Until at length he succumbs to the coalition, which presently adopts and ratifies the American treaty 45 The coalition ministry is wrecked upon Fox's India Bill 46 Constitutional crisis ends in the overwhelming victory of Pitt in the elections of May, 1784 47 And this, although apparently a triumph for the king, was really a death-blow to his system of personal government 48, 49 CHAPTER II. THE THIRTEEN COMMONWEALTHS. Cessation of hostilities in America 50 Departure of the British troops 51 Washington resigns his command 52 And goes home to Mount Vernon 53 His "legacy" to the American people 54 The next five years were the most critical years in American history 55 Absence of a sentiment of union, and consequent danger of anarchy 56, 57 European statesmen, whether hostile or friendly, had little faith in the stability of the Union 58 False historic analogies 59 Influence of railroad and telegraph upon the perpetuity of the Union 60 Difficulty of travelling a hundred years ago 61 Local jealousies and antipathies, an inheritance from primeval savagery 62, 63 Conservative character of the American Revolution 64 State governments remodelled; assemblies continued from colonial times 65 Origin of the senates in the governor's council of assistants 66 Governors viewed with suspicion 67 Analogies with British institutions 68 The judiciary 69 Restrictions upon suffrage 70 Abolition of primogeniture, entails, and manorial privileges 71 Steps toward the abolition of slavery and the slave-trade 72-75 Progress toward religious freedom 76, 77 Church and state in Virginia 78, 79 Persecution of dissenters 80 Madison and the Religions Freedom Act 81 Temporary overthrow of the church 82 Difficulties in regard to ordination; the case of Mason Weems 83