SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL
The Leading Facts. 1. Eli Whitney was born in Massachusetts. 2. As a boy he was very much interested in tools, and worked in his father's shop with all kinds of mechanical contrivances. 3. He earned his way through college doing carpenter work. 4. After graduation he set out to teach in Savannah. 5. He failed to get the situation, and went to visit a friend who had taken much interest in him. 6. The South needed a machine to separate the cotton fiber from the seed. 7. Whitney set to work to make one, at the suggestion of his friend, Mrs. Greene. 8. The cotton gin revolutionized the South. 9. It made cotton raising the chief industry, and brought thousands of slaves into the country.
10. Thomas Jefferson, born in Virginia, loved books; while in college he met Patrick Henry. 11. Went to the Burgesses and planned the committees of correspondence. 12. Jefferson was sent to the Congress of 1776 and wrote the Declaration of Independence. 13. After the war Jefferson was sent as Minister to France. 14. Washington chose him as Secretary of State, and he founded the Democratic-Republican party. 15. Jefferson was popular as president. 16. He cut down expenses, and with his savings in running the government purchased Louisiana.
17. The Columbia River was discovered by Gray. 18. The way to the Oregon country was made known by Lewis and Clark. 19. The Indians received them with kindness along the route. 20. They followed the Columbia until they reached the Pacific; Clark made a map of the region they had gone through. 21. As a reward, Lewis was appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory and Clark of the Missouri Territory. 22. Fur traders and missionaries soon found their way to the Oregon country.
23. Perry went to serve against the pirates, was eager to fight the English when war broke out, and was appointed commandant at Lake Erie. 24. Perry built a fleet and won a famous victory over the English. 25. A gold medal was struck in his honor by Congress.
26. Andrew Jackson was born of poor parents; learned from the woods more than from books. 27. Jackson was captured by the British. 28. His mother died nursing American soldiers. 29. He studied law, went over the mountains to Nashville, and was elected to Congress. 30. He also served as United States senator. 31. Jackson defeated the Indians, captured Pensacola, and won a brilliant victory at New Orleans. 32. Jackson was elected president and was opposed in his policy by Clay, Webster, and Calhoun. 33. Threatened South Carolina over nullification. 34. Died at the Hermitage in 1845.
Study Questions. 1. What did Whitney like to do as a boy? 2. How did he help himself through college? 3. Why did he go to Savannah? 4. Whom did he meet on the way? 5. Describe how cotton was then separated from the seed. 6. Describe the action of the machine made by Whitney. 7. What was the effect of his invention? 8. How did the value of cotton shipped out of the country compare with other goods? 9. What effect did the invention have on negro slavery in the South?
10. Name some things boys did on a Virginia plantation in Jefferson's time. 11. Name some of Virginia's great men whom Jefferson knew. 12. Explain how the committees of correspondence worked. 13. Who were the men appointed to make a Declaration of Independence? 14. Why did Jefferson write the Declaration? 15. Why did French people like Jefferson? 16. Picture Jefferson's return home. 17. How was Jefferson fitted for Secretary of State? 18. What were the people then disputing about, and who were their leaders? 19. Why did Jefferson want the government to be plain and simple? 20. Who wanted it different? 21. Tell the story of the buying of Louisiana. 22. Why did Americans think the buying a great event? 23. Why did Jefferson not become president a third time? 24. What can you tell of the friendship of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson? 25. Describe the trip of Lewis and Clark up the Missouri River. 26. How did the Indians on the way receive them? 27. How did they return home? 28. What offices were given Lewis and Clark?
29. What important command was given to Perry? 30. Tell what he did when his ships were ready for the "Battle of Lake Erie." 31. Picture the battle. 32. What honors were given to Perry?
33. Where was Andrew Jackson born? 34. Name some other boys who learned more from the woods than from books. 35. Mention some early experiences Jackson had with the British soldiers. 36. What other experiences did he have in the war? 37. What led him to go to Nashville? 38. Explain how Jackson outwitted the Indians. 39. What did he do as a young lawyer? 40. Tell the story of Jackson's first call to arms. 41. Give a full account of Jackson's second call to arms. 42. Imagine yourself one of Jackson's soldiers, and tell what you saw and heard at the battle of New Orleans. 43. Give an account of Jackson's fight against the United States Bank. 44. Who was Thomas H. Benton, and why did he defend President Jackson? 45. What action did South Carolina take in 1832, and what did the president do? 46. Where did Jackson live after his last term as president?
Suggested Readings. Eli Whitney: Brooks, The Story of Cotton, 90-99; Southworth, Builders of Our Country, Vol. II, 108-116; Shillig, The Four Wonders, 1-32.
Jefferson: Wright, Children's Stories of American Progress, 55-85; Cooke, Stories of the Old Dominion, 180-192; Hart, How Our Grandfathers Lived, 317-320; Butterworth, In the Days of Jefferson, 32-168, 175-206, 216-264.
Perry: Beebe, Four American Naval Heroes, 71-130; Wright, Children's Stories of American Progress, 130-144; Hart, How Our Grandfathers Lived, 241-242, 248-249; Glascock, Stories of Columbia, 172-174.
Jackson: Brooks, Century Book of Famous Americans, 162-172; Blaisdell and Ball, Hero Stories from American History, 185-198; Hart, How Our Grandfathers Lived, 284-291; Barton, Four American Patriots, 133-192; Frost, Old Hickory.