A great list of books. I find it extraordinary that such a political geniuses emerged in such as tiny part of the world at just the right time to form a new nation. And it is just as extraordinary that this nation went on to have a huge impact on world history.
Thanks for your comment Michael! It's also remarkable the degree to which they were aware their peripheral and insecure new nation could have a huge world-historical impact. Their quality is indeed remarkable and I think a lot boils down to colonial Anglo-Amerian culture: morally earnest, tremendous individual and democratic self-reliance, but also a very high degree of cultivation among elites, reflecting inherited European aristocratic norms on education and manners.
A great list of books. I find it extraordinary that such a political geniuses emerged in such as tiny part of the world at just the right time to form a new nation. And it is just as extraordinary that this nation went on to have a huge impact on world history.
Thanks for your comment Michael! It's also remarkable the degree to which they were aware their peripheral and insecure new nation could have a huge world-historical impact. Their quality is indeed remarkable and I think a lot boils down to colonial Anglo-Amerian culture: morally earnest, tremendous individual and democratic self-reliance, but also a very high degree of cultivation among elites, reflecting inherited European aristocratic norms on education and manners.