the equipment of the expedition of discovery. There will also be found an account of the Huguenot settlements somewhat more ample than that ordinarily given. In treating the early history of New York an effort has been made to give to Governor Dongan that place among colonial worthies to which he appears to be entitled. The work of the Calverts likewise is more fully described than is customary with the authors of our school histories. By including the facts connected with the massacre of Lachine a slightly different complexion is given to the beginnings of King William's war. In relating the causes and the progress of the Revolutionary War this book attempts so to present the events that it will be easy for the pupil to remember the story. The winning of the West, in which Catholics acted an important part, is rather fully treated. The war on the sea enumerates the exploits of the O'Briens of Machias, Maine, a subject passed without observation in even the more complete histories. To this section belongs also a sketch of Captain John Barry, who is only now beginning to be known to official America. In the national period is included a brief treatment of the beginnings of the Catholic Church in the United States, to which is added Washington's patriotic letter to his Catholic countrymen. The importance is pointed out of Macdonough's victory on Lake Champlain. The Civil War is presented according to its main movements. The outline of the war against Germany is based on the addresses of President Wilson, on General Pershing's report of the American Expeditionary Force, on government publications, and on contemporary periodicals. For the benefit of the younger teachers who may use this book there will be found in the Appendix a topical analysis of our history. The questions following the chapters are designed to be suggestive rather than comprehensive. CHARLES H. MCCARTHY. The Catholic University of America. I Northmen, Italians, and Portuguese. II The Discovery of America by Columbus. XXXI Growth and Economic Development.. XXXII Industrial and Other Domestic Affairs (1873-1897). EARLY VOYAGES CHAPTER I NORTHMEN, ITALIANS, AND PORTUGUESE The Northmen. The first white men who ever came to America were Northmen. Our continent was discovered through accident in the year 1000, by a Northman named Leif, who was on his way to proclaim the Christian faith in Greenland. Let us see, therefore, who the Northmen were, and how Leif came to make his famous voyage to Greenland. The Northmen, a thousand years ago, were known as the boldest sailors of Europe. Their home was Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and they were called Norsemen and Danes as well as Northmen. Among their descendants are the Scandinavian peoples of to-day. During the eighth and ninth centuries bands of Danish sea rovers sailed southward to plunder England. Some of them settled there, and for a time England was ruled by Danish kings. Other Northmen settled in France, received the benefits of a Latin civilization, and under the name of Normans played a great part in history. In Ireland, which the Northmen or Danes also attempted to conquer, they were severely defeated. Soon after this, defeats in Great Britain and on the Continent brought their career of conquest to an end. About the year 1000 they were converted to Christianity. Settlement of Greenland. In the saga of Er'ic the Red we are told that Eric and his father went from Norway 1 to Iceland on account of manslaughter.1 Not long afterward, about 985 A.D., Eric discovered and named Greenland and set out to colonize it. Like a shrewd real estate dealer of our time he gave the country a name that he believed would attract settlers. The Norse colonies in Greenland were on the southwestern coast. The people were chiefly engaged in hunting, fishing, and cattle breeding. Their conversion to Christianity brought them into such communication with Rome as their distant situation would permit. They contributed tithes to the Crusades 2 and as late as 1418, in walrus tusks paid their Peter's Pence to the Holy See. At this time the population of Greenland was about 5000. There was a monastery of Saints Olaf and Augustine; also a convent of the Benedictine order. Greenland could claim a line of at least sixteen bishops. Discovery of the Continent. The Greenlanders were still few in number, and not yet converted, when an accident gave them knowledge of a new country. Leif, one of the sons of Eric, had won the favor of Olaf, the king of Norway. On one occasion this ruler asked, "Is it thy purpose to sail to Greenland this summer? " "It is my purpose," said Leif, "if it be your will." "I believe it will be well," answered the king, "and thither shalt thou go upon my errand to proclaim Christianity there." On the way to Greenland, Leif's ship was tossed about 1 The sagas were accounts handed down orally by the Icelanders for many years, and later reduced to writing. Iceland was settled by the Northmen in the ninth century. 2 The Crusades were mighty invasions of Asia which were intended to prevent the Mohammedans (Saracens and Turks) from overrunning Europe; also to make safe the route taken by pilgrims on their journeys to the Holy Land; in fact, its conquest was one of the main objects of the soldiers of the cross. These movements began in 1096. After 1291 they were practically abandoned. |