After thus reviewing the important foreign relations of Monroe's second 

 term, Mr. McMaster returns to domestic concerns, and in the next chapter 

 treats of The Breaking Up of the Republican Party. The economic, 



industrial, and political conditions which led 

 to sectionalism, the rise of the rival can- 

 didates, and the long presidential campaign 

 ending in the failure of the colleges to elect, 

 are given <vith great fullness. 



The election of Adams marked the end 

 of the first half century of the republic. 

 The next eight chapters are therefore given 

 up to an examination or review of certain 

 social, political, literary, and industrial con- 

 ditions which arose during the period and 

 paved the way for the triumph of Jackson 

 and Democracy. 



In the chapter on Socialistic and Labor 



Reforms we have the story of the entrance 



of the workingman into politics; of that curious socialistic movement 



of Owen and Fanny Wright; the beginning of the Antimasonic party, 



and the early signs of native Americanism. 



The next chapter is a full account of The State of the Country from 

 182^ to 182Q; the rapid growth of cities; early problems in city govern- 

 ment: the introduction of gas and anthracite coal; the opening of the 

 Erie Canal and the tremendous struggle for Western trade, etc. Fol- 

 lowing this is a chapter on The Negro Problem; and the next chapter, 

 under the title The Industrial Revolution, is an account of the rise and 

 development of manufactures; of the conditions which led to the tariffs 

 of 1824 and 1828; their peculiar characters; 

 the violent opposition of the South, and asser- 

 tions of the State-Rights Doctrine of Cal- 

 houn and his party. 



This is followed by an account of our early 

 literary efforts which is singularlv fresh, in- 

 forming, and interesting. There is a chapter on 

 The Common Schools during the first half cen- 

 tury, and another, quite timely now, on British 

 Criticism of the United States, setting forth very 

 fully why our fathers hated Great Britain so 

 heartily. Then follows an elaborate review 

 of Political Ideas; a chapter on foreign compli- 

 cations; the Panama Congress; the prevention of the independence of 

 Cuba by the United States in the interest of the slaveholding States; the 

 Maine boundary dispute with Great Britain; the Oregon agreement of 

 1827; and, finally, a chapter on The Triumph of Democracy, detailing the 

 famous struggle ending in the election of Jackson, and his war on the Bank. 



5 



