extend their despotic sys- tem across the Atlantic, and rejoiced in the change of government which drove them from the throne. In 1683, during the administration of Lord Culpeper, print- ing was prohibited in Virginia. For a considerable period after the revolution of 1688, Virginia enjoyed great internal tranquillity, and experi- 22 WASHINGTON. enced nothing to interrupt her growth. In the year 1732, she g-ave birth to the most illustrious of her sons, the great statesman and patriot, who was destined after- wards to achieve the independence of all the colonies. During- the wars between France and England, prior to 1754, her local situation exempted her from hostilities. From 1754 to 1758, when the French began to put into operation their schemes for uniting Canada and Louis- iana, the frontiers of Virginia were harassed by incur- sions of French and Indian parties, to repel u hich, a regiment was raised, in which Washington first distin- guished himself. On the conclusion of peace, when the British attempted to raise a revenue within the colonies, the statesmen of Virginia were among the first to raise the voice of opposition. The eloquence and talents of her orators contributed greatly to excite public feeling on this occasion. The services and sufferings of Vir- ginia, in the war of the revolution, were probably as great as those of any other state ; and in Virginia, the last important measure of the war took place, in the sur- render of Cornwall is. John Smith. Settlement of Q,aebec. CHAPTER III. Hettlement of Quebec. — Hudson. — Settlement of New York. — Argall. — Van T wilier. — Kieft. — Stuyve- ■sant. — Nicholls. — Lovelace. — Andros. — Leisler. — Slaughter. — Massacre at Schenectady. — French War. In 1608, M. de Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence, and settled Quebec. In 1608 or 1609, Henry Hudson, a native of Eng-land, but at that time in the service of the Dutch East India Company, discovered and sailed up the noble river which still bears his name. The earliest effectual settlement in this s-tate was made by the Dutch, in 1613, on the island of Manhattan, now called, New York. Their jurisdiction, however, was soon interrupt- ed ; for, in 1614, Captain Artjall, returning- to Virginia from Nova Scotia, visited the Hudson, when the Dutch, beingr unable to offer resistance, submitted to the (23) 24 KIEFT — STUYVESANT— "MCKOLLS. English government. The next year, a nnmber of ships arrived from Holland, and restored the Dutch authority. The settlers began to fortify themselves on the island, which is now covered by the city of New York, and extended their possessions in a few years to the Delaw are and Connecticut rivers. In 1621, the States General made a grant of the country, by the name of New Netherlands, to the West India Company. The first governor under the company, was Wouter Van Twiller, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam, as New York was then called, in 1629. William Kieft, the second governor, was engaged in frequent disputes with the neighbouring colonies. He protested, without success, against what he considered the encroachments of the English in Con- necticut, and on Long Island ; and, in 1640, broke up their settlements at Oyster Bay by force. Peter Stuyvesant was the third and last governor of the New Netherlands. His administration was, like that of his predecessor, a period of contest, both of words and weapons. The people of New England on the east, and the Marylanders and Swedes to the south and west, kept him constantly employed either in negotiation or warlike enterprises. An agreement was, however, made re- specting boundaries, with the people of Connecticut ; and the Swedes on the Delaware were compelled to submit to his authority ; but the entire Dutch govern- ment in North America, soon afterwards passed away. In 1664, Charles II., of England, urged by the repre- sentations of the neighbouring English colonies, granted to his brother, the duke of York, a patent for a large tract of country, including New York and New Jersey, and provided him with the means of obtaining possession of it. A considerable force, under the command of Colonel Nicholls, arrived in the harbour of New York, in August, 1664, and summoned the province to surrender to the British crown, offering the inhabitants protection in their persons and estates. Governor Stuyvesant, an old and brave soldier, determined to make all the defence of which the place was capable, and, aware of the pacific disposition of the inhabitants, refused them a sight of the NICHOLLS — ANDROS. 25 summons, lest the easy terms offered should induce them to capitulate. Nicholls, however, published a proclama- tion, which wrought so much upon the people, that the governor, finding himself unsupported, was reluctantly- obliged to yield. The English forces took possession, first of the town of New York, and afterwards of Fort Orange, on the Hudson, which last received the name of Albany, after one of the titles of the duke of York. An expedition was immediately sent to theDelaware ; and, taking possession of the forts and places in that quarter, the English jurisdiction was extended and con- nected over Nevv^ York and New Jersey. The authority of Nicholls over New York was supreme ; but it appears to have been exercised with justice and moderation. He was succeeded by Colonel Lovelace, under whose administration the Dutch again obtained a short-lived ascendency. In 1673, some Dutch ships arrived at Staten Island; the commander, finding the forts not in a state of defence, landed a body of men, who entered the town without resistance. The whole province renewed the oath of allegiance to the states general, only to be absolved from it again in a short time ; for, on the conclusion of the treaty of peace, in 1674, between Holland and England, a formal cession of the whole territory was made to the latter. The Duke of York, on this event obtained from the king a new patent for the same tract of country, which had been granted, in 1664, and constituted Sir Edmund An- dros governor-general. Under the administration of this tyrannical deputy. New York was governed for several years as a conquered country, without any other laws than such as were ordained by his sole authority. At length, in 1683, permission was given to elect re- presentatives ; and the people, for the first time, took a part in the government. The oppressive measures of James II. and his representative Andros, predis- posed the inhabitants of New York, in favour of the change, which was then taking place in England. On the news of the imprisonment of Andros, by the people of Boston, Leisler, a captain of militia, collected a body 3 26 LEISLER SLOUGHTER. of men, and seized the port of New York, in the name of the Prince of Orange. The Lieutenant-governor, Nicholson, absconded, and Leisler, who had been joined by several officers of militia, assumed the chief com- mand of the province. The people of the southern part of the colony submitted readily to his authority; but those of Albany and its neighbourhood, though profes.s- ing to adhere to William and Mary, refused to acknow- ledge the government of Leisler. A force was therelbr^ sent against Albany, which compelled the opposition in submit. In this state of things, Colonel Sloughter ar- rived from England, with a commission from King Wil- liam, as governor of the province. Leisler, who had become intoxicated by success, refused to surrender hi:> authority, and attempted to hold out the fort against the English commissioner. He was, however, deserted by his party; apprehended with some of his adherents; and, together with his son, was condemned to death and executed. The English revolution was productive of great ad- vantages to New York. An assembly was called by the governor ; and a bill of rights formed, by which the trial by jury, and an exemption from all taxes, not im- posed by the representatives of the people, were estab- lished. For many years the province enjoyed repose, and made rapid advances in prosperity and population. In the wars which arose with the French of Canada, and the frontier Indians, at the conclusion of the seven- teenth century, the province embarked with no less zeal than the other colonies, and suffered severely in the conflict. Repeated incursions by the savages, in the pay of the French, rendered the frontier settlements a scene of desolation and bloodshed. In 1690, in the dead of night and winter, a sudden attack was made on the town of Schenectady, near Albany, and an indiscriminate mas- sacre of the inhabitants took place. Sixty-seven per- sons were put to death, and many lost their lives or their limbs, in their flight to Albany. Harassed by these in- cursions, the people of New York, joined readily in the attempts to effect the reduction of Canada. la 1709, DEFEAT OF DIESKAU. 27 and again in 1711, they contributed largely in men and money, to aid the British expedition, which failed through the incapacity of the British commanders. Defeat of Dieskau. The frontiers of New York were again the theatre of hostilities, in the war which ended in 1763. In 1755, a French army, under Dieskau, invaded the province from Montreal, and was met by a body of New England and New York troops, under Sir William Johnson, one of the council of New York. A warm engagement (^n- siied, which ended in the repulse of the French, with great loss on both sides. In 1757, Fort William Henry, on Lake George, was taken by Montcalm. In the suc- ceeding year, an unsuccessful attack was mane on the French at Fort Ticonderoga, by General Abercrombie. In 1759, however. General Amherst captured Ticon- deroga and Crown Point; and General Johnson, after 28 NEW YORK. defeating a French army, took Fort Niagara. The surrender of Canada, in 1760, relieved the province from the chief impediment in the way of its advancing im- portance. Between this period and the memorahle era of inde- pendence, we meet with few important events to narrate in the history of New York. The people of this colony opposed as strenuous a resistance to the stamp act, of 1765, and to the subsequent measures of the British government, as their sister provinces. In 1767, the assembly refusing to provide quarters for the British troops, according to an act of parliament, a bill was passed for restraining the assembly from proceeding in business, 'until they had complied with the act. This severe and oppressive measure, naturally excited indig- nation throughout the continent. In 1769, resolutions were passed by the assembly, similar to those of the other assemblies, upon the subject of the attempt of the British government to impose taxes on the colonies. The Declaration of Independence was assented to by the New York delegates in Congress ; but many of the principal inhabitants were inclined to favour the royal cause. The city of New York was taken possession of by the British army, early in the contest, and remained in their possession until the treaty of peace. The state, generally, was the theatre of hostilities, daring the greater part of the war. Arms of Massachusetts. CHAPTER IV. Settlement of Massachusetts. — The Pilgrims — Carver. — Charles 11. — James 11. — Andros. — Willitm and Mary.— Old French War.— The Stamp Act. To the Plymouth company was entrusted the coloni- zation of the country lying between the 38th and 45th degrees of north latitude. This company was unfortu- nate in its early attempts. Its first ship was captured by the Spaniards. A party of about one hundred per- sons landed safely in 1607, but were so much reduced in number by the severity of the winter, and the diseases of new settlements, that in the succeeding' spring they abandoned the country, and several years elapsed before the company renewed the undertaking. Religious fer- vour, however, effected what commercial enterprise had failed to accomplish. In 1620, a congregation of English puritans, whom oppression had driven to Holland. 3 * (29) 30 THE PILGRIMS. obtained from the London Company, a grant of lands within their charter, and, to the number of one hundred and one, sailed from Plymouth for the river Hudson, on vhose banks they intended to settle. They Vv'ere carried farther north, however, and landed near Cape Cod, at a place, to which they gave the name of New Plymouth. Their first care was to form a system of civil g-overnment. They chose John Carver for their governor, and, to aid him in the discharge of his duties, appointed an assistant. The number of assistants was increased some years afterwards to seven. The supreme power resided in the whole body of the inhabitants, and Landing of the Pilgrinis. it was not until 1639, that they established a house of representatives. In imitation of the primitive Christians, they threw all their property into a common stock; but the experience of the mischiefs arising from this politi- cal copartnership, soon induced them to relinquish it. In 1630, they obtained from the Plymouth Company, a grant of the land on which they had settled. THE PILGRIMS. 31 The settlement of Massachusetts did not advance with much rapidity for some years, although detached parties, driven over by the persecutions of the high church, es- tablished themselves in ditferent places. Salem was the first permanent town erected, and shortly afterwards Charlestown was built. A fresh spring was given to the exertions of the Plymouth Company, by the grant of a new royal charter in 1628, and the removal of the powers of government to New England, which had been previously exercised in the mother country. The num- ber of emigrants now began to be considerable. In July, 1630, seventeen ships arrived at Salem with fifteen Settlement of Boston. 32 THE PILGRIMS. hundred persons, by some of whom, the foundation of Boston was laid. The early years of the new colony were passed in a complication of troubles. The suffer- ings which they experienced from the severity of the chuiate, and the difficulties of the soil, were aggravated by the hostility of the natives, and the equally hostile attempts of the British government upon their civil and religious freedom, by contests with their French neigh- bours in the north, and by tiieir own mistaken policy and lamentable dissensions. The civil policy of the settle- ment was not at all to the taste of the English monarchs of the kStuart line. In 1635, Charles I. appointed com- missioners, with absolute power, " to make laws and con- stitutions, concerning either the state, public, or the utili- ty of individuals." Two years after this, he forbade emi- gration to the plantations, to all who should not conform to the discipline of the church of England; and in 1638, a quo warranto was issued against iVlassachusetts, upon which judgment was given against the colonies, without affording them a hearing. The state of affairs at home, however, prevented any further prosecution of these de- signs, on the part of the British government. 