The "holy experiment" of the Quakers involved political hegemony and economic wealth. Gradually the Quakers realized that they had become involved in the compromises fatal to the spiritual integrity of the Society of Friends itself. The political crisis of 1756 hastened this realization, and the Quaker merchants abandoned the outward plantations and turned again to the plantations within. Originally published 1948. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Marked by continuity, renewal, and expansion, the image of the Dream, Jillson contends, has been remarkably constant since well before the American Revolution - an image of a nation offering a better chance for prosperity than any other. His book reveals how that Dream has motivated our nation s leaders and common citizens to move, sometimes grudgingly, toward a more open, diverse, and genuinely competitive society.