Liberty University:
FINAL RESEARCH PAPER: INDUSTRIOUSNESS
Ryan Vance
Government 329-B01 American Exceptionalism
February 3rd, 2020
Charles Murray, author of American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History, outlines
the elements of American Exceptionalism. American Exceptionalism is derived from the civic
culture that America displays. Murray develops this idea further by recognizing that this culture
that encompasses American exceptionalism is characterized by four traits: industriousness,
egalitarianism, religiosity, and the standard of community life. Arguably the most important trait
that Murray discusses, I believe, would be the quality of American industriousness. Without any
context, the Cambridge Dictionary defines industriousness as, “the fact of working hard”
(Cambridge English Dictionary, 2020). Since the beginning of time, hard work has been a key
principle in society that has helped define and bring to life what it means to be industrious.
However, industriousness is much more than just working hard. According to Charles Murray,
“[industriousness] signifies the bone-deep American assumption that life is to be spent getting
ahead through hard work and thereby making a better life for oneself and one’s children”
(Murray, 2013). The true fruition of industriousness in America is derived from the American
setting. When this nation was being settled, the new land that was available provided those who
were courageous and hardworking with an opportunity to begin anew with access to incredible
resources. It was these hardworking people, who took initiative and boar the hardships of
crossing the North Atlantic and tearing down forests in order to seize the opportunity provided to
them, that created the American quality of industriousness. The formation of America created a
platform for freedom that created no limitations to how much their industrious drive could
provide a quality life with the ability to prosper and get ahead. One author, Newt Gingrich, notes
that, “This forward-looking worldview has been essential to fueling America’s exceptional work
ethic and extraordinary system of wealth creation" (Gingrich, 2011). Industriousness ultimately
means being economically independent through the willingness to work hard and seize
opportunity.
I chose to focus on the trait of industriousness as I believe it has had the largest impact on
this nation’s economy and the overall perception of America by foreigners. Part of the drive of
American industriousness is the understanding that it can pursue entrepreneurship, which takes
all limitations off how much your efforts can provide the opportunity to prosper and get ahead.
The American economy grew predominately through small business ownership, which is that
entrepreneurial drive, fueled by industriousness that rewards maximum return on effort and
results. One author, Matthew Spalding, notes that, “This fundamental right to acquire, possess,
and sell property is the backbone of opportunity and the most practical means to pursue human
happiness” (Spalding, 2010). It is this idea that bolstered the American economy throughout this
nation’s history. Industriousness is behind the American Dream, which means you can forge your
own destiny through property ownership and hard work to build wealth. The American Dream
has been a source of inspiration to those across the entire planet as it signifies a way of life. This
way of life envelopes hard work, freedom, and independence that allows for the ability to build
wealth, gain success, and become independent. The only limitation on this way of life is the
amount of effort someone is willing to put into their work and diligence to see it through to
success. The American Dream is the understanding that I can see the maximum return on the
investment made of my hard work and diligence.
Works Cited
Gingrich, Newt, and Vince Haley. A Nation like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism
Matters. Washington: Regnery, 2011.
“INDUSTRIOUSNESS: Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary.”
INDUSTRIOUSNESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary. Accessed
February 4, 2020. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/industriousness.
Murray, Charles A. American Exceptionalism: an Experiment in History. Washington, D.C.: AEI
Press, 2013.
Spalding, Matthew. “Why Is America Exceptional?” The Heritage Foundation, October 1,
2010.https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-america-exceptional.
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