Former Cloud of Mystery Surrounding These Two Nations--Ancient Civilizations--Closed Territory to the Outside World--Their Ignorance of Other Nations--The Breaking Down of the Walls in the Nineteenth Century--Japan's Sudden Rise to Power--Aptness to Learn--The Yankees of the East--Conditions of Conservatism Holds on in China--Li Hung Chang Rises into Prominence--The Corean Trouble--War Between China and Japan--The Battle of Yalu River--Admiral Ito's Victory--Japanese Army Invades the Celestial Empire--China Surrenders--European Nations Demand Open Commerce--Threatened Partition 309 CHAPTER XXI The Era of Colonies Commerce the Promoter of Colonization--England's Wise Policy--The Growth of Her Colonies Under Liberal Treatment--India--Australia--Africa--Colonies of France and Germany--Partition of Africa--Progress of Russia in Asia--Aggressiveness of the Czar's Government--The United States Becomes a Colonizing Power--The Colonial Powers and Their Colonies at the Close of the Century 323 CHAPTER XXII How the United States Entered the Century A Newly Formed Country--Washington, the National Capital--Peace With France--Nations of State Sovereignty--State Legislatures and the National Congress--The Influence of Washington--The Supreme Court and its Powers--Population of Less Than Four Millions--No City of 50,000 Inhabitants in America--Sparsely Settled Country--Savages--Trouble With Algiers--War Declared by Tripoli--Thomas Jefferson Elected President 343 CHAPTER XXIII Expansion of the United States From Dwarf to Giant Ohio Admitted in 1802--Louisiana Purchased From French 1803--Admission of the States--Florida Transferred to the United States 1819--The First Railway in 1826--Indians Cede Their Illinois Lands in 1830--Invention of Telegraph 1832--Fremont's Expeditions to the Pacific Slope--Conquest of Mexico--Our Domain Established From Ocean to Ocean 1848--The Purchase of Alaska From Russia 1867--Rapid Internal Growth--Cities Spring up on the Plains--A Marvelous Era of Peace--Through the Spanish-American War Comes the Acquisition of First Tropical Territory--From East to West America's Domain Reaches Half-way Around the World--Three Cities Each With Over 1,000,000 Inhabitants 351 CHAPTER XXIV The Development of Democratic Institutions In America