From that date onward, and especially just before the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832, yet always a factor, the example of a prosperous American democracy was an element in British home politics, lauded or derided as the man in England desired or not an expansion of the British franchise.

In the earlier period, however, it is to be remembered that applause of American institutions did not mean acceptance of democracy to the extent of manhood franchise, for no such franchise at first existed in America itself.

The debate in England was simply whether the step forward in American democracy, was an argument for a similar step in Great Britain.
Books, reviews and newspapers in Great Britain as the political quarrel there grew in force, depicted America favourably or otherwise according to political sympathies at home.

Both before and after the Reform Bill of 1832 this type of effort to mould opinion, by citation of America, was widespread.

Hence there is in such writing, not so much the expression of public opinion, as of propaganda to affect that opinion.
Book upon book, review upon review, might be quoted to illustrate this, but a few notable examples will suffice.
The most widely read and reviewed book on the United States before 1840, except the humorous and flippant characterization of America by Mrs.Trollope, was Captain Basil Hall's three-volume work, published in 1829[14].