I should, perhaps, add a word to those Americans who may chance to read this book. To them, of course, I must offer a somewhat different apology. I believe that, with all my limitations, I can tell my fellow-countrymen things about the history of America which they do not know. It would be absurd effrontery to pretend that I can tell Americans what they do not know. For them, whatever interest this book may possess must depend upon the value of a foreigner's interpretation of the facts. I know that I should be extraordinarily interested in an American's view of the story of England since the Separation; and I can only hope that some degree of such interest may attach to these pages in American eyes.
It will be obvious to Americans that in some respects my view of their history is individual. For instance, I give Andrew Jackson both a greater place in the development of American democracy and a higher meed of personal praise than do most modern American historians and writers whom I have read. I give my judgment for what it is worth. In my view, the victory of Jackson over the Whigs was the turning-point of American history and finally decided that the United States should be a democracy and not a parliamentary oligarchy. And I am further of opinion that, both as soldier and ruler, "Old Hickory" was a hero of whom any nation might well be proud.
I am afraid that some offence may be given by my portrait of Charles Sumner. I cannot help it. I do not think that between his admirers and myself there is any real difference as to the kind of man he was. It is a kind that some people revere. It is a kind that I detest—absolutely leprous scoundrels excepted—more than I can bring myself to detest any other of God's creatures.
CECIL CHESTERTON.
Somewhere in France,
May 1st, 1918.
CONTENTS
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| [I.] | THE ENGLISH COLONIES | [1] |
| [II.] | ARMS AND THE RIGHTS OF MAN | [14] |
| [III.] | "WE, THE PEOPLE" | [36] |
| [IV.] | THE MANTLE OF WASHINGTON | [51] |
| [V.] | THE VIRGINIAN DYNASTY | [65] |
| [VI.] | THE JACKSONIAN REVOLUTION | [90] |
| [VII.] | THE SPOILS OF MEXICO | [110] |
| [VIII.] | THE SLAVERY QUESTION | [129] |
| [IX.] | SECESSION AND CIVIL WAR | [156] |
| [X.] | "THE BLACK TERROR" | [203] |
| [XI.] | THE NEW PROBLEMS | [227] |
| INDEX | [241] |