‘Americanist History’ Archives
The Life of John Adams: Preface
The Life of John Adams, by Charles Henry Adams Editors Note: This is Volume 1 of the 10 Volume "The Works of John Adams", (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). The author, Charles Henry Adams is John Adams grandson. The copyright for the original text is in the Public Domain because its copyright has expired. The font, formatting, and [...]
Colonization of Maryland
Americanist History: George Bancroft's, History of the United States Chapter 10: COLONIZATION OF MARYLAND VIRGINIA, by its second charter, extended two hundred miles north of Old Point Comfort, and therefore included the soil which forms the state of Maryland. It was not long before the country toward the head of the Chesapeake was [...]
Paul Revere At Lexington: In His Own Words
Americanist History, Paul Revere: 1775 Many of us have read Longfellow's marvelous poem "Paul Revere's Ride;" the account given below is from a deposition which Revere gave shortly after his ride. It describes his being taken into custody by British soldiers, repeatedly threatened at gun point, his gutsy straightforward responses, and after his [...]
Restrictions on Colonial Commerce
Americanist History, George Bancroft's: History of the United States Chapter 9: RESTRICTIONS ON COLONIAL COMMERCE ASCENDING the throne on the twenty-seventh of March, 1625, in his twenty-fifth year, Charles I inherited the principles and was governed by the favorite of his father. The rejoicings in consequence of his recent nuptials with [...]
Slavery, Dissolution of the London Company
Americanist History, George Bancroft's: History of the United States Chapter 7: SLAVERY, DISSOLUTION OF THE LONDON COMPANY WHILE Virginia, by the concession of a representative government, was constituted the asylum of liberty, it became the abode of hereditary bondsmen. Slavery and the slave-trade are older than the records of human [...]
Virginia Obtains Civil Liberty
Americanist History, George Bancroft, History of the United States Chapter 7: Virginia Obtains Civil Liberty THE golden anticipations of the London company from the colonization of Virginia had not been realized, for it had grasped at sudden emoluments. Undaunted by the train of misfortunes, the kingdom awoke to the greatness of the [...]
England Plants a New Nation in Virginia
Americanist History, George Bancroft, History of the United States Chapter 6: England Plants a New Nation in Virginia "I SHALL yet live to see Virginia an English nation," wrote Raleigh to Sir Robert Cecil shortly before the accession of James I. When the period for success had arrived, changes in European politics and society had moulded [...]
The English Attempt Colonization
Americanist History, George Bancroft: History of the United States Chapter 5: The English Attempt Colonization Editor's Overview: The English seek a Northwest Passage, find gold instead (or so they think) in Upper Canada, send ships to reap the profits, fail at that, and then engage in several bold and adventurous attempts to colonize from as [...]
The Spaniards Hold Florida
Americanist History, George Bancroft: History of the United States Volume I, Chapter 4, The Spaniards Hold Florida Editor's Summary: Spain sets its eye on taking Florida for itself, and through the instrumentality of Melindez massacres 900 French Huguenots — men, women, children, the aged, and infirm — justifying the crime by saying these [...]
Spaniards in the Mississippi Valley
Americanist History, George Bancroft: History of the United States Volume I, Chapter 3: Spaniards in the Mississippi Valley THE expedition from Mexico had not been begun, when, in 1537, Cabeza de Vaca, landing in Spain, addressed to the imperial Catholic king a narrative of his adventures; and the tales of "the Columbus of the continent" [...]
The Spaniards in Florida and On the Pacific Coast
Americanist History, George Bancroft's "History of the United States" Chapter 2: The Spaniards in Florida and On the Pacific Coast I HAVE traced the course of events which established France in Acadia and Canada. The same power extended its claims indefinitely towards the south; but the right to Florida, on the ground of discovery, belonged to [...]
Early Voyages, French Settlement in America
Americanist History, George Bancroft's History of the United States PART I: The English People Found a Nation in America (1492 to 1660) Chapter 1: Early Voyages, French Settlements in America THE enterprise of Columbus, the most memorable maritime enterprise in the history of the world, formed between Europe and America the communication which [...]
Bancroft’s History of the United States: Introduction
Americanist History, George Bancroft The United States of America constitute an essential portion of a great political system, embracing all the civilized nations of the earth. At a period when the force of moral opinion is rapidly increasing, they have the precedence in the practice and the defence of the equal rights of man. The sovereignty of [...]
Bancroft’s History of the United States: Preface
Americanist History, George Bancroft Editor's Comment: Today The Moral Liberal begins a rather large undertaking, a chapter by chapter tour through what is in this editor's opinion the most inspirational history on the United States of America ever written, a history which if studied in every American School could be part of a larger formula that [...]
Law In the Plymouth Colony, 1620-1629, by Joseph Story
Americanist History, The Pilgrims, 1620-1629 Among others, who suffered persecutions from the haughty zeal of Elizabeth, was a small sect, called from the name of their leader, Brownists, to whom we owe the foundation of the now wide spread sect of Congregationalists or Independents. After sufferings of an aggravated nature, they were compelled [...]
They are Jealous of Their Liberties
Americanist History, William Jackman Parliament assumed the right to tax the Americans, and paid no attention to their protests, but characterized them as "absurd," "insolent," "mad." when they expostulated with Grenville, the Prime Minister, he warned them that in a contest with England they would gain nothing. The taxes must be levied at all [...]
In Dispute: Taxation Without Representation
Americanist History, David Ramsay, 1789 Immediately after the peace of Paris, 1763, a new scene was opened. The national debt of Great-Britain, then amounted to 148 millions, for which an interest of nearly 5 millions, was annually paid. While the British minister was digesting plans for diminishing this amazing load of debt, he conceived the [...]
Braddock’s Defeat, Washington’s Miraculous Preservation
Amercanist History, 1749-1755, William J. Jackman From William J. Jackman's account of Braddock's defeat — a fully avoidable defeat had General Braddock taken the advice of young George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and others about troop movements and how to best fight Indians in the American wilderness — we read of a most remarkable [...]
William Penn: Friend of God, Indians, and Liberty
Americanist History, 1650-1742, William J. Jackman We have in the course of this history met with the sect known as Quakers,—a sect, perhaps, more than any other drawn from the humbler classes of the English people. We have found them at one time few in number, despised and persecuted; treated as the enemies of social order and morals. They [...]
New Amsterdam Becomes New York — William J. Jackman
Americanist History, 1609-1683, William J. Jackman Manhattan in the meanwhile was gaining numbers by emigration. The stern Stuyvesant was some times intolerant, but the company wished the people to enjoy the rights of conscience. They wished New Amsterdam to be as liberal to the exile for religion's sake as was its namesake in the Old World. [...]
Puritan Prosperity: By-Product of Reverence, Integrity, Honor, and Hard Work
Americanist History, 1624-1655, William J. Jackman Let us glance at the inner life of these colonists during the first generation or two after their settlement in the wilderness. In these earlier days the magistrates had a sort of patriarchal authority over the community, somewhat as a parent over his own household. And as the inhabitants were [...]
Moral Corruption Fatal in the End — Milton Lomask
Americanist History, 1787, Milton Lomask YZEKCKUYUKU7 "Virtue," a group of New Hampshire ministers pointed out, was helpful "to any kind of government, but it was absolutely necessary to the existence of a republic." In a republic, one of them declared, "the people are not only the source of authority; but the exercise of it is in a great [...]
John Elliot: Apostle to the Indians
Americanist History, 1624-1655, William J. Jackman The Puritans had long desired to carry the gospel to the Indians. John Eliot, the devout and benevolent pastor of the church in Roxbury, in addition to his pastoral labors, gave them regular instruction in Christianity. He learned their language that he might preach to them; he translated the [...]
New England Education: Early Christian Beginnings
Americanist History, 1624-1655, William J. Jackman A very great number of men of education, ministers and laymen, emigrated to New England. There were of ministers alone more than eighty, some of whom were equal to any of their profession in their native land. There was an unusual amount of general intelligence among all classes of the community. [...]
First Written Consitution: The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Americanist History, 1639, William J. Jackman (with extended comments by Steve Farrell) After the war with the Pequods was ended, the people of the several settlements on the Connecticut held a convention at Hartford (Jan. 1639), and adopted a constitution and form of government. The constitution was framed on liberal principles. They agreed to [...]
John Davenport, Theophilus Eaton, and the Founding of New Haven, Connecticut
Americanist History, William J. Jackman The year following, John Davenport, a celebrated clergyman of London, arrived at Boston—with him came his friend Theophilus Eaton, a rich merchant. They and their associates had been exiled. They were cordially welcomed in Massachusetts, and urgently pressed to remain in that colony. They preferred to go [...]
“One Small Candle Will Light a Thousand” — The Pilgrims & Religious Freedom
Americanist History, William P. Jackman Though the Pilgrims had no charter, they formed a government upon the most liberal principles. They had a governor, who was chosen by the people, and whose power was limited by a council of five. For more than eighteen years the whole male population were the legislators. They were the pioneers of [...]
They Thanked God With All Their Hearts — William P. Jackman
Americanist History, William P. Jackman As "Thanksgiving" has now become a national festival, the manner in which it was first instituted has a peculiar interest. In the autumn of 1623, after the fruits of the harvest were gathered in, Governor Bradford sent out a company for game, to furnish dainty materials for a feast. God had blessed their [...]
Pilgrim Faith and Determination, William Jackman
Americanist History, William Jackman When the Mayflower left for England, not one of these heroic men and women desired to leave the land of their adoption. They had now a government; they had a church covenant; they had a constitution under which their rights were secured, and each one according to his individual merit could be respected and [...]
