In this period the growing difficulties between England and the colonies can be traced--especially in commercial affairs and in governmental institutions. Thus many of the causes of the Revolution may be brought out as well as the difficulties in the way of colonial union. This may be emphasized by noting the difference between the English and French colonies. [Illustration: A MAP OF THE BRITISH DOMINIONS IN NORTH AMERICA., ACCORDING TO THE TREATY IN 1763, By Peter Bell, Geographer, 1772.] IV COLONIAL UNION, 1760-1774 Books for Study and Reading References.--Fiske's _War of Independence_, 39-86; Scudder's _George Washington_; Lossing's _Field-Book of the Revolution; English History for Americans_, 244-284 (English political history). Home Readings.--Irving's _Washington_ (abridged edition); Cooke's _Stories of the Old Dominion_; Cooper's _Lionel Lincoln_; Longfellow's _Paul Revere's Ride_. CHAPTER 11 BRITAIN'S COLONIAL SYSTEM [Sidenote: England's early liberal colonial policy.] [Sidenote: England's changed colonial policy.] 103. Early Colonial Policy.--At the outset, England's rulers had been very kind to Englishmen who founded colonies. They gave them great grants of land. They gave them rights of self-government greater than any Englishmen living in England enjoyed. They allowed them to manage their own trade and industries as they saw fit. They even permitted them to worship God as their consciences told them to worship him. But, as the colonists grew in strength and in riches, Britain's rulers tried to make their trade profitable to British merchants and interfered in their government. On their part the colonists disobeyed the navigation laws and disputed with the royal officials. For years Britain's rulers allowed this to go on. But, at length, near the close of the last French war Mr. Pitt ordered the laws to be enforced. [Sidenote: Difficulties in enforcing the navigation laws.] [Sidenote: James Otis. _Eggleston_, 163. His speech against writs of assistance, 1761.]