On the origin and growth of political parties in the United States, the following books are suggestive and informing: H. J. Ford, _The Rise and Growth of American Politics_ (1898); C. E. Merriam, _A History of American Political Theories_ (1910); J. P. Gordy, _Political History of the United States_ (2 vols., 1900-03); A. E. Morse, _The Federalist Party in Massachusetts to the Year 1800_ (1909); J. D. Hammond, _History of the Political Parties in the State of New York, 1789-1840_ (2 vols., 1850). To those histories already mentioned which describe the quarrel with France may be added G. W. Allen, _Our Naval War with France_ (1909), and A. T. Mahan, _Influence of Sea Power on the French Revolution and Empire_ (2 vols., 1898). A most readable account of manners and customs in America is given by La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, _Travels through the United States, 1795-1797_ (2 vols., 1799). Social life in New York and Philadelphia is described by R. W. Griswold, _The Republican Court_ (1864). CHAPTER VI THE REVOLUTION OF 1800 The greatest obstacle in the path of the people of the United States in their struggle toward national life was the vastness of the territory which they occupied. Even the region between the Alleghanies and the sea was as yet imperfectly subdued. Great tracts of wilderness separated communities beyond the fall-line of the rivers. Intercourse was incredibly difficult even between the commercial ports of New England and the Middle States. Stage-coaches plied between Boston and New York, to be sure, and between New York and Philadelphia. By stage, too, a traveler could reach Baltimore and Washington in the course of time. But beyond the Potomac public conveyances were few and uncertain in their routes. The only public stage in the Carolinas and Georgia plied between Charleston and Savannah. Those whom either public or private business forced to journey from these remote Southern States to Philadelphia took passage in coasting vessels. It is difficult to say which were greater, the perils by land or by sea. Writing from Philadelphia in 1790, William Smith, of South Carolina, described the misfortunes of his fellow Congressmen in trying to reach the seat of government, as follows: "Burke was shipwrecked off the Capes; Jackson and Mathews with great difficulty landed at Cape May and traveled one hundred and sixty miles in a wagon to the city. Burke got here in the same way. Gerry and Partridge were overset in the stage; the first had his head broke and made his _entree_ with an enormous black patch; the other had his ribs sadly bruised and was unable to stir for some days. Tucker had a dreadful passage of sixteen days with perpetual storms. I wish these little _contretemps_ may not sour their tempers and be inauspicious to our proceedings."