EmailTony Blair received the Liberty medal in Philadelphia last night "in recognition of his steadfast commitment to conflict resolution".
The medal is awarded annually by the National Constitution Centre to individuals or organisations whose actions aim to bring liberty to people worldwide.
"To be free, is to be responsible for the freedom of others," said Blair in a brief acceptance speech in the east coast American city.
There were no protests at the ceremony and the former prime minister was given a standing ovation after being presented with the award by Bill Clinton, the centre's chairman. The warm reception contrasted sharply with a book signing in Dublin when eggs and shoes were thrown at him. Blair cancelled an event for his memoirs, A Journey, at the London Tate Modern gallery, as well as a book signing in central London, when anti-Iraq war campaigners prepared to mount a protest.
Clinton said in a statement that Blair "continues to demonstrate the same leadership, dedication and creativity in promoting economic opportunity in the Middle East and the resolution of conflicts rooted in religion around the world".
The medal, first given in 1989, comes with a $100,000 (£65,000) cash prize. Blair will donate the money to his faith foundation and African governance initiative.
In awarding the Liberty medal, the centre singled out Blair's work in Northern Ireland.
"Former prime minister Blair played a critical role in advancing peace in Northern Ireland during his tenure as British prime minister," the centre said. "Throughout the gruelling negotiation process that preceded the historic Good Friday accord, he displayed unwavering determination to settle the generations-long conflict."
Past winners of the award include Lech Walesa, the Polish leader, former president Jimmy Carter, and the Afghan president Hamid Karzai. Steven Spielberg was last year's winner.
Clinton was effusive in his praise when the award was announced in June, saying: "It was a privilege to work with my friend Tony Blair to help end 30 years of sectarian violence and broker a lasting peace in Northern Ireland, to stop the killing in and mass exodus from Kosovo, and to develop policies that would improve living conditions for people in both our countries."
Nelson Mandela, however, was furious at Blair for joining the US-led invasion of Iraq, it emerged at the weekend.
Peter Hain, a lifelong anti-apartheid campaigner who knows the South African former president well, said Mandela was "breathing fire" down the line in protest at the 2003 military action.
The trenchant criticisms were made in a formal call to the minister's office, not in a private capacity, and Blair was informed of what had been said, Hain added. The details are revealed in Hain's newly-published biography of Mandela.
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