THE NEW YORK ASTOR, LENOX AND Entered, According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1895, By J. P. GORDY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. THIS HIS book is written, primarily, for the teacher who has not had the advantage of a higher education. Believing, as the author does, that the history of the United States is second in importance to no subject taught in the public school, it has seemed to him desirable that books should be put within the reach of public school teachers, the study of which would enable them to teach the subject intelligently. Until normal school training is required of American teachers, a considerable part of their training must be obtained through private study. To help them to prepare themselves to teach United States History is the primary object of this book. The author has aimed to treat his subject in such a way that the thoughtful reader, without much previous knowledge of it, could get some insight into the causes that have determined the political history of the country. For this reason, everything that is merely episodical in its nature, such as Burr's expedition against New Orleans, has been omitted. The author has wished to keep the attention of the reader concentrated on those phases of history which it is important for American citizens to know in order that they may perform their duties as American citizens intelligently. He has hoped also that the book might commend itself to some of that large class of Americans-business men as well as professional men-who are beginning to realize that the present has its roots in the past, and that there is no way to understand the present except by studying the past. With the hope that here and there the book might find a reader who would wish to examine for himself the grounds of its statements, the author has sought to give enough references to enable such readers to satisfy themselves. Of his aim in another particular, he may, perhaps, be permitted to speak: That the book contains mistakes of fact as well as of inference, will doubtless be found to be true; but he confidently believes that it is free from mistakes that are due to any bias in favor of any individual or of any party. Of the authorities he has consulted and to whom he is under obligations, he wishes to make special mention of Alexander Johnston's articles in Lalor's Cyclopedia, and of Henry Adams' History of the United States. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, |