UNIVERSITY EXTENSION LECTURES SYLLABUS OF A COURSE OF SIX LECTURES ON THE FOUNDING OF THE 1. The Conquest of New France. 3. Benjamin Franklin: the French Alliance. 4. George Washington as Commander-in-Chief. 5. Thomas Jefferson: the Beginning of Expansion. 6. The War of 1812: National Unity. BY W. WALLACE KING, M. A. LECTURER IN HISTORY FOR THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE EXTENSION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHING. "With the triumph of Wolfe on the Heights of Abraham began the history of the United States of America."-J. R. GREEN. "Sam Adams, a born agitator and a trained politician."-H. C. LODGE. "The succession to Dr. Franklin, at the Court of France, was an excellent school of humility."-THOMAS JEFFERSON. "The Revolutionary War was gained finally by the firmness and resolution of the people, and that resolution is typified in Washington."-A. B. HART. "Jackson is certainly "The annexation of Louisiana is the one great triumph of his [Jefferson's] administration."-E. E. HALE. the most prominent figure that appeared during this war [1812], and stands head and shoulders above any other commander, American or British, that it produced."-THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Series M, No. 1 Copyright, 1902, by Price, 10 Cents The American Society for the Extension of University Teaching BOOKS. Text-book for the course: A. B. Hart, "Formation of the Union, 17501829."* Text-books for lectures: I. Parkman, "Montcalm and Wolfe."* II. Woodburn, "Lecky's American Revolution."* V. Hosmer, "The History of the Louisiana Purchase." VI. Roosevelt, "The Naval War of 1812."* In addition to the text-books the following works are recommended: Adams, "History of the United States." 66 American Statesmen series: Hosmer, "Samuel Adams"*; Lodge, George Washington"; Morse, "John Adams "*; Schurz, "Henry Clay"; Tyler, "Patrick Henry," etc. Bradley, "Wolfe" (English Men of Action series). Buell, "Paul Jones." Burke Four speeches on America, and "Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol." Codman, "Arnold's Expedition to Quebec." Curtis, "The True Thomas Jefferson."* Duruy. "History of France." Fisher, "The True Benjamin Franklin."* Fiske, "The American Revolution"; "The War of Independence."* Ford, "The True George Washington.”* * Franklin, Autobiography told by Contemporaries." Vols. II,* III;* Hosmer, "A Short History of the Mississippi Valley." Mahan, "The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783"*"The Influence of Sea Power upon the French Revolution and Empire." More, "Benjamin Franklin.”** 66 McMaster, History of the People of the United States," Vols. I-III.* Parkman, "The Conspiracy of Pontiac," and other works. Smith, "Political History of the United States." Walker, "The Making of the Nation, 1783-1817."* Winsor, "Narrative and Critical History of America," Vols. VI, VII. *Books marked thus are included in the Society's Travelling Library. The University Extension examination in connection with this course will require knowledge of the text-books only. LECTURE I. The Conquest of New France. "In breaking through the line with which France had striven to check the westward advance of the English colonists, Pitt had unconsciously changed the history of the world. His support of Frederick and of Prussia was to lead in our own day to the creation of a United Germany. His conquest of Canada, by removing the enemy whose dread knit the colonists to the mother country, and by flinging open to their energies in the days to come the boundless plains of the West, laid the foundation of the United States."-J. R. Green. BASIS OF LECTURE. The territorial claims of France, in America, in 1750, were very great, and her military organization was much superior to that of the English colonies. The latter, however, though suffering from the decentralization of government and the mutual jealousy of the provinces, were strong in numbers (about 1,500,000 freemen); while the population of New France did not exceed 80,000, most of whom inhabited the country in the neighborhood of Quebec and Montreal. The years preceding the outbreak of war (1755) saw the French energetically establishing and resolutely holding a chain of military posts throughout the region of the upper lakes and in the Mississippi valley. The British and Colonial forces were repulsed at every point until 1758. Then the generals chosen by Pitt reduced in rapid succession Louisbourg, Fort Frontenac, Fort Duquesne, Niagara and Ticonderoga. The contest centred on Quebec. In this famous struggle the strength of the contending parties was nearly equal, the excellence of Wolfe's army being balanced by the almost impregnable position held by Montcalm's force. Finally, by an act of audacity such as Pitt inspired in all his commanders, Wolfe and his army stood on the Plains of Abraham. The French were defeated (September 13, 1759), and five days later the city surrendered, to become, by the Peace of Paris, 1763, a permanent possession of the British crown. "A happier calamity never befell a people than the conquest of Canada by the British arms." (Parkman) Text-book.-Parkman, "Montcalm and Wolfe." STUDY MEETING PROGRAMME.* 1. Reading. The Defence of Verchères. Reference:-Parkman, "Count Frontenac," chapter 14. 2. Reading.-Small Pox and Brandy Among the Indians (Kalm). Reference: Hart, "American History told by Contem poraries," II, 114. *No reading, and few papers or talks, should be more than five minutes in length. + Henceforth designated simply as "Hart." 3. The form and spirit of the government of New France. Reference:-Parkman, "The Old Régime in Canada," chapters 16-20. 4. Reading. The Government of Canada (Kalm). Reference:— Hart, II, 112. 5. The story of Evangeline, with quotations from Longfellow's poem. Reference:-Text-book, chapter 8. 6. Reading.-Deportation of the Acadians. Reference:-Hart, II, 126. 7. Braddock's campaign. References:-Text-book, chapter 7; Thackeray, "The Virginians." 8. Reading.-A French Account of Braddock's Defeat. Reference:-Hart, II, 127. 9. Sketch briefly the career of James Wolfe. Reference:--Bradley, "Wolfe" (English Men of Action series). 10. From the history of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), illustrated the value of sea power. Reference:-Mahan, “Influence of Sea Power upon History." 11. Mention the chief strategic or tactical errors on either side during Wolfe's siege of Quebec. Reference:-Text-book, chapters 23-28. 12. Reading.—The Fall of Quebec (Knox). Reference:-Hart II, 129. LECTURE II. Samuel Adams: the Beginning of Colonial Unity. "That friendly relations between the colonies and the mother-country were not re-established is due chiefly to Samuel Adams, a member of the Massachusetts General Court from Boston. His strength lay in his vehemence, his total inability to see more than one side of any question, and still more in his subtle influence upon the Boston town-meeting, upon committees, and in private conclaves. He seems to have been determined from the beginning that independence might come, ought to come, and must come."-A. B. Hart. BASIS OF LECTURE. During the period immediately preceding and following the English Revolution (1688) strained relations had existed between England and most of the American colonies; but "in the long period of unbroken Whig rule which followed, most of the elements of discontent had subsided. The wise neglect of Walpole and Newcastle was eminently conducive to colonial interests." (Lecky) This good feeling rose to its height at the close of the French war, the results of which were more favorable to America than to any other part of the British Empire. This war, however, raised the national debt of England to £140,000,000, and the consequent increase of taxation caused the government to endeavor to persuade or compel the colonists to at least partially support the British army in America. The various methods taken for this purpose were bitterly opposed in America, especially by the democratic element, whose sentiments were voiced by the large legal class and by the press. The centre of this resistance was Boston, owing largely to the fact that government in New England was entirely in the hands of "the people." In Virginia, on the contrary, the triumph of Revolutionary principles had to be prepared by an internal democratic revolution. Samuel Adams, "the man of the town-meeting," led the resistance of Boston. He organized in Massachusetts a government entirely independent of the royal governor. He established locally the "Committee of Correspondence," which afterwards, as an inter-colonial institution, did so much to unite the provinces. Finally, in the sec ond Continental Congress, he seconded the motion of John Adams to appoint Washington commander-in-chief of the forces. The work of Samuel Adams was done. The question was now one for the military man and the diplomat, not for the politician. Text-book.--Woodburn. "Lecky's American Revolution" (Appleton). STUDY MEETING PROGRAMME. 1. Reading. The Battle of Bushy Run. Reference:-Parkman, "Conspiracy of Pontiac," part of chapter 20. 2. Reading.—The State of the Colonies, 1776 (Franklin). Reference:-Selections from Hart, II, 143. 3. Compare the English, the French and the American Revolutions. 4. A symposium: Each member to read a brief description of the character, or of the work, of Samuel Adams. 5. Franklin's connection with Hutchinson's letters. References: -Text-book, pp. 144-152; Fisher, "The True Benjamin Franklin," chapter 7. 6. Reading.-Hutchinson's letters. Reference:-Hart, II, 148. 7. Was there need of the political separation of the American colonies from Great Britain? 8. Has it been for the good of (a)—the United States? (b)—Great Britain? (c)-Canada? (d)-Europe? (e)-the World? 9. Reading. The "Boston Massacre II, 151. (1770). Reference:—Hart, 10. Reading. The character of George III. Reference: Hart, II,130. 11. Debate: That Hutchinson has no claim to the designation "pa triot." |