The Development of America

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at Jon Butler's "Becoming America: The Revolution Before 1776" where Butler asserts that the combination of five important factors were critical to the development of America. The paper disagrees and contends that the tremendous economic growth present during that time was the most critical factor. The paper supports the position that money is what made the significant difference in the survival of the colonies as an independent entity.

From the Paper:

"Butler's comments regarding politics of the day outline the operation of local and imperial administration, the rise of the colonial assemblies, and the expansion of the crown of England's claims of authority over the colonists and the new land they inhabited. Appointed rather than elected officials conducted most local government, and even when colonists were given the chance to vote, most did not. Moreover, not everyone was allowed to vote, as women, servants, slaves, Indians, and those without property were denied that right. At this time, voting was a new process that many eligible men were not familiar with, so they were reluctant to use their vote. The fact that a democratic voting process was in place represented a shift from the monarchy to a modern hierarchal society, and finally a democratic nation."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, Jon. Becoming America: The Revolution Before 1776. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

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