II IV. PERIOD of Colonial GROWTH. 1640-1775 · 23 V. PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION. 1775-1783 38 VI. PERIOD Of National GROWTH. 1783-1817. 43 I. ABORIGINAL PERIOD. The North American Indians. The American continent, long before its discovery by the Europeans, was inhabited by the race of red-men known as Indians, who, organized into various families and tribes, bearing various names, and displaying somewhat different characteristics and habits, extended from what is now known as Labrador, in the extreme North-east, southward to the Gulf of Mexico, all about the Great Lakes, far into the interior, and along the Pacific coast; throughout, in fact, pretty much the entire country. The chief families of these Indians were the Esquimaux, the Algonquins, the Iroquois, the Creeks, and the Dakotas; each of these families being divided into an almost infinite number of tribes, of which some of the more prominent and familiar names are Ottawas, Narragansetts, Mohegans, Powhatans, Hurons, Mohawks, and Seminoles. The origin of the North American Indians is wrapped in mystery, though their traditions point to the North-west as the quarter whence the current of their emigration proceeded; which fact, with other circumstances, suggests an Asiatic origin. The Mound Builders. The Indians were not, however the aboriginal inhabitants of North America. There is evidence that they were preceded by another and superior race, which, for want of a better name, and with reference to the monuments left by it, is commonly called the Mound Builders. The region of the Great Lakes, the valley of the Mississippi, and the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico, abound with a variety of earth-works, of great age and impressive appearance, all ascribed to this race now long extinct. These works consist of walls, enclosures, embankments, mounds of every conceivable shape, ditches, reservoirs, and altar-like erections in geometrical forms; their antiquity being thought to range from 1500 to 2000 years. Besides such of these works as were intended for purposes of worship, there are others which were places of burial, and others still whose original design was as manifestly defence. Some of the more remarkable of these works are found in Ohio, near Newark and Chilicothe ; others in Wisconsin and Iowa. They demonstrate the existence in this country, before the Indian occupation, of a numerous, intelligent, powerful, and to some extent civilized race; but whence it came and whither it disappeared, are, for the present at least, matters of pure conjecture. II. PERIOD OF DISCOVERY. 860-1534. 860. The Norwegians and Iceland. Columbus was not the pioneer in the enterprise of American discovery. About this year Iceland, which, though politically a part of the Eastern hemisphere, belongs geographically to the Western, was discovered by the Norwegians. According to tradition Iceland had been discovered 862. Russian empire founded by Ruric the Norman. even before this by Irish adventurers. It was not permanently settled, however, until 874, when 871-900. Alfred two Norwegians founded Reykjavik. the Great, King of England. Half a century later Iceland became a Republic. 983. Greenland was the first portion of what is really the American continent to be reached by Europeans. Its eastern coast was seen by the Norwegians almost simultaneously with the discovery of Iceland, but in this and following years the land was entered and explored by Norwegians, and within two centuries became the 1066. Battle of abode of a considerable population. The Hastings. William the Conqueprobabilities are that Greenland was ror, of Normanfar less desolate and much more habi- dy, ascends the table then than now. 1000-1200. English throne. The Northmen and New England. There are traditions to the effect that 1079-1142. Abeduring the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries lard. 1096-1272. The the Northmen explored the New Eng- Crusades. land. coast. But the extent of their dis- 1160-1227. Gencoveries, and the precise localities which ghis Khan. they visited, cannot be determined with 1297-1299. Scotland in arms any certainty. against England, led by Wallace and Bruce. 1492. First Voyage of Columbus. On the 3d of August, Christopher Co 1397. Founding lumbus, a native of Genoa, an educated of the Swiss Can mariner and an experienced navigator, tons. 1324-1384. convinced of the existence of a western 1265-1321. Dante. hemisphere, and duly empowered by their Majesties, Ferdinand and Isabella, Wickliffe. King and Queen of Spain, set sail from 1328-1400. Chaucer. Palos on a voyage of discovery, being of 1410-1431. Joan unknown age, but probably between fifty of Arc. |