on April 21, 1788, and seven days later ratified the Constitution by a vote of 63 to 11.1

TOPICS AND QUESTIONS

78. The Articles of Confederation.

How did the new states regard themselves?

What necessity for Union existed?

What was done to meet the need? What action was taken in this matter by Maryland? Was the act of importance?

79. The Attitude of Maryland.

The Northwest Territory; conflicting claims of several states.

Maryland advances the idea that this territory should be the property of all the states, and shows both the justice and good policy of the plan.

The action of Maryland was, in effect, the laying of the corner-stone of the Federal Union.

Maryland carries her point and enters the Union, March 1, 1781. 80. The Critical Period "

How did the Articles of Confederation work when put into practical operation?

Describe fully the condition of the country under this form of govern

ment.

What held the states together?

81. Formation of the Federal Union.

Why the convention met at Annapolis in September, 1786.

A new convention called for the following May to meet at Philadelphia.

The Constitutional Convention meets; George Washington elected president.

The present Constitution framed by the convention and adopted by
the states.

George Washington elected first president of the United States.
Adoption of the Constitution in Maryland.

1 During the period covered by this chapter there occurred an event which, while not connected with the subject of the chapter, is of too much interest to remain unnoticed. On March 14, 1786, James Rumsey of Cecil county, Maryland, made a trial trip at Harper's Ferry, in a steamboat invented by him. The vessel was eighty feet long and operated by drawing water in at the bow and forcing it out at the stern. This was more than twenty years before Fulton launched the Clermont. See Browne's Maryland, pp. 319-320.

QUESTIONS FOR ORIGINAL THOUGHT AND RESEARCH

1. How did the English gain their title to the Northwest Territory?

How did the Americans gain theirs? What great states have since been formed from the Northwest Territory? What natural resources does this region contain? What facilities for trade?

2. Suppose the states of the Union to be entirely independent of one another; try to imagine some of the consequences. Is the lawCan

making power of value without the right to attach penalties?

a government be maintained without the right to impose taxes? Justify the term, "The Critical Period."

3. Name some of the powers which our Federal Government alone can exercise. Name some things which are managed entirely by the states. How long has our present system of government lasted? What is a republic? What is a democracy? What form of government have the states? Can one of these states change this to another form of government? Could all the states, acting together, do so? 4. Write an Nation."

66 essay on Maryland's Part in Founding the American

REFERENCES

For a general account of the establishment of our Federal Union, see Fiske's The Critical Period of American History. The importance of Maryland's part in the great work is explained in this book. For an account devoted particularly to the part borne by Maryland, see the masterly essay of Professor Herbert B. Adams on Maryland's Influence upon Land Cessions to the United States; this work is published in the Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science, Third Series, No. i. Elson's History of the United States, pp. 318-340.

CHAPTER III

INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND

82. The State Government. The organization of a state government in Maryland, following the Declaration of Independence and the overthrow of the proprietary government, and the election of Thomas Johnson as first governor, have already been mentioned. This new government was successful from the first. After an able administration, Governor Johnson was succeeded by Thomas Sim Lee, who in turn was succeeded by William Paca in 1782. In 1785 the noted Revolutionary officer, General William Smallwood, was elected governor of the state. Three years later he was succeeded by John Eager Howard, who will be remembered as the hero of Cowpens and a leading spirit in the many hard-fought battles in the South.

83. The Potomac Company: Plans for Opening a Trade Route to the Western Part of the State. -The western part of Maryland was a region of rich resources, abounding in forests of valuable timber and in rich mines, particularly of soft coal. It also possessed excellent soil and a pleasant and healthful climate, and after the Indians had ceased to threaten the frontiers its population had steadily increased. It was therefore of the highest importance to open up a trade route for the natural wealth of this region to the Chesapeake, and thence to the markets of the world.

The Potomac river would naturally suggest itself as a highway for this trade, and it is said that as far back as the campaign of General Braddock, Washington had considered this very idea,

and had come to the conclusion that the river might be made navigable as far as Fort Cumberland. In 1784 the matter was taken up by the legislatures of Virginia and Maryland; commissioners were appointed on both sides, and presently the Potomac Company was formed. George Washington was elected first president, and so deeply was he interested that he personally assisted at some of the surveys. Of course, it was the idea of the Potomac Company to open up the western part of Virginia as well as of Maryland. A great deal of money was invested in

the enterprise, and the work was carried on at intervals for many years, but in the end the attempt had to be given up. The old Potomac Company then became merged in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company. The history of this organization will be taken up further on in the course of our narrative.

84. Interest in Education. Following the end of the war, much interest seems to have been taken in education. In 1782 Washington College was founded at Chestertown on the Eastern Shore, and named in honor of our illustrious first president. In 1784 St. John's College was founded at Annapolis, and in the

following year the two were united as the University of Maryland. This arrangement, however, was not completed. King Wil

From a photograph

liam's School (see Sec.

43) was merged in St. John's College. These two colleges, Washington and St. John's, are still in existence.

85. Founding the City of Washington. - During former years Congress had moved about from city to city according to the necessities of the moment. After the establishment of a truly national government it became necessary to fix upon a permanent cap

ital. After much discussion, Congress finally decided upon the Potomac river for its location, and Washington was asked to select a site for the future seat of government. He chose that of the present city of Washington, named for the "Father of his Country." A district ten miles square, on both sides of the river, was ceded to the United States by Virginia and Maryland. It was provided that the public buildings should be erected on the Maryland side, and the part ceded by Virginia was afterward given back to that state. Both Maryland and Virginia appropriated large sums of money to be used for the erection of these buildings. The corner-stone of the Capitol was laid by Washington on September 18, 1793, and the seat of government was removed to the new capital in June, 1800.