Louisiana was so called in honor of Louis XIV., of France (see p. 46). It is called the Creole State, the descendants of the original French and Spanish settlers being a large part of the habitants.

Indiana. From the word Indian. The name Indiana was first applied in 1768 to a grant of land north of and near the Ohio river which a company of traders that year obtained from the Indians. Indiana is known as the Hoosier State, and its inhabitants as Hoosiers. 'The word is said to be a corruption of husher, formerly a common term for a bully throughout the West."

Mississippi.—An Indian name, signifying the great and long river. Because of its numerous bayous or creeks, Mississippi is known as the Bayou State.

Illinois.-The first part of this word, signifying men, is of Indian origin; the remaining part, ois, meaning tribe of men, is from the French. This State, in allusion to its wide-spread and beautiful prairies, is known as the Prairie State.

Alabama.—An Indian word, said to signify here we rest.

Maine.-Authors do not agree as to how and when Maine received its name. One writer says: "It was called the Main land, to distinguish it from the islands along the coast, which were valuable for fishing purposes." Varney, in his History of Maine, says: "In 1639 Gorges procured a royal grant of land extending from the Piscataqua to the Kennebec. The name of the territory under the new charter was changed to Maine, in honor of the queen (Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I.), whose patrimonial estate, as Princess of France, was the French province of Mayne." Maine is the Lumber State, "the inhabitants being largely engaged in cutting and rafting lumber." Missouri. This is an Indian name, signifying muddy. It was, first applied to the river. Arkansas.—Kansas, an Indian word, signifies smoky water. The prefix ar (arc), meaning a bow, is French. Because of the number of bears that infested its forests, Arkansas is often called the Bear State. Michigan.-Trumbull says: "The word is Indian, signifying a weir for fish." Another authority says: "It signifies great lake." Michigan is known as the Lake State, it bordering on four great lakes; also as the Wolverine State, because of the great number of wolverines formerly abounding there. The inhabitants are sometimes designated as Wol verines.

of course,

Florida was discovered on Pascua Florida day, hence its name (see p. 33). Florida's pet name is the Peninsula State.

Texas." The name was derived from a small tribe of Indians that

inhabited a village called Tehas, meaning friendly." Texas is called

the Lone Star State, the Texas flag, before the admission of the State into the Union, having a single star. The coat of arms of the State

has a "lone star" (see p. 236).

Iowa. This, according to Trumbull, is "the French form of an Indian word, signifying the drowsy or the sleepy ones." Iowa is called the Hawkeye State, after an Indian chief.

Wisconsin. This State takes its name from a large tributary of the Mississippi discovered by Marquette, and called by him Masconsin (wild rushing channel). Masconsin became changed to Ouisconsin, and finally to Wisconsin. Owing to the great number of badgers that were formerly in the State, it was and is called the Badger State. The State's coat of arms has a picture of a badger.

California.-A romance was published in Spain in 1510, in which the word California, applied to an imaginary island, for the first time occurs. Cortez had read the book, it is supposed, and when he sailed along the west coast of Mexico, in 1535, he called the country California. It has been suggested that the root of the word is Arabic, meaning caliph. California is known as the Golden State, it being the most important gold-producing region in the world. Minnesota. The name is from two Indian words, signifying sky-colored water or cloudy water. The familiar appellation of Minnesota is the North Star State. On its seal are the words L'etoile du Nord, the Star of the North.

Oregon. The name, says Trumbull, "comes from an Indian language, with which the traveler Carver had been for many years familiar, and it is the accurate translation into that language of the name by which, as Carver had reason for believing, the 'Great River of the West' was designated by the tribes that lived near it." Owing to a peculiarity of the climate of Oregon, characterized by dry months in the summer and early autumn, and excessive rain in the winter, the State, and more particularly that portion lying west of the Cascade mountains, has been called the Web-foot Country; its inhabitants are called Web-foots.

Kansas.—An Indian word, signifying smoky water. The name Garder of the West is often given to this State, but it is also given to Illinois and other Western States that are noted for their productiveness. West Virginia.-The name Virginia, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was applied to all the region which the English claimed in the new world, (see p. 40). West-Virginia, because of its grand mountain scenery, is sometimes called the Switzerland of America. The term is also occasionally applied to New Hampshire.

Nevada. This State was named from the mountain range on the west of

it, called the Sierra Nevada. The two words Sierra Nevada are Spanish, the former meaning serrated or saw-toothed; the latter, snowy. When applied to a mountain they signify a serrated, snowy mountain.

Nebraska. The word is of Indian origin, signifying shallow water. It was first applied to the Platte river, which runs through the State. Colorado. This word is Spanish, and means red or ruddy. Colorado is familiarly called the Centennial State (see p. 300).

THE SUCCESSIVE CAPITALS.

THE first capital of the United States was Philadelphia. In the old State House, or, as it is more commonly called, Independence Hall, of that city, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by a Congress of delegates from the colonies (p. 145). A little more than five months after that event, while the British forces under Cornwallis were advancing against Washington across New Jersey (p. 149), Congress adjourned to Baltimore (December, 1776), but returned to Philadelphia less than three months later (March, 1777). On the approach of Howe against Philadelphia, in September of that year (p. 154), Congress adjourned at first to Lancaster, Pa. (September 27th to 30th, 1777), and then to York, Pa. After the retirement of the British from Pennsylvania (p. 162), Congress returned to Philadelphia (July, 1778), and that city continued to be the capital till June, 1783, when Congress adjourned to Princeton, N. J. (June 30), and, in November of the same year, to Annapolis, Md. (p. 177). After a recess of five months, a session of Congress was opened at Trenton, N. J., and here measures were suggested which resulted in making the city of Washington the permanent seat of government. In January, 1785, Congress adjourned to New York It must be remembered that the Congress of the Revolution, under the Articles of Confederation, was not much like our present Congress. It was more of a continuous body, in which, after the first three or four years, all the States were seldom represented at the same time.

When the Constitution went into operation New York was still the capital (p. 182), and in that city Washington was inaugurated president, and there he resided until 1790, when, by an act of Congress, the capital was removed to Philadelphia for a period of ten years (p. 191). By this act it was also determined to establish the permanent capital somewhere on the Potomac river, the site to be selected by the president. After the adjournment of Congress, Washington made a tour through the Southern States, and, stopping several days on the Potomac, performed the duty imposed upon him. In the nation's new capital, the city of Washington, Congress assembled in November of 1800,

POLITICAL PARTIES.

1. During the war between Great Britain and her American colonies the Tory party in power was more determined to adopt and prosecute harsh and unjust measures against the colonists than the opposition, the Whig party. Hence the colonists who adhered to the crown were called Tories, while those who were in sympathy with the cause of liberty and independence were called Whigs; and for many years these latter took pleasure in styling themselves American Whigs.

2. When the Constitution was presented to the States for adoption (1787) it met with very decided opposition. Its friends, believing that in the event of its rejection the Union could not continue to exist, took the name of Federalists: upon their opponents they bestowed the name of Anti-Federalists. The former wanted a strong government, strong enough to make itself obeyed at home and respected abroad. The latter, "opposed to conferring so much power upon the general government," preferred a confederacy, such as then existed, to any federal government whatever. In the ranks of the Federalists were included Washington, Hamilton, John Adams, Jay, and Marshall. The leaders of the other side, who at first permitted themselves to be designated as Anti-Federalists, but who subsequently called themselves Republicans, and at a later period Democrats, were Jefferson, Randolph, George Clinton, Burr, and others (p. 179). After the adoption of the Constitution, for a period of thirty years, these two parties continued to exist; but the questions relating to the regulation of commerce, the tariff, the public debt, a national bank, and the French Revolution, created new issues, and to a large extent blended party lines. The opposition of the Federalists to the war of 1812, the favor they extended to the Hartford Convention (p. 215), and other causes, completed their overthrow and led to their final extinction as a party.

3. The first three elections-Washington's two and John Adams' one -were Federal victories. The election of Jefferson (in 1801), the first Republican victory, was the first great political revolution in the United States. The two elections of Madison were also triumphs of the Republican party, though Madison had co-operated with Hamilton and Jay in defending the Constitution (p. 179). The Republicans were now, as they had been all along since the first election of Jefferson, opposed to any currency but gold and silver. The two succeeding elections, those of Monroe, may also be regarded as Republican victories, though party lines were almost obliterated, the eight years of Monroe's administration being known as "the era of good feeling" (p. 219). The next

Political Parties.

327

presidential election, there being no regularly organized political parties, was more of a personal than a party contest. Most of the members of the now extinct Federal party, however, supported Adams (p. 222).

4. The presidential contest of 1828, "the most bitter in American history," was largely of a personal character. Its result, the election of Jackson, was a victory for the Democratic party (p. 226). The opponents of the Democrats began at this time to be called Whigs, though they were more generally known as National Republicans. Jackson's administration was engaged in an almost constant strife with the Whigs, the Anti-Masons, and the United States Bank; but his popularity secured him a second election and also the election of his friend Van Buren (p. 230). A faction of the Democratic party at this time was called Loco-Focos. The name originated in 1834, from an incident that occurred at a meeting in Tammany Hall, New York. Two factions, differing widely in opinion, were contending amid a scene of confusion and tumult, when suddenly the gas-lights were extinguished by one of the factions with a view to break up the meeting. At once, however, the opposite faction relighted the hall by means of loco-foco matches, and accomplished their object. In the election of 1840 the Whigs were successful, their candidate, Harrison, being chosen by a large majority (p. 233).

5. In the contest of 1844 the Democratic party favored the " annexation of Texas," the "whole of Oregon or none," and a low tariff. It was the most closely contested election thus far in the history of the country. If the Abolition vote had been given to Clay he would have been elected. As it was, Polk, the Democratic nominee, was the suc cessful candidate (p. 237). As the next canvass approached two factions again appeared in the Democratic party. One of these, known as the Hunkers, or Conservatives, endeavored to ignore the slavery question altogether. The other faction, known as Free Soil Democrats, but called by their opponents Barnburners, took a stand against the further extension of slavery, and finally joined the Free Soilers. Three candidates were then put in nomination, including ex-president Van Buren, the nominee of the Free Soilers. The result was in favor of Taylor, and thus the Whigs came a second time into power (p. 244); but they held it for only the brief period of four years, when the Democrats, with Pierce as their standard-bearer, were successful (p. 249). Before the next, the eighteenth national election, took place, the Whig party, neither pro-slavery nor anti-slavery, ceased to exist, and two new parties, the Republican and the American, came into being. The Republicans were opposed to the extension of slavery, the Americans to the easy naturalization of foreigners. The latter belonged to a secret organization, of whose name, nature, and objects nothing at first was