HARRIS
Liberty University
Research Paper
American Exceptionalism:
Egalitarianism
Virtue Harris
Government 329: B02 LUO
March 12, 2018
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Abstract
This paper, through research, surveys what Egalitarianism is and how it affects our
country as a whole. Egalitarianism has been associated with the America and its culture
since the dawn of American Exceptionalism. Egalitarianism is a significant part of what
we know American Exceptionalism to be and it is prevalent in society today.
Egalitarianism helped America culture break the barriers brought by self-righteous.
Egalitarianism also has to do with Christianity, which affects the modern church. I will
also talk about the inequality that plagues America and how it has to deal with
Egalitarianism. Many aspects due to the current state of the nation has to do with
Egalitarianism.
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HARRIS
Virtue Harris
Professor Miller
GOVT 329
March 2018
American Exceptionalism:
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is known as the doctrine, which states that all mankind is equal and
all people deserve equal rights and equal opportunities. 1 So, it can be said that
egalitarianism means that everyone is to be treated equally, no matter their place in
society, no one is to be above another one. This goes for race and gender as well. Charles
Murray in his book American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History defines and
bridges the elements of an exceptional culture, industriousness, community life,
religiosity, and Egalitarianism. Egalitarianism, within Christianity views is a movement
based on the theological views that not only is all people equal before God in their
personhood, but there are no gender-limitations.2 Equality was put in place to help aid
those in society to change and view people without discrimination. Equality is to remove
preconceived notions, labels, and the gap between the poor and the rich, not putting one
above the other and not judging someone because of their color.
In a simpler form, egalitarianism is the equality that all men and women, no
matter their status or race can have a commonplace and association in society. Ignoring
all traits, labels enforced, social standing, breaks the bridge between the privileged and
1 Merriam Webster Dictionary, Egalitarianism Definition, (2017)
2 Theopedia, Egalitarianism
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the poor thus, breaking the ideology of classism. The issue of inequality in America has
been always been issue in America. Charles Murray states that inequality in America is
far greater than inequality in Europe. “American egalitarianism is all about rhetoric, not
concrete measures to equalize material well-being. The traditional unconcern of most
Americans about economic inequality is evidence of American moral backwardness.” 3
Inequality has influenced civil laws and liberty. It is inequality that has had an influence
in civil liberty and laws, causing men to rage wars against one another because of the
hatred in their hearts. It has led to the massacre and genocide, causing thousands of
deaths of the innocence. Murray states that, there should be no hesitation when looking at
other members in or society of different race or different income as your equal. 4
Written in the Declaration of Independence, our fore fathers stated, that all men
are created equal, that their Creator with certain unalienable Rights endows them, which
among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.5 This statement was written
in a time where slavery was enforced The term “all men are created equal,” was merely a
statement, it was not until the 19th century in the year 1865 when America came together
as a society and abolished slavery. Since then America has strived for equality, making
changes to women and the sexist barriers between them and men, also making changes in
the way other ethnic groups are treated. Yet, no matter how much America has progressed
since the abolition of slavery, there are still quite a few racial as well as sexist barriers
still standing that need to be abolished.
3 Charles Murray, American Exceptionalism, (American Enterprise Institute for Policy
Research, 2013), 21-23,36.
4 Charles Murray, American Exceptionalism, 21-23.
5 Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, (Philadelphia: Pennsylvania
Evening Post, 1776)
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If there is not equality in America, is there such a thing as egalitarianism? Some
have said argued that egalitarianism is false. Kerwick researches Sunner’s thoughts on
egalitarianism and states that Sunner insisted that inequality between those who
contribute to civilization and those who do not are established as positive fact. As soon as
the exigencies of life are felt and men are differentiated according to their power to cope
with them into better or worse. In other words, inequality is a hard, unalterable, empirical
fact. Egalitarianism is not just false it is invidious.6 I disagree. Egalitarianism is a simple
concept and to better understand it and enforce it, it must first be taught. Things are
learned by teaching and if they are not practiced they can be easily forgotten. If
egalitarianism has been forgotten it is because it is not being practiced or taught.
Equality is an important topic which is why egalitarianism became associated
with equality due to the social barriers, racial injustice and self-righteousness within the
American culture. The issues of equality has been forced into the light by social groups
who have gone years without being heard about social injustice going on in America. The
government has ignored many racial and social issues that have plagued society and
reflects poorly on the nations where “all men are created equal”. If all men were treated
like they were created equal then those who are African-American, Mexican-American,
women, and other minority groups would not have to fight for their rights to be equal on
American soil. America is supposed to be the place where all people are free in their
speech, democracy, their environment, America is supposed to be the place where they
can freely express themselves without being judged because of their stance and so forth.
If America is not “the land of the free” and does not act the way it has been amped up to
6 Jake Kerwick, The Intellectual and Moral Poverty of Egalitarianism, (American
Thinker, 2012)
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be then we, Americans have a lot of work to do to stand up to our great nation’s
definition.
Since the beginning of America, African-Americans and Native Americans have
been plagued with the injustices of being racially profiles because of their skin color. By
deeming one group inferior, the other group is able to maintain all economic, political,
and social power. So inequality justifies the rule of a minority over majority. It also
justifies the rule of one sec, race, ethnicity, or religion over others.7 African-Americans
were at the bottom. African-Americans were sold as slaves when they first came to the
shores of American. They were defined there right to equality as soon as their skin color
was seen. As for Native Americans, they were treated like they were savages. African
Americans as individuals are considered three-fifths of a citizen in the United States.8
Native Americans were here long before America was given its name yet; they were not
given American citizenship. Their land was stolen from them and they were either
slaughter or move to smaller pieces of land called reservations. Native Americans faced
centuries of struggle and discrimination before acquiring full U.S. citizenship and legal
protection of their right to vote.9
Racial inequality has always been prevalent in society but women have also had
to face the unfairness of inequality. The women of America have been faced with many
forms of inequality. For much, if not all, of human history, women have been little more
than property—subjected by men, bought and sold for marriage and viewed no more than
vessels to procreate. Slavery has its placed in the history of this country yet; oppression
7 Robert Whaples, Egalitarianism: Fair and Equal? New Thinking on Egalitarianism,
(Independent Review, 2017) Volume 22. Issue 1.
8 The Three-Fifths Clause of the United States Constitution, (1787)
9 Elections…the American Way: Voting Rights for Native Americans (Library of
Congress)
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has been institutionalized for so long as that of the women of the world.10 Most women in
the United States did not earn the right to vote until the 19th amendment was passed in
1920. Yet, the road to achieving gender equality in the United States has been a bumpy
one. A man being paid more than woman is a well-known fact. It is no secret that men
have been paid more than women. It has been said that when it comes to equal pay, the
American woman is stuck in a proverbial waiting room. More simply put, the status of
women in America is complex. So to achieve gender equality is not a simple task. Gender
equality is an intricate mosaic, a picture that cannot be complete without understanding
and exploring the dynamic regional, national and demographic factors at play. 11
Egalitarianism is apart of American Exceptionalism, which makes America the
great nation that is today. America was intended to be a safe haven for those looking for
freedom from Europe’s Tierney. A place where people could be free and worship freely.
People desired a better nation under God. American Exceptionalism was then enforced to
better the country but all of the traits of American Exceptionalism must be followed if
America is to live up to its reputation of being exceptional above all others. Inequality
cannot be something that is ignored. The bible tells us in Galatians 3:28, there is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus.12 God created all men equal so we must push passed the way we
been conditioned to treat minorities and treat them as our equal. If America does not
follow the rules set forth to make it exceptional, it will not be a “free nation” where “all
men are created equal” if inequality exists. If America wants to remain the exceptional
10 Jabril Faraji, Women’s Rights and Inequality in America, (Huffington Post, 2013)
11 Ariel Smilowitz, For U.S. Women, Inequality Takes Many Forms, (Huffington Post,
2015)
12 Thomas Nelson, Galatians 3:28, King James Version (1991)
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country it is said to be, it is imperative that egalitarianism is enforced and Americans treat
others as their equals.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Murray, Charles, “American Exceptionalism: An Experiment in History.” American
Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 2013.
The author works into defining what American Exceptionalism is and how it
affects American in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well as today. The author
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goes on to define key terms of American Exceptionalism such as industriousness,
egalitarianism, religiosity, and community life.
Merriam Webster Dictionary, 11th ed., “Egalitarianism.”
A well-written definition regarding what egalitarianism is. An in-dept. It also
contains words that are similar in meaning. It contains valuable information
Whaples, Robert M. “Egalitarianism: Fair and Equal? New Thinking on Egalitarianism.”
Independent Review. Volume 22. Issue 1, 2017.
This article discusses the concept of egalitarianism in politics and school. The
article also elaborates the older version of racism and how there is a belief of inferiority.
It also invites the author to submit their views points on the matter.
Kerwick, Jake. “The Intellectual and Moral Poverty of Egalitarianism.”
American Thinker, July 2012.
This article talks about the disagreements and issue some have had with
egalitarianism. It also discusses the follies associated with egalitarianism such as, social
justice and economic fairness. The author also includes how egalitarianism has to do with
inequality.
King James Version Bible, “ Galatians 3:28.” Thomas Nelson. 1991
A verse located in the bible stating that we are all sinners. It also states that God
created men equal. No one man should be put above another. Everyone was made in the
image of God thus we are all equal.
Duigan, Brian. “Robin Nozick: American Philosopher.”
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2017.
In this article, the author explores the egalitarian theory. Nozick describes an
ingenious objection that has been since called the Wilt Chamberlain argument. The
author emphasizes Nozick’s vision of egalitarianism in the article.
Smilowitz, Ariel. "For U.S. Women, Inequality Takes Many Forms."
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The Huffington Post. April 14, 2015. Accessed March 12, 2018.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ariel-smilowitz/for-us-women-inequality-takes-many-
forms_b_7064348.html.
In this article Smilowitz tells how the women of America have been plagued with
inequality. She also gives a brief history of women’s right and how they fought for them.
Faraj, Jabril. "Women's Rights and Inequality in America." The Huffington Post.
August 19, 2013. Accessed March 13, 2018.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jabril-faraj/womens-rights-and-
inequal_b_3771291.html.
This article tells of the history of women’s rights. It also addresses the inequality
that goes on in America.
"The Three-Fifths Clause of the United States Constitution."
The Three-Fifths Clause of the United States Constitution (1787) | The Black
Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. Accessed March 12, 2018.
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/three-fifths-clause-united-states-constitution-1787.
Tells about the three-fifths clause that is located in the United States constitution.
It explains why slaves were not considered citizens of America.
"Voting Rights for Native Americans." Voting Rights for Native Americans - Elections -
Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources - Library of Congress. Accessed March 12,
2018.
https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations
/elections/voting-rights-native-americans.html.
Tells the history of Native Americans and how they were treated. Also includes how they
were able to gain their right to vote.
Jefferson, Thomas. "Thomas Jefferson's Monticello." Jefferson and the Declaration |
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. July 4, 1776. Accessed March 12, 2018.
https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/jefferson-and-declaration.
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