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tioned. 22. Were they good farmers? 23. Trace the journey of the Pilgrims from England to Plymouth. 24. Were the Puritans tolerant? 25. What kind of a man was Rev. John Cotton? 26. What does the testimony prove in regard to the morals of the colonists? 27. What peculiar attribute do you find in Maryland? 28. What colony would you have preferred to live in? why?

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

a. How would you explain the intolerant spirit so often manifested? b. Point out institutions existing now that had their beginning in 17th century. c. Did the theory and the practice of the Puritan coincide? d. Trace the development of witchcraft. Do you find its basis in life depicted in above extracts? e. Name the lessons you may learn from this study?

THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNION AMONG

THE COLONIES

New England Confederation, 1643-Massachu-
setts, Connecticut, New Haven, and Plymouth
members; ended 1684. Meeting of five colo-
nies, 1690. Albany Congress, 1754. The Stamp
Act Congress, 1765. First Colonial Congress,
1774; Second National Congress, 1775. Decla-
ration of Independence, 1776. Articles of Con-
federation, proposed, 1776; formulated, 1777;
submitted to states, 1777; ratified by Maryland,
the last state, 1781.

CHAPTER II

DEVELOPMENT OF UNION AMONG THE

COLONIES

I.

HE several colonies were planted at different times, by different interests, and in some cases by different races. The geography of the country was such that there was very little communication and intercourse between the various colonies for many years. The soil and climate also tended to produce divergent interests and civilizations. The intolerant - religious spirit of the age lent itself also to the same tendency. On the whole, one sometimes wonders that the colonies came together as easily as they did in support of interests that were not always clearly in common.

It is very difficult frequently to find an extract that is sufficiently condensed and pointed, which may be cited, to bring out some force that tended to prevent union or was, on the other hand, aiding it. Especially have I found it dif ficult to get quotable extracts on the effects of geography. In general it is by inference only that one gathers his conclusions. In the extracts given it has in general seemed best to give those that brought out the salient movements looking toward union, rather than to give those that emphasized the divergent tendencies of the time. I wish to emphasize the fact that the study of sources means that every word and phrase is to receive careful consideration. The value of the training consists to a considerable

extent in acquiring the ability to read between the lines, to draw inferences, to find the spirit or motive which prompted to word or act.

It is hoped that the extracts quoted this month may illustrate not only the fact that various attempts to unite were made, but also drive home the character of the union possible, and the kind of union which the colonies sought and which the mother country attempted to force on them. It will be an interesting exercise to trace the expansion of the idea of union and to classify the factors which were at work; also to follow the changes in the nature of the union which were outlined in the various proposals from 1643 to 1776. Less weight has been given to the congresses of 1765 and 1774 than might seem necessary from their prominence. The reason for this is that the union movement then was rather unconscious, an accessory to the more palpable thoughts,-first that of a redress of grievances, and later that of independence. The Causes of the Revolution, which will be our subject for next month, will give us the opportunity to study this period as it deserves.

The following extracts are taken largely from the colonial records as reprinted by the various states. Massachusetts began this work as early as 1792 and has developed it till now her various historical publications are numbered almost by the hundreds. New York has also reprinted, or printed from manuscript, thousands of pages of letters, laws, reports, and other documents. The same is true of Connecticut and other states. It is from these documents that we can draw and yet scarcely make an impression in the limited space at our command.

I wish to thank the many who write words of encouragement concerning the work which we are attempting to outline. Certainly the idea

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