There is an extent of riches, as well as an extreme of poverty, which, by harrowing the circles of a man's acquaintance, lessens his opportunities of general knowledge.

- Thomas Paine, 1797

"The judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that."

John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

When the colonies boycotted English imports/exports in 1774, committees were set up in each town to enforce it. If someone violated the boycott, they were "universally condemned as the enemies of American liberty; and thenceforth we respectively will break off all dealings with him or her."

"For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other."

- Common Sense, Thomas Paine, 1776

In 1774, MA governor Thomas Gage replaced the democratically elected legislature with appointees called the Mandamus Councillors.

Only twenty-five of thirty-six accepted the position, and nine of them soon resigned. Why? Organized, large-scale public pressure, including at the councillors' houses.

“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.”

– John Adams, A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, 1765

"[W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

- Declaration of Independence