- 135.

PAGES

134. Restoration of normal conditions, p. 273. Election troubles in the South (1872-1876), p. 275. - 136. Executive demoralization (1869-1877), p. 277.137. Legislative scandals (1872-1873), p. 279 - 138. Serviceable legislation (1870-1875), p. 280. -139. Reaction against the Republicans (18701876), p. 282. 140. Contested election of 18761877, p. 284. — 141. The centennial year, p. 286. 273-287

CHAPTER XIII.

THE NEW UNION (1876-1889).

142. Unstable equilibrium of parties (1876-1889), p. 288. -143. New economic questions (1880-1889), p. 290.144. The civil service and the ballot (1880

EPOCHS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

DIVISION AND REUNION.

1829-1889.

I.

INTRODUCTORY.

1. References.

Bibliographies. Hart's Formation of the Union, §§ 69, 81, 93, 106, 118, 130; Lalor's Cyclopædia of Political Science (Johnston's articles on the several political parties); Foster's References to the History of Presidential Administrations, 22-26; C. K. Adams's Manual of Historical Literature, 566 et seq.; Gilman's Monroe, Appendix, 255; Winsor's Narrative and Critical History of America, vii. 255-266, 294-310, viii. 469 et seq., 491 et seq.

Historical Maps. - Thwaites's Colonies, Map 1; Hart's Formation of the Union, Maps 1, 3, 5 (Epoch Maps, Nos. 1, 6, 7, 10); Scudder's History of the United States, Frontispiece (topographical); MacCoun's Historical Geography of the United States, series "National Growth" and "Development of the Commonwealth;" Scribner's Statistical Atlas, Plates 1 (topographical), 13, 14; Johnston's School History of the United States, p. 218.

General Accounts. — Johnston's History of American Politics, chaps. i.-x.; Stanwood's History of Presidential Elections, chaps. i.-xi.; Henry Adams's John Randolph, 268-306; J. T. Morse's John Quincy Adams, 226-250; A. C. McLaughlin's Lewis Cass, 86-129; Carl Schurz's Henry Clay, 258-310; Theodore Roosevelt's Thomas H. Benton, 1-87; Tucker's History of the United States, iv. 409-515. Special Histories. Pitkin's History of the United States; McMaster's History of the People of the United States; Von Holst's Constitutional and Political History of the United States, ii. 1-31; Schouler's History of the United States, iv. 1-31; Henry Adams's History of the Unites States, ix. 175-242; W. G. Sumner's Jackson, 1-135 (chaps. i.-vi.); Henry A. Wise, Seven Decades of the Union, chap. v.

Contemporary Accounts. - Michel Chevalier's Society, Manners, and Politics in the United States; Albert Gallatin's Writings, ii. ; Josiah Quincy's Figures of the Past; Daniel Webster's Correspondence; Thomas H. Benton's Thirty Years' View, i. 70-118; John Quincy Adams's Memoirs, vi. 5-104; Alexander Johnston's Representative American Orations; Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, Bowen's Translation, i. 1-72; Ben Perley Poore, Perley's Reminiscences, i. 88-199; Sargent's Public Men and Events, 1. 116–171; Mrs. Frances Trollope's Domestic Manners of the Americans; Martin Van Buren's Inquiry into the Origin and Course of Political Parties, chapters v., vi.; W. W. Story's Life and Letters of Joseph Story, i.

CHAPTER I.

THE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT (1829).

conditions.

2. A New Epoch.

MANY circumstances combine to mark the year 1829 as a turning point in the history of the United States. In Changed that year profound political changes occurred, produced by the forces of a great and singular national development, --forces long operative, but hitherto only in part disclosed. The revolution in politics which signalizes the presidency of Andrew Jackson as a new epoch in the history of the country was the culmination of a process of material growth and institutional expansion. The population of the country had increased from about four millions to almost thirteen millions within the forty years which had elapsed since the formation of the federal government in 1789. The new nation was now in the first flush of assured success. It had definitively succeeded in planting new homes and creating new States throughout the wide stretches of the continent instincts. which lay between the eastern mountains and the Mississippi. It had once more proved the capacity of the English race to combine the rude strength and bold

Political

initiative that can subdue a wilderness with those selfcontrolling habits of ordered government that can build free and permanent states. Its blood was warm with a new ardor, its power heartened into a new confidence. Party strength and discipline in the mercantile and maritime States of the eastern coast could no longer always avail to decide the courses of politics. A new nation had been born and nurtured into self-reliant strength in the West, and it was now to set out upon a characteristic career.

The increase of population in the United States has from the first been extraordinarily rapid. In only a single decennial period, that in which the great Population and immi- civil war occurred, — has the increase fallen gration. below the rate of thirty per cent. Generally it has considerably exceeded that ratio. Before 1830 very little of this increase was due to immigration: probably not more than four hundred thousand immigrants are to be reckoned in the increase of nearly nine millions which took place between 1790 and 1830; but within that period the pace was set for the great migration into the interior of the continent.

The west

ment.

At first that migration was infinitely difficult and painful. It had to make its way over the mountains, and through the almost impenetrable wilderness ward move- of forest that lay upon and beyond them, in lumbering vehicles which must needs have wide ways cut for them, and which, whether on smooth or on rough roads, vexed the slow oxen or jaded horses that drew them. Or else it must try the rivers in raft-like boats which could barely be pushed against the currents by dint of muscular use of long poles.

3. A Material Ideal.

It was an awkward, cumbersome business to subdue a continent in such wise, - hard to plan, and very likely