American Exceptionalism

Essentially, American Exceptionalism is the idea that America is better, more advanced, than other countries. “A city on a hill for all other states to see” if you will.

It is historically referred to as perception that America differs qualitatively from other developed nations due to unique origins, national credo, among other things.

The term was first used in a respective since by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831. It is closely related to Manifest Destiny, the term Jackson used to promote the annexation of much of the current U.S west.

The term also describes Americans feeling that they have an exceptional position among other countries in the world and cannot be bound by international law. American Exceptionalists believe that since they were the ones that instigated and “created” it, they themselves do not have to abide by it except when it suits their needs.

The most commonly found basis of Exceptionalism is that they feel as if America holds a significant place in the world. A high and mighty pedestal over the entire world. Their reasoning is that America offers hope and opportunity for the rest of the world.

Many say it is the American concept which gives America a special position in the world. The free economy and practice of religion is indicated by Exceptionalists as another reason why America has moral superiority over the rest of the world.

In specific points in time, American Exceptionalism was more present than others. For example, the Cold War.

During the Cold War, America’s mass media projected Exceptionalism through what was called the “American Way of Life.” It personified American Liberty fighting tyranny in the form of Communism.

The “American Way of Life” was propaganda in a sense. It broadcasted all over the nation the “differences” between American and U.S.S.R standards of living stating that an individual would be able to come to America and strike it rich, while that is impossible over in Communist Soviet Union.

Another phrase that has had a significant impact on American Exceptionalism is the “American Dream.” The term the American Dream was adopted around the late 19^th-century when immigrants Andrew Carnegie and Carl Schurz went to the top of the economy and politics.

Exceptionalism is taught in American schools today. In an American History course, children are taught to believe that the revolution was the first of its kind. While it may have spurred on other revolutions it is definitely not the first. Even England had a revolution. The French revolution has even been considered as the start of modern democracy.

While nationalism is not always a evil thing, as it is certainly respectable enough to be proud of ones country, it can be come an object of annoyance for other states that feel they are working just as hard and provide an equal or greater standard of living than the U.S.