THE LAND WE LIVE IN

CONTENTS.

FIRST PERIOD.

THE FOOTHOLD.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE.

A Land Without a History--Origin of the American Indians--Their
Semi-civilization--The Spanish Colonial System--The King Was Absolute
Master--The Council of the Indies--The Hierarchy--Servitude of the
Natives--Gold and Silver Mines--Spanish Wealth and Degeneracy--
Commercial Monopoly--Pernicious Effects of Spain's Colonial Policy
--Spaniards Destroy a Huguenot Colony, 21

CHAPTER II.

Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh--English Expedition to North
Carolina--Failure of Attempts to Settle There--Virginia Dare--The Lost
Colony--The Foundation of Jamestown--Captain John Smith--His Life Saved
by Pocahontas--Rolfe Marries the Indian Princess--A Key to Early
Colonial History--Women Imported to Virginia, 32

CHAPTER III.

The French in Canada--Champlain Attacks the Iroquois--Quebec a Military
Post--Weak Efforts at Colonization--Fur-traders and Missionaries--The
Foundation of New France--The French King Claims from the Upper Lakes to
the Sea--Slow Growth of the French Colonies--Mixing With the Savages--The
"Coureurs de Bois," 41

CHAPTER IV.

Henry Hudson's Discovery--Block Winters on Manhattan Island--The
Dutch Take Possession--The Iroquois Friendly--Immigration of the
Walloons--Charter of Privileges and Exemptions--Patroons--Manufactures
Forbidden--Slave Labor Introduced--New Sweden--New Netherlanders Want
a Voice in the Government, 46

CHAPTER V.

Landing of the Pilgrims--Their Abiding Faith in God's Goodness--The
Agreement Signed on the Mayflower--A Winter of Hardship--The Indians
Help the Settlers--Improved Conditions--The Colony Buys Its
Freedom--Priscilla and John Alden--Their Romantic Courtship and
Marriage, 52

CHAPTER VI.

The Puritan Immigration--Wealth and Learning Seek These Shores--Charter
Restrictions Dead Letters--A Stubborn Struggle for Self-government--
Methods of Election--The Early Government an Oligarchy--The Charter of
1691--New Hampshire and Maine--The New Haven Theocracy--Hartford's
Constitution--The United Colonies--The Clergy and Politics--Every
Election Sermon a Declaration of Independence, 57

CHAPTER VII.

Where Conscience Was Free--Roger Williams and His Providence Colony--
Driven by Persecution from Massachusetts--Savages Receive Him
Kindly--Coddington's Settlement in Rhode Island--Oliver Cromwell
and Charles II. Grant Charters--Peculiar Referendum in Early Rhode
Island, 64

CHAPTER VIII.

Puritans and Education--Provision for Public Schools--Puritan
Sincerity--Effect of Intolerance on the Community--Quakers Harshly
Persecuted--The Salem Witchcraft Tragedy--History of the Delusion--
Rebecca Nourse and Other Victims--The People Come to their Senses--
Cotton Mather Obdurate to the Last--Puritan Morals--Comer's Diary--
Rhode Island in Colonial Times, 68

CHAPTER IX.

New England Prospering--Outbreak of King Philip's War--Causes of the
War--White or Indian Had to Go--Philip on the War-path--Settlements
Laid in Ashes--The Attack on Hadley--The Great Swamp Fight--Philip
Renews the War More Fiercely Than Before--His Allies Desert Him--
Betrayed and Killed--The Indians Crushed in New England, 77

CHAPTER X.

Growth of New Netherland--Governor Stuyvesant's Despotic Rule--His
Comments on Popular Election--New Amsterdam Becomes New York--The
Planting of Maryland--Partial Freedom of Conscience--Civil War in
Maryland--The Carolinas--Settlement of North and South Carolina--The
Bacon Rebellion in Virginia--Governor Berkeley's Vengeance, 82

CHAPTER XI.

The Colony of New York--New Jersey Given Away to Favorites--Charter of
Liberties and Franchises--The Dongan Charter--Beginnings of New York
City Government--King James Driven From Power--Leisler Leads a Popular
Movement--The Aristocratic Element Gains the Upper Hand--Jacob Leisler
and Milborne Executed--Struggle For Liberty Continues, 90

THE LAND WE LIVE IN