I define proto-democracy as effectively the imperfect stage as a country transitions to proper democracy. My personal view is the US was a proto-democracy up until the last major exclusion to voting was removed (Civil Rights era 1960s) for adults.Which decades are you talking about? I'm assuming by 'Thee Franchise' you mean right to vote. But you said, America was pretty much a proto-democracy up until recently. Proto democracies are often seen as basic direct democracy without elected representatives, when has the US ever been that?