[RobbyS]

The Pre-war United States was the only place in the world at that time where MILLIONS of people could govern themselves and take part in the creation of an economy that generated enormous amounts of wealth divided with some equity among its citizens. This was the republic which Tocqueville captured in his Democracy in America. Not “pure” by any means, but one of the few places where liberty and equality could coexist. Look at England, where a few hundred families held all the wealth. In Jane Austen books and films, we get a totally tame version of a world where a few thousand families literally lorded it over the mass of the people. The evangelical reformation of manners, which was accomplished by 1850, meant that this was a much softer tyranny that we can the Fielding’s “Tom Jones,” where white servants occupied a place only slightly higher than that of black slaves in America. But the grandees of Charleston such as Butler, shared many sympathies with the English nobles of the time.

[dhs12345]

Exactly. Probably the primary reason why my ancestors left Europe — famine and oppression. The journey to the US was not trivial with the likelihood of returning nil. It was a one way trip.

Also, why the first amendment exists — freedom of and freedom from religion.