Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-07-01

Thumbnail History of the United States
BY

Within a year from the day when
<sthe shot hear round the world" was
fired at Concord all semblance of allie
glance to Great Britain disappeared.
The Continental army was in exist
ence; Washington was Commander-in-
Chief; Bunker Hill had been fought;
the Colonial Legislatures had been
replaced by Provincial Congresses or
Provincial Conventions, and the Royal
Governors by Committees of Safety.
When matters had gone as far as
this the Continental Congress advised
the colonies to establish civil govern
ment of their own creation, took into
consideration the resolution of Lee
declaring the colonies sovereign, free
and Independent states. and appointed
q committee to write a declaration Of
independence and another to frame
a plan of government for the United
States. July A, 1776, the Declaration
was adopted, and between 1776 and
1854 eleven states framed and put in
operation written constitutions and so
turned themselves from colonies into
states. Rhode Island till 1912, and
Connecticut till 1918 continued to use
their old colonial charters.
II July of 1776 Congress took up the
Articles of Federation, or plan of gov
ernment for the United States, and in
1777 sent them to the states for ap-
proyal; but disputes over the owner
ship of lands west of the mountains
delayed their acceptance till 1871.
From the first the plan was a failure.
Congress had no power to lay a tax
of any sort, nor regulate trade with
foreign countries, nor between states.
The states issued paper money, regu-
lated foreign trade each n IFS
way without regard to the regulations
of others. and by this lack of uniformi-
ty produced the financial, commercial
and industrial distress which wrecked
the Confederation. Business cOndi-
tions made an abandonment of the
articles necessary, and in 1877 our
present Constitution was framed at
Philadelphia. Eleven states promptly
ratified and in April. 1889, Washing
ton was inaugurated at New York.
In 1890 Philadelphia became the seat
of government, and in 1900. Washing
ton.
The financial legislation of the first
and second congresses split the people
into two political parties-the Feder-
alists, who supported Washington,
with Adams, Hamilton, Jay, Pickering.
and King for leaders. and the anti
Federalists or Republicans, who op-
posed the administration under the
lead of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
and Ga11atin. Scarcely had the
parties been organized on domestic
issues whan France declared war on
Great Britain and opened her West
Indies to neutral trade, and our coun-
try entered upon long period of for
eign complication. Washington is
sued a proclamation of neutrality
(1793) and our merchants rushed to
the French West Indies. But Great
Britain seized their ships and the
Anti-Federalists attempted to force
Congress to retaliate. Lest this
should bring on war Washington sent
Jay to London to negotiate our first
commercial treaty with Great Brit
ain. This treaty offended France, who
rejected our new minister, demanded
tribute and so insulteds us that an
army of volunteers was raised, coast
defenses erected, the Navy depart
ment created. and a naval war waged
from 1798-18OO- From 1901 to 1903
there was peace in Europe. and during