” How can new societies form on the basis of constrained and limited governments? Why and how did this happen here? “
I don’t understand why it was never adopted by other countries. Especially after our great successes.
Our Founding inspired the overthrow of the nobility around the world but the feudal organization was retained- only adopting elected rulers. Then socialism was developed to intellectually justify these centralized feudal organizations. Despite it’s constant failure it is now the ideal.
People in the aggregate are stupid and frightened.
Maybe our success against Britain gave us a confidence and optimism that is rare and fragile.
I’ve read some interesting books that connect our success to Christianity and Protestantism in particular. They delved into why South America with its abundant resources didn’t become another United States. Catholicism was claimed to be a key factor. I’m not saying they are right or wrong, but they were persuasive theses.
One important factor for us that did not exist in South America was the endless frontier. If you didn’t like the home government you could pick up and move west. The climate and geography was much more difficult in Latin America. Also we were settled by people who had the guts and independence to leave Europe and make the dangerous voyage with their families to the New World. The Spanish and Portuguese did not do much of that in most of the early years. Family structure makes a difference.