Cultus Americanus: Varieties of the Liberal Tradition in American Political Culture, 1600-1865

Cultus Americanus applies a philosophical model of political culture as ideology, religion, and myth to a re-consideration of America's liberal consensus to explain cultural diversity in America. Applying this model to the formative years of American political culture from 1600-1865 demonstrates that American diversity exists within a single, coherent cultural universe, dominated by a liberal ideology that is informed and supported by both a unique American religiosity and a vibrant American mythology. Author Brent Gilchrist engagingly depicts a political culture that is more complex and more cohesive than has been previously maintained that will be of great interest to scholars and students of American politics and history. Read more