Sweet Land of Liberty: Old Times in the Colonies

Story of Liberty #2

by Charles Carleton Coffin

The settlement of North America was the beginning of a new era in human history.The oppressive laws, habits and customs of the Old World no longer held such power over those who had made the treacherous journey across the Atlantic.No reigning monarch or dictatorial power ever stepped onto the ground of North America.Yet, despite this, the men and women thirteen colonies of North America were still not free until they threw off the shackles of England’s government and asserted their own rightsThe journey between the discovery of America to the eventual liberation of the United States after the Revolutionary War was a long and turbulent one that Charles Carleton Coffin uncovers through the course of his book Sweet Land of Liberty.Coffin’s account begins with an explanation of how during the early sixteenth century Spanish, French and English ships began to land along the eastern coast of America and laid claim to vast swathes of the continent. Particularly fascinating are the chapters in which Coffin explores how America became a haven for religious dissidents, firstly the puritans of the seventeenth century and later for groups such as the Quakers.As the eighteenth century progressed the relations between the thirteen colonies and the English government in London until eventually the Declaration of Independence was declared and the continent descended into warfare.Carleton explains how the ideas of liberty and freedom were developed over the preceding years and shaped this important document and the subsequent war.This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the early history of the United States and how ideas of liberty and freedom were developed in the colonies prior to the War of Independence. Charles Carleton Coffin was an American journalist, American Civil War correspondent, author and politician. He was one of the most famous newspaper correspondents of the American Civil War and has been called “the Ernie Pyle of his era.”His book Sweet Land of Liberty was first published as Old Times in the Colonies in 1880. Coffin passed away in 1896.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Historical

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Charles Carleton Coffin was an American journalist, Civil War correspondent, author and politician.

Coffin was one of the best-known newspaper correspondents of the American Civil War. He has been called "the Ernie Pyle of his era," and a biographer, W.E. Griffis, referred to him as "a soldier of the pen and knight of the truth." Yet he remains little known to the present day generation.

A descendant of Tristam Coffin who arrived in the American colonies from England in 1642, Charles Carlton Coffin was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, on July 26, 1832. Growing up in rural New Hampshire he was home-schooled by his parents. Village life revolved around the church, and in his teens Charles went to work in a lumbering operation and with $60 from his earnings, he purchased an organ which he gave to the church, and became the first organist.


more : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...

Reviews

[grllopez ~ with freedom and books · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important historical text told in story format for young people, covering the earlier time leading up to the great struggle between English subjects and the English Crown, for a brand new nation, the United States of America. A bloody, violent, and at times, graphic telling of history, particularly due to the conflicts between the English and French.

Sweet Land of Liberty, (AKA Old Times in the Colonies) was first published in 1880. Coffin wrote it for children to demonstrate that when justice and liberty stand up to tyranny, tyranny will always lose.

Quote from the final paragraph:

"Peace brings prosperity. Fifteen years pass, and the people of America, educated by influences and conditions all unknown on the other side of the Atlantic, announce to the world that all men are created free and equal, and endowed with inalienable rights. They give their honor, their fortunes, their lives in support of it. Victory crowns their efforts, and the colonies become a nation, independent, powerful, and teacher of all the nations, by the power of an illustrious example in defense of Justice, Liberty, and the Rights of Man."

[DeWayne Landwehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, detai!ed account of colonial America

This account of the first years in America was written in 1880, and it contains some of the prejudices of the day. However, that is more than overcome by inclusion of many details that are not generally included in most histories. The author sets up the colonial period by going back to pre-Columbian times and recounting discoveries by earlier explorers and explaining how and why the English, French and Spanish fought over the new continent. A delightful read. I gave it 4 stars because of the inserted opinions and prejudices, but you can easily work past those as you enjoy the story.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Peace! How delightful it was!" Few modern textbooks would end on this double exclamation point sentence. Yet for its time this is a good read. For a history book, it is readable with fine descriptions and the author's enthusiasm drips from the pages.
Maybe too much enthusiasm to be read as history. The cause of liberty is the writer's great joy and he fills every page with black and white portraits of vile kings and heroic Americans on their way to a new government. Not that I or most history buffs would disagree, but the raw cheerleading is a bit over the top. Fans of King Charles the One or the Two should definitely stay away as they are castigated like few other men before or since. Jameses and Louises fare little better.
There is also the shading of the truth in service of telling a certain patriotic story. Again a better read, but a worse history. Homeschoolers will love it.

[Wayne Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent, older narrative.

History doesn’t change Coffin tells an excellent and easy to follow narrative from the very early explorers up to 1776. Easy to read, even with typos which have come because the book was digitally scanned from a 19th century copy.

[Ed Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed Bag

Some chapters are really good, others drag. It’s also definitely not 21st Century politically correct. However, you do get a good flavor for colonial history and some of the personalities and conflicts of the time.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading various history books and this is an interesting read!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good at hitting some highlights over a broad range of time.

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to "Story of Liberty". It isn't as good as the first one but I still enjoyed it.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

American histories, from the discovery, war with Indians, and war with other colonies in America. The narrative was good and there are many dialogues so the reading not bored quickly.