Historical Sketches and Events in the Colonization of America; And the Outgrowth of Our Country the Discoveries by Columbus and Other Navigators (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886. Excerpt: ... Part XXVI. PREFATORY. In presenting to our readers the following pages containing the settlement, population, area, boundary and growth of the United states of America from 1790 to 1880, the date of the organization of each territory and the admission of each state, together with the territories and their capitals, including tho District of Columbiaand Alaska, the publishers do this believing that the reader will get a much more correct idea of that vastportion of our country than can be elsewhere obtained. The early explorers in America consisted of English, Spanish, Russian, French, Dutch, Swedes and Americans. And the events connected with the history of them date back to the years that are now historical in the pages of our country, and at the same time when the great Northwestern territory stretched from the mouth of the Mississippi river to the British possessions at the north, and to Russian America on the extreme northern Pacific coast, now Alaska. This vast domain," as it were," empire, then was known as the territory of Louisiana. But the steady advancing columns of civilization has at last driven before them almost to extermination, the numberless roving bands and tribes of savages that for ages were the sole occupants of this immense tract of country, and out of which a number of territories were created, and afterwards some as states were admitted into the Union. Thus the " star of empire takes its way," the causes of which are probably due to the blessings of a free government. The remaining territories are still advancing in wealth and population, and the historical reminiscences connected with those that first explored the wild frontier from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as well as the interior portion of this vast country, deserves a more ...