America before 1787

Focusing on the complex dynamics between Britain and its American colonies, this volume delves into the social movements that united the thirteen colonies despite internal conflicts. Elster highlights the role of emotional forces and the concept of "divide and rule" in shaping political beliefs and actions on both sides of the Atlantic. He examines how the decline of British imperial influence affected transatlantic relations and the critical institutional decisions made by American states that influenced the Constitution's creation. This work uniquely combines historical analysis with modern social science perspectives.