I was rereading the Declaration of Independence for my philosophy Junior seminar and came across a passage that I don't remember seeing before in the list of grievances:
"For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:"
What is the context behind this statement? Which province are they referring to? How was the treatment of the American colonies vs other colonies. Was it harsher or less strict?