Tribes were often formed of related families. The Hebrews traced their relationship to Jacob for whose sons the tribes were named. Indians traced tribal origin to real or fancied ancestors whose traits they were thought to possess-Foxes, Snakes, Flatheads, or Crows. Whether actual kinship existed made little difference; their customs and rites made blood relationship an important bond. Only members of the tribe, that is blood relatives, had any rights which they dared to defend. Killing a member of the tribe brought quick revenge, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" while the life of "the stranger within the gates" was not considered of great value. The wars which engage tribal people are the neverending struggles of avenging kinsmen.

The idea of blood relationship, you may note, was of supreme importance in family and tribe; the father governed his children; the chief, usually with the help of a council, ruled the tribe. Blood relationship is still a powerful bond in our lives. "Blood is thicker than water." In small American communities a few numerous and powerful families often control; in isolated neighborhoods quarrels, even dangerous feuds, may be waged continually between such factions. The clannishness of many foreign immigrants is another example. Because of the tie of blood relationship, near kindred are not required to give evidence against each other nor allowed to sit on a jury when their relatives are on trial. Of course, nothing will so quickly plunge nations into war as mistreatment of their citizens, kinsmen by nationality, by a foreign power.

In early society, family and tribe possessed all governing powers and duties. In the hard struggles of primitive life, government rested upon very evident force, the might of the father or the prowess of the chief and his supporting coun

cil. Tribal rules were strictly enforced, and since there was no safety outside of the tribe, one who was not willing to obey had nowhere to go. In modern life, the tribe has lost its significance; it developed into city or nation, but the family retains its importance as a governing agency.

5. Pioneer Families in America Had Strict Discipline. Among most families of American pioneers, there was much of the firm discipline of early Roman days. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" was a proverb, quoted commonly even by kind-hearted parents. Work was hard, days of toil very long, recreations few. The father, nearly always more stern than the mother, believed in and secured strict and unquestioned obedience-partly through force. Every member of the household had work to do in the home. Parental discipline furnished vigorous control and guidance. The family was not more democratic than in earlier days.

6. The Modern Family Is Democratic. The modern family is more democratic. Husband and wife are partners, recognized in law as equals. Home discipline is kindly; children are seldom whipped; they are encouraged to have and defend opinions of their own. In the best homes, they are taught to obey, as they have always been, usually without appeal to force but in any case word of father or mother is law.

But the modern home as a school or government has many problems. Parents who were reared in strict homes think to make their children happier by permitting them to do exactly as they please. Father, mother, or both may spend little time in the home because their work is in factory, office, or store. There is often no profitable work for children to do at home. They spend more time on the street, at the picture shows, or elsewhere with the crowd. The home as the foundation of

co-operation and obedience necessary for all government, finds its task much harder than ever before.

The Family the Foundation of all Government. It may thus be seen that government-guidance-is necessary wherever groups are associated. The early family and the tribe secured co-operation and obedience by stern measures. The modern family at its best secures these essential qualities by gentler means, but it secures them. Many modern homes meet difficult problems and are not teaching boys and girls to obey proper authority.

The child who has not learned obedience is handicapped for life. If he does not obey at home, he is not more likely to observe the laws of the state, even though he helps elect the men who make them. Boys and girls who study Our Government will quickly discover that obedience to authority is as necessary in a government by the people as in a monarchy. The great difference is that we choose our own guides.

Suggested Activities.

1. The problems of family life in the rural community, the village and the large city are very different. Choosing a family in the circumstances with which you are most familiar, plan the duties for the day of both the boys and girls, the mother and father, showing how the tasks may be divided so that each may do his part and the spirit of co-operation be developed.

2. Read the story of the Tree Dwellers or the Cave Men. Select examples of using force in government.

3. Read the Bible-Numbers, Chapter XXXV, 11-28. Find out under what conditions it was considered right for a member of a tribe to avenge the death of a fellow tribesman.

4. Make a list of five or more persons to whom you owe obedience. Show by illustration that the co-operation necessary in modern civilization is impossible without obedience.

5. Choose sides and debate one or more of the following questions:

(a) Resolved, that the shortest way to learn to command is to learn obedience.

(b) Resolved, that America is more in need of obedience to present laws than of new laws.

Study Questions.

1. Some believe that people are good enough to do without laws of government, in fact, that laws are the cause of wrong-doing. How would you prove the truth or falsity of this?

2. A common saying is, “All just government is founded upon consent of the governed." Test the truth of this statement in relation to government in the home.

3. Of the four types of families, cave-dwellers, Roman, pioneer, and modern, which is most likely to develop citizens who will obey the laws they themselves have made? What common characteristics appear in each type of family?

4. Account for the formation of tribes. Compare family and tribe as to government.

5. Make a list of ways in which blood relationships are of importance. 6. Civilization depends upon co-operation which is not possible without obedience. From this viewpoint are you civilized? Prove your

answer.

Before you can master this chapter you must understand the meaning of these expressions as used on the pages indicated. Tell what each means.

Cities and Civilization.

You have seen that people who

live in tribes are engaged in war much of the time. It seems that the ancestors even of our civilized nations were once tribesmen. Peoples who did not get beyond the tribal stage are still made up very largely of fighting bands; those who brought about civilization developed cities. In fact, large cities are so important in civilization that countries without them have never been progressive nor great powers.

Cities have grown largely because of war and conquest, trade and industry. In varying degrees each of these may be discovered as the cause of growth in all the world's older cities. The last two are at the foundation of modern city development. We shall discover many ways in which each of these is related to city growth and problems.

1. War and Conquest. (a) Choosing City Sites. When warring tribes sought protection they found a steep hill or mountain stronghold the best place to settle. Sometimes a deep river or an arm of the sea afforded safety on one or more sides. If you have read stories of Babylon, Athens, or Rome, you may remember how such natural features were depended upon for protection. The story of Romulus and Remus