Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

xviii DESCRIPTION OF THE CHRONOGRAPHER.

the wars which our hardy and suffering forefathers had with the natives and the French of Canada.

22. The THIRD PART of the history is shorter in time than either of the others, comprising only 26 years in the last half of the 18th century. Interesting events in this part of the history are more numerous than in either of the other parts. Its subject is, THE REVOLUTION-in which the Americans, having been oppressed by the British Government, fought the troops which they sent over, and, under the command of Washington, defeated them, and made the United States of America a free and independent nation. The epoch to which this part extends, is the adoption of the present constitution of the United States-1789.

23. The FOURTH PART extends from the adoption of the constitution to the present time. It comprises, to now, in 1845, fifty-six years-the whole time of our free constitu tional Government. It occupies the last portion of the 18th century, and what is passed of the 19th.

GENERAL REMARKS.

24. The pupils, having now learned the general plan of the chronographer, will be able to answer questions from it; and while the class are studying the book, the teacher should give them some exercises every day.

25. To acquire our system of chronology, the description of the chronographer should not only be well learned, but the attention of the pupils should be called to it during every recitation, by requiring them to show to what part of the plan given, dated events belong.

26. In regard to Geography, as connected with History, it is no less important that the association of the event, with the visible representation of its place on the map, should be strongly made. Hence, the pupils should always be required to trace on their maps the routes of navigators,

[blocks in formation]

armies, &c., and to show the locations of cities and battlefields. The best of all plans in this respect is, for pupils to draw for themselves, on slates or blackboards, sketches of the countries of which they study, putting down the places mentioned in their lessons.

27. The drawing of the chronographer is also recommended. After the study of a period is completed, let the pupil draw the part of the circle of time belonging to that period. When he has studied a Part, let him delineate that Part on the circle of time: and so on, till he learns to draw the whole circle without a model. Having done this, let him connect with it the Historic Tree, whose branches, like so many indexes, or hands of a clock, point to the time of the epochs which they represent.

28. The teacher of this work may, by reading a copy of the author's larger History on the same plan, be able to relate to his class enlarged details and interesting anecdotes of the characters herein named, of which the limits of this book did not allow the insertion. Such incidents not only instruct, but they make scholars love the class-room, and give them confidence in the knowledge of their teacher. One important office of the common-school library, is to put such books into the instructor's hands as shall aid him in giving his pupils more enlarged views of their subjects of study.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed]
[graphic]

1. THE subject of this work is the United States of CHA.1. America, or, as those States are sometimes called, the Sub.ret Republic or Nation of America.

What constitutes a nation? First, there must be a country, with the natural divisions of land and water; second, there must be men, women, and children to Its triple inhabit that country; and third, those inhabitants must vision. be bound together in one, by living under a common government, which extends its protection over all, and which all are bound to obey,

2. To every nation there belongs a history: For whenever the inhabitants of any large portion of the earth are united under one government, important public events must there have taken place. The record of these events constitutes the history of that country. Any na 3. The events of history should always be record- tion's ed, with the circumstances of time and place. To tell when events happened, is to give their chronology; to

1. What is the subject of this work? What three parts compose a nation? - 2. What constitutes any nation's history? 3. How should events be recorded? What is it to give their chronology!

histry

[blocks in formation]

cu. i. tell where they happened, their geography. The history Connect of a nation, is therefore inseparably connected with its ed with geography and chronology. Chronology may properly and be called the skeleton of history, geography the base on which it stands.

its

geog.

chron.

Where

our

wuntry

4. First, let us inquire, where is the country of which we desire to know the history? In the vast universe, is a system of planets surrounding a sun, hence called the solar system. The third planet from is the sun is called the earth. On the earth's surface, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA occupies a northern portion of the smaller of two continents. In extent, it is one of the largest nations of the world.

Its lati

5. In longitude, the Republic of America ranges through sixty degrees, from the Atlantic ocean to the tude and Pacific. In latitude, it reaches from the Cape of Flolongitude. rida, in north latitude twenty-five degrees, to British and Russian America in forty-nine. Thus stretching through the greater part of the northern temperate zone, it includes every variety of climate, from the hot unhealthy swamps of Florida, to the cold mountainous nate. regions of northern New England, and the north-western territories.

Its cli

Soil.

6. The soil and productions of our country are as various as its climate. Compared with other countries, it contains a large proportion of arable land; and what is of the utmost consequence to the accommodation Natural of man, it is well watered. On the whole, it may be tages. pronounced, one of the most fertile, healthy, and desirable regions of the earth.

advan

A good region

7. In observing the United States, there is much to for one convince us, that an Almighty, Overruling Providence, nation. designed from the first, to place here a great, united

3. Their geography? Are chronology and geography con nected with history?-4. In regard to the universe where, as astronomy teaches, are the United States? In regard to the earth's surface, or as regards geography, where is this country? What can you say of its extent? 5. What of its longitude? Of its latitude? Climate?-6. Soil and productions? Its natural advantages generally ?-7. Does this region, seem designed for one great nation, or several small ones?

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »