I meant that affected people's lives. If you read the diaries of the period, life was very controlled. Women were not allowed to do many things like vote, blacks were enslaved, dress codes were enforced, moral laws were rampant. There was no chance of people living in sin back then. Out of wedlock births could be punished. We have a lot more freedom today.
You think that the laws we have today don't affect people's lives? Endangered species act - letting the government seize a farmer's farm because he ploughed up a couple of rat burrows in his field. Gun control - getting shot by the feds because you had a gun 1/4 inch too short. Wetlands protection being denied the use of your property because you have puddles on it after heavy rains? And what about the Texas woman who was dragged off in handcuffs for violating a seat belt law? And slavery? What is working 40% of your time for the government but 40% slavery? I could go on and on, but to say these don't affect people's lives is silly.