After visiting the United States, French scholar, Alexis de Toqueville noted in his
observations, how Americans were in an “exceptional” position. But this doesn’t quite
sum it up. As stated in the reading, “The ideals expressed in the Declaration of
Independence, and the unique American identity that arose from an American civilization
that honored them, form what we call today ‘American Exceptionalism’”, (Gingrich,
2011). American Exceptionalism, as the reading states, finds its fundamental ideas in the
Declaration of Independence. But what makes up American Exceptionalism? At its most
basic level, it refers to the unique characteristics that sets the United States apart from all
the other nations and countries worldwide. What are those unique characteristics?
“The Declaration sets forth an American Creed, a unifying body of beliefs to
which the Founders and their countrymen subscribed” (Gingrich, 2011). This creed is for
all Americans, whether rich or poor, regardless of social status or any other differences.
This was for immigrants that wanted to be Americans as well. “The American Creed is
the source of American Exceptionalism to this day. It is both universal and timeless –
relevant and accessible to the present generations and to future ones” (Gingrich, 2011).
The Creed was a set of beliefs or “self-evident” “truths” that were “already deeply
ingrained in the American psyche” (Gingrich, 2011). Where other nations were centered
on monarchies, and founded through wars or conquests, America embraced Democracy
and freedom/equality for all; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (ushistory.org, n.d.). The
United States was chosen by God to be a world leader and an example to other nations.
Power was for the people under this Creed, not the government. “Never before had a
nation recognized sovereignty in the citizen rather than the government,” (Gingrich,
2011). Unlike other nations, the government of the United States was to serve the people,
not the other way around. This also gave the people the right to change the government if
they so chose to; “That to secure these rights…That whenever any Form of Government
becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness,” (ushistory.org, n.d.).
Finally, we were asked if we find the definition of American Exceptionalism to be
relevant based upon our own experience and to elaborate why or why not. This is
something I never really sat and thought about before. I do find that it is relevant today.
I guess when I think of what makes the U.S. exceptional, I look at it from the
responsibility we take as a nation to intervene in foreign matters. As a superpower, we
have at times, taken it upon ourselves to step in and use our position to deal with
humanitarian efforts internationally. There have been instances where many other
countries just threw their hands up and said there was nothing they could do, but the U.S.
did not ignore what was going on. Given the fact that I am a military spouse, do I always
want our government to step in and intervene? Absolutely not! I do however believe that
it is part of our responsibility to advocate human rights for those that cannot. That is just
part of what makes America the exception to other countries.
