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Seth David Radwell is an international business executive who holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard. His erudition and deep understanding of politics and political philosophy is manifest in this work. What is the book about? Basically it as about the way America's leaders have developed and implemented government since the founding of the oldest constitutional republic in the world. The American experiment in self government began in 1776. Part One: This section deals with the origin of the schism between those such as Jefferson, Franklin and Thomas Paine who advocated the radical enlightenment. They believed in widely representative government in which the common people would have a major voice. They in time would favor voting rights for African-Americans, women and extending the voting franchise to everyone. The Moderate Enlightenment leaders followed the mixed government of Great Britain relying heavily on the well educated and wealthier citizens to guide the nation. Leaders of this view include John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. Part Two looks at how the two different views of the schism have guided the nation in our 250 plus years of existence. Many chapters are devoted to the issue of slavery, the difficult Reconstruction period of 1865-1877, the Gilded Age, Progressivism and LBJ's Voting Rights Bill of the 1960s. The Counter-Enlightenment is best seen in the importance of religion in the public arena. Part III looks at the future of America following the insurrection of January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol building and the controversial presidency of Donald Trump Regardless of your political affiliation this book will cause you to think about how we can all work for positive change in making the United States a more united and free society.