American Exceptionalism Free Essays

The term American Exceptionalism has many definitions to many different people. In general it refers to the idea that the United States of America holds the special title of worldwide peace keeper and bringer of justice and democracy as they are the land of the free. American Conservatives; such as the Tea Party, also pair the phrase up with the idea of superiority; whereas liberals would much more prefer Americans to see their country as ‘ordinary’ and so dislike the term. We will write a custom essay sample on American Exceptionalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now To them ordinary means things like American does not always assume its place as the world’s super power but simple acts as an international negotiator in times of need. The terminology was coined in 1831 by Alexis de Tocqueville as to explain a positive outward effect of America’s democracy. In 1929 the phrase was used adversely by the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, when opposing the idea of the growth of capitalism in the states. In theory, American Exceptionalism works because of four key principles: divine right, resources, just beliefs and diversity. Many believe that the United States was chosen by God to lead the world and so they have the divine power to act in such a way over other countries. Although, others feel that the sheer wealth and resources the country has- such as the most powerful armed forces in the world gives them this power. Some consider the strong ideas and principles that the country was founded on as to the reason they have a greater say; whereas others argue that it is the mix of heritage and cultures, which makes America a kind of highbred of the best of the world, allowing for it to have this exceptional place in the world today. An odd and contradicting feature of the concept is that as an America knows best; they may over power their own legal system, other countries and conduct various types of secret activities if to protect the democratic system and state interests. America knows best: we must invade Iraq to free the people there from the dictatorship they live in, and then as a secondary thought because, they may have weapons of mass destruction (and oil that could be a lot of use to us). The idea that hacking people’s internet history and phone calls is just and fine, because the government can act beyond its means, as in the end they are protecting people from themselves- since they know best! The idea of Exceptionalism has allowed America to involve itself in many conflicts since the Mexican- American War of1846; where the Americans refused to accept that Mexico did not want to be a part of the United States and felt it was their mission to spread ‘freedom’ to the people of Mexico, right through to the Iraq war. During the Cold War the power of American Exceptionalism was used to display the American way of life as the right way and to try and crush the rising power of Communism. Ronald Reagan famously said that America had a duty to be â€Å"shining city on the hill† that the rest of the world would look up to. There are many positives and yet, many negatives of American Exceptionalism, and it is the principles of the term itself have brought about its demise. The waters have been muddied and so there are now many variations of the meaning of the words, which depend on the people using them. There is a spectrum of opinion: to some America is the almighty bringer of justice, and may do this by any means as long as they reach their end target of a freer and fair world. By contrast, others feel that Exceptionalism is simply used as a cover for the falling giant to do whatever it wants; from the invasions of lesser off countries, to spying on the day to day lives of millions of Americans. The use of Exceptionalism in foreign policy is often questioned; is it just a front the country can hide behind when actually working for personal gains rather than the good of the people? The expression is often used today in questioning America’s place as a super power. At a press conference in 2009 Obama was asked about his belief in American Exceptionalism he said: â€Å"I believe in American Exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British Exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism†. In 2013 Mitt Romney used this comment to attack Obama, stating that he did not believe in the power of the United States as a power, yet them comment had little power as the term has been lost somewhat. The majority of the countries have democracy, or have made a greater step towards it over the last century, leaving America with a much lesser role as the bringer of social equality. American Exceptionalism has shaped the world we live today, without it both America and Britain would not be looked to as a role model of strong democratic systems and equality. The idea has brought the same concepts to many other countries and helped to advance areas such as industry and the role of women. However, in recent years the power of American Exceptionalism has faded and the flaws have become more visible. The positive effects of American Exceptionalism are now much gentler, and the goal is more to help countries create justice, rather than impose America’s view. How to cite American Exceptionalism, Papers American Exceptionalism Free Essays Throughout the history of America, many historians have referred to America’s role in the world as being exceptional. American Exceptionalism is a belief that the United States is significantly different from other countries in the world. Many view America as being exceptional due to the unique way the United States was founded and American’s view on liberty. We will write a custom essay sample on American Exceptionalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now The founding fathers of America strived to make freedom the backbone of the country. Many of those who immigrated to the states did so due to persecution from their native countries. America was different from any other country because its sole purpose was to be a safe haven for its citizens where one could have freedom. According to Matthew Spalding, â€Å"The American Revolution drew on old ideas. The United States is the product of Western civilization, shaped by Judeo-Christian culture and the political liberties inherited from Great Britain† (p. 1). America’s founding principles make it exceptional because it placed authority in the hands of the citizens where as most other countries have resorted to governing monarchies, dictators, and even tyrannies. America’s view on providing liberties such as religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the right to live ones own life make it an exception from the rest of the world. Because of this, many believe that America’s Exceptionalism makes it superior. â€Å"World History In Brief† states, â€Å"The nation’s federal system led to a fairly weak central government, and many major developments were the result of state action or business initiatives† (p. 419). The lack of regulation in industries allows more businesses to flourish and try new ventures. The financial opportunities America provides for families and individuals is quite high compared to other nations. According to Forbes, â€Å"The typical person in the bottom 5 percent of the American income distribution is still richer than 68 percent of the world’s inhabitants† (p. 2). The financial success in America definitely contributes to America’s Exceptionalism. One must question whether or not American Exceptionalism really makes it  superior than other countries. While the founding principles and way of life might be significantly diverse, historical events in America show that there are flaws in the system. The United States has a history of slavery, racial discrimination, and limits on who can vote. While present day America allows for both men and women to vote and has made slavery illegal, the blunders of the past are reminiscent of suppression and limited rights for women and minorities in other countries. America was founded on principles of freedom unlike any other country. It’s differences make it unique throughout the world and a view of American Exceptionalism has been created. While this theory is looked at in a positive light, it’s important to also take into account the negative historical events in America. Currently, the United States is still one of the most powerful nations and provides hope to not only it’s citizens but also people around the world. How to cite American Exceptionalism, Papers