Allan Nevins

“By 1846 no country in the world was so interesting to other nations as the United States; none attracted so many visitors with pen in hand and an observant gleam in the eye. Since Alexis de Tocqueville’s book had made such a noise on the continent of Europe and had been caught up by influential Liberals in England, the verdict had been more and more favorable.”

“The level attained by a nation in material well-being, education, public health, religion, morals, recreation, and literature may be high; and yet if disruptive tendencies are undermining the whole structure, it is in an unhappier position than some neighboring land whose culture and wealth may be inferior, but the trend of whose national life is upward.”

“Despite all its difficulties and errors, the country was steadily growing in economic power, cultural vigor, and social stability. In letters and science, the United States was already presenting the world with fruits in which it might take pride. In its economic development, a business enterprise of identifiably American type was beginning to emerge with technologies unlike those of Europe. In a hundred other fields, the initiative, self-reliance, and optimism of the people were writing a record of almost unexampled vigor and color. Energy, versatility, progressiveness — these were the traits of the young republic.”