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Copyright © 2009, 2020 My Father’s World, Inc.Printed in the United States of America.All rights reserved for all countries.No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of My Father’s World, Inc.

Adapted from:Montgomery, D.H. The Beginner’s American History. Boston: Ginn and Company, 1920.

My Father’s World®PO Box 2140, Rolla, MO 65402

(573) 202-2000 info@mfwbooks.comwww.mfwbooks.com

August 2020

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Contents

1. Leif Ericsson and the Vikings ....................................................................................5-62. Christopher Columbus ................................................................................................... 7-113. John Smith and Jamestown .................................................................................... 12-154. The Pilgrims ............................................................................................................................ 16-185. Benjamin Franklin ........................................................................................................ 19-246. George Washington .................................................................................................... 25-317. Thomas Jefferson ...........................................................................................................32-338. More About George Washington ................................................................34-359. Daniel Boone .....................................................................................................................36-3710. Eli Whitney ..........................................................................................................................39-4111. Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase ..........................................4212. Robert Fulton .....................................................................................................................43-4513. Samuel Morse .....................................................................................................................46-4814. Gold in California .......................................................................................................... 49-5115. Abraham Lincoln ..........................................................................................................52-5316. Inventions ...............................................................................................................................58-64

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Chapter One Leif Ericsson and the Vikings

In the far north of Europe lie the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Can you find them on a map? Long ago, the people living in this region were called North-men or Norsemen. They were also sometimes called Vikings, because they went viking, which in their language meant exploring. Life was hard in these northern countries. The winters were very cold with howling winds and deep snow. The summer sun came late in the year, making the growing season very short. When the crops failed, stomachs ached with hunger during the long winter. For these reasons, the Vikings went on long journeys, sometimes to trade, sometimes to steal, and sometimes to look for a better place to live.

The Norsemen loved to sail on the sea in fast boats. These boats had one large striped sail for catching the wind. When the wind wasn’t blowing, the boat could still speed across the ocean with every man on board pulling hard on a long oar. The Viking ship was built in the shape of a dragon, with a tail at the back and a huge dragon head at the front. This dragon shape looked fierce in battle and made people tremble with fear.

The travels of the Vikings took them far from the northern countries. They established colonies as they explored. Many Vikings settled on the island of Iceland. One settler was called Eric the Red, for his hair and beard were red. Eric

A Viking Ship

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was always dreaming of a better place to live, so he led several families to an island further west. He found the land good for hunting, fishing, and grazing livestock. Although it reminded him of Iceland, he decided to call it Greenland in hopes that more settlers would come, believing it was better than Iceland. As a great famine swept across northern Europe, more and more settlers came to Iceland and then to Greenland, the land ruled by Eric the Red.

One day, a Viking ship appeared with a strange tale. The crew had been caught in a violent storm and blown far off course. Not knowing where they were, they continued to sail west. They came to an unfamiliar land. Sailing down the coast, they looked for something that looked like Greenland, but could find no sign of their destination. Determining they had gone too far, they turned back and sailed eastward. After four days, they arrived in Greenland.

Eric’s young son, Leif, listened to this story. He wondered, “Why didn’t the sailors go ashore and explore this strange land? Weren’t they even a little curious? One day, I will seek out this land to the west!” As he grew, he never forgot the story about the land west of Greenland. The young man sailed on many voyages. Even through raging storms and fierce sea-battles, Leif always returned home. People began calling him Leif the Lucky. Finally the day came when Leif had his own ship and crew. He asked his father to sail with him to this fabled land to the west. On their way to the ship, Eric’s horse stumbled and Eric fell to the ground. Though he was not hurt, Eric believed this was a sign he should not go on this journey. Eric told Leif, “This voyage of discovery is to be yours alone. This is the voyage of Leif the Lucky.”

Leif headed his ship toward the west and set sail. It was summer in about the year 1000. One day, two days, three days the crew sailed. On the fourth day, the Vikings caught sight of land. At first it looked much like Greenland, rocky and barren. But sailing south along the coast, the land grew more inviting. There was abundant timber, hunting, and fishing. Leif took his men ashore and built a temporary settlement. Leif called this new land Vinland or Vine-land. After spending the winter, Leif and his men returned to tell of the rich land they had found. Other Vikings followed and attempted to colonize Vinland in the way they had colonized Greenland, but the settlement lasted only a short time. Today, you can see the remains of this Viking settlement at a park in Newfoundland, Canada.

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Chapter Two Christopher Columbus

Part OneChristopher Columbus was born at Genoa, a seaport in Italy. His father was a wool-comber who combed wool into straight strands ready to be woven into thread.

Christopher did not like combing wool. All the time he was pulling that wool through the combs, he was dreaming of being on the wide, open sea feeling the gentle rocking of the ship and the wind in his hair. He wanted to become a sailor. So, Christopher’s father sent him to school to learn the trade of map-making and navigating. At age fourteen, Christopher Columbus went to sea.

In those days, the Mediterranean Sea was a dangerous place swarming with pirates. Every sailor had to be ready to defend his ship. Once, Christopher’s ship was in a fierce battle. All day the ships twisted and turned, first dodging cannonballs, then pounding one another with shot. By nightfall, both ships were on fire and began to sink into the water. Christopher jumped into the sea to escape the flames. Using an oar to help him float, he swam six miles to shore. These experiences helped Columbus become a brave and determined captain.

When Christopher grew to manhood, he married the daughter of a famous sea captain. They lived in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Columbus provided for his family by drawing maps and making merchant voyages to Africa, Iceland, and other countries. The maps which Columbus made and sold were very different from those we have today. Europe, Asia, and a small part of Africa were all that were known. No one had ever sailed around the globe. No one knew what lands lay west of the broad Atlantic Ocean.

One day, Columbus made up his mind to try what no one else had dared attempt. He decided to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He believed by sailing west he would come to Asia and India. Asia and India produced spices, drugs, and silk which the people of Europe wanted. The only way to get these products was to travel east over mountains and deserts. The journey was very long and dangerous. For many months, the merchants had to travel in large groups called caravans to fight off robbers. Columbus knew it would be very profitable to find an easier way to reach Asia. He also wanted to share the gospel with the people there.

Columbus as a Young Boy

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