As far as I could see while reading, the passage's main purpose is to reflect upon the challenges and hardships endured by Americans under the tyrannic, British rule. I hope that helps.
Answer:
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.
Cognates are words from different languages that look similar and mean the same thing. These words are usually derived from and share the same etymological origin, which is an advantage if you're looking forward to learning a new language. For example, several words in other languages such as French and Spanish have similar appearances and meanings in English, with a few even having the same spelling.
Sorry for asking, but which book are you talking about?