^ liii^ti iiiiiHiimHumm I i Class ;',. 1^^ Book__LX Gopyii^htN^. Book ^yug. COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr OUR COLONIAL HISTORY FROM THE DISCOVERY TO THE REVOLUTION {For FIFTH GRADES) BY OSCAR GERSON, Ph. D. t^ PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE ^,^« &-:■■ KiBHARY of OONd-iESS' M/< •"• -out AXCi No. Copyright. 1908 HINDS. NOBLE & ELDREDGE CONTENTS PART I. — Discovery and Exploration PAGE Introduction. — Early Ideas i Chapter I. — Columbus 7 § I. Geographical Ideas at the Time of Columbus 7 § 2. Efforts to Obtain a Fleet 1 1 § 3. Discovery of America 14 Chapter 11. — Spanish Discoveries 19 Chapter 111. — English Discoveries 29 Chapter IV. — French Discoveries 33 Chapter V. — Dutch Discoveries 39 Chapter VI. — The American Indians 43 Summary 49 PART 11. — English Colonies in America Introduction. — Planting the Colonies 53 Chapter VII. — The Southern Colonies 55 § I. Virginia 55 § 2. Maryland 66 § 3. The Carolinas • 7° § 4. Georgia 73 § 5. Life in the Southern Colonies 75 Summary^ 11 iii iv CONTENTS PAGE Chapter VIII. — The New England Colonies 79 § I. Massachusetts 79 § 2. New Hampshire and Maine 88 I 3. Rhode Island and Connecticut 89 § 4. Troubles with the Indians 93 § 5. Life in New England 94 Summary 99 Chapter IX. — The Middle Colonies loi § I. New York loi § 2. New Jersey 107 ^ 3. Pennsylvania and Delaware 108 § 4. Life in Middle Colonies 117 Summary 119 PART III. — The Establishment of EngHsh Supremacy in America Conflict of Claims 120 Chapter X. — The Intercolonial Wars 123 § I. The Struggle for Acadia 123 § 2. The Final Contest 125 Summary 134 Chapter XL — Colonial Life and Government 136 § I. Life in Colonial Times 136 § 2. Government of the Colonies 145 PART I DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION NTRODUCTION I . Early Ideas of the Extent of the World.— About four or five hundred years ago there were no white people living in America. The only inhabitants of that continent were savage The World as Known to Colum- bus (light parts only were know^n). Indians and Eskimos. The people of the white race lived in Europe, western and southern Asia, and northern Africa. 2 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Eastern Asia was inhabited by people of the yellow race and nearly all of Africa was inhabited by negroes. The white people of Europe were the most highly civilized of all the people on the globe. Although they had schools and colleges, they did not know very much about the extent of the world. The school-children of to-day know much more about geography than wise men knew at that time. They had no idea that there was such a place as America; neither did they know anything about Australia or Oceanica. In fact, when they spoke of the world, they thought about only those parts in which they lived — Europe, southern and western Asia, and northern Africa. 2. New Interest in Geography. — Between the thirteenth and fifteenth century, however, some of the learned men of Europe began to take great interest in geography. They wanted to find out about all parts of the earth. Just as explorers to-day are trying to reach the North Pole, so the navigators of those days felt very anxious to visit new parts of the earth. 3. The Adventures of Marco Polo.— As early as the thir- teenth century two brothers, Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, started on a long journey from their native city, Venice. Nicolo 's son Marco, a boy of seventeen years, also went with them. After a long trip through Asia, across mountains and over deserts, they reached the northwestern part of China. Here they met the ruler of that country, the famous Kublai Khan. He treated the Polos in a friendly manner, and they grew very rich during their stay in his country. At last they came back to Venice. They had been gone twenty-four years and their own friends did not recognize them. INTRODUCTION 3 Marco Polo had grown to be a stout, middle-aged man. After they had been home a few days they gave a dinner party and invited some of their old friends. At the close of the banquet they brought out three old coats. Ripping them open, out fell diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other kinds of precious stones. The guests opened their eyes wide with astonishment. The story spread rapidly, and the people of Europe were now more anxious than ever to visit eastern Asia, where the Polos had obtained all this wealth. Later Marco Polo wrote a book about his travels. It was eagerly read all over Europe. It contained descriptions of ^v" \i A Caravan. China, Japan, India, and the islands of eastern Asia. The people of Europe thus found out more about these lands than they had ever known before. 4. The Trade with Eastern Asia.— The merchants of 4 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Europe, particularly those of the South, along the Mediterra- nean, now began to carry on a profitable trade with eastern Asia. They bought silks, spices, medicines, costly woolens, etc. Vessels sailed along the Mediterranean to Constantinople, and from there an overland journey was made through Asia. Venice, the city of Marco Polo, became one of the wealthiest ports on account of this commerce. By the middle of the fifteenth century, however, this trade had been almost stopped. There was a new ruler of China, who was not so friendly to foreigners as Kublai Khan had been. In fact, he would not allow any white people to enter China at all. About this time the Turks began to get control of the eastern Mediterranean. They were Mohammedans and hated all Christians. They were ferocious warriors and they thought it no sin to rob a Christian vessel. In 1453, when the Turks conquered Constantinople, the Christian merchants of Venice and other Mediterranean seaports were unable to continue their profitable trade. 5. New Routes to India. — When the people found that they no longer could get to eastern Asia by the overland route through Constantinople, they began to seek some other way to reach these wealthy lands. The Suez Canal connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea had not yet been con- structed, and even if it had been, European merchants w^ould have been afraid to send their goods that way, on account of the Turks. One of the first ways thought of was to sail around Africa. At that time no one had ever sailed around Africa and no one knew its shape nor how far south it extended. 6. The Portuguese Navigators. — It was natural that naviga- tors of Portugal, the most southwestern country of Europe, INTRODUCTION should make the first attempts to sail around Africa. At that time most people believed that in the Torrid Zone the ocean was boiling, and that any ships sailing so far south would surely be melted by the intense heat. The Portuguese, however, were bold and daring sailors, and decided to make the at- tempt to get to Asia by this southern and eastern route. Their ships were small and crude affairs, no larger than sailing yachts of to-day and not nearly so well built. Many voyages were made along the western coast of Africa. The sailors found out that the ocean at the Equator was not really boiling. Some of the vessels brought back gold and slaves from the western coast of Africa. In 1487 Bartholomew Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope and sailed around to the Indian Ocean. His crews were so worn out from the long and stormy voyage that they made Dias turn back. It was not until ten years later, 1497, that another Portuguese navigator, Vasco da Qama, succeeded in sailing around Africa to the Indian Ocean and eastward across that ocean to India. 7. Another Route Suggested. — Up to the time of da Gama's voyage, the merchants of Europe had not been able to find a new route to eastern Asia; and they still did not dare to use A Ship of those Days. DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION the old route for fear of the Turks. Geographers began to ask, "Isn't there some other and perhaps a shorter way of reaching India?" The voyage around Africa had not yet been successfully made when an Italian navigator named Christopher Columbus said that he had thought out another way of reaching India. In the next chapter we shall learn something about the route he wished to try. CHAPTER I CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS § I. GEOGRAPHICAL IDEAS AT THE TIME OF COLUMBUS 8. Ideas about the Shape of the Earth. — Four hundred years ago nobody knew what the real shape of the earth was. There had been different guesses at different times, but that is all they were — just guesses. The earth looked flat, and so almost every one thought that it was flat. Hundreds of years before the fifteenth cen- tury, however, there were learned men who be- lieved that the earth was not flat. They had writ- ten books in which they had tried to prove that the earth was round. The theories of these ancient writers were not believed by most people, but there were some geographers who thought that they might be true. They were anxious to find a new route to India and were willing to get help from any book, no matter how long ago it had been written. 7 Columbus. (From original portrait by Antonio Van Moor, 1542.) DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION 9. Columbus's Interest in Geography.— One of the geogra- phers of the time was the Itahan, Christopher Columbus. He had been a poor boy, who loved to visit the wharves of his native city, Genoa, and listen to the stories told by the sailors. He soon became a sailor himself and later a captain. His Young Columbus Listening: to Sailors' Tales. native land, Italy, had suffered greatly through the stopping of the commerce with the East. There was no one in Europe more anxious than Columbus to find the new route. Columbus was particularly well fitted for the task. During his many voyages he had become an experienced navigator. He had also studied all the books about geography that he could find. The adventures of j\Iarco Polo had interested him deeply. There w^ere few men in Europe who knew as much about geography as Christopher Columbus. For a while he made his living by drawing maps and charts. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS Columbus had something besides experience and knowledge. He had courage, patience, and a stout heart. Knowledge alone never enabled a man to achieve any great success. Had it not been for the bravery and perseverance of Columbus, his name would long ago have been forgotten. 10. Fear of the Unknown Sea. — Columbus was one of those who believed that the earth was round. He did not know its real shape, but thought it was something like a pear. North The Earthly Paradise West The Earth as Columbus Thoug'ht it (Pear Shaped). East South "Now," said Columbus, "if the earth is round, why could not India be reached by sailing west?" This certainly seemed a sensible idea. Although there were some who agreed with Columbus, most people still thought that the earth was flat. They would not venture far out on the ocean for fear of reaching the edge and falling off. Besides, they were superstitious and believed in various kinds of sea-serpents and other monsters which might swallow up or destroy the ships out on the unknown sea. The Turks of the eastern Mediterranean were bad lO DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION enough, but still they were human beings, while the imaginary creatures of the distant seas filled them with uncanny horror. 11. Mistakes Columbus Made. — After Columbus had made up his mind that India could be reached by sailing west, nothing could make him change his opinion. Many people ridiculed his ideas and some even thought he was crazy. Children on the streets would make fun of him, tapping their foreheads Toscanelli's Map. to show that they thought he had lost his senses. Columbus was not the kind of man to be discouraged by ridicule; in fact, this opposition made him all the more determined to prove to everybody that he was right. We now know that Columbus made some mistakes. He knew that the earth was round, but he did not know how CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS • II large it was. He was also ignorant of the existence of the continent of America. About four hundred years before this time, some bold sailors of Norway — Vikings, as they were called — had sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, landing in Greenland and on the coast of what is now New England. But nothing ever came of these discoveries. Even learned geographers had either never known or had forgotten about them. It is likely that &v^\! ^ %^: ., iNDIEj Showing how Columbus Hoped to Reach India. Columbus had never heard of the Norse voyagers. He never dreamt that there was any large body of land in the Atlantic between Europe and Asia. §2. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A FLEET 12. Columbus in Search of Aid. — About 1470 Columbus left Italy and went to Portugal. Here he learned much of the attempts to sail around Africa to India. He himself went on several of these voyages, gaining more knowledge and experi- ence. The thought of reaching India by sailing west now 12 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION became the principal idea in the mind of Columbus. Not a day passed but what he wondered how he could manage to secure ships to make this voyage. Columbus had not money enough to fit out ships for himself, so he tried to get help from others. At first he applied to King John II. of Portugal and told him his plans. But the King's advisers thought the idea was foolish and persuaded the monarch not to furnish the ships. Columbus then turned his back on Portugal and journeyed to Spain. He left his home, wife, and children, taking with him only his oldest son, then a mere boy. In Spain he laid his plans before the King and Queen, Ferdinand and Isabella. But they had more pressing business on hand. Spain was at that time in the midst of a war with the Moors — Mohammedans who had crossed over from northern Africa and conquered southern Spain. The King and Queen were determined to conquer these Moors and drive them out. As the monarchs travelled about from place to place, Columbus followed them, begging for assistance. At last the Moors were conquered. All Spain was over- joyed at the victory. Ferdinand and Isabella now had time to listen to Columbus and consider his plans more seriously. After seven weary years of patient waiting, Columbus received the aid he had so long been seeking. He had made some good friends in Spain and they used their influence with the King and Queen. Besides, the Spanish monarchs were afraid that England or some other nation of Europe might fit out ships for Columbus and thus gain possession of any land that might be discovered. 13. Fitting out the Fleet.— After it was decided that Spain CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 13 was to fit out the fleet for Columbus, it was no easy matter to get the crews for the vessels. The sailors of those days were afraid to venture out on the Sea of Darkness, as the x^tlantic Ocean was called. All sorts of terrors filled their minds. Some of them thought Columbus crazy and were afraid to risk their lives upon his ships. We have learned that Columbus thought the earth smaller than it really is. In one way this Columbus' Ships. was a lucky mistake. If the sailors had known the real size of the earth, they would have been still more unwilling to under- take the dangerous voyage. As it was, many of them had to be forced to go. Some of the sailors were prisoners who were taken out of jail and compelled to join the crews. 14 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION The fleet consisted of three small vessels. Christopher Columbus was made Admiral or Commander of all. The name of his ship was the Santa Maria. The other two vessels were named the Pinta and the Nina. Alonzo Pinzon, a famous navigator, was commander of the former, and his brother, Vincent Pinzon, commanded the latter. § 3. THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 14. story of the Voyage. — Early in the morning of August 3, 1492, the vessels left Palos, a seaport of Spain. The friends of the crew waved tearful farewells to them. They never expected them to escape the dangers of the Sea of Darkness and return alive. During the voyage Columbus found it extremely difficult to keep up the spirit of his sailors and secure obedience to his orders. After they had been out a few days some of them noticed a piece of a mast floating on the ocean. The sailors were sure that this was a piece of a wreck from some vessel which had been foolish enough to make this voyage. As they sailed on, day after day, across the unknown sea, the sailors grew more and more afraid. They wanted to turn back. But all their talk and pleading, even their threats of mutiny, could not make Columbus change his mind or his course. "Goon to the west!" was his constant command. How many men would have had the bravery and perseverance of Columbus? A reward had been offered to the man who should first see land. Imagine how eagerly they watched the western horizon! On the morning of October nth there were sure signs that land was near. A branch with berries on it and a hand- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 15 carved stick were found floating on the water. There was not much sleep on those three httle ships that night. AU were watching. During the evening Columbus noticed a moving light. It looked like a torch being carried about by some one. The next morning, October 12, 1492, land could be plainly seen. A gun was fired, and the sailors shouted with joy. IS. The Landing of Columbus. — As soon as Columbus Columbus Landing-. landed, he fell on his knees, while tears of joy streamed down liis face. He bent down and kissed the ground. Then he drew his sword, and took possession of the land for Spain. All the sailors, even those who had been plotting against him during the voyage, now crowded around him. They fell on their knees, kissed his hands, and i)romised always to obey him. 1 6 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Columbus thought that the island on which he had landed was part of eastern Asia or the Indies, as it was generally called. It was really one of the Bahama Islands. The naked savages of the islands he called Indians. This incorrect name has never been changed. The red men of America are still called Indians. Columbus cruised about the islands several days. Not finding any cities or palaces, he began to be puzzled. He had a letter from the King and Queen of Spain for the Great Khan of Cathay or China, the country that Marco Polo had written about. Little did Columbus think that he was over 10,000 miles away from Asia and that a broad continent and the vast Pacific Ocean separated him from the Indies. He had discovered a new continent, a large and rich body of land, a continent on which some centuries later would flourish great nations, one of them the United States of America. Like many other great men, Columbus had accomplished more than he himself was aware of. 16. The Return to Spain. — Columbus was greatly dis- appointed in not being able to find any gold or precious stones. He cruised about and discovered Cuba and Hayti. The Santa Maria had been wrecked, so Columbus had only the Nina and Pinta left. Leaving forty of the men who wished to stay, in a rude hut, Columbus and the remainder of his crew now started on their homeward journey. They took ten natives with them. After a stormy voyage of about seventy days, they reached Palos, Spain. They had been gone over seven months. Columbus was received with the greatest honor. The city was decorated as for a holiday. Columbus, accompanied by CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS I7 many Spanish nobles, paraded through the streets to the royal palace. Crowds cheered him on the way, and people climbed to housetops to get a glimpse of the great discoverer. The King and Queen were waiting to receive him under a canopy of gold. When they heard his story, they feU upon their knees and thanked God. They were filled with joy at gaining posses- sion of the new land. They also hoped to be able to convert the heathen inhabitants of these lands to Christianity. 17. Later Voyages and Death of Columbus. — Columbus did not have to plead seven years to be allowed to make a second voyage. A fleet of seventeen vessels was soon ready. Nor did sailors have to be forced to join the crew. Young men from wealthy families were anxious to go to see the new lands. They set sail in September, 1493. The voyage was pleasant, and they finally landed on one of the West India Islands. Colum- bus now went in search of the forty men whom he had left be- hind. There was nothing left of them but their bones. They had all been killed by the savage natives. After spending three years among the West Indies, Columbus again returned to Spain. In 1498 he made his third voyage, during which he dis- covered the mainland of South America, at the mouth of the Orinoco. But now his enemies — every great man has enemies — began plotting against him in Spain. They said he was a foreigner, that he had not kept his promise of bringing back gold and gems, and that he was unable to govern the Spanish colonies properly. At last they succeeded in having him brought back to Spain in chains. But when Queen Isabella heard the story of his hardships, she ordered him to be released. Columbus now made his fourth and last voyage to the New World. When he returned in 1504, his enemies had 1 8 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION again been plotting against him. Worst of all, his best friend, Queen Isabella, was dying. In a few weeks she was no more. King Ferdinand took but little interest in Columbus or his discoveries. The people of Spain were disappointed because the promised gold did not come from the new land. Death of Columbus. Wrinkled with age, and worn out by his hard labors, Columbus now had scarcely a friend to whom he could turn. At last, poor and despised, wanting even the necessaries of life, he died on May 20, 1506. He never knew that he had discovered a new continent, but died with the belief that he had found a new route to Asia. CHAPTER II SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 18. Other Voyages to the New World — Why they were Made. — After Columbus had shown that land could be reached by sailing west over the Atlantic Ocean, many people of Europe were anxious to make voyages to the New World. It was true that the land discovered by Columbus was very different from eastern Asia, as described by jNIarco Polo and other writers. Still its very newness made it the more interesting. Even though this was not the Indies, they thought the land of silks, spices, and precious stones could not be very far away. Spain claimed the new land by the right of discovery. But, as we shall see, the other nations of Europe were not going to remain idle and let Spain have everything. IMany of those who sailed to the New World were in search of adven- ture. They were attracted by the chance of seeing some- thing new. Others were willing to risk the voyage for the sake of gaining riches. The New World was believed to contain abundant gold, silver, and precious gems. Others wished to visit the new lands in order to convert the heathen inhabitants to Christianity. For more than a hundred years 19 Americus Vespucius. 20 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION after Columbus's discovery, there were many voyages made to the New World to try to find a passage through it to India. Of course, the explorers had no idea of the great width of the continent nor of the broad Pacific Ocean beyond it. Another reason for voyages to the New World was to gain possession of land for the native countries of the discoverers. First Use of Name America on a Map. 19. How America Received its Name. — An Italian navigator named Americus Vespucius, in the service of Spain, made three or four voyages to the New World. In 1499 he discovered the mainland of South America. On his return to Europe he published a book in which he gave a description of his dis- coveries. In 1507 a German writer named Waldseemiiller published a little book on geography. He thought that the new land should be named for Americus Vespucius. Columbus, he SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 21 said, had discovered only a few islands, while Amcricus Ves- puciiis had discovered a new continent. Of course, this was exceedingly unjust to Columbus, who surely deserved having the new world named for him. After Waldseemiiller had published his book, the name America be- gan to appear on maps of the New World. At first the name was used only for South America, but later it was applied to the whole continent. The islands which Columbus had discovered began to be called West Indies, to distinguish them from the Indies of eastern Asia. 20. The Pope Divides the New World.— Short- ly after the discoveries of Columbus, the Pope declared that the newly discovered land should be divided between Spain and Portugal. Taking a map of the world, he drew a line running north and south, a hundred leagues west of the Azores. All land east of this line not FIRST MAP OF THE KEIV^ WORLD WITH THE NAME AMERICA APPLIED TO BOTH CONTLSENTS Mercator 1541 22 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Voyages and Settlements. SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 23 belonging to any Christian nation he declared should belong to Portugal, and all land west of it, to Spain. A glance at the map will show that this gave Portugal only a small part of what we now call Brazil. 21. Ponce de Leon Discovers Florida. — There were many stories believed in those days which seem absurd to us. One of these stories, which the Spaniards had often heard, was that Ponce de Leon Discovering Florida. there existed a wonderful fountain. Whoever bathed in its waters, it was said, would remain young and live forever. Ponce de Leon, a brave soldier who had accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, was at the time living in the West Indies. Something he heard the Indians say made him 24 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION think that this wonderful fountain was situated on an island named Bimini, to the north. So he secured permission from King Ferdinand to conquer this island. In March, 1513, de Leon set sail from Porto Rico, and on the twenty-seventh of the month, Easter Sunday, he came in sight of land. The Spanish name for Easter is "Pascua Florida," so de Leon named the land Florida. He returned to Porto Rico and later, in 1521, he took a colony to Florida. Of course, de Leon never found the fountain of youth. Instead, he was mortally wounded in a fight with the Indians. 22. Balboa Discovers the Pacific Ocean. — Balboa was the Spanish governor of one of the colonies of Central America. In 1 5 13, while in search of a southwestern sea, he chmbed to the peak of a mountain in the Isthmus of Darien, the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama. To his surprise, he beheld a vast expanse of water. It was the Pacific Ocean. Probably no white man had ever seen it before. Of course, Balboa had no idea how wide this ocean really was. Some historians say that Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean was almost as important as Columbus's discovery of America. The name Pacific was given to this ocean by Magellan, another navigator, 23. Magellan — Circumnavigation of the Globe. — Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese by birth. When his native country refused to fit out an expedition for him, he offered his services to Spain. His plan was to find a passage or strait through America to the Indies. In 15 19 he set sail in the service of Spain. After a long voyage, Magellan reached the straits that now bear his name. This was in 1520. Many of the crew were afraid to proceed farther and urged Magellan to return SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 25 to Spain. But Magellan was a stout-hearted man, like Colum- bus. His answer to his men was that he would go on "if he had to eat the leather off the ship's yards." In the voyage across the Pacific Ocean the crew endured great hardships. They had to struggle against mutiny, famine, and disease. At last, on the i6th of March, the ships landed at one of the group of islands now called the Philippines. During a battle which occurred Magellan was killed, trying to protect his men. ]\Iany of the Spaniards were slain. The remainder made their escape in the ships as soon as they could. The Spaniards had at- tempted to convert the natives to Christianity. As they sailed away, they could see the natives chopping down the cross which had been set up by the Spaniards. The sailors now continued their western voyage, but w^ithout their brave leader. One of the vessels, with eighteen hungry and haggard men, succeeded in reaching Spain. This was the first ship that ever sailed around the world. To Magellan belongs the glory of proving that the world is really round. 24. De Soto Discovery of the Mississippi River.— Ferdinand de Soto was a Spanish adventurer who had helped Pizarro to conquer Peru in South America. They had forced the Indian ruler of that land to give them large quantities of gold and precious stones. Later, w^hen de Soto heard from some Spanish explorers that there were greater treasures in Florida than in any other Mag-ellan. 26 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION part of the New World, he made up his mind that he would try to secure some of this vast treasure for himself. In 1539 de Soto landed in Florida with an army of 570 men and 223 horses. The Indians were hostile, and he had to fight most of the way. Although large numbers of the red men were slain, de Soto also lost many of his own men. At last, after a weary march westward, across the southeastern part of De Soto Discovering- the Mississippi. what we now call the United States, he discovered the Missis- sippi River, 1541. De Soto was greatly disappointed at his failure to obtain the treasures and gold which he had started out to find. In 1542 he died of a fever and was buried in the waters of the SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 2'] great river which he had discovered. The remaining men of the expedition built boats, and going down the Mississippi, reached the Gulf of Mexico. They finally landed at a Spanish settlement on the coast of Mexico. 25. Spanish Settlements. — Most of the Spaniards who came to America wished to find gold or silver. As it was only in Mexico and South America that they had been able to find these precious metals, most of their colonies were established in those parts of the continent. They did not settle down c|uictly and turn their attention to agriculture. This way of getting rich was rather too slow for them. Frequently they would make raids upon Indian settlements, rob them of their gold and silver, and carry the Indians themselves into slavery. In 1565 Menendez, a Spanish commander, set out to destroy a French fleet off the coast of Florida. He made a settlement at St. Augustine. This was the first permanent settlement in this country, and is the oldest town in the United States. The French fleet was afterward driven on shore during a storm. Menendez and his men attacked the ship-wrecked sailors, killing nearly all of them. As we have learned before, one of the reasons for settling the new land was to convert the heathen natives to Christianity. West of the Mississippi River many missionary settlements were made by the Spaniards. Santa Fe, the second oldest town in the United States, was founded in 1605 by the Fran- ciscans, members of a monastic order. 26. The Spanish Claim. — As a result of the Spanish dis- coveries and explorations, especially the original discovery by Columbus and the explorations of de Leon, Spain laid claim 28 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION to a large part of America. The region was called New Spain. It included nearly all of South America, Central America, Mexico, and all of what is now called the United States, except New England. Its northern limit was indefinite, as most of the land to the north was still unexplored wilderness. CHAPTER III ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 27. Voyages of the Cabots. — Although Cohimbus had made four voyages to the New World, which he thought was Asia, he had not landed on the mainland of North America. The Discoveries by the Cabots. people of Spain and of other parts of Europe were sur- prised at the failure of Columbus to bring back the gold 29 30 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION and other treasures which they beheved were to be had in eastern Asia. John Cabot, an ItaHan navigator, was hving at that time in England. The King, Henry VII., gave Cabot permission to try to reach the land of gold and spices by means of a western voyage. Some merchants of Bristol raised the money for this purpose. In May, 1497, John Cabot started out with one vessel and a crew of eighteen to sail west as Columbus had done. He discovered the mainland of North America. Of course, he thought it was part of Asia and was disappointed at not finding gold and spices. On his return to England he was received with great honor. The next year John Cabot, accompanied by his son Sebas- tian, made another voyage to America. This time he sailed more to the north- west, hoping to reach Japan or China, but again, of course, he was disappointed. The Cabots cruised alons; the coast of North America from Canada as far south as South Carolina. Their discoveries were very important. ^''^^^- 28. Sir Francis Drake.— After the voy- ages of the Cabots not much was done by the English for a number of years. In 1577 Sir Francis Drake, a famous Eng- lish navigator and adventurer, set out on an expedition against the Spanish in America. Many of Drake's actions were of a kind for which England should feel shame rather than pride. He was really little better than a pirate. After cruising along the Atlantic coast of South America, ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 3I he sailed through the Strait of Magellan to the Pacific Ocean. He then sailed along the western coast of South America and secured a large amount of plunder on the coasts of Chili and Peru. He then sailed north as far as California, claiming this land for England. He named it New Albion. On his way home he sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, thus complet- ing the second circumnavigation of the globe. 29. The Northwest Passage. — Alagellan's w^ay of reaching India did not become very popular. It was decidedly too long and dangerous. The route around Africa had been discovered by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese. Portugal did not intend that any other nation should profit by this discovery, so she controlled all Asiatic trade carried on by this southeast route. Many navigators were now anxious to find another passage through the continent of America. It was thought by some that there might be a strait in the northern part of the conti- nent, by means of which a shorter route than Magellan's could be found. This was generally spoken of as the Northwest passage. 30. Frobisher and Davis. — Toward the end of the sixteenth century, unsuccessful attempts were made by Frobisher and by Davis, two English navigators, to find the Northwest passage. Frobisher discovered Frobisher Bay and found out considerable about the Eskimos. Davis discovered the Strait that bears his name. 31. Sir Walter Raleigh. — At about this time, an English courtier, named Sir Walter Raleigh, thought it would be a good plan to send some English people over to xA.merica to live there — in other words, he wished to plant English colonies in the New World. Queen Elizabeth was very fond of Raleigh. p DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION She gave him permission to estabhsh the colonies and made him their Governor. Raleigh sent out the first expedition in 1584. The colonists landed on Roanoke Island, on the coast of North Carolina. Raleigh named the land Virginia, in honor of Elizabeth, the virgin queen. The colonists were disappointed at not finding gold. Food and provisions were scarce, so when Drake happened to visit the island, the discouraged colonists were very glad to get on his ship and return home to England. Another attempt was made by Ra- leigh to found a colony. It met a sad fate. No one knows what became of the colonists. It is supposed that all of them were killed by the Indians. It was in this colony that the first white child was born in America. Her name was Virginia Dare. She disappeared along with the rest of the colony. The first colonists brought back to England two valuable products, the potato and tobacco. The potato soon became an important article of food all over Europe. White people soon acquired the habit of using tobacco, and large quantities were sent to Europe. It is one of the most important exports of the United States to-day. 32. The English Claim. — As a result of the discoveries of the Cabots and the voyages of Drake, the English claimed all the land in America between Labrador and Florida and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This land was at first called Virginia. Sir Walter Raleigh. CHAPTER IV FRENCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS S3. Motives of the First French Explorers. — While the Spanish explorers had sailed to the New World principally to obtain gold, another motive prompted the French. They had heard of the excellent fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland. The profits to be obtained from fishing and the trade in furs were the main causes which first led the French to visit America. The first expeditions were undertaken by French fishermen who were not under orders from the King of France. They explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 34. Verrazani. — In 1524 Verrazani, a Florentine navigator in the service of France, explored the coast of America from North Carolina to New England. He sailed up several bays and rivers in the hope that they might be straits leading to the Pacific, not, so he had to return to France, attempt to find a passage through America. 35. Cartier. — In 1534 Jacques Cartier sailed to America. He entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which he named. He then sailed up the St. Lawrence River to where Montreal now stands. Cartier gave the place this name, meaning Royal 3 33 Verrazani. Of course, they were failed in his having 34 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Cartier. Mountain, on account of the beautiful view obtained from the high hill. To this entire region he gave the name of New France, just as the Spanish had called their claim New Spain. 36. Acadia. — The first permanent French settlement in America was made at Port Royal in 1604. This was three years before the settlement of Jamestown by the English. The region from the 40th parallel to Mon- treal was called Acadia by the French. Later the name was given only to what is now called Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick. The name of Port Royal was later changed by the English to Annapolis, in honor of Queen Anne. 37. Champlain. — One of the colonists who had come tq Acadia was Samuel de Champlain. He cruised down the Atlantic Coast as far as Massachusetts. Later, in 1608, he built a fort at Quebec, which was used as a fur-trading post. Cham- plain was governor of Quebec for several years. He made many expeditions into the interior. In 1609, in company with a party of Indians, he discovered the lake which was named for him. On several occasions Champlain and his men helped the St. Lawrence Indians in their wars against the Iroquois, a powerful tribe of New York. Of course, the Frenchmen had guns which gave them a great advantage over the red men. Champlain FRENCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 35 On account of Champlain's attacks, the Iroquois always hated all Frenchmen. French missionaries who attempted to con- vert them to Christianity were cruelly tortured. This hatred of the French by the Iroquois was, a good thing for the English colonists, for it prevented the former from moving southward from Canada. In all the wars between the English and the French colonists, the Iroquois fought on the side of the English. Quebec and Citadel in Early Times. 38. The French Missionaries. — Although the fisheries and fur-trading led many Frenchmen to come to America, there were others who came for religious reasons. They wished to Christianize the natives. These missionaries were of the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church. They eagerly desired to spread Christianity over all the world. They built rude houses 36 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION or stations in the interior of the continent and on the shores of the Great Lakes. Some of them suffered severely at the hands FRENCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 17 of the Indians, but no amount of pain and misery could make them give up their reHgious work. In 1673 Marquette and Joliet sailed along the Wisconsin River in a birch-bark canoe. They reached the Mississippi, which the Indians called the "Father of Waters." Continuing on their course they went down this great river to the mouth of the Arkan- sas. There they heard such reports of the hostility of the Indians that they were afraid to go further. The upper Mississippi was explored some years later by another French missionary, Father Hennepin. La Salle. La Salle on the Great Lakes. 39. La Salle takes Possession of Louisiana. — The work 38 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION begun by Marquette was completed by La Salle. He was perhaps the bravest and most persevering of all the French explorers. He launched the first vessel that ever sailed upon the Great Lakes. La Salle discovered the Ohio and Illinois Rivers. After a few years of great hardship, he finally launched his canoes on the Mississippi River and floated down that stream to its mouth. On the 9th of April, 1682, he took possession in the name of the King of France of the whole territory from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, eastward to the Alleghanies and westward to the Pacific Ocean. In honor of his monarch, Louis XIV., he gave to this region the name of Louisiana. 40. The French Claim. — New France extended from New York to Labrador on the xA.tlantic, and embraced Acadia, Canada, and the region of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It was based principally on the discoveries of Verra- zani, Champlain, and La Salle. CHAPTER V DUTCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 41. The Trade with India. — At the time of the discoveries and explorations in America, Holland was one of the leading commercial nations of Europe. Being situated right on the Sea, the people were naturally interested in commerce and ship-building. The Dutch had long been carrying on a profitable trade with the East Indies, reaching these lands by sailing around Africa. When Portugal began to grow more powerful, the Dutch could no longer use this route with safety, and they became anxious to find another way of getting to India. 42. The Discoveries of Henry Hudson. — In spite of the numerous failures of others, the Dutch thought that they might be successful in finding a way through America to Asia. For this purpose they employed Henry Hudson, an English navigator who happened to be in Holland at the time. He be- lieved that there was a strait through the New World and he thought it was located somewhere north of the Ches- apeake Bay. In i6og, the Half INIoon, a strong litde ship set out from Holland, with Henry Hudson as commander. In the summer 39 Henry Hudson. 40 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION of the same year he reached the body of water which we now call New York Harbor. Thinking it was the strait he was seeking, he sailed up the bay and river as far north as the present city of Albany. During this trip Hudson made friends of the Indians, who came out in their canoes to visit him. As the water was no longer salt and the stream was getting much narrower, Hudson knew that this was not the The Half-Moon. long-sought-for strait. So he turned around and sailed back to Europe. Later, Hudson made another attempt to find a passage to Asia. This time he sailed in a northwest direction and discovered the bay which bears his name. His crew, however, rebelled against him and turned him adrift in an open boat. Nothing more was ever heard of him. He probably either starved or was frozen to death. DUTCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS 41 43. The Results of Hudson's Voyages.— Hudson's fcailurc to find the strait north of the Chesapeake made people of Europe give up the attempt to find a passage through that part of the continent. Another important result of Hudson's first voyage was the settlement of that part of America by the Dutch. Hudson had brought back stories of the profitable fur trade which could Hudson Abandoned. be carried on with the Indians. Many Dutch merchants now sent expeditions to the New World. Trading stations were built at what is now called New York, and up the Hudson river near the present site of Albany. The Dutch captains also explored the Atlantic coast from Delaware Bay to New England. 42 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION 44. The Dutch Claim. — As a result of the voyages of Hudson, the Dutch laid claim to the land extending from Cape May to Nova Scotia and indefinitely westward. They called this region New Nethcrland. 45. Conflict of Claims. — We have now studied something about the discoveries and explorations of the four leading nations of Europe — Spain, England, France, and Holland. If we look at the accompanying map, we can see how their claims conflicted. At first this conflict did not cause any trouble because there were so few white settlers in America.. Later, when the country became more thickly settled, the disputes as to who owned the land led to bitter quarrels and wars. CHAPTER VI THE AMERICAN INDIANS 46. How the Indians Received their Name—Their Appear= ance. — When Columbus called the natives of the country he had discovered ''Indians," he thought he had reached the East Indies for which he had set sail. Even after it became known that a new continent, and not a part of India, had been discovered, the native inhabitants of this new continent con- tinued to be called Indians, and the name has clung to them to the present day. The colonists sometimes called the Indians "red men" or "red skins" because their skins were of a dark-red or copper color. The Indians were tall and well formed. Their hair was straight, coarse, and black. They had dark eyes, high cheek- bones, and very little, if any, beard. The women wore their hair long, but the men shaved off all but a small tuft at the top that was called the scalp-lock. The Indians would tear the scalp locks from the heads of the enemies they had killed and keep them as trophies of their bravery and skill as warriors. The Indian who had the largest collection of scalps was regarded as the greatest warrior. 47. Indian Houses. — The Indians lived in rude tents called wigwams. A wigwam was made by covering a framework of poles with bark or with the skins of animals. The Indians could take up their wigwams cjuickly and a whole village could move in a day to a new place. 43 44 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION In some cases, instead of wigwams, the Indians had houses made of bark placed upon a rough framework of poles. These houses were shaped some- what like a long, low barn and were called "long houses." Inside they were divided off so that twenty or thirty families could live in one house. They had no chimneys, but there were holes in the roof through which the smoke from their fires could find its way. 48. How the Indians Lived. — The Indians depended upon hunting and fishing for most of their food. Before the white man came they used bows and arrows, heavy clubs, and a kind of hatchet called a tomahawk, made by lashing a sharpened flint to a strong handle. They soon learned from the white man the use of the rifle and the iron hatchet and other tools and gave him valuable furs in exchange for them. The Indians also did a little rude farming. They raised Indian corn, pump- kins, tobacco, and some other plants. For clothing, the Indians used the skin of animals. Their shoes, called mocca- Snow-shoes. sius. Were made of buckskin. Tomahawk. THE AMERICAN INDIANS 45 They were tough and strong and enabled their wearers to travel through the woods rapidly and noiselessly. In winter, they strapped broad, flat snow-shoes upon their feet so that they could track game without sinking in the deep snow. There was so much enmity among the various tribes that war was almost a regular occupation of the Indian men. The men also did the hunting and fishing. They made the women or "squaws" do the farming and other hard work. In order to have her hands free to work, the Indian woman would often carry her baby or "papoose" strapped to a board upon her back. The Indians decorated themselves with strings of shells or beads called wampum. They sometimes used wampum as a kind of money. They had no system of written language, but Indian Squaw. Penn's Treaty Belt of Wampum. they sometimes made use of a kind of picture-writing, drawing pictures upon pieces of bark or skin to express their ideas. 46 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION The Indians were filled with wonder at the ability of the white men to send messages by means of queer little black marks on paper. 49. The Indian as Woodsman and Warrior. — Although the Indian could not read and write, he knew the woods like a book and studied the ways of animals. He could track game successfully or follow the trail of an enemy where the white man could find no signs to guide him. He built canoes of birch bark, light enough to be carried around dangerous ra])ids or from one stream to another, yet strong enough to carry him safely. In his canoe he could glide quietly and swiftly even where the lake or river was but a few inches in depth. Before going to battle the Indian put on war-paint to make himself as terrifying as possible. The Indian was a good fighter. Although cruel and treacherous, he was also coura- geous. He would ambush his enemies, fight from behind rocks and trees, and torture horribly those whom he took captive. He faced defeat bravely and would suffer torture with surprising fortitude. He feared that his enemies jvould call him a "squaw," if he cried out or showed any sign of suffering., 50. Government and Religion. — The Indians lived in tribes governed by chiefs. The chief was always one of the strongest and bravest men of the tribe. The people obeyed his orders and he was their leader in time of war. The older men of the tribe formed a council. They would meet together and decide important matters, such as war and treaties with other tribes or with the white men. The Iroquois tribes were the most powerful in colonial times. They formed a union of the tribes between the Great THE AMERICAN INDIANS 47 Lakes and Hudson River, which they called the Five Nations. The Five Nations drove other Indians from their territory and made neighboring tribes pay them tribute. The Indians worshipped a Great Spirit. They also believed in many evil spirits, whom they greatly feared. They thought that there was another life after death, where the Indians Attacking Settlement. coward would be punished, while the brave warrior would enter upon a joyous existence in the "Happy Hunting Grounds." 51. Relations with the White Settlers. — Althoudi the 48 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION Indians were savages, they had many good quahties. They could keep their word and seldom warred upon the whites without good cause. Where the white men treated them justly, as in the case of the Friends or Quakers in Pennsylvania, the Indians lived at peace with them for many years. In other cases, especially in the New England colonies, there were fierce and bloody wars between the "red men" and the "pale faces." The French colonists got along very well with the Indians, with the exception of the Iroquois, whom they had offended. As we have learned, this exception was fortunate for the Eng- lish. The powerful Five Nations helped to keep the French from invading the territory of the English settlers. This aided the English greatly in keeping their foothold on the Atlantic coast, and in finally securing control of America. '"iA MS.. !.' it :• Vi*» IS^-V*!: L'~'^ :k &=.:« Old Gate, St. Augustine. SUMMARY 49 SUMMARY DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA About four hundred years ago, the world was believed to be flat and the existence of America was not known. Several nations of Europe had been carrying on a profitable trade with eastern Asia. They reached India by sailing east on the Mediterranean Sea and then overland through Asia. When the Turks conquered Con- stantinople, this trade with India was almost entirely cut off. The commercial nations of Europe now became anxious to find new routes to India. The Portuguese attempted to reach India by sailing around Africa. In 1487 Bartholomew Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope, and in 1497 Vasco da Qama succeeded in reaching India by sailing around Africa and across the Indian Ocean. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, Italy, was a daring navi- gator, and one of the greatest geographers of his time. He believed that the earth was round, and that India could be reached by sailing west. Columbus tried for many years to secure ships with which to make this western voyage. At last King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain fitted out three ships for him. Columbus was made admiral of the fleet. The fleet left Palos, Spain, August 3, 1492. In spite of the entreaties and the threats of the frightened sailors, Columbus firmly refused to change his western course. On the morning of October 12, 1492, land was seen. Columbus thought this land was India. It was really one of the Bahama Islands. He landed, and took possession of the country in the name of the King of Spain. On his return to Spain, Columlnis was received with great honor. He made three other voyages to the New World; in one of them, 1498, he touched the mainland of South America. 4 50 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION As gold and other treasures were not brought back by Columbus, his voyages were regarded as failures. He was neglected and despised. In 1506 he died, a poor and miserable old man. He never knew that he had discovered a new continent, but died In the belief that he had found a western route to India. SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS The new continent was named America, for an Italian navigator, Americus Vespucius. He had made several voyages to the New World, and published a book about his discoveries. In 1507 the name America first appeared on a map of the New World. After Columbus had shown the way, many expeditions were sent to the New World. These expeditions were undertaken for one or more of the following reasons: (i) To seek adventures; (2) to find treasures; (3) to carry on trade; (4) to claim land for the mother country; (5) to convert the Indians; (6) to find a passage through the New World to India; (7) to plant colonies. In 1513 Ponce de Leon, in search for the " Fountain of Youth," discovered and named Florida. In the same year Balboa climbed a mountain peak on the Isthmus of Panama, and discovered the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand Magellan set sail in search of a passage through Amer- ica to India. In 1520 he sailed through the straits which bear his name, into the Pacific Ocean. He continued his voyage across the Pacific to the Philippine Islands, where he was killed in a battle with the natives. One of the vessels succeeded in reaching Sj)ain. This was the first circumnavigation of the world. In 1 541 de Soto, while on an expedition in search of treasure, dis- covered the Mississippi River. The first permanent settlement in this country was made by the Spanish, under Menendez, at St. Augustine in 1565. Santa Fe, the second oldest town in the United States, was founded l)y Spanish missionaries in 1605. The Spanish claim (see par. 26). SUMMARY 51 ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS In 1497 John Cabot, an Italian navigator, sailed from England to the New World. He discovered the mainland of North America. In the next year, he and his son Sebasdan explored the coast from Canada to South Carolina. In 1577 Sir Francis Drake commanded a piratical expedidon against the Spanish in America. He sailed up the Pacific coast as far as California, which he claimed for England. Sir Walter Raleigh made two attempts to found colonies in Amer- ica. They were both failures. The colonists introduced the potato and tobacco into England. The English claim (see par. 32). FRENCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS Frenchmen first made voyages to the New World on account of the fisheries and fur trade. In 1524 Verrazani, in search of a northwest passage, explored the coast from North Carolina to New England. In 1534 Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River as far as Montreal. He named the entire region New France. In 1604 the first permanent French setdement in America was made at Port Royal. In 1608 Champlain founded Quebec. The next year he discovered Lake Champlain. He made bitter enemies of the Iroquois Indians. Later, this powerful tribe sided with the English against the French. Marquette, Joliet, and Hennepin explored the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley. They established many trading posts and mis- sions. La Salle discovered the Ohio and Illinois Rivers, and canoed down the Mississippi to its mouth. In 1583 he took possession of Louisiana in the name of the King of France. The French claim (see par. 39). 52 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION DUTCH DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS Henry Hudson, an English navigator, was emi)loyed by the Dutch to seek a passage through America to India. In 1609 he sailed in the Half Moon to New York Bay and up the Hudson River. He later discovered Hudson Bay. As a result of Hudson's discoveries, stations to carry on the fur trade with the Indians were established by the Dutch. The Dutch claim (see par. 45). PART II ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA NTRODUCTION 52. The Planting of Colonies. — Even while the discoveries and explorations of America were being made, several of the nations of Europe attempted to plant colonies in the New World, that is, they sent out companies of men and women to make settlements and to build homes for themselves in the newly discovered countries. Spain, England, France, and Holland were the leading nations in this work of colonization. If this book were a history of America, it would be necessary to describe a great many of these colonies, particularly the Spanish and Portuguese settlements of South America. But as it is simply a history of the United States, only the settle- mcnits in that part of America are of interest to us. As the English finally got possession of nearly the whole region now called the United States, it is the history of these English colonies which we must study most thoroughly. 53. The London and Plymouth Companies.^We have learned that the English claim had been called Virginia, in honor of Elizabeth, the virgin Cjueen. It extended from Florida to Canada and westward to the Pacific Ocean. People 53 54 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA of those days had no idea of how wide America really was. Henry Hudson and others had sailed up several eastern rivers in the hope of reaching the Pacific Ocean. In 1606, King James I., of England, chartered two com- panies, giving them the right to plant colonies within the English claim. The London Company was to have control of the land between 34° and 38° north latitude, that is, from Cape Fear to the Potomac river. This tract was called South Virginia. The other company, known as the Plymouth Company, was to control the land between 41° and 45°, that is, from Long Island to Canada. This was called North Virginia. The land lying between North and South Virginia could be colonized by either company. CHAPTER VII THE SOUTHERN COLONIES I I. VIRGINIA 54. The Settlement of Jamestown. — In 1606, the year after it received its charter, the London Company sent out three ships to America. On board these ships were nearly 150 colonists, but there were no women among them. The party was composed mostly of "gentlemen," that is, men not used to work. There were no farmers among these colonists. They had gone to America, not to work, but to get rich (juickly. With such a poor company of men there could be but little hope of a successful colony in a wilderness. Captain Newport, the commander of the fleet, had been ordered to land at Roanoke Island, but a storm drove the ships northward. They finally reached Chesapeake Bay. After cruising about for a few weeks and exploring the coast, they at last landed on a peninsula, May 13, 1607. They named their settlement Jamestown, in honor of King James. 55. John Smith. — One of the men who had sailed with this expedition was John Smith. Nearly his whole life he had been a daring adventurer. He had shown great bravery in the many wars in which he had fought. On one occasion, when the Christians and INIohammedans were at war, he had been chosen to engage in single combat against a Turkish warrior. In the presence of the entire army he had defeated 55 56 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA the Turk and beheaded him. Later he was taken prisoner by a Turkish general and kept as a slave. He escaped by beating out his master's brains with a club. He fled in disguise, travelled through Europe and Africa, and at last, after many adventures, reached his native land, England. When Smith heard of the expedition starting for America, it is not surprising that he was anxious to join the crew. In the course of the voyage he was guilty of some offense, per- haps mutiny, and when they landed in Virginia he was a prisoner in chains. He was soon re- leased, however, and it was well for the colony that he was. Without John Smith the colony would probably have been as bad a failure as Raleigh's. 56. What Smith did for the Colony.— The Virginia Com- pany in England who had sent out the colony were anxious that a passage to the Pacific should be discovered. So Smith spent much of his time in cruising along the Chesapeake Bay and sailing up the rivers of that region in search of such a Captain John Smith (Old Print). THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 57 passage. Although these attempts were unsuccessful, Smith learned a good deal about the country and had many exciting adventures. On one occasion Smith was taken prisoner by the Indians and was saved from death, it is said, by the pleading of Poca- hontas, the daughter of the Chief, Powhatan. Smith seemed to know how to deal with the Indians, and he often obtained food for the settlers from the savage red men. ^^'■-^^^} Smith Barg-aining'. 57. How Smith made the Colonists Work. — The "s:entle- men" who had settled Jamestown were not used to work. They had come to x^merica to make their fortunes, not to engage in hard labor. It happened one day that one of the settlers found a piece of yellow material which looked like gold. It was really a kind of iron ore. In spite of Smith's advice, 58 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA they all got to work digging and at last had a whole shipload of the worthless stuff. Smith allowed it to be sent to England. He was anxious to get rid of the ship anyhow, as it was little less than a lloating tavern. Smith at last succeeded in forcing the lazy settlers to work by making the rule that if they did not work, they should receive nothing to eat. Rather than go hungry, even these gentlemen decided that they would soil their hands with labor. At first the settlers had considerable trouble with the Indians, but Smith gradually won the friendship of the savages, especially of the powerful chief, Powhatan. The Indians looked upon Captain Smith as a kind of magician or god. The settlers now began to build themselves better houses, and the colony seemed to be prospering. Unfortunately, something now happened which put an end to the prosperity for a time. In i6og they lost their leader, Captain Smith. He was badly injured by an explosion of gunpowder, and left Virginia, never to return. 58. Sufferings of the Colonists. — When Smith left the colony, there was no one able to take his place properly. When the Indians found out that Smith had returned to England, they began to attack the settlers. They could no longer procure food from the red men. Matters went from bad to worse. The winter of 1609-10 is often called the "starving time." Although new colonists, women as well as men, had come over, by the spring of 1610 nine-tenths of the people had died. The remaining fifty or sixty colonists were now utterly hope- less, so they decided to desert the settlement and return to England. THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 59 59. The Arrival of Lord Delaware. — The colonists had actually set sail when they were met by a fleet of ships com- manded by Lord Delaware. He had been sent out by the Virginia Company as Governor of the Colony. He persuaded the discouraged settlers to return to Jamestown. As Delaware's Indians Attacking- Colonists in Virginia. fleet had plenty of supplies on board, they willingly returned and the settlement was saved. 60. Governor Dale. — Lord Delaware did not stay in Virginia long. He was succeeded by Governor Dale, a very strict man. xAilthough Dale's rule was so severe that some 6o ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA would call him cruel, there is no doubt that the lazy and worthless settlers needed a firm hand. The best thing that Dale did for the colony was to give to each man a piece of land where he could work for himself. A man will work harder if he knows he can have the results of his own labor. Before this change, there had been "com- munism" in the colony. This meant that the settlers, instead of working, each man for himself, worked for all. So long as the lazy men got their share they were perfectly willing that the industrious ones should work all the harder. 61. The Raising of Tobacco.— After the introduction of tobacco into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, the people of Europe learned to enjoy smoking. Although King James said that the use of tobacco was dangerous and disgusting, the people went on smoking just the same. There was soon a great demand for tobacco. In 1612 the tobacco plant began to be systematically grown in Virginia, and soon this crop was the principal export of the new colony. Many shiploads of tobacco were taken from the plantations along the James River and sent to England. This trade was an excellent thing for the young colony. It made Virginia prosperous and led to a much better class of settlers coming over from England. Instead of the lazy and criminal people who had formed the largest part of the colony at first, there now emigrated to Virginia men of some means and also many farmers. These men knew how to take care of the land and the large profits from the raising of tobacco led to a rapid increase in the extent of cultivated land. 62. Introduction of Slavery. — There was, however, one bad result of the tobacco industry, and that was the introduction of THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 6l slavery. In August, 1619, a Dutch ship sailed up the James River, containing a number of African negroes. Twenty of them were sold to the colonists as slaves. They were found to be very useful on the tobacco plantations and later many more slaves were bought. Beg-inning of Slavery. The system of slavery thus started in Virginia soon spread to the other colonies. In the south, the slaves were used in agriculture and they rapidly increased in numbers. Fifty years after the landing of the first negroes there were 2000 slaves in the colonv of Virginia. 62 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA 63. The Government of Virginia. — Up to 1619 the colonists had Httle or nothing to say about their own government. They were obHged to obey the governors who were sent over from England by the London Company. Often these governors were severe and unjust. They did all they could to increase the profits of the Company which had sent them over, and they did not care much whether the colonists liked their actions or not. In 1 619, the people of Virginia (there were about 4000 of them at that time) appealed to the London Company to allow them to have a voice in their government. The Company agreed to their demands. Governor Yeardley was sent over and he at once ordered each borough or plantation to elect two representatives. These representatives were to have some- thing to say in regard to making laws for the colony. They were called the House of Burgesses. Together with the Governor and Council appointed by the Company, they formed the law-making body or Assembly. This was the first elective assembly ever held in America. It was the first great step toward our present Republican form of government. It met in Jamestown July 30, i6ig. In 1624, the King of England took Virginia away from the London Company. From that time until the Revolution Virginia was a Royal Colony; that is, the Governor and Council were chosen by the King. The people, however, still elected their House of Burgesses. 64. Troubles with the Indians. — So long as Powhatan lived, the colonists and the Indians got on fairly well together. The friendship of this great Chief was one of the principal things which Smith had accomplished for the colony. In 1618, THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 63 Powhatan died and his brother, Opechankans, became chief of the tribe. Although the new Indian chief said he was friendly to the white settlers, he really hated them. The Indians were jealous of the colonists. They thought that their land was being taken away from them and that they were not getting a just return for it. So they waited their chance for revenge. On the morning of March 22, 1622, a terrible massacre began. Men, women, and children were cruelly butchered by the Indians, who swooped down suddenly upon the plantations. Jamestown and the surrounding region were saved from destruction because an Indian had warned them of the intended massacre. After this first outbreak the Indians continued to attack the colonists, who in turn killed many of the red men. Nearly half of the settlers were killed before the war came to an end. John Smith, then living in London, wanted to take troops over to help the colonists. But the King would not grant his request and the settlers had to do their, fighting as best they could. Another Indian massacre occurred in 1644. The treacher- ous Indians again surprised the white settlers and killed about 500 of them. The savages were finally driven back from the more settled parts of the colony. 65. Bacon's Rebellion. — One of the worst Governors ever sent to Virginia was the tyrant Berkeley. He would allow no printing-press nor school in the colony. He thought the people could be ruled more easily and revolutions prevented if they were kept ignorant. In 1676 the Indians again went upon the wnr-path. They now attacked the settlers along the frontiers. On beins: asked 64 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA to send aid, Governor Berkeley refused. He knew that the people hated him and he was afraid that the troops might turn against him. One of the plantation owners was a young lawyer named Nathaniel Bacon. When his own land was attacked, he raised a force himself and defeated the Indians. Governor Bacon Arrested. Berkeley became terribly angry when he heard of Bacon's independent action. He called Bacon a traitor and his men rebels. The "rebels" then marched upon Jamestown and burnt it to the ground. It was never rebuilt. Shortly afterward, Bacon died, and his men, having no leader, dispersed. Berkeley had more than twenty of the "rebels" hanged. When King Charles II. heard of this he THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 65 ordered Berkeley to return at once to England and repri- manded him severely. With other and better governors, Burning' of Jamestown. the colony now prospered, and the people grew in wealth and happiness. 66 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA § 2. MARYLAND 66. Persecution of the Catholics. — We shall learn how the bitter persecutions of the Puritans in England caused them to leave their native land and emigrate to America. But the Puritans were not the only religious sect badly treated in Ensfland. The Roman Catholics were also made to suffer. If they did not attend the Protestant Church of England, they were liable to a fine of twenty pounds a month. They were not allowed to have Catholic books or Catholic teachers. It is no wonder that many of them wished to leave a country v^here they were so bitterly persecuted. 67. Lord Baltimore. — One of the most prominent Catholics living in England at this time was a nobleman named Lord Balti- more. He was deeply grieved at the treatment that people of his religion received. He decided to make a settlement in the New World for Catholics, just as the Puritans had done for people of their religion. First he tried to plant a col- ony in Newfoundland, but he was forced to give it up on account of the cold climate. Then he went to Jamestown, but the settlers there had no more love for Catholics than the people of England had. So Baltimore cruised up Chesapeake Bay and explored the region north of the Potomac. The climate was delightful and the country pleased him. He made up his mind that this would be a good place for his settlement. Lord Baltimore. THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 67 68. The Maryland Grant. — Virginia had lost its chartcr and had become a royal colony in 1624. The land now, instead of belonging to the London Company, belonged to the King. When Baltimore asked Charles I. for the territory north of the Potomac, it was granted to him without delay, as the King and Baltimore were good friends. The grant extended from the Potomac River northward to the 40th parallel, and from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific Ocean. It, therefore, included a piece of Pennsylvania and all of the present state of Delaware. At ■^■^■^^Jh.A the same time a charter was given to Balti- more which gave him almost f kingly power over the colony. All he was re- quired to do was to send every year to the King of England two Indian arrow-heads and one-fifth of all the gold and silver mined. He was to be called the Lord Proprietary of the colony. One power that he did not have was the right to tax the people without their consent. Of course, no laws could be passed contrary to the laws of England. St. Mary's Settlement. 68 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA 69. The Beginning of Maryland. — Lord Baltimore died before the charter was rxiade out, so it was made in the name of his son, Cecihus Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. In the spring of 1634 a colony of about three hundred was brought over from England. One of them was a Catholic priest named Father White. He conducted Catholic services in the wigwam of an Indian chief. This was the first p]nglish Catholic Church in America. The colony made a settlement on the northern bank of the Potomac near its mouth. They called it St. Mary's, in honor of Henrietta-Marie, the Catholic Queen of England. 70. Religious Freedom. — Although Maryland had been secured by Lord Baltimore to found a home for the persecuted Catholics, he had much broader views than the Puritans. Instead of allowing only Catholics to come to the new colony, Protestants also were invited. Of the first three hundred settlers, it is probable that the majority were not Catholics. Baltimore would permit only Christians in Maryland, how- ever. In this he was not so broad minded as Roger Williams, who said that people had the right to think as they pleased about religious matters, whether they were Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, or even, unbelievers. Although Maryland did not go so far toward religious freedom as Rhode Island, it was far ahead of the other colonies founded up to that time, and also much more liberal than most of the nations of Europe. 71. Growth of the Colony. — From the very beginning of the colony, there was no trouble with the Indians. The tribes who had lived in that region were deserting it, as they feared that a more powerful tribe was going to attack them. They THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 69 willingly sold the land to the settlers, and also taught them how to plant com. Not only did the people enjoy religious freedom, but political freedom as well. The prosperity of the colony was largely due to the wise and liberal policies of Baltimore and his suc- cessors. The people were allowed to help make the laws for the colony, and in this way learned to govern themselves. Crops of tobacco and grain were successfully raised. A profitable commerce began to grow up, and towns and cities were established. In 1649 some Puritans from Massachusetts settled the town of Providence. Its name was afterward changed to Annapolis, in honor of Queen Anne, and it became the capital of the colony. Baltimore, named in honor of Lord Baltimore, was founded in 1729. 72. Clayborne's Rebellion— Persecution of the Catholics. — Although Maryland had scarcely any trouble with the Indians, there were many disturbances among the colonists themselves. Before the Maryland charter was granted, a Virginia settler named William Clayborne had established a profitable trad- ing station on Kent Island in Chesapeake Bay. Maryland claimed that this island belonged to her, but Clayborne would not give it up until he was driven out by Lord Baltimore's men. In 1645, while the Puritans of England were rebelling against King Charles I., Clayborne stirred up the people of Maryland to overthrow Baltimore's government. They got possession of St. Mary's and forced Father White, a Catholic clergyman, to return to England as a prisoner. Then the right to vote or hold office was taken away from the Catholics and no Catholic worship was permitted in the colony. Lord Balti- more was also deprived of the proprietorship. 70 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA In 1658 Lord Baltimore was restored to his rights and freedom of rehgion was again established. Later, the Church of England was made the established Church of Maryland and all the colonists were taxed to support it. From that time until the Revolution, Catholic worship was not allowed in the colony. 73. Mason and Dixon's Line. — The grants of land in America were not made carefully when the colonies were being founded. It is no wonder, therefore, that there were disputes about boundaries. Pennsylvania had been granted to Penn, and there was considerable doubt as to just how far south the colony extended. To settle the trouble, two surveyors were chosen to establish a boundary line which would be satisfactory to both the colonies. Their names were Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. They worked at this survey from 1763 to 1767. Every five miles they placed a stone with William Penn's Coat of Arms on the north side and Lord Baltimore's on the south side. The line the surveyors marked out is the present boundary line of the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is the famous Mason and Dixon's line, which up to the Civil War was regarded as dividing the free from the slave States. § 3. THE CAROLINAS 74. Failure of the Early Settlements. — Long before Virginia was settled, attempts had been made by the French, by the English, and by the Spanish to found colonies in the territory south of Virginia. The Spanish succeeded in establishing a permanent settlement at St. Augustine, but all the early attempts of the French and the English failed. For many THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 7 1 years the large tract of land between Virginia and the Spanish settlements in Florida was. not inhabited by white men. It was a great hunting-ground for Indian tribes. 75. Land Given to English Proprietors. — King Charles II. of Endand wished to reward some of his friends. The easiest way to do this was to give to them some of the vast wilderness in x\mcrica that he claimed as his own. In 1663 he granted to a group of eight noblemen a great tract south of Virginia. Two years later the parallels of 30° and 36° 30' north latitude were fixed as the boundaries of this territory. It reached nearly to St. Augustine and included part of the land claimed by the Spaniards. Its eastern and western boundaries were the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. King Charles did not have a very good idea of the size of the land he was giving away. He knew even less about its great value. The French, about a hundred years before this, had named the land Carolina, in honor of King Charles IX. of France. As the King of England was also named Charles, the English proprietors retained this name in his honor. 76. Permanent Settlements. — Some emigrants from Virginia had settled near Albemarle Sound a few years before the king gave this territory to his friends. The proprietors wanted settlers for their land, so they were glad to have these early comers remain. Albemarle, 1653, was thus the first permanent settlement of wdiat afterward was known as North Carolina. In 1670 the proprietors, who had formed a company, sent several shiploads of colonists over from England. They named the place they settled Charles Towne, afterward called Charleston. This was the first permanent settlement in South Carolina. 72 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA 77. The "Grand Model." — When the King made this great grant of land, he also gave the proprietors full power to rule it. Unlike Lord Baltimore and William Penn, they did not use this power wisely. They had a constitution, or set of laws, called the "Grand INlodel," drawn up for the colony. According to this plan the rich were to be given titles of nobility, while the poor people were to be treated almost like slaves. "Grand Muddle" would have been a better name for this foolish plan. The colonists either angrily refused to obey it or went quietly about their business of making homes in the wilderness without paying any attention to it. At last the proprietors gave up the attempt to govern the people according to the Grand Model. It is said that John Locke, the great English philosopher, was the author of the plan, but it is hard to believe so wise a man could have made so bad a blunder. 78. Growth of the Colonies. — For many years the Carolinas grew very slowly. They had a mixed population of French Huguenots, Friends, Scotch, Irish, and Swiss. They got along pretty well together and enjoyed religious freedom. The people engaged in farming. Slavery was introduced and spread rapidly. In North Carolina tobacco was raised, and lumber, tar, pitch, and turpentine were obtained from the pine forests. The real prosperity of the colonies, especially that of South Carolina, began after it was discovered that rice and indigo could be grown there with profit. Large crops of these valuable staples were raised, and an extensive commerce grew up. Charleston soon became the most important city of- the South. THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 73 79. North and South Carolina Formed. — J'hc proprietors did not \)\-dn to have separate colonies, but the settlements of northern and southern Carolina were far apart and some- times each had a Governor of its own. The proprietors found that they were not making as much money as they had expected from these colonies. Their plan of government also was unpopular and unsuccessful. In 1729 they sold their rights to the King. Carolina was then divided into two distinct royal provinces. §4. GEORGIA 80. Spanish Jealousy of English Colonies.— Although the Spaniards had not extended their colony beyond St. Augustine, they strongly objected to the English settling upon the land which they claimed. The Spaniards of Florida were not strong enough to fight the English colonies in Carolina, so they stirred up the Indians to make war against the English. The English colonists lost heavily by this warfare, but suc- ceeded in holding the Indians in check. 81. James Oglethorpe's Plan. — James Olgethorpe, an English soldier and a gentleman of fine character, thought it would be a good plan to found an English colony between South Carolina and Florida. He thought in this manner to prevent the Spanish getting a foothold on this land, and to protect the English colonies against both the Spanish and the Indians. Oglethorpe had another end in view in founding this colony. In those days people who could not pay their debts were thrown into prison. The debtors' prisons were barbarous places where thousands of poor persons were unjustly or even 74 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA Oglethorpe. brutally treated. Oglethorpe wanted to release as many as possible of these prisoners, and give them a chance to start life over again in the New World. 82. Oglethorpe Secures a Grant of Land. — Oglethorpe was a member of the English Parliament, and a man of influence in his country. He interested many people in his ideas, and formed an association which finally per- suaded King George II. to grant them a tract of land "in trust for the poor," where they might establish a colony in America. The grant of land was made in 1732. It extended between the Savannah and the Altamaha rivers, and was given the name of Georgia in honor of the King. The trustees were given full power to rule the colony. 83. The Settlement of Savannah. — Parliament sjave monev to carry out Oglethorpe's plans, and he secured contributions from many private individuals. An expedition was organized in 1732, and Oglethrope himself came to America with the colonists. In 1733 they founded Savannah on the Savannah river. The poor and oppressed of other lands were welcomed to the colony, and soon many Germans and Scotchmen made settlements in Georgia. 84. Growth of the Colony. — At first the colony grew very slowly. There was some trouble with the Spaniards, but Oglethorpe was a good soldier and fought them so successfully that they never dared thereafter to invade English territory. The people of Georgia were not allowed to make their THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 75 own laws, but were under the rule of the "Trustees." Ogle- thorpe was a good Governor, but after he returned to England the people became more and more dissatisfied with the regu- lations of the Trustees. In 1752 the Trustees surrendered their charter to the King, and Georgia became a royal province. After this the colony grew more rapidly. Rice and indigo were raised in large quantities on the j^lantations. The people also engaged in lumbering, and an important com- merce, especially with the West Indies, sprang up. §5. LIFE IN THE SOUTHERN COLONIES 85. Character of the People. — The people who settled the southern colonies were very different in character from the Puritans who settled New England. The southern colonists came to America in search of gold or other riches. Some were men of roving disposition, looking for exciting adven- tures. Many of them were ''gentlemen" with aristocratic ideas and not used to work of any kind. The southern colonists were not, as a rule, so deeply re- ligious as the Puritans. Although people were persecuted in the south on account of their religious beliefs, there was more religious freedom there than among the strict New Englanders. In Maryland almost complete religious freedom was per- mitted, and this colony became an asylum for oppressed people. 86. Plantation Life. — The first settlers had no thought of farming, but they were obliged to turn to it later. The discovery of the value of tobacco in Virginia, and of rice and indigo in the Carolinas and Georgia, led to the cultivation of large plantations. Here the rich land-owner lived like an 76 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA English country gentleman on a large estate. Slavery increased rapidly, because the negroes were very useful as laborers on the plantations. The poor white man was obliged to labor upon the plantations, as there were few small farms which he could own for himself. Negro slavery made all labor seem degrading, and the white laborer was looked upon as little better than a slave. 87. Education in the Southern Colonies. — The plantations were scattered great distances apart. There were no large cities and but few towns. There were no free schools and but few schools of any kind. The rich planters either employed tutors for their children or sent them to England to be edu- cated; of course, the poor people could not afford this. Almost all the negroes and many of the poor whites grew up without learning even to read and write. A college called William and Mary College, however, was founded in Virginia. It was the second college to be established in the colonies, and is an important seat of learn- ing to-day. SUMMARY 77 SUMMARY THE SOUTHERN COLONIES In 1606, King James I. chartered the London and the Plymouth companies. The London Company controlled South Virginia, and the Plymouth Company controlled North Virginia. Virginia. — Jamestown was settled May 13, 1607. The colony was composed largely of "gentlemen" not used to work. John Smith's bravery and good management saved the colony from failure. He made the colonists work and gained the friendship of the Indians. The colonists endured great hardships. Lord Delaware Ijrought ship- loads of supplies, and saved the colony just as it was about to be abandoned. Governor Dale gave to each man a piece of land, where he could work for himself and enjoy the fruits of his own labor. The raising of tobacco became a profitable industry, and made the colony prosperous. In 1619, slavery was introduced, and it spread rapidly. In the same year the people of \lrginia were given the right to elect representatives to make laws for them. The House of Burgesses was the first elective assembly ever held in America. In 1624, Virginia became a royal province. After the death of Powhatan, there were several Indian wars. Finally, the red men were driven back from the settlements. Maryland. — Lord Baltimore founded Maryland as a place of refuge for persecuted Catholics. In 1634, a settlement was made at St. Mary's on the Potomac River. In 1649, Providence (later called An= napolis) was founded by Puritans. The city of Baltimore was founded in 1729. Christians of all denominations were allowed to live in ^Maryland. The Indians were friendly and taught the colonists how to plant corn. Crops of tobacco were also successfully raised. There were many religious troubles, and in the later history of the colony Catholic worship was not allowed. Mason and Dixon surveyed and established the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania in 1767. 78 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA The descendants of Lord Baltimore ruled the colony as proprietors up to the time of the Revolution. The Carolinas. — In 1663, King Charles II. granted to a group of English noblemen a tract of land named Carolina. The first permanent settlement had been made by emigrants from Virginia at Albemarle in 1653. The first permanent settlement in South Carohna was made at Charleston in 1670. The colonies had a mixed population and enjoyed religious freedom. Their prosperity was largely due to the raising of rice and indigo. The proprietors at first attempted to rule the colony according to a plan known as the Grand Model. This was not successful. The proprietors then sold their rights to the King, 1729. The colony was divided into North and South Carolina, which were ruled as royal provinces. Georgia. — In 1 732, James Oglethorpe secured from King George II. a grant of land between South Carolina and Florida. He wished to prevent the Spaniards from gaining a foothold in this region. He also wished to establish a refuge for the ill-used debtors of England and for the oppressed of other countries. Savannah was founded in 1733. The raising of rice and indigo and lumbering became important industries. The rule of the Trustees was unsatisfactory, and in 1752 Georgia became a royal province. CHAPTER VIII THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES § I. MASSACHUSETTS 88. The Pilgrims. — Although Captain John Smith had explored the coast of New England and had drawn a map of it, no permanent settlement was made there until 1620. It was settled in that year by people who were perse- cuted and treated cruelly for not following the religious ceremonies of the established Church of England. When they were no longer able to stand these persecutions, a number of them decided to leave England. First they went to Holland, where they were permitted to hold their religious services without interference. After living in that country for a while they began to fear that their children would grow up speaking the Dutch language instead of English, and would also learn the ways of the Hollanders. Although they had been treated so badly in England, still they loved their native land, especially its language and its customs. They decided, therefore, to seek refuge in the New World — America. In 1620, these Pilgrims, as they were called on account of their wanderings, sailed from Holland to England and ob- tained permission from the King to make a settlement in America. Some English merchants loaned them the money needed to fit out the expedition. 89. The Mayflower.— On September 16, 1620, the ]\Iay- 79 8o ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA flower, with its little crew of 102 men, women, and children, set sail for America. They had not gone on this dangerous expedition for the sake of gain- ing riches, as the Vir- ofinia settlers had done. Freedom to w-orship God according to their own conscience w^as the only reason which led '^'■^^ - ' these men and women Mayflower. ^^ gj^.^ ^p ^YiqIy OWn homes and risk the dangers of life in the wilderness. After a stormy trip, the Mayflower reached Cape Cod late in November. Just before landing, some of the leading Pil- grims had made an agreement or "com- pact" in regard to the government of the colony. They decided that they would choose their own governors and <■- make their own laws. 90. The Settle= compact on Mayflower. ment of Plymouth. — After cruising about for a while and ex- ploring the coast, a settlement w^as made at a place wdiich THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 8l Captain Smith had named Plymouth on his map of the region. The landing was made December 21, 1620, on a large rock- Plymouth Rock, as it is called, is one of the greatest historic places in New England to-day. Countless visitors have gazed with interest at the granite boulder where the brave Pilgrims are supposed to have landed. :-,^5?^-:: Landing of the Pilgrims. 91. Sufferings of the Settlers. — The Pilgrims were spared one danger which they had greatly feared. There were at first no Indians in the region to molest them. A terrible sick- ness or plague had killed many of the Indians, and so the Pilgrims found the land unoccupied. The winter was a very severe one, much colder than the 6 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA V-Uiiil' winter weather they had been used to in England. Besides this, the colonists did not have proper food or houses. By the end of the winter about half of the Pilgrims had died. No amount of suffering, however, could discourage them, and none of them deserted the settlement, although they could have sailed back on the May- flower, which returned to Eng- land in April. 92. The Leading Men of Plymouth. — We have learned how the Virginia Colony was saved by the energy and bold- ness of Captain Smith. Luckily for the Pilgrims, there was also among them a bold and capable leader. His name was Miles Standish. Although he was short in stature, he was broad shouldered and strong. He made up in courage what he lacked in height. It is doubt- ful- whether the colony would have lasted had it not been for Captain Standish. He was the military leader of the Pilgrims. While Standish and some of his brave followers were Plymouth Rock Monument. First New England Settlements. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES parleying with the Indians, the Httle captain sud- denly sprang at a big chief who had ridiculed him. Seizing the Indian's knife, Standish plunged it into his heart. In the fight which followed, the rest of the Indians were killed or put to flight. Acts of daring, such as this, made the red men have more respect for the white settlers. Another leader of the Plymouth Colony was William Bradford. He was governor, except for five years, from 1621 to 1657, the year of his death. He governed the people well. At any rate, they were so well satisfied with him that they elected him governor over and over again. Early in 162 1 a treaty of peace was made with Massasoit, the Indian chief. This treaty was not broken while iNIassasoit hved. But there was another tribe of Indians, the Narragansetts, who hated the whites. On one occasion their chief, Canonicus, sent to Plymouth a very war-hke mes- sage. It was a bundle of arrows, wrapped in a rattle-snake skin. For answer Governor Bradford sent back the skin filled with powder and bullets. The red men took the hint and Canonicus let the settlers alone. 93. The Puritans. — The Pilgrims had sepa- rated from the Church of England because they did not believe in all the forms and ceremonies of that church. But there were many who, while they did not like the Church of England, still did not want to separate themselves from it. They 84 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA thought that the service and mode of worship should be changed. These persons were called Puritans, because they wished to purify the Church. They were bitterly persecuted. When they received news of how the Pilgrims were getting along in New England, many of the Puritans thought that they should also like to emigrate to America. 94. Massachusetts Bay Colony. — The Puritans made a few settlements on the shores of Massachusetts Bay. Later Puritans Landing-. they bought a tract of land from the Plymouth Company. This tract extended from three miles south of the Charles river to three miles north of the Merrimac and westward to the Pacific Ocean. King Charles I. gave the colonists a charter and they took the name of the Massachusetts Bay Comi)any. This charter THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 85 was taken to the new colony. It gave the Company the right to elect their own governor and a council who could make laws for the colony. 95. Growth of the Colony. — Both the Plymouth and Massa- chusetts Bay Colonies grew rapidly. In 1630 a great emi- gration of Puritans took place. John Winthrop, a wealthy Puritan, sailed from England with eleven ships, carrying nearly a thousand persons, together with many horses, cattle, and abundant provisions. They settled at Salem and Charles- town, and later founded the city of Boston. These settlements grew rapidly. In the course of ten years the Puritans in America numbered about 20,000. 96. Government. — The freest government any people had ever known was enjoyed by the settlers at Plymouth. It was democratic. This means that the people came together and made their own laws. They held ''town meetings," at which the people would talk over public matters and decide as to what was best for the colony. Later Plymouth Colony became a part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The plan of government of INIassachusetts Bay Colony was set down in the charter. The governor and the council were elected by the Company. The laws were made by the Legislature or General Court. No laws were allowed to be made contrary to the laws of England. Church members alone had the right to vote. The representatives were elected by them. When Charles I. saw how well the Puritans were prosper- ing in the New World, he decided to take away their charter and give the land to some of his friends. When the Puritans heard of this, a small rebellion occurred. They made up their ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA minds they would not give up their prosperous settlement, nor allow any but themselves to govern it. King Charles soon had enough trouble of his own in England, and his plan to take possession of the colony was given up. 97. King Philip's War. — So long as Massasoit lived, the treaty of peace between the Indians and the settlers was faith- fully kept. When this chief died, his son Philip became the leader of the tribe. King Philip, as he was called, believed that the Puritans meant to destroy the Indian power com- pletely. Perhaps he was not far wrong. He believed that the white race and the red race could not occupy the same land. One of them must go. In 1675, Philip began a terrible war upon the whites. Many towns were de- stroyed, and a thousand men, women, and children were cruelly slaughtered. At last, however. King Philip was cap- tured. His head was cut off and placed upon a pole at Plymouth. Here it stood for twenty years, a terrible warning to the savage tribes. Many of the Indians taken captive were sold as slaves and shipped to the West Indies. Philip's wife and boy were among this number. With the death of Philip, the power of the Indians was broken and there was no more serious trouble in the Colony. 98. The Character of the Puritans. — Although the Puritans had come to America to enjoy religious liberty, they were not willing to allow others to worship as they pleased. They King Philip. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 87 thought that Massachusetts was a place of refuge for them alone. Pcopic whose religious opinions did not agree with those of the Puritans were badly treated by them. Some were driven out into the wilderness, others sent back to England, while still others were treated with great cruelty or even put to death. Among those who suffered the death penalty were some Friends or Quakers who had gone to Massachusetts on account of persecutions in England. In spite of their religious narrowness or bigotry, the Puri- tans believed strongly in education. They were well educated themselves, and they wished their children to enjoy the blessings of knowledge. Soon schools and colleges sprang up in many parts of the colony. 99. Massachusetts Becomes a Royal Province. — In 1684, King Charles II. took away the charter from the people of INIassachusetts. He was jealous of the growing power and wealth of the colony. He also accused the Puritans of break- ing the navigation laws by using other than English ships for their commerce. x^fter Massachusetts lost its charter, the people were no longer allowed to choose their own governor, but were ruled by a governor appointed by the King of England. The first governor sent over was Sir Edmund Andros. He was so harsh and unjust in his treatment of the colonists that a revolt occurred, during which Andros was taken prisoner. The people soon again lost the power of managing their own affairs, and up to the time of the Revolution, Massachusetts remained a royal province. 88 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA § 2. NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE 100. New Hampshire and Maine. — In 1622, two years after the settlement of Plymouth, a grant of land called Laconia was given to two Englishmen, named Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason. It extended east from the Merrimac to the Kennebec river, and north from the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Lawrence river. The first permanent settlement in this region was made at Dover, on the Piscata- qiia river in 1627. A few years later Portsmouth was settled. These settlers did not come to America on account of religious perse- cution, as most of them be- longed to the Church of Eng- land. They were attracted to New England on account of the profitable fur-trading and fishing. 101. Division of the Territory. — In 1629, the territory was divided. Mason took the land between the Merrimac and Piscataqua rivers. To this he gave the name of New Hampshire, because there was a place named Hampshire in Ensfland, of which he had been Lord Lieutenant. Gorges took the part between the Piscataqua and Kennebec rivers. To it he gave the name of Maine. Later, IMassa- chusetts gained control of Maine and governed it until 1820, when it became a State of the Union. New Hampshire was also joined with IMassachusetts several Blockhovise in Maine. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 89 times. In 1691 the King of England made New Hampshire a royal province. It remained so until the Revolution. The prosperity of the colony was in some measure due to the intro- duction of linen manufacturing. A large number of Scotch- Irish emigrants came to New Hampshire and settled the town of Londonderry. They brought the art of making linen with them. § 3. RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT 102. Roger Williams. — We have already learned how the early Puritans forced people to go to their church and to help pay for its support. It went very hard with any one who refused to obey the laws of the Puritans. But there were some persons who did not agree with their strict rules. One of them was a minister of a church at Salem. His name was Roger Williams. He thought that the government had no right to force people to attend any particular church. He said that religion was entirely a matter of one's own con- science, and that Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, or even unbelievers, should not be interfered with by the government. The Puritans were horrified at the liberal religious views of Rosier Williams. It is no wonder that he was ordered to be statue of Rog-er Williams. 90 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA arrested and sent to England. He escaped into the wilder- ness, however, and, although it was midwinter, he made his way to an Indian settlement on Narragansett Bay. Here he was well treated and he made his home among the red men until the following spring. Then with five friends he pushed onward, and finally (1636) founded Providence. Williams gave the settlement this name out of gratitude for the way in which God had helped him in his trouble. 103. The Founding of Rhode Island. — A few years later, Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, a woman preacher, and some other persons who had been persecuted by the Puritans, also made settlements near Providence. They founded Portsmouth, Newport, and some other colonies. In 1644, Roger Williams obtained a charter from the Roger Williams' Route. Kins of England uniting Providence and the neighbor- ing setdements under the name of the Providence Plantations. Later the name was changed to Rhode Island. The charter gave the people of Rhods Island the right to govern them- selves. It suited them so well that even after Rhode Island became a State of the Union it kept the charter. It did not make a new Constitution until 1842. 104. Soul Liberty.— Roger Williams was obliged to leave Massachusetts on account of his belief in "Soul Liberty." THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 9i This meant that it was wrong to try to force a person to worship or believe differently from what his soul or conscience dic- tated. In Rhode Island no person was ever persecuted on account of his reUgious belief. The teachings of Roger Williams bore fruit not only in the colony of Rhode Island, but in the great nation of the United States. To-day, soul liberty or religious freedom, is guaranteed to all the inhabitants of the United States by our Constitution. 105. Control of the Connecticut Valley.— While settle- ments were being made in various parts of New Eng- land by Puritans and other English settlers, a valuable fur trade was being carried on with the Indians by the Dutch settlers of New Netherland. The Dutch traders pushed out to the valley of the Con- necticut. Holland claimed this land as the result of the discoveries of Henry Hudson. England also claimed the territory on account of the voyages of the'Cabots. The English setders did not intend to stand idly by and let the Dutch have control of the region. Of Pilgrims on the Way to Connecticut. 92 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA course, Ijotli nations could not own it, so there were many conllicts, and at last the Dutch were driven out of the valley. 106. Settlement of Connecticut. — It was not the profitable fur trade alone which led the English to make settlements in Connecticut. There were many people living in INIassa- chusetts who did not like the way that colony was governed. They thought that all citizens, and not merely church members, should have the right to vote. On this account, in 1635, large parties of emigrants left Massachusetts. After travelling on foot through miles of wilderness they finally founded the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. In 1639, people from these three towns met and decided on a plan of government. They wrote out a complete set of rules or laws, which they called the "Fundamental Orders of Connecticut." This w^as the first written constitution in America. It declared that all citizens should have the right to vote. 107. New Haven. — In 1637, a number of rich Puritan merchants sailed from England. Their leader was a Puritan clergyman named Johi"i Davenport. They landed at Boston, where they remained for a while. The people of Boston wanted the newcomers to stay in their tow^n, but they were unwilling to do so. They desired to make a settlement of their own. In 1638 they founded New Haven. In the next few years a few other towns were settled. These joined with New Haven under the name of the New Haven Colony. The Puritan settlers of New Haven were as strict as the early settlers of Massachusetts. They would not allow any but church members to vote. Their laws were very severe. There were as many as fourteen offenses punishable by death. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES ()3 The basis of their laws was the Ten Commandments which God had given to Moses. In 1661, King Charles II. of England granted a charter to Connecticut, which gave the colony the right to govern itself. At the same time New Haven was added to Connecti- cut. §4. TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS. THE NEW ENGLAND CONFEDERACY 108. The Pequot War.— Hardly had the first settlements in Connecticut been made before there was serious trouble with the Indians. A tribe called the Pequots lived in this region. They hated the white settlers. Sneaking through the woods or prowling near the settlements, they were often able to capture stray settlers. They would carry their captives away to be tortured or burnt alive. These outrages went on for some time, but at last the settlers made up their minds that they would put an end to them. Early in 1637 Captain Mason, with about seventy men, set out to conquer the savage tribe. He was helped by some men from Massachusetts and a number of Indians who were enemies of the Peciuots. Arriving at their stronghold shortly before dawn, Mason and his men set fire to the wigwams. Almost all the Indians perished. Those who tried to escape the fire were shot. This terrible destruction of the savages put an end to the Indian wars for many years. 109. The New England Confederacy. — On account of the dangers from their troublesome Dutch and Indian neighljors, the New England colonists decided to unite so that they could defend themselves better. In 1643 the colonies of Massa- 94 EiSIGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA chusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed a union. It was called the New England Confederacy. Although the main purpose of this union was protection against the Dutch and Indians, it was also intended to show sympathy with the Puritans in England, who were then engaged in a revolution against King Charles I. The colony of Rhode Island was not allowed in the Con- federacy because its people had resisted the religious rule of the Puritans. The narrow-minded Puritans would not asso- ciate with those who differed from them in religion. The New England Confederacy lasted about fifty years. It gave the colonists more confidence in themselves and taught them the lesson that "In union there is strength." It paved the way for united action against the French, and later made easier that union of all the colonies against Great Britain which led to the founding of the great republic in which we live — the United States of America. § 5. LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND 1 10. Religious Character of the People.— The New England colonists were deeply religious. They came to this country that they might worship God in their own way, but they were not willing to let others have different beliefs from theirs. Everybody was compelled to go to church. They had strict laws against Sabbath-breaking. People were not even allowed to walk in the street on Sunday, except to go to and from church. In church, the men and women sat apart from each other. The services were long — sometimes the preacher turned the hour-glass twice before he finished his sermon. The boys and THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 95 girls who got restless were prodded with a stick in the hands of a man called the "tithing man." There was a rabbit's tail fixed to one end of the stick, with which the men or women who got drowsy during the long sermon were aroused. Puritans Going' to Church. 111. Severe Laws and Penalties. — The New Englandcrs had strict laws for every-day life also. Men were publicly punished for lying or for swearing. Drunkards were some- times compelled to wear placards proclaiming their bad habits. For trifling offenses men were placed in the stocks or in the pillory, to be held up to scorn before the public. Sometimes these offenders were pelted with mud or stones by the pas- sersby. 96 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA Women who scolded too much were gagged, or even placed upon the ducking stool and soused into the water. Burning with hot irons, cutting off the ears, and flogging at the whipping- post were some of the cruel punishments used in those days. 112. The Witch- craft Excite = ment. — Our fore- fathers were much more superstitious than the people of the present day. Among the foolish notions of olden times was a belief in witchcraft. This belief prevailed in ^\^ Europe as well as in the colonies. People accused of being witches were treated very badly. In Salem, Massa- chusetts, the excitement over witchcraft became intense. Per- sons supposed to be witches were put in prison and some were even burned at the stake. After a time, when the people came to their senses, they were ashamed of these cruelties. They released all those accused of witchcraft and the excite- ment died out. It is difiicult to realize that such awful things happened in this country little more than two hundred years ago. To-day there are few, if any, people so ignorant or foolish as to believe in witchcraft. First Church at Plymouth. THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 97 113. Occupations in New England. — In Virginia, the rich soil made agriculture a profitable occupation, and the great land-owners lived on large plantations. In New England, however, on account of constant danger from the Indians, the people lived together as closely as possible in villages and towns. They were afraid to live on big lonely farms or plan- tations. Besides, they found the soil rocky and not very fertile. Such farms as they had, therefore, w^ere small and produced barely enough to supply the family of the farmer. The fine forests furnished materials for ship-building and soon New England became famous for this industry. j\Iany of the vessels they built were used in fishing for cod and mackerel. Later they built whaling vessels and became expert whalers. They carried on an extensive commerce, especially with the West Indies. They also sent shiploads of lumber to England. 114. Education in New England. — The Puritan setders wTre a very different class of people from those who had settled Virginia. They were industrious and earnest. They had not left England to gain w^ealth, but w^re anxious to make homes for themselves in the New World. Many of these settlers were quite well-to-do. They were, as a rule, well educated, many of them being graduates of English colleges. The New England colonists had a high opinion of the value of education. They built schools almost as soon as they built their churches, and most of the colonies passed laws compelling the people to educate their children. The boys were taught to read and write and cipher. The girls received less attention, as it was thought in those days that girls did not need education so much as boys. 98 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA The New Englanders believed in higher education also. In 1636 they founded Harvard College. This was the first college established in America, and to-day it is one of the greatest colleges in the world. Palisade Around Plymouth. SUMMARY 99 SUMMARY THE NEW ENGLAND COLONIES Massachusetts.— In 1620, the Pilgrims, in order to escape religious persecution, sailed from England in the Mayflower. They landed at Plymouth and established a colony where they could worship God in their own way. They suffered great hardships during the first winter, and later had much trouble with the Indians. Their brave leader, Miles Standish, fought the Indians successfully and helped the colonies greatly in many other ways. Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled by the Puritans, who also came to America to secure religious hberty. They settled Salem, Charleston, and Boston. In 1675, King Philip, the Indian chief, made war upon the settlers. The colonists suffered severely, but the Indian power was at last com-- pletely broken and King Philip was killed. The Puritans were very strict and refused to grant religious liberty to others. They persecuted the Friends and Quakers and others who did not accept their views. They believed in education and founded schools and colleges. The people of Massachusetts first ruled themselves under a charter granted by the King. In 1684, the King took away their charter and Massachusetts became a royal province. New Hampshire and Maine.— In 1632, a grant of land was given to Gorges and Mason. It extended from the Merrimac to the Ken- nebec river. The first permanent settlements were made at Dover in 1627 and at Portsmouth in 1631. The settlers were attracted by the fur-trading and fishing. In i62g, the land was divided into Maine and New Hampshire. Mas- sachusetts later gained control of Maine. New Hampshire, in 1691, became a royal province. Rhode Island and Connecticut. — Roger Williams, a Salem min- lOO ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA ister, objected to some of the strict religious laws of the Puritans. To avoid arrest he escaped from the colony and later founded Providence, 1636. A few years later Portsmouth and Newport were founded by Mrs. Anne Hutchinson and some other persons who had been persecuted by the Puritans. In 1 644, a charter was granted which united these settlements and gave the people the right to govern themselves. This was the beginning of Rhode Island. The people were allowed "soul liberty," or religious freedom. The fur trade with the Indians attracted English settlers to the valley of the Connecticut. They finally drove out the Dutch traders who also claimed this region. Other Englishmen from Massachusetts also settled in this valley, 1635, because they were dissatisfied with the government of that colony. They founded the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. In 1637, New Haven was founded by rich Puritan merchants who had sailed from England. In 1661 , New Haven was joined to Connecticut, and the colony received a charter from the King, which gave the people the right to govern them- selves. The Pequot War, 1637, in which Captain Mason completely defeated the Indians, put an end to Indian troubles for many years. In 1643, Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed the New England Confederacy. Its main object was pro- tection against the Dutch and Indians. CHAPTER IX THE MIDDLE COLONIES § I. NEW YORK 115. Henry Hudson's Discoveries. — The people of Holland were great sailors and traders. Three hundred years ago their ships sailed to every part of the world that was known at that time. It was said that half the commerce of the world was carried in Dutch vessels. In 1609, Henry Hudson was sent out by the Dutch to find a short way to India. He did not find the Northwest Passage he was looking for, but he found something better — the great river that was named for him. Hudson also found a richer field for trade than the Indies he set out to seek. He became acquainted with the Indians, and found that they were willing to trade with the white man. Hudson found that he could get the best of the bargain with the ignorant Indians. For a few colored beads or other trinkets of little value he could get in exchange fine furs, for which civilized people were willing to pay high prices. 116. The Dutch Claim New Netherland. — When Hudson told the people of Holland about his great discoveries, they became anxious to own part of this wonderful new country and to carry on this rich fur trade with the Indians. Ships were sent over and settlements were made on the banks of the Hudson river. The Dutch claimed not only the region 101 I02 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA around this river, but also all the land between the Connecti- cut and the Delaware rivers. They named their possessions New Netherland, after their own country, which is some- times called the Netherlands. 117. The West India Company.— The trading stations on the Hudson became more numerous and important. In 162 1, a company was formed to take charge of them and to establish new trading-posts. It was called the West India Company, and was granted great power over all of New Nether- Dutcb Trading. land. It had the right to employ soldiers and to govern the country. Settlements were made on the Delaware river and as far east as the Connecticut. One of the settlements on the Hudson was called Fort Orange. It is now the city of Albany. 118. Settlement of New Amsterdam. — One of the places which the Dutch settled was a small island at the mouth of the Hudson river. Its Indian name was Manhattan, THE MIDDLE COLONIES 103 Here in 1614, the settlers built a fort and a few lo- huts. In 1626' a Dutch governor named Peter Minuit was sent over He brought a company of settlers with him, and they landed on Manhattan Island. Minuit bought the island from the Indians for a few yards of colored cloth, some beads and other trinkets, said to be Peter Minuit Purchasing Manhattan Island. worth in all about twenty-four dollars. This was a great bargain indeed, but even the shrewd Dutch traders did not know then how great a bargain it really was. This land is where the city of New York, one of the richest cities in all the world, now stands. To-day it is worth not only millions, but billions, of dollars. The Dutch called their settlement on the Manhattan Island I04 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA New Amsterdam, for the town of Amsterdam in Holland. New Amsterdam grew rapidly and soon became a prosperous town. 119. The Patroons. — Holland was anxious to encourage emigration to New Netherland. Large tracts of land were offered to members of the West India Company who would agree to send over a sufficient number of settlers. These land A Patroon's House. owners were called "patroons." They established great plan- tations, over which they had full power of government. They were practically lords or princes of their rich estates. The patroons often used negro slaves to assist the settlers in the cultivation of the land. 120. Stuyvesant and the Conquest of New Sweden. — New Netherland was not governed very well. The people did not THE MIDDLE COLONIES 105 have a share in makin<^ the laws, and some of their governors were poor rulers and mismanaged the affairs of the colony. The last of the Dutch governors was Peter Stuyvesant. He became governor in 1647. He had been a soldier and lost a leg in battle. He wore a wooden one, tipped with silver, and was, therefore, nicknamed "Old Silver Leg." Stuyvesant Peter Stuyvesant. was severe and sometimes cruel and tyrannical; but he was honest, and the colony prospered under his rule. Stuyvesant learned that the Swedes had settled near the mouth of the Delaware river where Wilmington now stands. This land was claimed by the Dutch. Stuyvesant marched some soldiers down to "New Sweden," as these settlers called l,heir colony, and took possession of it. io6 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA 121. England Takes Possession of New Netherland. — The region in which the Dutch had settled was part of the land claimed by England. The English were jealous of the prosperous Dutch settle- ment. They wanted the rich Hudson river country and the fur trade for themselves. Besides, they felt that the New England and the Southern colonies were in danger so long as the Dutch held possession of New Netherland, which lay English Fleet Arriving at New Amsterdam. between them. The English king Charles II., therefore, determined to take possession of New Netherland. He gave the land to his brother, the Duke of York. A small fleet of warships was fitted out and sent to attack New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British fleet arrived and took the Dutch completely by surprise. Governor Stuyvesant at first refused to surrender, and tried hard to stir up his country- men to fight, but the Dutch were peace-loving and would not THE MIDDLE COLONIES 107 oppose the English. "Old Silver Leg" was obliged to give up the city without a gun being fired in its defense. This gave the English control of the whole Atlantic coast between the Savannah and the Kennebec rivers. New Amsterdam in 1664. After the English got possession of New Amsterdam they changed its name to New York, in honor of the Duke. It was ruled under the " Duke's Laws" until 1685, when it became a royal province. §2. NEW JERSEY 122. Early Dutch Settlements. — After the Duke of York had gained possession of New Netherland, he gave all the territory between the Delaware river and the Atlantic Ocean to two of his friends, Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. This region had been settled by the Dutch as early as 161 7. The settlements were nearly fifty years old when the Duke Io8 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA of York took possession of New Netherland, but they had not grown very large or prosperous. 123. East and West Jersey. — The country that was now ruled by the two English proprietors was named New Jersey, in honor of Carteret, who had been Governor of the Island of Jersey in England. In 1665, an English settlement was made at Elizabcthtown, and later many more settlers came from New England and from Europe. These settlements prospered because the proprietors made good rules for govern- ing the colonies. In 1674, the proprietors agreed to divide New Jersey between them. Carteret took East Jersey and Berkley took West Jersey. Berkley sold his share to William Penn and some other Friends, and later (1676), when Car- teret died. East Jersey also was sold to the Friends. The new proprietors ruled with justice and wisdom and treated the Indians so well that they remained friendly w^ith the colonists. Many Friends settled in New Jersey, the people took to farming, and the colony became prosperous. In 1702, the proprietors gave up their rights to the King, and New^ Jersey became a royal province. § 3. PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE 124. The Society of Friends. — The Puritans who settled in Massachusetts because they were persecuted in England, and the Catholics for whom Lord Baltimore founded a colony in Maryland, w^re not the only people treated badly on account of their religious beliefs. The Friends who settled in New Jersey went there to obtain religious freedom. They were called "Quakers," in derision, by those who persecuted them. They called themselves "Friends." THE MIDDLE COLONIES log The Friends belonged to a society that had been formed in England to persuade men to join a new religious sect. The preachers of this sect taught that all men should truly be friends with one another, that no man is better than any other man, and that all should be treated with equal justice. The Friends, of course, hated slavery. They also thought that war was wicked, and that it was better to suffer injustice than to fight. They be- lieved in plain speech and in plain dress and in a plain manner of life. The Friends worshipped God in a plain and simple fashion. They called their place of worship a "meeting-house" instead of a church. You may be sure these strange Quaker. ** Friends" were badly treated by the narrow-minded people of other religious denominations. In spite of bitter perse- cution they grew in numbers and in strength. 125. William Penn. — One of the greatest Friends that ever lived, indeed, one of the greatest men of our history, was William Penn. Penn became a Friend when a young man. He was thrown into prison many times because of his religion, but could not be made William Penn's father. Admiral Penn, of the British Navy, was a rich man. When Admiral Penn died, his son William inherited his money. Penn used his William Penn. to chance his belief. no ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA wealth for good purposes. He and some associates pur- chased New Jersey, as we have already learned, and pro- vided a place there where op- pressed Friends and others might settle. 126. Penn Obtains Pennsyl= vania. — Penn's ideas on free- dom and equality for everybody, especially for the poor and the oppressed, grew stronger as he thought about these things. He learned a great deal by helping the New Jersey settlers. Penn wished to establish a great free commonwealth which should be a refuge for the per- secuted of all religions and of all countries. The King of England owed Admiral Penn a large sum of money. William Penn suggested that the King should pay the debt by giving him a tract of land in the New World. The King had more land than money, and gladly settled the debt in this way. In 1 68 1, Penn received a grant of land which the King insisted on calling Pennsylvania (Penn's Land), in honor of Admiral Penn. It comprised the land west of the Delaware river. As we have learned, its southern boundary was not finally settled until Mason and Dixon's line was surveyed. This was nearly a hundred years after Penn received the land. 127. The Holy Experiment. — Penn did not want this grant of land for any selfish purpose. He planned to use it for the benefit of mankind. He had seen the persecuted Friends Penn in Prison. THE MIDDLE COLONIES III find a refuge in New Jersey, and he determined to make Penn- sylvania a refuge not only for the Friends, but for any who might wish to settle there. He said that he would try the ''Holy Experiment" of establishing a free colony where the people could make their own laws. He wanted the people of Pennsylvania to live at peace with each other and with their neighbors, the Indians. 128. Early Settle= ments. — Some Swedes and Dutch had settled on the banks of the Dela- ware river long be- fore Penn became proprietor of Penn- sylvania. These set- tlements had not grown large enough to be of much im- portance. -P e n n ' s liberal plans induced many colonists to risk the ocean voyage to make homes for themselves in Pennsylvania. In 1681, three vessels carried many Friends and some people of other faiths to the banks of the Delaware river. These settlers had a hard time of it. They lived in rude huts or sod houses. Some of them were obliged to live for a time in caves dug in the river banks. 129. The Founding of Philadelphia.— William Penn deter- mined to found a city in this new province. He drew up a Caves in River Bank. 112 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA plan for a city with straight, wide streets and space for gardens for the houses. He said he wanted it to be "a faire greene country town." He chose the name Philadelphia for the new city. This was a good name for a city founded by Friends, for it means "brotherly love," and the Friends tried to love their fellowmen as brothers and live at peace with all the world. In 1682, William Penn set sail for America in the good ship "Welcome." He had with him about 100 colonists. They entered the Delaware river in October and landed at New Castle, a small settlement in what is now the State of Delaware. Here he was received by the people and took possession of his great province with interesting ceremonies. Later, Penn sailed up the Delaware till he came to the Schuylkill river, which empties into it. This place had been selected as a site for the city. In 1683, the city was laid out. Not only more Friends, but immigrants from Germany and other countries, began to arrive and the city grew rapidly. 130. The "Frame of Government."— In order to carry out his "Holy Experiment," Penn drew up a "Frame of Government" for his colony. This frame of government, with some additions that were made later, became known as the "Great Law." It aimed to make the people as free and happy as possible. It gave them the right to vote and to 'make their own laws. It also gave them religious liberty. It had many other wise and just provisions. It directed that every child should be taught a trade or useful occupation. It also directed that prisons should be made better places, where criminals could be taught trades and made into good men instead of being cruelly punished. THE MIDDLE COLONIES O^ The Great Law was a remarkable document, not only because it was such a good plan of government, but because it was so far ahead of the laws of those times. Even in civi- lized countries in those days many of the rulers were wicked and tyrannical, the laws unjust and cruel, and the common people treated almost like slaves. The Great Law shows that William Penn had a broad mind, a big heart, and was a hundred years or more ahead of his times. 131. Friendly Relations with the Indians. — William Penn believed that there should be brotherly love not only between white men, but that the red men also should be treated as brothers. He did not steal the land from the Indians. He paid them for it and did not cheat them when he made the bargain. Penn had cautioned the Friends who settled in Pennsylvania before he visited the colony to be friendly with the Indians and to treat them fairly. In 1683, when Penn arrived himself, he met the Indians to make a treaty with them. The meeting was held under a great elm tree which stood not far from the river in a part of the settlement of Philadelphia that was called Shackamaxon. The tree was blown down years ago, but a monument has been put up to mark the spot where this famous treaty was made. The pipe of peace was smoked by the Indians and the Friends and gifts were exchanged. The oldest and wisest Indian chiefs and William Penn made speeches in which they solemnly promised friendship. Penn said "we are all one flesh and blood." The Indians said that the friendship with Penn and his children should last as long "as the sun and moon shall shine." No oath was taken, as the Friends believe a promise is just as binding. It certainly was in this case, 114 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA for it has been said that "this treaty was the only one never sworn to and never broken." The people of Pennsylvania lived at peace with the Indians as long as the Friends ruled the colony. Penn's Treaty, 132. Penn Purchases Delaware. — Of all the English colonics, Pennsylvania was the only one that had no sea-coast. Penn feared that in case a disagreement should arise at any time with the people of West Jersey or of Delaware, they might, block the entrance way to his colony and cut it off from the sea. Principally for this reason he secured possession of Delaware from the Duke of York (1682). The Duke had obtained control of this territory when the Dutch surrendered New Nctherland in 1664. THE MIDDLE COLONIES 115 133. Settlement of Delaware. — The Dutch had a trading- post on the South river (Delaware) for a few years, but were driven away by the Indians. The first permanent setUement of this colony was made by people sent out by Sweden for the purpose of gaining a foothold in the New World. In 1638 the Swedes built Fort Christina and setded near where Wil- mington now stands. Old Swedes Church, Wilming'ton, Del. As we have learned, Peter Stuyvesant conquered New Sweden, as these settlers called their colony, in 1655, but had to give it up later to the Duke of York. When Penn became proprietor, Delaware had several thriving towns— New^ Castle, and some other small places inhabited by Swedes, Dutch, and English. Il6 ENGLISH COLOiSTIES IN AMERICA 134. Government of Delaware. — The tract of land that Penn obtained from the Duke of York was known as the "three lower counties." It was often called the "Territories," to distinguish it from Pennsylvania, which was called the Province. It really was all Penn's Province and was gov- erned by him as proprietor. The people had the right to make their own laws. After 1702, Delaware was allowed to have an assembly of its own where the laws for the colony were made. It continued to be ruled, however, by the "Province " until the close of the Revolutionary War, when both Pennsylvania and Delaware became independent States. 135. Growth and Prosperity of Pennsylvania.—Penn's "Holy Experiment" succeeded. His colony grew rapidly and prospered. The principal causes of the success of the colony were the Great Law and the Treaty with the Indians. These wise measures would not have been sufficient by them- selves if Penn had not shown as much wisdom and justice in carrying out his plans as he did in making them. The liberal government he gave his people made every man feel free and on an equality with every other man. The friendship he established with the Indians removed the fear of savage massacres and bloody wars. The fame of these things spread and soon many people came from Europe to live a free, happy, and industrious life in Pennsylvania. Not only Friends, but other English people, and many Welsh and Irish, were among the immigrants who settled there. Thousands of hard-working Germans also came over. Many of these were good farmers. They chose Pennsylvania because there a poor man could get a small THE MIDDLE COLONIES II7 farm for himself. In some of the other colonics the land was divided into large plantations owned by a few rich men. Pennsylvania was settled later than any of the thirteen colonies except Georgia, but it grew so rapidly that it soon became one of the greatest in wealth and population. At the time of the Revolution, Philadelphia had become the largest and most important city in America. It was in this city, founded by the peace-loving Friends, that the Declaration of Independence was signed. After independence was gained, Philadelphia was for a while the Capital of the United States. §4. LIFE IN THE MIDDLE COLONIES 136. Character of the Colonists. — There were people of many nationalities in the Middle Colonies. There were English, Dutch, Germans, Irish, Scotch-Irish, Swedes, and Welsh. The Dutch influence was strong in New York and the Quaker influence in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Dela- ware. There was almost complete religious freedom in these colonies. 137. Occupations of the People. — Except the great estates on the banks of the Hudson, where the Dutch patroons lived like noblemen, there were no large plantations in the Middle Colonies. There were, however, many farms. These farms were much larger and more prosperous than those of New England and produced a greater variety of crops. Many cattle were also raised, especially in New Jersey. The native woodlands furnished valuable lumber and there was a profitable fur trade with the Indians. Iron was manufactured from the rich natural ores, and there were many paper mills. Manufacturing was restricted very much by the Il8 ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA laws passed by England. Philadelphia was the largest city in all the colonies and the greatest commercial center. 138. Education. — Education received more attention in the Middle Colonies than in the South, but there were not so many free schools as in the New England Colonies. There were many private schools throughout the Middle Colonies, however, and the Dutch had established many free schools before the English took possession of New Netherland. William Penn, in his Frame of Government, provided for a system of public education throughout his province, and the Assembly in 1683 passed a law which directed that poor as well as rich should be instructed. This law also provided a penalty for those who neglected to educate their children. Penn established a Grammar School in Philadelphia which for many years was free to all. It exists to-day as one of the best private schools in the country, and is known as the William Penn Charter School. The University of Pennsylvania, Princeton College in New Jersey, and Columbia University in New York, three of the greatest colleges in this country, were founded during colonial times. SUMMARY Iig SUMMARY THE MIDDLE COLONIES New York. — When the Dutch learned from Henry Hudson of the valualjle fur trade which could be carried on with the Indians, they sent settlers over to estal)lish trading-posts in New Netherland. In 1626, Peter Minuit, the Dutch Governor, purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians. The settlement on this island was named New Amsterdam. The Dutch West India Company granted large tracts of land on the Hudson to Patroons. These men lived like lords on their vast estates. Peter Stuyvesant, the last of the Dutch governors, conquered New Sweden, but was obliged to surrender it and all New Netherland to the Duke of York in 1664. New Amsterdam became New York. It became a royal province in 1685. New Jersey. — In 1664, the Duke of York gave New Jersey to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. In 1665, Elizabethtown was settled. By 1676, New Jersey had been sold to WiUiam Penn and some other Friends. New Jersey became a royal province in 1702. Pennsylvania and Delaware. — In 1681, William Penn received a grant of land from the King of England. It was called Pennsylvania. Penn wished to establish a colony for Friends and the persecuted of all denominations. Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, was founded in 1682. Penn drew up a Frame of Government, which gave the people the right to make their own laws and insured them religious liberty. Penn made a treaty with the Indians, which was kept unbroken for many years. People from various nations of Europe were attracted to Pennsylvania by Pcnn's liberal government. Delaware. — In 1638, the Swedes made a settlement at Fort Christina on the Delaware. New Sweden was conquered by the Dutch, and later became the possession of the Duke of York. In 1682, Penn secured control of Delaware in order to obtain a sea- coast for his colony. PART III THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREM- ACY IN AMERICA CONFLICT OF CLAIMS 139. The French in America. — While the EngHsh colonists had been securing possession of the Atlantic Coast east of the Alleghany Mountains, the French had not been idle. In 1604, they made a settlement at Port Royal (now called i\nnap- olis) in Nova Scotia. This was three years before the first English settlement, Jamestown, in Virginia. In 1608, one year after the Virginia settlement, Champlain founded Quebec, in Canada. The French were thus getting a foothold in the valley of the St. Lawrence about the same time that the English were establishing themselves in Virginia. 140. New France. — The French claimed the land upon which the New York and the New England colonists had settled and were anxious to get possession of it, especially of the valley of the Hudson river. Fortunately for the English, Champlain had once fought and defeated the Iroquois Indians and thus made them for- ever after the bitter enemies of the French. This powerful 120 CONFLICT OF CLAIMS 121 tribe occupied the region of central New York, and they were friendly to the Dutch and English settlers. They acted as a barrier between the French and the English and prevented the former from making any headway against the English in New York. Blocked by the Iroquois in this direction, the French pushed westward and explored and settled the region of the 'i?"-^ s^^^fc^T;^/-.,. French Trading •with Indians. Great Lakes, as we have learned. They also explored the Mississippi river and some of its important branches. Where- ever they went they made friends with the Indians. In course of time they had many missions, fur-trading posts, and forts dotted over different parts of this vast territory. 122 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA The valley of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes was called New France, and the valley of the Mississippi was named Louisiana. What is now known as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the French called Acadia. The name New France, however, was often used to mean all the French possessions in America. 141. Conflicting Claims of French and English. — The English claimed all the land upon which the French had settled. That there had not been serious conflict between the French and English during this long period of settlement was because they were well separated. The dangerous Iroquois and the massive Alleghany Mountains were the barriers between these jealous rivals, but sooner or later the conflict was bound to occur. When war broke out in Europe between the mother countries, France and England, it was not long before their colonies in America were fighting also. CHAPTER X THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS § I. THE STRUGGLE FOR ACADIA 142. The Intercolonial Wars. — There were four wars between France and England, which spread to their colonies in America. The first three of these wars were called respec- tively King William's, Queen Anne's, and King George's war, after the names of the monarchs ruling in England at the time. The last and most important contest was called by the colonists the French and Indian War. It was really the final struggle between France and England for control of America. The contests that took place in America between the colonies while France and England fought their battles in Europe are often spoken of as the Intercolonial Wars. King William's was begun in 1689, and the French and Indian War ended in 1763, so the fighting between the French and English colonies in America extended over a period of seventy-four years. The long struggle, full of hardships and miseries for both sides, resulted in the triumph of the English. 143. The First Three Wars. — The New England and the Middle Colonies bore the brunt of the fighting in the first three of the Intercolonial Wars. During these wars the French, with their Indian allies, again and again invaded New York and New England. They destroyed many towns and villages, burning the houses and killing and torturing the people. 123 124 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA They were not so successful in New York as they were in New England, because the Iroquois Indians defended the Hudson and Mohawk valleys and inflicted great injuries upon the French. On the other hand, the English colonists showed that they could fight. They twice captured Port Royal — once in King William's War and again in Queen Anne's War. The Family Fleeing From Indians. French built on Cape Breton Island what was then the strongest fortress in the world — so strong, they said, that it could not be taken even if it were garrisoned by women. But though it was defended by brave Frenchmen, the English colonists captured it after a long siege. As a result of these wars, the French gave up their claim to New^foundland and Hudson Bay. The English also obtained THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS 125 possession of Acadia. They changed its name to Nova Scotia. Port Royal they renamed Annapohs in honor of Queen Anne. §2. THE FINAL CONTEST 144. The Albany Congress. — The Enghsh knew that though peace was declared, the fight w^as not yet over. A Congress was called at Albany to make a treaty with the Iroquois and to form plans for defense against the French. Benjamin Franklin, a member of the Congress, proposed a plan of union for all the English colonies. His plan was not adopted, but it was one of the things that taught the colonists to see that "In union there is strength," and led to the great union twenty years after. 145. The French Fortify the Missis= sippi Valley. — The French also were preparing to continue the fight for America. They wanted to hold the Mississippi Valley, which they called Louisiana, and they were also anxious to regain Acadia. They had not made many important settlements in the Mississippi Valley, but they had built a chain of forts along the river. They now began to take possession of the Ohio river valley, because this river was a highway that the Englisli might 126 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA follow to invade their territory. They built a fort on the shore of Lake Erie, and others on the Allegheny river, so as to be ready to defend their claims to the country. 146. George Washington's Dangerous Errand. — When the English learned that the French were beginning to take pos- session of the Ohio valley, they at last became alarmed. Vir- ginia claimed that region as her territory. Governor Din- widdie determined to warn the French against trespassing upon English soil. The Governor chose George Wash- ington, a young man only twenty-one years old, to undertake the dangerous task of carrying a message to the French com- mander. W^ashing- ton was six feet tall, strong and fearless, and a good woods- Washington in the River. man. He made the perilous journey, through looo miles of wilderness, in the winter of 1753. After passing through many dangers he delivered the mes- sage to the Commander of the French at Fort Le Boeuf, and returned with the reply to Virginia. Washington had kept his eyes open and brought back THE IXTERCOLOXIAL \VARS valuable information as to the character of the country and the number and strens;th of the French strongjholds. 147. The French Build Fort Duquesne. — The_reply that the French sent back with Washington was not satisfactory. Goyernor Dinwiddie now knew that the English would haye to fight for the country they claimed. The French not only refused to leave the disputed territory, but they drove away • isir^~'<^ „„: Iv" I' 111! >^ 'Xf ^^^liMy Surrender of Fort Necessity. the English, who were building a fort where Pittsburg now stands. The French finished this fort themselves, and named it Fort Duquesne. They now had a stronghold at the most important point in the Ohio valley, long called the Gateway of the West. 148. The French Capture Fort Necessity. — In 1754, Washing- ton led a small force against Fort Duquesne. He found the 128 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SLTPREMACY IN AMERICA French approaching in great numbers, so he fell back to Fort Necessity, a small breastwork he had thrown up. Here he awaited the enemy. The French compelled Washington to surrender this fort, but permitted him to march out with drums beating and flags flying. This was the first fight and the real beginning of the war to de- cide whether the French or the English should control America. 149. The English Plan for War. — The British now^ knew that the fight was on in earnest. They sent General Braddock Washington at Braddock's Defeat. over to the colonies to command the English forces. The French and English settlements in America were separated by miles of wilderness, but there were certain great natural Conflict of Claims THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS 129 highways that it was important to secure. Four expeditions for this purpose were planned against the French. 1. To capture Fort Duquesnc, the Gateway to the West. 2. To capture Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain and proceed against Quebec. 3. Against Louisburg and Acadia, to prevent the French of this region from helping Quebec. 4. Through the valleys of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers to Oswego and Niagara. 150. Braddock's Defeat.— In 1755, Braddock led his army against Fort Duquesne. He was a brave general, but did not understand how to fight in the wilderness and against the Indian Indians and French Attacking Braddock. alhes of the French. Against the advice of the colonists he marched his army through the woods with drums beating and flags flying. 9 130 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA When within a few miles of Fort Duquesne, Braddock's army was suddenly attacked by the French and Indians who were hidden behind trees. JNIany of the English regulars were killed before they knew where the at- tack came from. The Colonial troops took to the trees and fought bravely. Braddock was mor- tally wounded and Washington, with the help of his Virginia troops, managed to conduct the retreat in some order. This was a serious defeat for the English. 151. Declaration of War — Expulsion of the Acadians.— The fighting continued, but it was not until 1756 that Great Britain made a declaration of war against France. The English had more defeats than victories during the next two years of the war. They succeeded, however, in taking posses- sion of Acadia. They drove many thousands of the peaceful French farmers of Acadia from their homes. This caused great suffering, but was thought to be necessary to prevent these inhabitants of Acadia from turning it back into the hands of the French. 152. The Turning=point of the War. — The turning-point of the war came when William Pitt, one of the greatest English Expulsion of Acadians. THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS 131 statesmen that ever lived, undertook the management of affairs. Pitt seemed to know just what was needed to carry on the war successfully. He appointed able officers to carry out his orders. In 1758, Washington conducted an ex- pedition against Fort Duquesne, and this time the stronghold was captured. Its name was changed to Fort Pitt, and the village at that place became known as Pittsburgh. In the same year Louisburg was captured. Ticonderoga and Crown Point were also taken, and the French were Canada. 153. The Fall of Wolfe, who had command of the English forces, now proceeded up the St. Law- rence river to lay siege to Quebec. On account of its position on a high rock this was one of the strongest fortresses in the world. For months the English were unable to make an attack upon the citadel. At last Wolfe discovered a place where his men could climb the bluff. One night in the fall of 1759 they rowed w^ith mufffed oars to the foot of the pathway that had been discovered. All night long the English army climbed this steep path- way to the top of the hill. William Pitt. driven back into Quebec. — General General Wolfe. General Montcalin. 132 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA In the morning, Montcalm, the French commander, was surprised to find an EngHsh force of several thousand men before him. The French did not wait to be attacked, but came forth and gave battle upon the great plain called the Heights of Abraham. The battle was short and the French were totally defeated. Eng-lish Climbing' to the Plains of Abraham. Both generals died heroically. It is said that when Wolfe heard that the French were in retreat, he exclaimed, "God be praised, I shall die in peace," and that Montcalm's last words were: "Thank God I shall not live to see Quebec surrender.'' 154. The Treaty of Peace.— The fall of Quebec practically ended the war, but the treaty of peace was not made until three years later. It was signed in Paris in 1763. THE INTERCOLONIAL WARS 1 33 By the terms of this treaty France gave Canada and all the French possessions east of the Mississippi to England. New Orleans and all the land claimed by France west of the Mississippi were given to Spain. Spain ceded Florida to England. England permitted France to retain two small islands near Newfoundland for the use of the French fishermen. The war had settled the great question as to who should rule in North America. The English now had control over this great portion of the New World. Another important result of the war was that the English colonists, fighting shoulder to shoulder, learned to know and respect each other. They became friends instead of rivals. This association of the colonists during the French and Indian War had much to do with their success in the great War for Independence which occurred about fifteen years later. 134 'i"HE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA SUMMARY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA Conflict of Claims. — While the Enghsh were planting their colonies on the Atlantic Coast, the French had taken possession of the valley of the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi. The English claimed all this land. The Iroquois Indians in the north and the Allegheny Mountains in the west for many years served as barriers between the French and English colonists. Wars between France and England in Europe led to conflict between their colonies in America. The Intercolonial Wars. — There were four intercolonial wars, called King William's, Queen Anne's, King George's, and the French and Indian Wars. As a result of the first three wars, the Eng- lish obtained possession of Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, and Acadia. The French and Indian War. — The French had begun to build forts in the valley of the Ohio river, in order to prevent the English from invading their territory. George Washington was sent by the Governor of Virginia to warn the French against trespassing on English soil. Instead of heeding this warning, the French drove away the English and built Fort Duquesne. The English planned four expeditions against the French: i. To capture Fort Duquesne. 2. To capture Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 3. Against Louisburg and Acadia. 4. Against Oswego and Niagara. Throughout the war, the Indians, with the exception of the Iroquois, aided the French. In 1 755 Braddock marched an army of British regular and colonial troops against Fort Duquesne. His army was ambushed by the French and Indians and was badly defeated. In 1 756 a formal declaration of war against France was made by England. The English suffered several defeats. They expelled the French farmers of Acadia to prevent them from aiding their countrymen. When William Pitt assumed control of affairs in England, he succeeded in turning the SUMMARY 135 tide of war in favor of the English. In 1 758, Washington captured Fort Duquesne. Louisburg, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point were also taken, and the French were driven Ijack into Canada. In 1759, the English, under General Wolfe, captured the French stronghold, Quebec. Both the English and French Generals, Wolfe and Montcalm, died on the field of battle. The fall of Quebec ended the War. The treaty of peace was signed in 1763. England gained con- trol of the greater part of N(jrth America. CHAPTER XI COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT § J. LIFE IN COLONIAL TIMES 155. The Thirteen Colonies. — The story of the settlement of the English colonies has been told in a few pages ; but it took the mother country more than one hundred years to get her colonies established in the New World. Virginia, the first colony, was settled in 1607; Georgia, the last colony, was settled in 1733. There were thirteen colonies in all. They were scattered along the Atlantic coast from Maine to the Spanish possessions in Florida. They occupied a strip of land, about one hundred miles wide, between the Alleghany Mountains and the sea. West of these mountains was a wilderness where few white men ventured. 156. The Inhabitants of the Colonies. — Though a majority of the colonists were English by birth or descent, yet people from many other nations lived in the English colonies. There were more Dutch than English in New York, and thousands of Germans and Scotch-Irish had made their homes in Penn- sylvania. There were Dutch and Swedes in Delaware. Irishmen and Scotchmen had settled in many of the colonies^ especially in the south, and there were many French Huguenots in South Carolina and Georgia. 136 COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT The people of the various nationahties, as a rule, got along well together. They were loyal to the colonics in which they lived, and which their industry and intelligence had helped to build up. When the time came, they fought for their rights and liberty side by side with their English friends and neighbors. 157. Pioneer Life. — Pioneers must be strong and sturdy to endure the hardships they encounter in a new country. We have studied about the sufferings of the early colonists. Be- fore they were able to build houses they were obliged to be content with whatever shelter they could get. In some cases they lived for a while either in natural caves or in places which they dug out for themselves. Tents and wigwams were also used until something bet- ter could be made. 158. Houses.— Log-cabins were built by the early colonists as soon as possible. At first they were merely rude huts without cellars, the earth serving as floor. Later better houses Settler's Log Cabin. Old "Way of Getting a Light. 138 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA were built out of sawed logs or planks. Oiled paper, instead of glass, was used in the windows. Old Fire-place. As there were no stoves in those days, the open fire-place was one of the most important parts of the house. Great logs were burned in the fire-places, and the fire was banked with ashes at night to prevent it from going out. Matches had not been in- vented, and fire was ob- tained from flint and tinder. Iron cranes for holding kettles over the fire hung in the fire-places. Some A Street in New Amsterdam. COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT 139 kinds of food were cooked directly upon the embers. Meat was held over the fire on a spit and turned while it broiled. All this is very different from the way cooking is done to-day. Of course, as time went on, the richer peo- ple built better houses. The Dutch Pa- troons in New York and the great planta- tion owners of the south had fine mansions with great stair- cases built of imported woods. Some of these colonial man- sions are still standing. 159. Furniture. — The houses of the poorer people were scantily furnished. The tables, chairs, and benches were generally home-made. The early colonists had no carpets and lacked many other things which it would seem hard for us to be without to-day. Wooden dishes were used, except by the wealthier people, who had pewter ware or silver imported from the mother country. Knives were used, but fingers took the place of forks. The fine houses of the rich, of course, had good furniture, some of it quite elegant, brought from abroad. Specimens of this old furniture are still in existence and are highly prized as interesting relics of colonial times. Early Philadelphia House. I40 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA 160. Food and Drink. — The food of the colonists was coarse and simple. Corn-meal bread, mush, and molasses were staple foods. At first the colonists were obliged to depend largely upon hunting and fishing to obtain food. Later, when the farmers raised domestic animals, large quantities of salt pork and bacon were consumed. Tea and coffee were not used in early colonial days. The poor and middle-class people commonly drank home- brewed beer and hard cider. Rum and brandy were also used. The wealthier people had expensive wines upon their tables. Alcoholic liquors were indulged in more freely in colonial times than is customary to-day. Drunkenness was com- mon. 161. Clothing. — Some of the poorer people dressed in clothing made of the skins of animals, leather, or coarse canvas. Home-spun clothes, made from sheep's wool, spun and woven into cloth by the women, were most commonly worn. The men wore knee breeches and coarse woolen stock- ings. The wealthy people imported silks and laces and other rich clothes from England. Silver buckles and buttons were used, and the dress of the men, especially of the rich southern planters, was almost as gay as that of the women. The people of New England and the Quakers dressed in a more simple style. 162. Travel. — Travel was both difficult and dangerous in the colonies. Only a few of the smaller streams were spanned by bridges. At first there were few roads, and these were very poor. Some of the roads were mere Indian trails that could only be COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT 141 travelled on foot. Over others, pack horses could be taken, but wagons could not be drawn. Later some better roads were made, and stage- coaches were used in travelling. One of these was called the " Flying Machine," because it made the journey between New York and Philadel- phia in two days. Express trains to-day cover this distance Courier. Early Travel on Horseback. easily in two hours. The Conestoga wagon is an inter- esting relic of the means of travel people used before the days of railroads. Travel by water was safer and cheaper than travel by land. Canoes were used on the small streams; small sail- ing vessels, called shallops, plied along the coast. The steamboat had not yet been invented. 142 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA 163. Communication. — The difficulties of travel made it hard for people to communicate with each other. The tele- graph and telephone had not been invented. It cost so much to send letters that not very many were written. Letters were carried by the stage coaches and by couriers on horseback. There were only two or three mails a week, even between the Old stage-coach and Inn. large towns. In many parts of the country there was no regulaf mail delivery at all. 164. Books and Newspapers. — The printing in colonial days was done by small hand-presses. The first printing press in America was used at Harvard College in 1639. The first newspaper was printed in Boston, i 704. It was published COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT 143 only once a week. There were no daily newspapers in colonial days. Almost all the books in the colonies were brought from England, and few people were rich enough to own many. A Bible and an Almanac formed the library in most houses. Poor Richard's Almanac, printed by Benjamin Franklin, was very popular with the hard-work- ing colonists. They found, in the wise and witty sayings of Poor Richard, good common sense and advice worth follow- ing. 165. Manufacturing. — There was very little manufacturing done in the colonies, because the mother country made laws against it. Many of the colonies could have become great manufacturing centers. They had able workmen, plenty of raw materials, cheap water- power, and a good market for their products; but these bad law^s stood in the way. Manufactured goods of every kind had to be brought from England. England could not, however, prevent the people from making things for themselves. The men made tools, farm implements, furniture, and articles of every-day use about the house and farm. The women used the spinning-wheel and made home-spun clothes. They also wove baskets and made straw hats. 166. Labor. — Negro slavery existed in all the colonies. In New England the negroes were employed principally as house servants. In the Middle Colonies thcv were used as lajjorers Hand Printing Press. 144 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA or worked upon the farms. South of Mason and Dixon's line the negro slaves worked on the great plantations. Here they were employed in great numbers. There were many white persons who were held in a con- dition almost LATELY imported in the •Sloop Ju^upui (Jxjar^ very likely Negro Men, Boys and Girls, Rum, Sugar and MolalTes, to be Sold very reafonable by John Inglis. Alfo Choice good Adad.eira Wine at^ ^ iS per Pipe for ready Money. To be SOLD, BY Benjamin tender at Demit RaUhf .d's tn Market-Jlt-eet, near the iiign of the Indian King, levcral Ncgroe Men, Women and Boy>., at a very rcafouablc Price for Bread, Flower, cJPc. Lately improt ed from A ntfgua and to be Sold by Edward Jones in Ifkcc Norris'j jUley. APARCFLof likeTy Ne- gro Women &GirIs from thirteen _ ^ to one and twenty Ycari of a|;e, and have al! baa the 5mall-Pox. Old Advertisement of Slaves for Sale. as bad as sla- very. Thous- ands of crimi- n al s of all kinds were taken from English prisons and sold into service in the colonies for terms of seven years or more. Besides these convi ct-ser- V a n t s , there were people who had bound themselves out for a term of years in order to pay their passage to America. All these bond-servants were treated like slaves, and whether their lot was good or bad depended on the kind of master they chanced to have. Some of them became wealthy and prosper- ous after they attained their freedom. There were very different ideas about labor in the different colonies. In New England and the Middle Colonies a man COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT I45 was ashamed not to work. In the South labor was looked upon as degrading and fit only for slaves. § 2. GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONIES 167. The Three Forms of Colonial Government. — The colonics all belonged to England and were under the rule of the mother country. All the colonies, however, did not have exactly the same form of government. As we learned in studying the separate colonies, some of them began with one form of government, which was changed later to another form. Other colonies continued the form of government under which they began, even after they became independent of Great Britain. There were three distinct forms of colonial government: The charter, the proprietary, and the royal or provincial. 168. The Charter Form of Government. — Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut each had a charter, or written agreement between the king and the colonists. The charter gave the people the right to make their own laws and to elect their governors, except that in Massachusetts the king had the power to appoint the governor. Rhode Island and Connec- ticut were so well satisfied with their charters that they con- tinued their government under them long after they became part of the United States. 169. The Proprietary Form of Government. — Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Marj'land were governed by the descendants of William Penn and of Lord Baltimore, the original pro- prietors. The king had granted the proprietors certain tracts of land in the New World and the right to rule the colonies which should be established there. 146 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGLISH SUPREMACY IN AMERICA The proprietors either acted as governors themselves or appointed governors to act for them. Fortunately for the colonists, Penn and Lord Baltimore were good governors and gave the people the right to make their own laws. New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Georgia were started under proprietors, but afterward became royal provinces. 170. The Provincial Form of Government. — New Hamp- shire, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were all provinces under the control of the king of England. The king appointed the governors for these colonies. Although the people in the royal provinces were allowed to make their own laws, the governors had great power. They often used their power tyrannically and interfered greatly with the liberties of the people. 171. Self=government in the Colonies. — The colonial gov- ernments were all alike in some respects — in each colony there was a legislature consisting of two branches, the lower branch, or representatives, being elected by the people. In these legislatures the taxes were levied and the laws were made. The legislatures were not allowed to make any laws contrary to the laws of the mother country. The right to vote was given only to men who owned a certain amount of property. A voter also had to be a member of church. In New England the people often assembled in town- meetings, where every man had a right to speak. In Virginia, county meetings were held, but not so frequently as the town- meetings of New England, because of the distance between plantations and the difficulties of travel. COLONIAL LIFE AND GOVERNMENT I47 In these ways the colonists got practice in votini^ and in law-making, thus learning how to govern themselves. The conditions of their pioneer lives taught them to depend upon themselves and to endure great hardships. While conquering the wilderness, they learned to love the country, and seemed to breathe in with its free air a spirit of liberty and independence. It was this spirit that later became known as "the spirit of '76, " when they declared themselves independent of Great Britain and won a place among free nations as the United States of America. SEP 5 1308