The currency of the United States has been a mixed one of gold, silver, and copper, .and bank-notes. Specie was for many years the only money recognized by the federal government; paper money being issued by chartered banks. The exigencies of the war of 1861-65 compelled the government to issue paper-money, and to establish national banks, in 1871, for its circulation. The paper circulation of the United States, June 30, 1870, was-United States notes and fractional currency, $398,430,562; issue of national banks, $299,729,834. The capital of state banks was $67,000,000, and of pri vate banks upward of $300,000,000. Specie payments were resumed by the govern ment in 1879.
The specie currency of the United States consists of the gold dollar (value in exchange about 9s. sterling); the half-eagle, $5; the eagle, $10; the double eagle, $20; silver dol lar, half-dollar, quarter, dime, 10 cents; half-dime; nickel cent, or 100th part of a dol lar. The coinage of 1870 was-gold, $30,103,364; silver, t,"4;2,670,054; copper, $611,445; from the establishment of the mint to June 30, 1870, $1,126,419,579.
Army and Navy.-The army of the United States, under the command of the presi dent, consisted, in 1790, of 1260 men. In 1861, its numbers were 14,000, and those who took part with the confederates, or were disbanded in the confederate states, reduced the number to about 5,000. April 15, 1861, 75,000 volunteers were called out: May 4, 04,000; July and Dec., 1861, 500,000; July 1, 1862, 300,000; Aug. 4, 1862, 300,000; sum mer of 1863, 300,000; Feb. 1, 1864, 500,000. The total number called out from 1861 till the end of the war iu 1865, was 2,670,874. This vast army was procured by volunteer ing, by enlistment in the regular army, and by drafts or conscriptions; but the greater part by bounties of 300 to 1000 dollars to each volunteer. Large numbers of recruits were also found among newly arrived immigrants; and the recruited in the seceded or slave states, in Oct., 1863, numbered 38,707, and increased in numbers to the end of the war. In 1871, the regular army was reduced to the legal standard of 30,000 enlisted men, and it was subsequently enacted that from 1875 there should be no more than 25,000 men enlisted at any one time. The militia of the United States organized under the state governments, numbers 3,245,193. There are numerous arsenals and manufactories of arms at Springfield (q.v.) Massachusetts; Pittsburgh (q.v.), Pennsylva nia, etc. The military academy at West Point educates cadets, nominated from each states by members of congress, and appointed by the president, who receive commissions as officers in the army.
The navy of the United States in 1876 consisted of 27 iron-clads, 72 other steamers, and 26 sailinff-vessels. The iron-clad turret-steamers (see TURRET-SHIP) called monitors, constitute a powerful portion of the American navy. A naval academy has been estab lished at Annapolis, Maryland, for the education of naval cadets.
The post-office department, organized before the revolution of 1775 by Benjamin Franklin. had in the year ending June 30, 1876, 36,515 offices. There passed through the post 778,000,000 letters, etc.
The secretary of the interior has charge of the survey and sale of the public lands of the United States, the patent office, Indian office, pension office, public buildings, national hospital for the insane, public printing, and education.
territories now occupied by the U. S. of America, though they were probably visited on their north-eastern coast by Norse navigators about the year 1000, continued the sole possession of numerous tribes of Indians (who had succeeded earlier and extinct races), until the discovery of America by Columbus, 1492. In 1498 au Eng lish expedition, under the command of Sebastian Cabot, explored the eastern coast of America from Labrador to Virginia, perhaps to Florida. In 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon landed near St. Augustine in Merida, and explored a portion of that region in a roman tic search for the fountain of youth. In 1520 sonic Spanish vessels from St. Domingo were driven upon the coast of Carolina. In 1521, by the conquests of Cortes and his fol lowers, Mexico, including Texas, New Mexico, and California, became a province of Spain. In 1539-42, Ferdinand de Soto led a Spanish expedition from the coast of Florida across Alabama, and discovered the Mississippi river. In 1584-85, sir Walter Raleigh sent two expeditions to the coast of North Carolina, and attempted to form settlements ou Roanoke island. A Spanish settlement was made at St. Augustine, Florida, 1565. Jamestown, Virginia, was settled in 1607; New York, then called the New Netherlands, 1613; Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1620. A large part of the country on the great lakes and on the Mississippi was explored by La Salle in 1682; and settlements were made by the French at Kaskaskia and Arkansas Post, 1685; Mobile and Vincennes, 1702. The early history of the various colonies which now constitute the U. S. will be found under the heads of the different states and territories. The first effort at a union of colonies was in 1643, when the settlements in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut formed a confederacy for mutual defense against the French, Dutch, and Indians, under the title of "Tile United Colonies of New England." They experienced the benefits of united action in 1754, when an English grant of lands to tire Ohio corn pang brought on the French and Indian war—the French claiming, at that period, as the first explorers, northern New England, half of New York, and the entire .Mississippi valley. George Washington was sent on his first expedition, to remonstrate with the French authorities; and the colonies being advised to unite for general defense, a plan for a general government of all the English colonies was drawn up by Benjamin Frank lin; but it was rejected by both the colonies and the crown—by the colonies, who wished to preserve their separate independence, and by the crown from a jealousy of their united strength. The colonists, however, took an active part in the war. Under maj. Washington, they joined gen. Braddock in his unfortunate expedition against fort du Quesne, now Pittsburg; they aided in the reduction of Louisburg, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Niagara; and rejoiced in the conquest of Quebec, by which the vast northern regions of America became the possessions of Great Britain.