Hi, >> eh... i think iceland with Al�ingi was there well before US (since 930AD). >> not to mention The United Provinces (Netherlands). and Venice. and >> short lived The Commonwealth of England. all pretty much either at the same >> time or a little earlier. >>
> Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, 'cause history ain't my strong > suit (if anything is... <g>). > But, I think what distinguishes the good old U.S. of A. from those > other examples you mention, is that, for one, it worked, and is still > in existance. The claim that we are disputing is that the USA was the first republic since the fall of the Romans - presumably meaning since the fall of the Roman Republic, which can be securely dated, rather than the fall of the Roman Empire, which is not so easy to date. [...] > As well, the feeling of those who "designed" the US (the Founding > Fathers?) was that they had a rare chance to start with a clean slate. Not so rare, really. In England we did it in (at least) 1215, 1649 and 1688/9. These were revolutions which restricted the power of the monarchy and led to the supremacy of Parliament through the drafting of revolutionary laws. In France they did it in 1789. In 1848 it happened throughout Europe. In 1989 it happened again. Since the 1960s the former colonies have gained their independence, and had the opportunity to start from scratch (although they were severely hamperred by Cold War politics from actually achieving what they should have been able to), but South Africa has a chance that most of the other African countries didn't get. -- Cheers, My name is Bob, and I approved this message.
