IMHO, the difference is that Europeans consider "wealth" and the "state" as synonymous. In feudal times, the state was the wealthy aristocrats. Americans, on the other hand consider wealth as "themselves" and the state is their servant, not an aristocrat. I believe this is the reason that socialism glides so easily into Europe's politics and economies and the Left in America have to drag Americans kicking and screaming to toss the Americans money into the collective trough from which the government feeds.
The Founding Fathers were correct in their disdain for any thing political or economic of Europe. They had been Europeans and had made themselves Americans. It felt good.
They couldn't even do a democratic revolution right in France. The Brits did a pretty good job but, then, they're not continental. Too bad they are close enough to be affected (infected?).
yitbos