網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

MAPS

Sketched by Harry V. Johnson.

North America at the time of the Treaty of 1783

The Colonies with the Sea to Sea Claims

Territorial Growth of the United States

Europe in the Middle of the 16th Century

Europe at the time of the French Revolution

Germany from 1871 to 1914

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

and

Map of France by Departments .

. 189

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK

To help make patriotism vital and intelligent. To quicken the desire for active citizenship, efficiency in government and good will.

To clarify ideas and ideals of democracy

by enlarging the view of the historical growth of government by the people,

by teaching the principle of democracy,

by clearly showing that the years that follow the Great War will be democracy's supreme test. To promote an active desire for acquaintance with the present European situation and its relation to America and the world by constant study of periodicals, newspapers, maps and official' pronouncements.

To make plain the numerous dangers that threaten the American ideal of government.

To make the United States a real democracy. In a Word

To make intelligently active Americans.

In a government of the people, for the people, and by the people, the people must have clear ideas and ideals of the nature, history, and principles of democratic government that they may have the "will to succeed" in carrying out the governmental experiment.

Note:

The usefulness of this book to the student of American Democracy will depend entirely upon his definite

xiv

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK

desire to make himself an intelligent, active American citizen.

When this purpose is fully determined upon, the student who necessarily already has many ideas about democratic government must prepare his mind for the reception of new material on the subject in order that he may relate what he learns to his previous experience. No knowledge is of value unless it can be organized with what is already known.

As a help in this process of getting ready, the student should make a careful preliminary examination of what he knows of the subjects taken up under the chapter headings. By so doing, he will be made conscious of his own power and of his own needs and, as a consequence, his thought will become more purposeful and definite.

As a basis for more thoughtful consideration in the making of the pre-view, summaries of the chapters have been placed at the beginning of the text. It is earnestly urged that every person who intends to use the book go over the summaries thoroughly before beginning the study of any topic. This will give a good idea of the field covered and will set up thinking on what is coming. When the student has gone over all the summaries, he should go back to the one of the first chapter and read it over, deliberating as he reads and recalling what he knows about each topic suggested.

Having cleared the ground in his mind by this preliminary survey of the knowledge he already possesses, the student will next proceed to study the chapter of which he has just made a pre-view.

After the chapter has been read, and at least some of the suggested reading has been done, the student should return to the chapter summary for the purpose of assur

ing himself that what he has studied has become a permanent possession. The same process of pre-view and review should be continued in the study of each chapter.

When the book has been completed, the entire summary should be reviewed so that the student may see what progress he has made in the study of American Democracy. Such a careful and painstaking method is recommended in the study of any book but particularly in the study of a book which has the definite and purposeful aim of teaching American principles. The student can readily see that in a democratic form of government, more than in any other, conscious, directing public intelligence is necessary.

It is also earnestly recommended that students learn the quotations at the beginning of chapters; they may often serve as ready weapons in the hands of the intelligent American citizen whose knowledge of the history of democracy must reach far into the past and whose vision of the future should go beyond the confusion of the present.

B. T. H.

« 上一頁繼續 »