PREFACE.

THE second volume of the EPOCHS OF AMERICAN HISTORY aims to follow out the principles laid down for "THE COLONIES," — the study of causes rather than of events, the development of the American nation out of scattered and inharmonious colonies. The throwing off of English control, the growth out of narrow political conditions, the struggle against foreign domination, and the extension of popular government, are all parts of the uninterrupted process of the Formation of the Union.

So mighty a development can be treated only in its elements in this small volume. Much matter is thrown into graphic form in the maps; the Suggestions for Readers and Teachers, and the bibliographies at the heads of the chapters are meant to lead to more detailed accounts, both of events and of social and economic conditions. Although the book includes three serious wars, there is no military history in it. To the soldier, the movement of troops is a professional question of great significance; the layman needs to know, rather, what were the means,

the character, and the spirit of the two combatants in each case, and why one succeeded where the other was defeated.

The final struggle for the Ohio and St. Lawrence valleys has been considered more in its political effects on the colonies than in its effect on France. The author has attempted to trace the causes of the separation from Great Britain, and to describe the slow and half-unwilling union of the colonies in that contest. An account of the weakness and defects of national and state governments during the Confederation leads up to the Constitutional Convention, and to the hardly less important organizing acts of 1789 to 1793. Then come the development and rivalry of political parties, and their effect on the United States during the Napoleonic wars. From the political dangers caused by the War of 1812, the story goes on through the economic transformation of the years from 1815 to 1824. The volume closes with a sketch of the gradual democratizing of the government, which culminated in the election of Jackson in 1828. If I have made clearer why there is a United States of America, I am satisfied.

To my colleague, Prof. Edward Channing, I am indebted for many suggestions on the first four chapters.

CAMBRIDGE, July 1, 1892.

ALBERT BUSHNELL HART.

SUGGESTIONS FOR READERS AND

TEACHERS.

EACH of the volumes in the series is intended to be complete in itself, and to furnish an account of the period it covers sufficient for the general reader or student. The paragraph numbers may be used in assigning lessons. Those who wish to supplement this book by additional reading or study will find useful the bibliographies at the heads of the chapters. For the use of teachers the following method is recommended. A chapter at a time may be given out to the class for their preliminary reading. From the references at the head of the chapter a report may then be prepared by one or more members of the class on each of the topics included in that chapter; these reports may be filed, or may be read in class when the topic is reached in the more detailed exercises. Pupils take a singular interest in such work, and the details thus obtained will add a local color to the necessarily brief statements of the text.

The following brief works will be found useful for reference and comparison, or for the preparation of topics. The set should cost not more than ten dollars.

1. DANIEL C. GILMAN: James Monroe in his Relations to the Public Service during Half a Century (American Statesmen). Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1883. — Covers the period 1776-1826.

2.

ALEXANDER JOHNSTON: History of American Politics. 2d ed. New York: Holt, 1885.- Lucid account of political events in brief space.

3, 4. HENRY CABOT LODGE: George Washington (American Statesmen). 2 vols. Boston & New York: Houghton,

Mifflin & Co., 1889. Covers the period 1732-1799.

5. JOHN T. MORSE, JR.: Thomas Jefferson (American Statesmen). Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1883. Covers the period 1750-1809.

6. CARL SCHURZ: Life of Henry Clay, vol. i. (American Statesmen). Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1887. Covers the period 1777-1833. Lodge's Washington, Morse's Jefferson, Gilman's Monroe, and Schurz's Clay, together, supply the place of a brief narrative history.

7. EDWARD STANWOOD: A History of Presidential Elections. 4th ed. revised. Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1892. An account of the political events of each presidential campaign, with the platforms and a statement of the

votes.

8. SIMON STERNE: Constitutional History and Political Development of the United States. 4th ed. revised. New York: Putnam's, 1888. An excellent brief summary of the development of the Constitution.

9. HERMANN VON HOLST: The Constitutional and Political History of the United States. Vol. i. 1750-1833. State Sovereignty and Slavery. Chicago: Callaghan & Co., 1877. Not a consecutive history, but a philosophical analysis and discussion of the principal constitutional events.

The following books make up a serviceable library on the formation of the Union. They should cost not more than thirty dollars.

I-9. The brief works enumerated in the list above.

IO.

GEORGE TICKNOR CURTIS: Constitutional History of the United States from their Declaration of Independence to the Close of their Civil War. Vol. i. New York: Harpers, 1889 This is the only volume yet published; it is a reprint of Curtis's

List of Reference Books.

xi

earlier History of the Constitution, in two volumes, and covers the period 1774-1790.

II.

RICHARD FROTHINGHAM: The Rise of the Republic of the United States. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1872. — A careful study of the progress of independence, from 1750 to 1783. Indispensable.

12. JUDSON S. LANDON: The Constitutional History and Government of the United States. A Series of Lectures. Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1889. — The only recent brief constitutional history, except Sterne.

13-15. JOHN BACH MCMASTER: A History of the People of the United States from the Revolution to the Civil War. New York: Appleton, 1883-1892. The three volumes published cover the period 1784-1812. The point of view in the first volume is that of social history; in later volumes there is more political discussion.

16-19. JOHN T. MORSE, JR., EDITOR: American Statesmen Series. Boston & New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1883-1889. SIDNEY HOWARD GAY: James Madison, 1884; HENRY CABOT LODGE: Alexander Hamilton, 1882; JOHN T. MORSE, JR.: John Adams, 1885, and John Quincy Adams, 1882.

20-22. JAMES SCHOULER: History of the United States of America under the Constitution. Vols. i.-iii. Washington: Morrison, 1880-1885 [now published, New York: Dodd, Mead & Co.]. This is the only recent and complete history which systematically covers the whole period from 1781 to 1861. The style is very inelegant, but it is an excellent repository of facts.

Beyond these select libraries, the bibliographies at the heads of the chapters lead the way to the most useful literature. The following are standard books upon the period of the formation of the Union. With the two sets enumerated above, they form a fair reference library. They should cost about one hundred and twenty dollars, in addition to thirty dollars for the briefer set (Nos. 1–22).