ABSTRACT
This chapter first focuses on the Liberal Radicals of the Victorian period, who believed that America demonstrated how a liberalized land market was conducive to the general welfare through an increase in economic opportunity, particularly owner occupation. The experience of the American Commonwealth highlights the significance of America to two areas of Liberal economic discourse related to the question of democracy. America symbolized the Liberal Radical vision, not only for Britain's constitution, but also for its land market and spirit of individual enterprise. Murney Gerlach's thorough study of America's impact on Victorian British liberalism identified land and tariffs, alongside Ireland and constitutional matters, as the major concerns of transatlantic liberalism. Both the American economy and British liberalism evolved in this period, but America helped Liberals to reinforce their notions of an ideal economy for a modern democracy.
