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Bequest of

Prof. H. A. Sophocles,

22 Jan. 1887.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1835, by William Watson, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Connecticut.

CONTENTS.

Origin of the North American Union,

Questions on Chap. I. with Explanations,

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INTRODUCTION.

THE principal design of this book is to place within the reach of the youth of our country, the means of learning and understanding the Constitution of the United States.

To carry this design into effect, it was necessary to give a brief historical account of the causes which led to the union of the states under one government; to show what were the political maxims and sentiments of our fathers when our national Independence was first declared; to exhibit the form of government of which the country first made trial, the defects of that government in its operation; and the causes and manner of the formation of the government which now exists under the Constitution.

The arrangement of the work is, accordingly, historical. The first chapter traces

the origin of the Union; the second contains the Declaration of Independence, the third, the Articles of Confederation; and and the fourth, the Constitution of the United States. The student will thus observe the leading events of our general government in the order of time in which they occurred. This is indispensably necessary for understanding the Constitution in its true spirit. Without knowing what precedes, we cannot comprehend what follows. Without a knowledge of the old Confederation, and of the evils which then afflicted the country, we can neither understand nor appreciate the remedy which was provided for them by the adoption of the Constitution.

To suit the work to the convenience both of the instructor and pupil, Questions are appended to each chapter, interspersed with Remarks and Explanations.

Questions are essential in order to direct the attention of the learner to the points which he ought to learn. Let him first read the lesson carefully. Then, let him observe what the questions are, and search

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