but they conferred little power on Congress. It could recommend, but not enforce; it could only advise action, leaving the States to do as they might please. Bitter jealousy existed among the several States, both with regard to one another and to a general government. The popular desire was to let each State remain independent, and have no national authority. A heavy debt had been incurred by the war. Congress had no money and could not levy taxes. It advised the States to pay, but they were too jealous of Congress to heed its requests. “We are,” said Washington, “one nation to-day, and thirteen to-morrow." In New England, large bodies of men assembled, refusing to pay their taxes and openly threatening to overturn the government. This insurrection, known as Shays's Rebellion, from the name of its leader, was put down by the militia under General Lincoln. Constitution Adopted.-Under these circumstances many of the best men of the land felt the need of a stronger national government. A convention was called in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. Washington was chosen president. After much deliberation* they adopted an entirely new constitution (September 17, 1787). During the ensuing year the government was organized under it, and in 1789 went into full operation. During the next Epoch we shall notice the growth of the country under the wise provisions of this constitution. *The new constitution met with the most violent opposition. The people were divided into two parties-the Federalists and the anti-Federalists. The former favored the constitution and sought to increase the powers of the national government, and thus strengthen the Union at home and abroad. The latter wished the authority to rest with the States, opposed the constitution, were jealous of Congress, and feared too much national power lest a monarchy might be established. The nation was agitated by the most earnest and thoughtful as well as the most virulent speeches on both sides. Within the year (1788) nine States had ratified the constitution. This was the number necessary to make it binding. Rhode Island was not represented in the convention, and did not accept the constitution until 1790. Summary of the History of the Third Epoch, arranged in Chronological Order. 1765. The Stamp Act passed, March 8, 1766. The Stamp Act repealed by Parliament, March 18, . 1767. A tax imposed on tea, &c., June 29, . 1768. British troops arrived at Boston, September 27, 1770. Boston Massacre, March 5, All duties except on tea repealed, April 12, 1773. The tea thrown overboard in Boston Harbor, Dec. 16, 1774. "Boston Port Bill" passed, March 31, delphia, First Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1775. Battle of Lexington, April 19, Ticonderoga taken by Allen and Arnold, May 10, Washington elected commander-in-chief, June 15, Washington took command of troops before Boston, Montreal surrendered to Montgomery, November 13, Battle of Quebec-Montgomery killed, December 31, 1776. Boston evacuated by British troops under Lord Howe, 106 106 110 111 111 108 111 111 112 March 17, 112 1778. Battle of Monmouth, June 28, PAGE 127 American Independence acknowledged by France, Feb. 6, 126 French fleet arrived in Narraganset Bay, July 29, 1779. Stony Point captured by General Wayne, July 15, Paul Jones's victory, September 23, Savannah besieged by Americans and French, September D'Estaing and Lincoln repulsed at Savannah, October 9, 1780. Charleston surrendered to British, May 12, Battle of Hanging Rock, S. C., August 6, Battle of Camden, August 16, André executed, October 2, Battle of King's Mountain, October 7, 1781. Richmond burned by Arnold, January 5, Battle of the Cowpens, January 17, Greene's celebrated retreat, January and February, Treaty of Peace signed at Paris, September 3, 128 128 129 139 New York evacuated by British, November 25, 142 1787. Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts, . 143 Constitution of United States adopted in Convention, Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution - Spencer's History of the U.S.- Garden's Anecdotes of the Revolution — Grace Greenwood's Forest Tragedy — Campbell's Gertrude of Wyoming (Poem) -Halleck's Wyoming (Poem) — Simms's Life of Marion; also his Series of Historical Tales - Bryant's Song of Marion's Men and SeventySix (Poems) - Maggon's Orators of American Revolution - Headley's Washington and his Generals—Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry — G. W. Greene's Historical View of American Revolution and Life of Gen. Greene - Parton's Life of Benjamin Franklin-Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride and Pulaski's Banner (Poems) Headley's Life of La Fayette - Hawthorne's Ticonderoga (Twice Told Tales) · Mrs. Ellett's Women of the American Revolution Watson's Camp Fires of the 1 Revolution-Raymond's Women of the South Sabine's Loyalists of the American Revolution-Lee's War in the Southern Department-Drake's American Flag (Poem) - Street's Concord, Bennington, and American Independence (Poems) - Dwight's Columbia (Poem) - Washington's Farewell Address - The Declaration of Inde pendence (see Appendix) - Sears's History of the American Revolution - Frenean's Poems-Life of General Joseph Reed, by Wm. B. Reed-Coopers' novels (The Spy, The Pilot and Lionel Lincoln) - Motley's Morton's Hope and Paulding's Old Continental (novel)-Winthrop Sargent's Life of Andre and Loyalist Poetry of the Revolution - -Moore's Songs and Ballads and Diary of the Revolution - Whittier s Rangers (Poem) - Hawthorne's Septimius Felton (Fiction) - Winthrop's Edwin Brothertoft (Fiction) - Barnes's Brief History of France-Barnes's Centenars History of United States. TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.-The Treaty with Great Britain (Sept. 3, 1783) fixed the boundaries of the United States as the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes. From this, however, was to be excluded Florida, which belonged to Spain, and the part of Louisiana east of the Mississippi. The Thirteen Colonies occupied only a narrow strip along the Atlantic sea-board. Pennsylvania was a frontier State, with Pittsburg as an advanced military post. The interior of the continent as far as the Mississippi was called the Wilderness. These broad lands belonged to the States individually. (See second note, p. 40.) They were finally generously given up to the young confederacy. (See second note, p. 194, and article on Public Lands, Harper's Magazine, Vol. 42, p. 219.) In 1787, the great region north of the Ohio was organized into the Northwestern Territory. (See notes, p. 201.) This was slowly settled. As late as 1819 even the Territory of Michigan was thought to be a "worthless waste." The Province of Louisiana was purchased of France in 1803 (p. 156). Little was known of the country thus acquired, and that same year it was said "The Missouri has been navigated for 2500 miles; there appears a probability of a communication by this channel with the Western Ocean." Florida was purchased of Spain in 1819 (p. 173, and remarks bottom of p. xii, Appendix). Texas was annexed in 1845 (p. 205). The Mexican cession of 1848 gave the United States California and several other States (p. 206-8). Alaska, the latest acquisition, was purchased in 1867. EPOCH IV. DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATES. From 1787-the Adoption of the Constitution, То WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION. (FIRST PRESIDENT-TWO TERMS: 1789-1797.) ASHINGTON'S Inauguration (April 30, 1789).—In the choice of the first President of the United States all hearts turned instinctively to Washington. With deep regret, he left his quiet home at Mount Vernon for the tumults of political life. His journey to New York* was a continual ovation. Crowds of gaily-dressed people bearing baskets and garlands of flowers, and hailing his appearance with shouts of joy, met him at every village. On the balcony * New York was only temporarily the capital. At the second session of Congress the seat of government was transferred to Philadelphia, where it was to remain for ten years, and then (1800) be removed to the District of Columbia, a tract of land ten miles square ceded for this purpose by Maryland and Virginia. Here a city was laid out in the midst of a wilderness, containing only here and there a small cottage. In 1800 it had eight thousand inhabitants. The "Father of his country" laid the corner-stone of the capitol (1793.) The part of this District on the Virginia side of the Potomac was (1846) ceded back to that State. + George Washington was born February 22, 1732; died December 14, 1799. Left) fatherless at eleven years of age, his education was directed by his mother, a woman of strong character, who kindly, but firmly, exacted the most implicit obedience.) Of her, Washington learned his first lessons in self-command. Although bashful and |