Kuvult, yes, that is what I am saying – a lot of “norms” of American Jewish society are pretty new. You walk in EY or Europe or China and every stone cave is 1000 year old. In US, a 400-old University is an esteemed one. I read about some American suspiciously inquiring some scholarly office in England – “how long are you in business? ” – “800 years” ..
Also, the country was small. At the founding, there were, I think, 3 mln people and the founders were writingly bravely expecting that there could be even 30 mln in the future! Also, early Jewish citizens in NY and RI were pretty distinguished Sephardim, not chopped liver so to speak.