"That in 2 centuries, the US would unambiguously become the most powerful Country in the world", how do you think each of them would have reacted. Considering that many of them had no expectation of the US becoming a powerful Country at all, most of which expected the Country to become mostly isolationist, it would surely be a surprise to them.
They generally expected it, read Common Sense where Paine again and again highlights the absurdity in his view of an entire continent being governed by an island:
The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. 'Tis not the affair of a city, a country, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent-- of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe. 'Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now. Now is the seed time of continental union, faith and honor.
