Postmillenialism in America

I listened to another history lecture by Rev. Rushdoony today. It was about Postmillenialism and the war of Independence. In 1769 a English clergyman visited the middle colonies of America. He believed that "...the empire is moving westward, and everyone is looking forward with eager and impatient expectation to that destined moment when America is to give law to the rest of the world". America was still split up into colonies, yet everyone believed that it was to be the new center of the world. Many historians note that the predominant eschatology in America was Postmillenial. This is why so many could predict that America would have a great destiny and bring hope to the world. In fact, they predicted that by 2000 America would be a utopia, with a higher population than "the great empire of China". It was believed that it was impossible to defeat the British navy in the war of independence, yet America did, with only several hundred men and a few ships. No wonder the Americans believed Providence was behind them. When they had gained their independence, they believed that their goal was to go out and conquer the earth, that they were the "new Israel" of God. They believed that their young children should be educated in schools (which were typically taught by the pastor in the area) in which they would learn biblical truth. It was unusual in America to find a man who was uneducated. Prisoners from England who were dumped into America (most of these were people who stole because they were starving, and were not hardened criminals), were either converted to Christianity or at leas brought into line. Toqueville himself found America novel. He believed that, unlike the rest of the world, America could not be compared to ancient society because it was a completely unique situation. And he was right. God blessed America in amazing ways, and while it followed Him, it flourished.