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                              GREAT EVENTS

                                   IN

                              THE HISTORY

                                   OF

                        NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA;

                            FROM THE ALLEGED

                      DISCOVERY OF THE CONTINENT,

                 BY THE NORTHMEN, IN THE TENTH CENTURY,

                                   TO

                           THE PRESENT TIME;

        WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EMINENT MEN CONNECTED WITH
                           AMERICAN HISTORY.

                        BY CHARLES A. GOODRICH,

    AUTHOR OF "UNITED STATES' HISTORY," "LIVES OF THE SIGNERS OF THE
            DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE," &c., &c.

          ILLUSTRATED WITH UPWARDS OF TWO HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS,

           CHIEFLY FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS, BY EMINENT ARTISTS.

                               HARTFORD:
                       PUBLISHED BY HOUSE & BROWN

                                 1851.




      ENTERED, ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1849, BY
                          CHARLES A. GOODRICH,
      IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF CONNECTICUT.

                               FOUNDRY OF
                           S. ANDRUS AND SON,
                               HARTFORD.

                                PRESS OF
                          WALTER S. WILLIAMS,
                               HARTFORD.




                                PREFACE.


The plan of the following work, whatever may be thought of its
execution, will commend itself, it is believed, to the taste and
judgment of the public. It proceeds upon the principle of _selection_,
being chiefly confined to the _Great Events_ of American History, and
which are treated of as _distinct subjects_. In these respects, the
work differs from other historical works on the same subject.

The advantages of a work thus constructed, are too obvious to need
specification. Yet, it may be remarked, that great events in history
are like great objects in nature and art. It is the bolder features of
a country--the more costly and imposing edifices of the city--the
higher and more elaborate achievements of art--upon which we delight
to dwell. In like manner, great events attract our attention and
interest our minds, because of their relations--because of the higher
qualities of mind which, perhaps, gave them birth, and the striking
and lasting changes which grow out of them. They serve as landmarks in
our drift down the stream of time. We date from them. We refer to
them. We measure between them. We compare them one with another--their
causes, progress, influences; and, in so doing, our knowledge of men
and things is advanced--our false opinions are corrected--our topics
for interesting and profitable speculation and reflection greatly
multiplied. A thorough perusal of a work thus constructed will secure,
it is believed, a more competent and permanent knowledge of the
history of a country, than some half-dozen readings of that history,
written on the ordinary plan.

The principle of selection will render the work the more valuable to
certain classes of persons--to those who, desirous of a competent
knowledge of the history of their country, have but a limited time to
devote to the study of it; to the young, whose minds are apt to become
wearied and perplexed with the number and details of minor events; and
to those who wish to refresh their recollections, without the labor
and loss of time incident to the perusal of works constructed on the
common plan. Each of these classes will find their interests consulted
in the work before them, while the general reader may profitably
proceed from the perusal of such a volume to those which describe
events and details more minutely.

In regard to what constitute the 'Great Events of American History,'
there may be some diversity of opinion. As to _his_ selection, the
author has not the vanity to suppose that it is the best that could be
made. The journey has been a long one; and surely, it were not strange,
if some events had been magnified into an undue importance; while those
of perhaps even higher consideration were neglected, either for want of
a better judgment, or for want of more serious reflection.

In the progress of the work, the author has endeavored to do justice
to the original settlers of the United States, and their immediate
descendants, by bringing into view their constant sense of their
dependence upon God. It will be seen that our forefathers were men who
feared God--who sought his blessing in all their great enterprises;
and when success crowned those enterprises, that they were ready to
acknowledge His good hand which had been with them. In seasons of
darkness, they fasted and prayed: in seasons of prosperity, they
rejoiced and gave thanks.

In these respects, our ancestors did, indeed, only their duty; but, it
may well be urged upon the rising generation, which will soon take the
management of the affairs