What is American Exceptionalism?

In its own way, America is in fact exceptional. While it may be lacking or struggling in some certain areas, it excels in others. America is exceptional in that it has become a sort of refuge, or safe-haven, harboring those in need and providing them with new, prosperous opportunities. Allowing for new opportunities and extending basic rights to all, America assists in the success of individuals, indirectly advancing the nation as a whole. However, just because America is indeed exceptional in some regards, that does not make it superior over all other nations or imply that our nation is without fault. Hillary Clinton for example once stated, “When we say America is exceptional it means that we recognize America’s unique and unparalleled ability to be a force for

Introduction. The new boundaries and opportunities in the seventeenth century grew and challenged an idea of religious liberty. The lifestyle of the first colonists in the New England was heavily influenced by religion and church. Settlers considered that success of social life depends on the obedience to God’s will. The governor John Winthrop maintained and developed this idea. With a help of his Speech to the Massachusetts General Court in 1645, he summed up and explained an important idea of liberty. Winthrop did not only define a blessed way for a better life of the community but also clarified the role of citizens through the analogy of women’s position in the society. His concept of natural and moral liberty turned up to be suitable and clear for the settlers. With a help of well-built speech, Winthrop emphasized and explained correlation among society, authority, and God in the New World.

Throughout the sermon, John Winthrop makes himself very clear about what he wants the Massachusetts Bay Colony to accomplish when he establishes it. He desires it to be a strictly religious society that will act as an example for the rest of the colonies. Winthrop lays out a plan of exactly how he wants the colonists to act

American Exceptionalism is a term used to define the ideal that America is far superior to all other countries. It has been used to justify unfair actions and used to cover up flaws. Children are taught from a young age that America is the model country, and the people living there can do no wrong. In school, each bad thing that America has done in history is skimmed over, yet the accomplishments and victories are taught in great detail. For years, Americans have hid behind the phrase American exceptionalism as a way to not only avoid taking responsibility for their actions but to not push themselves to be better, as they already consider themselves perfect. The concept of this exceptionalism impedes the progress and evolution of mankind as they give up caring and trying to better themselves.

As the Protestant Reformation lead to oppression of outside opinions and beliefs, many peoples took this opportunity to start anew in colonial America. However, each region adopted a slightly different religion. For example, New England became a stable platform for Protestants. As the Church of England underwent radical changes, some Englishmen opposed these changes due to their striking similarities to Catholicism, and therefore sought a new religion, Protestantism (Foner p.64). In order to avoid oppression and discrimination of their new religion in England, many fled to America in hopes of seeking religious tolerance. Some settled in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Protestantism preached about the importance of sermons, equality, and even adopted John Calvin’s idea of pre-determined salvation (Foner p. 65). Winthrop and the first settlers of Massachusetts set up a Commission in which Puritan beliefs governed society. For example,

The Puritans came to colonize New England with the intention to create a place free from the Church of England. John Winthrop spoke to the passengers aboard the Arbella, proclaiming they must be unified in their religious mission, or they would fail. As Calvinists, they fully believed the harder they work, the better chance they had of achieving enlightenment. The concept of unity and hard work ethic inspired by their religious beliefs lead to the early form of a democratic society in the New England Colonies.

John Winthrop and the Puritans dared to make the dangerous journey across the Atlantic Ocean for their religious beliefs. The journey was expected to be difficult and the new land was expected to be unlike anything they had ever seen before. They were looking to become just the third group of people to successfully make the trek to the new world. While on the ship destined for what is now known as America, John Winthrop pulled all the Puritans together and delivered to them a speech bestowed upon him from God. Winthrop’s speech was later recorded and renamed “A Model of Christian Charity”. Winthrop uses this sermon to motivate the Puritans as they head for the new world. Winthrop persuades the Puritans to not worry about wealth, to love

Although many of the people who came to the new world were from a similar English origin, what they found in the colonies they settled determined what they could and could not do. Factors like temperature and geography played a huge role in things such as farming. In the south, the un-unified people failed to create as stable a colony as those in the North. Large flocks of servants came to the Chesapeake region to work the plantations, these men came seeking riches and glory but most found neither while few grew very Rich. New England did not have this type of workforce.

Winthrop claims that “wee are Commaunded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another to walk in his wayes and to keep his Commaundements…” Again, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by people fleeing persecution from the Church of England, thus resulting in their voyage as one under God only. From this, one can see that their main goal in the New World is to continue their beliefs, just how they wish (separate from the Church of England). The entire speech centers around how the colonists will continue to follow God and do as He says, such as “to love mercy, walk humbly with our

In “A Model of Christian Charity” by John Winthrop, Winthrop explains his expectations for the colonists while in their new land. He explains through examples that the people should be equal and unified, loyal to God, and to be a model for other future cities. Winthrop wanted the people of Massachusetts Bay Colony to be equal and be unified with the rest of the colonists. He says “We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of

Vietnam war, the Space Race, and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. One of the highest tension points between the US and the Soviet Union was during the Cuban Missile Crisis with a US naval blockade surrounding Cuba until the removal of its nuclear weapons had started. The US issued an ultimatum to the Soviets saying” If you cross this line it will be considered an act of war”. The Russian fleet did back down from the containment line and did agree to remove nuclear weapons from communist Cuba but on the condition that the US pledge to not invade Cuba again which the US agreed to. An interesting point was that after the crisis Fidel Castro was asked if he would have agreed to use nuclear weapons, Castrol said “Yes I would have used nuclear weapons,

Our world is full of propaganda and unique activities of every sort. There are countless methods of entertainment pushed towards us in an effort to capture our undivided attention. These forms of entertainment are available through the freedoms Americans have - the freedoms derived from our Constitution. Americans enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” more than arguably every other country; moreover, they will be the first to say so. Americans have little restrictions on expressions and, therefore, many groups feel the need to do just that – express themselves. However, these expressions by such a plethora of actors also is the very reason none of them succeed in holding one’s attention for great lengths. When analyzing “punk” rock as an expression or propaganda, it actually is one of the few which has been able to capture the attention and live through the people for a long period of time – over 30 years.

When reading about American Exceptionalism, I have found very interesting the notion of the US as an example for other nations. This exceptionalism implies a superiority of the United States over the rest of the countries of the world. Nevertheless, considering especially international relationships, I think that alluding that one country is morally superior to others is an awfully dangerous affirmation. Dispensing with the treat of the United States to its citizens (what would need a separately reflection), we all know that relationships among countries involve many actions that can be considered aggressive and even immoral; and that, only up to the point we as civilians are aware ─let’s never forget that when talking about politics many things

America holds a high status in the modern world, and it is true that Americans are responsible for some of the world’s greatest innovations. However, our current leaders instill a certain viewpoint that creates misunderstandings about our culture on an international scale. The American lifestyle is fast-paced and hard-hitting: we are proud of our reputation for that. Many of our national ideals stem for a national pride and this behavior may seem off-putting to other nations across the world. This specific viewpoint gives off the impression of an attitude of superiority. Americans’ egocentrism concerning worldly affairs leads to others’ perception that we maintain an elitist society.

Historically, the creation of political and philosophical ideologies has been defined through the perception of privileged people, in which these writers theorized lived experiences and encapsulated them into a notion of rationality and efficiency which directly serves the legacies of colonialism. Hobbes, Locke, and Smith exemplify ideological hegemony, in which the notion of organizing and formulating society is created through a binary of authority and legitimacy because of power dynamics which supports hierarchies through justified oppression. For instance, Hobbes, Locke and Smith constructed a binary which narrows perceptions of society, thereby limiting options about the formation of society because these dominant forms of knowledge