The Footprints of Time And a Complete Analysis of Our American System of Government, with a Concise History of the Original Colonies and of the United States, in — Text and Context

HISTORICAL PROGRESS IN THE OLD WORLD 29

SECTION I. The Dawn of History—Uncertainty of Tradition—Aid afforded by recent studies—Ethnology, Philology, etc.—Primitive Home of Mankind—The three great races—The first Migrations—Commencement of Civilization—China—The Euphrates—The Hamites in Egypt.

SECTION II. Direction of Pre-historic Growth—Rudeness of early races—Character of the Primitive Man—Testimony of language—Imperfection of Turanian Growth—Seen in China—Superiority of Indo-European races.

SECTION III. Gradual Development—Condition of the first Men—Establishment of the Family—Patriarchal Authority—The Growth of Monarchy—Origin of the Priesthood—Development of both in Chaldea and Egypt—Influence of War and Commerce.

SECTION IV. Ancient Monarchies—Five Monarchies on the Euphrates and Tigris—The Scythian, the two Hamitic, the Assyrian and the Medo-Persian Monarchies—Testimony of the ruins—Mysterious and Singular character of Egypt—Moses and the Jewish State—Tyre and its Commerce.

SECTION V. The Grecian States—Origin, intelligence and vigor of the Greek race—Their Mythology and Heroic History—Their opposition to the dangerous centralizing tendencies of Monarchy—Greek Republics—Colonization—Sparta and Athens—Commencement of Authentic History—Foundation of Rome—Chronological review during the time of the Roman Kings.

SECTION VI. The Roman Republic—Character of the Romans—Greeks and Romans compared—Roman constancy.

SECTION VII. Greece and Rome—The influence of each on the future of mankind—Chronological history from B. C. 500 to B. C. 133—The great career of the Roman Republic.

SECTION VIII. Decay of the Republic—Unhappy effects of conquest and wealth on Roman character—Death of the Gracchi—The Civil Wars—Marius, Sylla, Crassus, Pompey, Julius Cæsar—The Senate Suspends the Constitution and ends the Republic—Death of Cæsar.

SECTION IX. The Roman Empire—Impossibility of restoring the Republic—Triumvirate and wars of Augustus, Antony and Lepidus—Augustus Emperor of the World.

SECTION X. Influence of Christianity—The Jewish State—Influence on it of Egypt, Asia and Greece—The New Morality of Christianity—The persecution it provokes—Its growing influence on life and manners—Unhappy effect of state patronage.

SECTION XI. The services of Great Men to Mankind—Difficulties of progress among the Ancients—Assistance rendered by Great Men—Office of early Poets—Of Legislatures—Philosophers, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—Orators, Demosthenes and Cicero—Influence of Great conquerors on progress—Alexander the Great—Hannibal the unfortunate—Cæsar, the successful—Brutus, the Patriot—Augustus the Emperor—The elements of greatness in all men—Jesus Christ the Perfect Man.

SECTION XII. The Christian Era—Chronological history of the Emperors—The triumph of Christianity and its corruption—The fall of the Empire.

SECTION XIII. Rise of Modern Nations—Incursions of Barbarians—Their settlement in Gaul—Spain, Africa, Italy and Britain—Mahomet and the great success of his followers—Charlemagne and the Popes—Failure to found a Western Empire.

SECTION XIV. The Feudal System—Results from the condition of the Empire and the character of the invaders—Rise and character of Chivalry—The Crusades.

SECTION XV. The Liberties of the People—Influence of the Crusades—Revival of Commerce and Learning.

SECTION XVI. The Situation on the Discovery of America.

SECTION XVII. Conclusion—Summary of Progress—The work assigned to America.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 148

Geographical ignorance of the Ancients—Columbus and his Ideas—His difficulty in getting a hearing—Queen Isabella of Spain—Sets sail for the New World—Why he thought it Asia—Origin of the name America.

HISTORY FROM 1492 TO 1763 151

Various Discoveries—Sir Humphrey Gilbert fails twice to establish a Colony—Sir Walter Raleigh—Settlements in Florida—Jamestown—Landing of the Puritans—Other Settlements—Liberal character of Colonial Governments—Colonies resist oppression—Indian Wars—French Wars—Training they give the Colonies—Capture of Louisburg—Braddock’s Defeat—Colonists as Soldiers.

HISTORY—ORIGIN OF THE REVOLUTION 162

British resolve to tax Colonies—Folly of that measure—Resistance in the Colonies—British repeal the tax, BUT CLAIM THE RIGHT—Indignation in the Colonies—Taxes again tried—Soldiers sent to Boston—“Boston Massacre”—Tax on Tea—Colonies Organize against it—“Boston Tea Party”—Philadelphia—Boston Port Bill—First Congress—“American Association”—Battle of Lexington—Second Congress—Siege of Boston—Bunker Hill—British driven out—Battles in Canada.

FORMATION OF THE ORIGINAL UNION 173

History of the various stages of Union among the States—Adoption of the Articles of Confederation.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 175

Noble character of this Document—It speaks for all men and all times—The Declaration.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 181

Full text of the Articles adopted in 1777, forming the Constitution for 12 years.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR FROM 1776 TO 1783 191