Theirimplacableprejudices，theiruncontrolledpassions，theirvices，andstillmoreperhapstheirsavagevirtues，consignedthemtoinevitabledestruction。TheruinofthesenationsbeganfromthedaywhenEuropeanslandedontheirshores;ithasproceededeversince，andwearenowwitnessingthecompletionofit。TheyseemtohavebeenplacedbyProvidenceamidsttherichesoftheNewWorldtoenjoythemforaseason，andthensurrenderthem。Thosecoasts，soadmirablyadaptedforcommerceandindustry;thosewideanddeeprivers;thatinexhaustiblevalleyoftheMississippi;thewholecontinent，inshort，seemedpreparedtobetheabodeofagreatnation，yetunborn。
Inthatlandthegreatexperimentwastobemade，bycivilizedman，oftheattempttoconstructsocietyuponanewbasis;anditwasthere，forthefirsttime，thattheorieshithertounknown，ordeemedimpracticable，weretoexhibitaspectacleforwhichtheworldhadnotbeenpreparedbythehistoryofthepast。
ChapterII:OriginOfTheAnglo—Americans—PartI
ChapterSummaryUtilityofknowingtheoriginofnationsinordertounderstandtheirsocialconditionandtheirlaws—Americatheonlycountryinwhichthestarting—pointofagreatpeoplehasbeenclearlyobservable—InwhatrespectsallwhoemigratedtoBritishAmericaweresimilar—Inwhattheydiffered—RemarkapplicabletoallEuropeanswhoestablishedthemselvesontheshoresoftheNewWorld—ColonizationofVirginia—ColonizationofNewEngland—OriginalcharacterofthefirstinhabitantsofNewEngland—Theirarrival—Theirfirstlaws—Theirsocialcontract—PenalcodeborrowedfromtheHebrewlegislation—
Religiousfervor—Republicanspirit—Intimateunionofthespiritofreligionwiththespiritofliberty。