Essay On American Exceptionalism

American Exceptionalism

The scholarly debate about the concept of American Exceptionalism has been a topic of discussion for many decades. As a matter of fact, the debating that surrounds the concept of American Exceptionalism doesn’t arise from a vacuum. It arises from the various usages over time, which is related to the historical development of America that makes it different from other nations in Europe and elsewhere. It makes it even more difficult and complicated to establish just one single definition to this concept. Adding to that, many people from different cultural and religious backgrounds have various ideas of what America means to them. Thus, this essay will trace back the origin of American Exceptionalism and will highlight

The concept is related directly to the origin and the development of the United States; what makes it unique, extraordinary, and distinguish it from any other countries in the world. As Leslie Fiedler has observed, “to be an American (unlike being British or French or whatever) is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than to inherit one: since we have been always, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history…” (Abbott n.p). This implies that the whole notion in the natural design of the United States as a nation distinguishes it from any other nations is myth rather than history. In fact, American Exceptionalism is very complex and difficult term because of its historical development and cultural identity which results in various meanings.

Generally speaking, American exceptionalism is frequently used to depict the development of American history and cultural identity from Puritan origins to the present time. This term dates back to a religious group from England known as Puritans, “who had left Europe to found ‘New Zion’ in the new world” (Helfrich 78). Puritan leader John Winthrop had the vision to leave England with his fellow and to head to the new world, so they indeed sailed on Arbella in 1630 to achieve their mission in the New World, as stated by John Winthrop, “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon

Franklin adapts the exceptionalism, yet with a rationalist view, arguing that “providence” is a “rational principle that controls the operation of the world” (Madsen 36). Basically, he employs this concept in order to explain a logical principle that controls the operation of the world based on his own belief. The notion of American exceptionalism drifted toward more secular ideals. Faculty of reason is one of the fundamental principles of the Enlightenment era. It is the lens to understand and grasp the universe because it is governed by reasonable principle. For Franklin, America is a revolutionary epitome of a new nation that is not impeded by the complexities of European history. America offers a golden opportunity for the establishment of a democratic society based on rational principles. Franklin leads off his autobiography with glorifying his ancestors as champions of freedom and religious dissenters. He inherited not only money but also the ideal land for freedom. This theme is evident in the description of his father since he received inherited privileges, as well as valuable virtues of industry, community spirit, and common sense. The autobiography describes Franklin’s life as “enacting the newly formed American myth of individual self-realization in a land of opportunity. It is in