The current American constitutional system was implemented in 1789. In its first 50 years of existence, the United States was used as a pawn by the much more powerful colonial powers of Europe. They meddled in US affairs constantly; on one occasion, Britain re-invaded and burned Washington to the ground. Spain, France, and Britain all had colonial holdings surrounding the original 13 US states. The United States was economically backward, primarily agrarian, with little infrastructure away from its coasal cities; it had no significant navy, the key factor in projecting influence abroad in those days; its people were widely scattered with poor communications outside of cities, and little access to education or healthcare.

Despite this, for its first 50 years of existence, there were no significant armed internal conflicts; there were 13 peaceful presidential elections and 25 peaceful Congressional elections; the military remained small and firmly under civilian control; the country weathered a Constitutional crisis from a tied presidential election without resorting to arms; the country managed to build up its infrastructure and develop an industrial base while repaying the foreign debt from its war of independence.

By the end of 1960, there were 27 independent nations in Africa. How many of them can show an uninterrupted history of free elections, peaceful transfers of power, and the rule of law?