Produced by PG Distributed Proofreaders THE NATION IN A NUTSHELL A _RAPID OUTLINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY._ By George Makepeace Towle Author Of "Young People's History Of England," "Young People's History Of Ireland," "Heroes Of History," "Modern France," Etc. 1886 THE NATION IN A NUTSHELL CONTENTS: I. AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES II. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY III. THE ERA OF COLONIZATION IV. THE COLONIAL ERA V. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE VI. SOCIETY IN 1776 VII. THE REVOLUTION VIII. THE CONFEDERATION AND CONSTITUTION IX. WASHINGTON'S PRESIDENCY X. THE WAR OF 1812 XI. THE MEXICAN WAR XII. THE SLAVERY AGITATION XIII. THE CIVIL WAR XIV. THE PRESIDENTS XV. MATERIAL PROGRESS XVI. PROGRESS IN LITERATURE XVII. PROGRESS IN THE ARTS XVIII. PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND INVENTION XIX. POLITICAL CHANGES THE NATION IN A NUTSHELL AN OUTLINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. I. AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. [Sidenote: Geology and Archaeology.] The sciences of geology and archaeology, working side by side, have made a wonderful progress in the past half a century. The one, seeking for the history and transformations of the physical earth, and the other, aiming to discover the antiquity, differences of race, and social and ethnical development of man, have obtained results which we cannot regard without amazement and more or less incredulity. The two sciences have been faithful handmaidens the one to the other; but geology has always led the way, and archaeology has been competed to follow in its path. [Sidenote: Four Eras of Civilization.] Though we may doubt as to the exactness of the detailed data established by the archaeologists, there are certain broad facts which we must accept from them as established beyond doubt. These facts are of the highest value and interest. The antiquary has been able, from discovered remains of extinct civilizations, to reconstruct societies and peoples, and to trace the occupancy of countries to periods far anterior to that of which history takes cognizance. The general fact seems to be settled that, in prehistoric times, Europe passed through four distinct eras. These were the Rude Stone Age, when man was the contemporary in Europe of the extinct hairy elephant and the cave bear; the Polished Stone Age; the Bronze Age, when bronze was used for arms and utensils; and the Iron Age, in which iron superseded bronze in the making of useful articles. [Sidenote: Ancient America.]