1783 Washington Resigns his Command. 177 the British army left New York, while Washington, and Governor Clinton at the head of a body of soldiers and citizens, marched into the city and took possession. A scene of public festivity and rejoicing followed, closing, in the evening, with a grand display of fireworks. Washington's farewell to his officers. now take 94. In the course of a few days Washington prepared to depart for Annapolis, to resign his command to Congress. On the eve of his departure from New York, "the principal offi cers were assembled, when their beloved commandentered the room. His emotions were too strong to be concealed. Turning to them he said, 'With a heart full of love and gratitude I leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable;' adding, 'I cannot come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged if each of you will come and take me by the hand.' General Knox, being nearest turned to him. Washington, incapable of utterance, grasped his hand and embraced him. In the same affectionate manner he took leave of each succeeding officer. The tear of manly sensibility was in every eye; and not a word was spoken to interrupt the dignified silence and the tenderness of the scene. Leaving the room, he passed through the corps of light infantry, and walked to White Hall ferry, where a barge was in waiting to convey him across the river. The whole company followed in mute procession, with dejected countenances, testifying feelings of delicious melancholy which no language can describe." Resigns 95. Everywhere as he rode through New Jersey, Pennsyl vania, and Maryland, Washington was greeted with joy and enthusiasm by the people. At Annapolis, in the presence of the members of Congress and of a large assemblage of ladies and civil and military officers, he resigned to Congress the trust that had been committed to him as commander-in-chief. His modest and dignified address delivered while doing so, and the reply which his command. it called forth from the president of Congress, made a very deep impression upon all. "Few tragedies ever drew so many tears from so many eyes. The very next morning Washington left Annapolis, and hastened to his beloved Mount Vernon, where he arrived the same day, on Christmas Eve, in a frame of mind suited to enjoy the sacred and genial festival." 96. The States had been held together by a compact known as the Articles of Confederation; 1 but it was soon discovered that these articles gave too little power to the general government to enable it to pay the debts incurred during Adoption of the the war. Congress could not levy taxes: it could Constitution. only call upon the States to raise money. This the States were backward in doing, either because the people were too poor to pay taxes, or from jealousy of Congress. Massachusetts two thousand men, under a leader named Daniel Shays, rose in arms to demand that the collection of taxes should be suspended, but the rebellion was suppressed without bloodshed (1787). In 97. It was seen that a stronger government was necessary, or the tie which bound the thirteen States would be severed. Accordingly, a convention, to revise the Articles of Confederation, met in Philadelphia, in May, 1787. Among the wise men who composed this memorable council were Washington, who was elected its president; Dr. Franklin, now more than eighty years of age; and Alexander Hamilton, who had taken an active part in the Revolutionary struggle. After about four months' deliberation, the Articles being set aside, a constitution was framed, and sent forth to receive the assent of the individual States. Though it met with considerable opposition, it was finally adopted. 98. "Neither the intrinsic merits of the Constitution, nor As early as 1776 a form of government for the thirteen States was proposed, consisting of twenty articles, known as the Articles of Confederation; but these were not adopted by Congress till the next year, nor did they go into effect before the 1st of March, 1781. The cause of the delay was in the tardiness of the States to ratify the articles. Delaware did not do it till 1779 and Maryland, the last. till 1781. 1783 The First Political Parties. The 179 the imposing weight of character by which it was supported, gave assurance to its friends that it would be ultimately adopted" by the States. As before stated, a great many persons were opposed to it, and exerted their Federalist. influence to have it rejected. "Under these circumstances, Hamilton and Jay conceived the plan of publishing, through the newspaper press of New York city, a series of essays, for the purpose of explaining and defending the Constitution; and they invited Mr. Madison-whose peculiar qualifications for the task both of them knew-to co-operate with them in the work. In the commencement, these articles were addressed to the people of New York, under the signture of 'A Citizen' of that State; but the general interest and importance of the subject soon induced the writers to address their reflections to the people of the United States; and, after the association of Madison in the work, the signature of A Citizen of New York' was exchanged for that of 'Publius.' Such was the origin of a series of papers which, collected and published under the title of the FEDERALIST, nave come to be recognized as one of the political classics of the age and language in which they were written, and will endure, possibly, even longer than the Constitution which they were intended to elucidate and defend." 99. "Before the Constitution was adopted by the several States, the country became divided into two political parties -the friends and the enemies of that Constitution. The former, being in favor of the establishment of a federal government, according to the plan marked out in the Constitution, naturally took the name of Federalists. Those who were opposed to the Constitution and the form of govern- The ment which it contained, as naturally took the first political parties. name of Anti-federalists. Under these titles, when the Constitution had been adopted, and was about to commence its operations, these parties took the field, and arrayed themselves, both in Congress and the country, under their several banners." (See Appendix, p. 5.) 1775 1776. 1777. 1778. 1779. 1780. 1781. 1783. SUMMARY. CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.-The measures on the part of England to monopolize all trade with her colonies, to stifle all manufacturing in them, and to impose taxes upon them without their consent were the primary causes of the Revolution. The immediate causes were the " Stamp Act" and the "Tea Tax." The Boston Massacre" (1770), the "Boston Tea Party" (1773), the "Boston Port Bill" (1774), and the "First Continental Con gress" (1774), were the principal preliminary incidents. The battle of Lexington, the capture of Ticonderoga, the elec tion of Washington to the command of the army, the battle of Bunker Hill, and Montgomery's defeat in Canada, were the principal events of the first year of the war. The evacuation of Boston by the British, their defeat before Charleston, the Declaration of Independence, the battle of Long Island with its disastrous consequences, and Washington's success at Trenton, were the events of the second year. Washington's success at Princeton, Burgoyne's invasion with its checks at Bennington and on the Mohawk, and his final surrender, Washington's defeat at Brandywine, and the British occupation of Philadelphia, were the events of the third year. The acknowledgment by France of the independence of the United States, the British evacuation of Philadelphia, the battle of Monmouth, the "Massacre of Wyoming," and the British capture of Savannah, were the events of the fourth year. Wayne's capture of Stony Point, Sullivan's expedition against the Indians, Paul Jones's victory, and the repulse of the Americans at Savannah, were the events of the fifth year. The loss of Charleston, Gates's defeat in South Carolina, and "Arnold's Treason," were the events of the sixth year. Morgan's victory at the Cowpens, the contest between Greene and Cornwallis in the Carolinas, and the surrender of Cornwallis, were the events of the seventh year. The treaty of peace; the British evacuation of Savannah, New York, and Charleston; and Washington's resignation of his command, were the closing events of the war. MODEL FOR A WRITTEN EXERCISE, NO. 2. (The date of an important event may be taken as a turning-point. Then arrange on the one side of it the train of cause-events, and on the other the train of result-events). Causes. 1777. Results. THE SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE. Burgoyne invades New York. He captures Crown Point and Ticonderoga. His expeditions against Fort Schuyler and Bennington end in failure. He is defeated in the two battles of Stillwater. BURGOYNE SURRENDERS TO GATES (OCT. 17). Ticonderoga, with all the northern part of New York, is recovered by the Americans. France acknowledges the independence of and forms an alliance with the United States, etc. Topical Review. TOPICS FOR REVIEW. (See the hints and directions, p. 49.) BIOGRAPHICAL. 181 Benj. Franklin. (See Bigelow's Life of Franklin, also Parton's.) 115-161 John Adams. (See Life and Times of John Adams by his grand son, Charles Francis Adams.) 131, 139, 146 141-174 Benedict Arnold. (See Sparks's Life of Arnold.) 135, 138 Gen. Joseph Warren. (See A. H. Everett's Life of Warren in 140, 141 Ethan Allen. (See Sparks's Life of Ethan Allen in his "American Biography.") 135, 141 (note). John Hancock. (See Bancroft's History U. S.) 129, 132, 146, 147 (note). Lafayette. (See Bancroft's History U. S.) Gen. Nathaniel Greene. (See Life of Greene by his grandson, 152-172 135, 151 (note)-174 Gen. Philip Schuyler. (See Lossing's Life of Schuyler.) 140-159 135-158 Gen. Horatio Gates was born in England. 159-172 165, 166 Paul Jones. (See Parton's Life of Franklin, Vol. II.; also Sher- Gen. Marion. (See Simms's Life of Marion.) Wayne in 126, 131, 138 152 .153, 154 155 158 159 163 .164, 165 169 .174, 175 177 Ticonderoga. .135,156 Wyoming. .140-142 Savannah. .128, 142-166 West Point. ...167-173 Mount Vernon. .147, 148 Yorktown.. HISTORICAL. Causes of the Revolution...125-131 Exp'n against Philadelphia 153, 154 |