Final answer:
Columbia is described as a symbol of progress and expansion in the first and second stanzas, representing the United States' movement westward and the introduction of education and technology to the West.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the first and second stanzas, the speaker describes Columbia as a symbol of the United States' progress and expansion. In the first stanza, Columbia is depicted as bringing light and progress to the western territories as she moves westward. The speaker mentions the figure of Columbia as the historical personification of the United States and the embodiment of democracy. In the second stanza, the speaker refers to Columbia as the one who brings education and modern technology to the West, represented by the schoolbook and the telegraph wire.
Question:
Columbia is a name used historically for a personification of the United States. How does the speaker describe Columbia in the first and second stanzas? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
In To His Excellency, General Washington