The Stuart sovereigns of England steadily attempted to strengthen their power, and the resistance to that effort caused an immense growth of Parliamentary influence.

More emphasis was thus thrown upon the local governments than in England.

England and France were rivals, not only on the continent, but in the West Indies, in India, and in Europe.

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.

The growth of constitutional government, as we now understand it, was promoted by the establishment of two different sets of machinery for making laws and carrying on government.

In some of the middle colonies the towns and counties were both active and had a relation with each other which was the forerunner of the present system of local government in the Western States.