My quick response clearly jumbled several concepts together. I actually believe that the development of individualism as a concept in western philosophy, probably reached its peak in the 18th century. It was emancipation from the highly restrictive requirements of religion and an emphasis on an individual having a moral center. The breakdown of the control of the religious authorities allowed for first a growth of more free, thinking, intellectual within each religious establishment-and, eventually, to groups of intellectuals in a secular settings. Some worked as individual scholars in libraries (Marx), but others soon asserted control of colleges and universities. Because of numerous factors too long to go into in a short post, we developed a strong nation, but also nourished a cancer slowly destroying us. I assure you I will write about this in greater detail soon.