The cumulative effect of British political development has been the construction of a democratic and parliamentary government under a symbolic monarch. Originally a British colony, the United States became an independent nation in the last half of the eighteenth century. The American Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in use, and its intricate design an complex checks and balances represent a uniquely American contribution to the art of democratic governance. One of the greatest fears of the Framers at the Constitutional Convention was that pure democracy might degenerate into a form of tyranny. A larger economic and social event was gradually gaining steam: the industrial revolution. In conclusion, a core difference between the British and American system may be identified in their views of the purpose of government. Britain relies on a flexible legislative body to respond to societal needs; the United States advocates limiting government to guarantee individual freedoms and avoid tyranny.