Simple question, but I think how you answer gives a lot of insight into the basis of your political philosophy. At the very least, the republic that they established turned a few broke colonies into an incredibly prosperous nation in 100 years or so. It's debatable, but I also think it created the impetus that expanded human rights, prosperity, and technology more than in any time in history. My simple question is: Why did it happen?
Points made above plus- A reasonably workable democratic framework with enough flexibility to evolve more or less peacefully (except for the Civil War) to accomodate an ongoing expansion of human rights.
1. Greater self-determination gives people hope, and hope translates into achievement. 2. Our economic system punished slothfulness, and rewarded risk taking. 3. NATURAL RESOURCES. 4. The United States, at one time, became a magnet for the best and brightest from all over the world. Immigrants! 5. Separation of Church and State. 6. Research and development of new ideas and products could translate into big dollars, and that made our Universities and businesses the most innovative in the world (look at what our drug companies have achieved). 7. I am out of time...I could go on and on.
oh my...OUR CONSTITUTION...this document of high ideals, written at a time of intolerance, racism, and barbarism in the United States, has slowly pressured us as a people to evolve where we are today (and we have a ways to got still).
I didn't say that was the only thing but it helped quite a bit. This isn't my theory by the way. Try Alfred Thayer Mahan and Thomas Jefferson, among others. And by the way Mexico is a pretty crappy comparison - it's not geographically similar enough, too many deserts mountains & not as much arable land, no way to easily get across it.
Incredible vision from the framers of the Constitution, mainly James Madison and Alexander Hamilton Capitalism and Economic freedoms Natural resources Open immigration policies Strong education system Strong military Strong sense of accountability and strong work ethic from citizens (unfortunately this is changing rapidly with the Obama people's mindsets)
The constitution which was great in itself but provided the framework to grow as enlightenment continued. Natural resources are huge. Isolation from conflicts and wars. Immigration made this nation what it is today.
THey are huge, but even huger was the ability to transport these through a system of navigable waterways initially, and eventually via railroads due to favorable topography.
I cannot believe people think slavery had such a large impact. My personal opinion is european immigration (ellis island) and the industrial revolution. America was the place that Henry Ford and other genius were allowed to become empires of business.
well I was thinking about it after I posted and slavery didn't help the north. It was the south that needed it. There was also no significant trade between north and south since the First Transcontinental Railroad was made during the civil war. I think it certainly made the south rich but that all ended after the war when reconstruction started. what do you think?
America, warts and all, is a nation founded on noble ideas and it has remained committed to those ideas and the greater realization of those ideas whenever possible. The Preamble and the Declaration of Independence act as the guidepost to which our nation constantly tries to better itself through the Constitution. Just contrast life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with the French Revolution's motto of liberty, fraternity, equality and you will start to see some of the differences between states and why France has not blossomed in the same fashion as the US. Now certainly geographic position helped, natural resources were great, etc. There are a lot of external factors that helped us grow in terms of money and influence. But we are great because of our ideals. Whatever hardships we've endured and wrongs we've done; our ideals and our ability to refocus on them in times of despair makes us great.
all forms of cheap labor helped the growth of this country. the chinese on the rail road. cotton was a very labor intensive crop, cotton was america's main southern export. just look at china's growth in the last twenty years. why have all the jobs left here for there, cheap labor. and this is the 21st century, we're talking about a labor intensive 18th and 19th century.
