188. Delegate Thomas Jefferson: Drafting of the Declaration of Independence, 1776 Difficulties in Framing Articles of Confederation, 1776. CHAPTER XXXI-FIRST STAGE OF THE WAR, 1775-1778 191. Salem Gazette and London Gazette: Conflicting Accounts of Lexington and Concord, 1775 A Woman at the Front, 1775-1776 Abandonment of New York, 1776. The Foundation of the Navy, 1776 195. General George Washington: "The Game is pretty near up," 1776 "The Sudden Change of Sentiments," 1781-1782 . 216. Charles Gravier, Count de Vergennes: A Protest against the Breach of the Instructions of Congress, 1782 American History told by PART I PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION FOR TEACHERS, PUPILS, STUDENTS, AND LIBRARIES CHAPTER I-THE SOURCES AND HOW TO FIND THEM IN 1. What are Sources? - the N the current discussions on the teaching and study of history, one of the most frequent expressions is "the sources," or "original material." What do these words mean? As history is an account of the past actions of men, every historical statement must go back to the memory of those who saw the events, or to some record made at the time. Tradition is the handing down of memories from one person to another; indeed, one of the most famous of American sources, Norse Sagas on the discovery of America, - was thus transmitted for three centuries before it was finally put into writing. Such transmissions are likely to get away from the first form as years go on, and may change into legends, such as have already formed around Washington's life. A more trustworthy form of transmitting earlier memories is by autobiography, or by reminiscence written out in later life; but narratives set down long after the events are apt to become twisted by the lapse of the years between the event and the making of the record, and thus their chief value is to reproduce the spirit of the times. In preparing this volume such works have been sparingly used. Graydon's Memoirs |