Illustrated School History of the United States and the Adjacent Parts of America: From the Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time ...

George Payn Quackenbos

Jan 1864 · D. Appleton & Company

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed reading this book (actually my version was the 1870 version, which included Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson's term, and a note right that the end that Grant was just inaugurated). The author divided his history of America into four main Periods: 1-Aboriginal, 2-Colonial, 3-Revolutionary, and 4-Constitutional. The Aboriginal Period pre-1492 (32pp) touches on the Native-Americans' origins, the major tribes, languages, remains and descriptions. The Colonial Period 1475-1775 (160pp) begins with Columbus' discovery up to the "Causes of the American Revolution." He devotes many entire sections to the various colonies, as well as regions (e.g., New England). Of course, he covers the several wars during this period, but he also delves into other areas of the period, such as explorations and settlements of the various foreign countries, the conditions of life of various peoples in the colonies, Indian history, Jesuit missionaries, witchcraft, and the general "State of Society in the Colonies." His "Causes of the Revolution" is most easy to follow, as is his entire book on the whole. Throughout the book, even though Mr. Quackenbos focuses on the United States (per se), he often touches on Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. The Revolutionary Period 1775-1788 (109pp) is primarily the course of the War from Lexington to the Seige of Yorktown, ending with the "Formation of a Federal Constitution." The Constitutional Period 1789-March 4, 1869 (Grant's inauguration) (199pp) devotes one or more chapters to each President (sometimes one chapter is devoted to two Presidents when one perhaps served only a month in office till he died). Using such method, the author brings us more or less chronologically from the historical events during Washington's Presidency all the way through the administration of Andrew Johnson. One unusual part to follow was the Civil War, for as the law was at the time forcing former secessionists (the common persons to governors) to swear their allegiance to the U.S., the author covers the Civil War (which had only ended five years before this version was written) from the point of view of the Unionists. However, he does cover basically all the major battles. All-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading in 2011 the history of our country from the point of view of 1870. Since the book was written to be used in classrooms, he has made it quite easy to read, yet very interesting. I enjoyed it.