The American Enlightenment in contemporary US historiography: Ambivalence and reticence - Introduction

This historiographical essay examines how the concept of 'American Enlightenment', by contrast with the European Enlightenment which is generally taken for granted, is being dealt with reluctantly by American historians today. In order to explain the foundation of the united States in the 18th century, these historians have favored two other paradigms, Protestantism and the Revolution. The difficulty is adopting an interpretation which is perceived as essentially secular and European might be due to an enduring American Christian tradition as well as an ongoing belief in the American exception.