Everywhere among the English-speaking race criminal justice was rude, and punishments were barbarous; but the tendency was to do away with special privileges and legal exemptions.

The participation of the people in their own government was the more significant, because the colonies actually had what England only seemed to have, - three departments of government.

In 1763 the English were the most powerful nation in the world.

On March 10, 1764, preliminary resolutions passed the House of Commons looking towards the Stamp Act.

Washington's defeat in 1754 was followed by active military preparations on both sides.

The residence of the Plymouth settlers in the Netherlands, and the later conquest of the Dutch colonies, had brought the Americans into contact with the singularly wise and free institutions of the Dutch.

In government as well as in trade a new era came to the colonies in 1763.