HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

FROM THE EARLIEST DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

TO THE PRESENT TIME.

by E. Benjamin Andrews.

VOLUME II.

NEW YORK.

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS.

1912.

CONTENTS.

PERIOD III.

REVOLUTION AND THE OLD CONFEDERATION.

1763--1789.

CHAPTER 1. RESULTS OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

How Important.

Vergennes's Prophecy.

England in Debt.

Tempted to Tax Colonies.

Colonies Strengthened.

Military Experience Gained.

Leaders Trained.

Fighting Power Revealed.

Best of All, Union.

How Developed.

Nothing but War could have done This.

Scattered Condition of Population then.

Difficulties of Communication.

Other Centrifugal Influences.

France no longer a Menace to the Colonies.

But a Natural Friend and Ally.

Increase of Territory at the Colonies' Disposal.

CHAPTER II. GEORGE III. AND HIS AMERICAN COLONIES

Character of the Young King.

Policy.

Advisers.

Indefinite Causes Separating Colonies from England.

England Blind to These.

Ignorant of the Colonies.

Stricter Enforcement of Navigation Laws.

Writs of a.s.sistance.

James Otis.

Stamp Act.

Opposition.

Vigorous and Widespread Retaliation by Non-importation.

England Recedes.

Her Side of the Question.

Lord Mansfield's Argument.

Pitt's.

Const.i.tutional and Historical Considerations not Sufficient.

George III.'s Case Better Legally than Practically.

Natural Rights.

Townshend's Duties.

Ma.s.sachusetts's Opposition.

Samuel Adams.

Committees of Correspondence.

The Billeting Act.

Boston Ma.s.sacre.

Statement of Grievances.

The Tea.

Coercion Resolved upon.

First Continental Congress.

Drifting into War.

CHAPTER III. INDEPENDENCE AND THE NEW STATES

Slow Growth of Desire for Independence.

Why.

Early Schemes of Union.

New York Convention of 1690.

Albany Convention of 1754.

Franklin's Plan for a Confederation of Colonies.

Even in 1774 no Hint of Independence.

Hardly in 1775.

Swift Change at Last.

All the Colonies Turn to the New Idea.

Causes.

d.i.c.kinson and Harrison.

The King's Barbarity.

The Gaspe Affair.

Capture of Fort William and Mary.

Paine's "Common Sense."

Declaration of Independence Mooted.

Debated.

Drafted.

Pa.s.sed and Signed.

Jefferson.

How far he Followed Earlier Utterances.