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Thank you for your response. Both analyses are correct.

The "seedbed of ideas" referred to in my post comes from references from early historians who focused on the ideological underpinnings of the founding documents, such as the following reference in an earlier post of mine on this site:

"Rise of the Republic of the United States" - Richard Frothingham.
"Ideas have consequences"(Weaver), already has been suggested.
In 2011, we must remember that the ideas of 1776 came out of a set of ideas consistent with liberty.
We tend to forget, or have never considered, that other world views existed then, as now.
Unless today's citizens rediscover the ideas of liberty existing in what Jefferson called "the American mind" of 1776, we risk going back to the "Old World" ideas which preceded the "Miracle of America."
There are those who call themselves "progressives," when, in fact, their ideas are regressive and enslaving, and as old as the history of civilization.
Would suggest to any who wish an authentic history of the ideas underlying American's founding a visit to this web site, at which Richard Frothingham's outstanding 1872 "History of the Rise of the Republic of the United States" can be read on line.
This 600+-page history traces the ideas which gave birth to the American founding. Throughout, Richard Frothingham, the historian, develops the idea that it is "the Christian idea of man" which allowed the philosophy underlying the Declaration of Independence and Constitution to become a reality--an idea which recognizes the individual and the Source of his/her "Creator"-endowed life, liberty and law.
Is there any wonder that the enemies of freedom, the so-called "progressives," do not promote such authentic histories of America? Their philosophy puts something called "the state," or "global interests" as being superior to individuals and requires a political elitist group to decide what role individuals are to play.
In other words, they must turn the Founders' ideas upside-down in order to achieve a common mediocrity for individuals and power for themselves.

When reading the online version, a limited search of the available text for the word, "Christian," reveals several pages in Frothingham's history (the pursuit of which was devoted, according to the Preface, to a search for the "streams" which had contributed to the "rise of the republic." He acknowledged that other histories had not undertaken such a pursuit. He had prepared other less expansive writings on historical topics.

Thanks, again.