Americans through the years of existence have adapted well to the radical changes throughout the world. Technology, independence and social equality are some of the diverse concepts the United States have adapted to and developed in order to become a more unified country. Our nation believes that it is exceptional when it comes to other countries worldwide. As can be shown through the popular reference to America as the ‘shining city on a hill’. The term “American exceptionalism” is derived from ideals held by many Americans throughout history. Different people have analyzed American exceptionalism through multiple literary devices. Works such as A Model of Christian Charity, What is an American and Acres of Diamonds illustrate the sentiment that America is incomparable to any other country through different approaches. On the contrary, Democracy in America and How the Other Half Lives are two documents that argue against this theory through harsh yet meaningful remarks. Since the time of European settlement, Americans have seen themselves as the epitome of the perfect civilization. The works of Winthrop, Crevecoeur and Conwell can support this concept. John Winthrop emphasizes the importance of America maintaining moral values because of their standing as this perfect society in his piece, A Model of Christian Charity, “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us” (Winthrop, 20). The belief that Americans are so important that everyone else is analyzing their actions supports the idea of American exceptionalism. By stressing the connection of morality to this high standing, Winthrop indicates that exceptionalism is conditional. In order for America to keep its place on the... ... middle of paper ... ... of the outstanding country. As for other authors, the thought of America classifying itself as exceptional is shameful by the way the country actually functions. These different people have analyzed American exceptionalism through multiple literary devices all through history. Works Cited Winthrop, John. "A Model of Christian Charity." Five Hundred Years. Casper and Daviess. 1630. Crevecoeur, Hector St. John de. "What is an American." Five Hundred Years. Casper and Daviess. 1782. Conwell, Russell H.. "Acres of Diamonds." Five Hundred Years. Casper and Daviess. 1862. Tocqueville, Alexis de. "Democracy in America." Five Hundred Years. Casper and Daviess. 1835. Riis, Jacob. "How the Other Half Lives." Five Hundred Years. Casper and Daviess. 1890. Ferguson, Andrew. "Are Americans Closet Statists?." Weekly Standard, 09 Aug 2010. Web. 7 Dec 2010.
Dinesh D’Souza constructs an argument in his essay “What’s so great about America” that is convincing to the average reader. His essay was published 15 years ago and American culture has seen some changes since then. However, nothing that he mentions specifically in the essay has changed drastically. His extrinsic ethos is strong because he is from India and the audience may perceive that he can compare his knowledge of living elsewhere to an immigrant’s knowledge. This view of looking at America from an outsider’s point of view and how others view living in America is essential in D’Souza’s fundamental argument. He compares living in America to living in other less developed countries and appeals to the common citizen in his style, logic, and development of his essay. His arguments are sound and he convinces the average citizen that America is the best place to live, although his lack of facts and statistics to back up his statements could be seen as a weakness.
Dubbed as “The Greatest Country in the World” by god knows who, America is not as awesome and free as some may see. In doing a close reading of Heather Christle’s “Five Poems for America”, we can see how the author uses metaphors to portray a flawed American, specifically within its political system, religion, obsession with technology and basic human rights. Americans have been living with the oppression of these everyday issues, completely oblivious thus creating the America we infamously know today.
Morison, Samuel E. The Oxford History of the American People, vol 1. New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1994.
Tindall, George, and David Shi. America: A Narrative History. Ed. 9, Vol. 1. New York: WW. Norton & Company, 2013. 185,193. Print.
Thus, Bierce satirizes American culture and the popular beliefs of destiny and natural superiority associated with his time. American history is shown to be nothing more than a deaf and mute child roaming in the wilderness playing war games. The arrogant notion of superiority is described as feeble and ultimately destructive. Bierce calls upon Americans to view themselves with a kind of humility toward the natural world and its it place inside of it; no longer should Americans see themselves as privileged, instead, they should become humbled.
As an American observes the life around him, noting the many advancements made in merely the last century, he must wonder how America climbed to such a level. The 21st century technology, the military and political power, education and ethics, all came from such meager beginnings, solidified by the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War proved to be a significant turning point in the history of our country, but what caused America to win? What were some of the most significant factors in the victory of these American patriots? By examining these three particular factors, America’s military assets, it’s aid from other countries, and its own spirit of independence, one’s understanding of the Revolutionary War, an essential root of this nation, is truly increased.
Michel-Guillaume-Jean de Crevecoeur was a French born citizen who moved to New York and became a naturalized citizen of Great Britain. After living in America as a citizen for a while, Crevecoeur decided to write an essay titled “Letters from an American Farmer”. During this time, tensions in America between the colonists and loyalists were increasing, and because of this the idea of America as a sovereign nation and territory was becoming popular. Crevecoeur wrote this essay in order to discuss what it means to be an American, and why people should be honored to be called an American. Crevecoeur believes that America is a melting pot of the world, and is full of opportunities for anyone who lives there. In order to back up his claim, Crevecoeur uses rhetorical devices, especially pathos, while he does also use ethos and logos as well.
After a close analysis of “America” by Tony Hoagland, the poem warns and points out the problems with our consumerism. Hoagland uses metaphors and imagery to describe the actions of American, while throwing in counteracting themes. And uses thoughts and dreams to bring in metaphors that complex the poem.
The United States has a unique character shaped by its history and culture that sets it apart from any other nation in the world. America’s character is incomparable to other nations because it is shaped by the ideals of freedom, social mobility through hard work and the opportunity of achievement and success. There are many defining moments in America history that represent American Character.
In 2013, Charles Murray, an American political scientist, published his work, American Exceptionalism. In this 50 page treatise, Murray argues for an exceptional America countering the more prominent modernist views that America never was, and therefore is not, exceptional. Both sides of the debate are presented in this book, so that one can ascertain whether or not America was exceptional, despite Mr. Murray’s obvious slant to the former. What are Murray’s arguments for American exceptionalism, was America exceptional, and is America still exceptional today?
Following the American Revolution, Americans faced an intellectual crisis. For although, as a nation, America was now separated from England and Europe not only by an entire ocean, but also politically, America had failed to declare a sort of cultural independence from Europe. That is, until the ideas and writings of Ralph Waldo Emmerson. In his writings, he advocated the creation of new knowledge, creating less of a reliance on the ideas of the past, and also advocated ideas on the importance of personal identity in spite of society. This idea on individuality was elaborated on in his work “Self-Reliance”, which expresses the idea that the only true good a person can do, is the good that is within their constitution and that society attempts to erode the individuality of its members. In opposition to this idea, Kenneth Harris seeks to analyze the dissonance between the idealism of Emmerson, with the unidealistic self-interestedness of the term and philosophy itself.
Tindall, George B., and David E. Shi. America: A Narrative History. 7th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 2007.
American exceptionalism is a term suggesting that America was the best or superior; it was a term saying that it was different than any other place. Winthrop talks about the city upon the hill, which suggests America being a model or setting an example for other countries. We were supposed to be a beacon of liberty and freedom. During the founding of America, America was different than any other place. At its founding America was exceptional because it was different in the way people interacted with each other, different in the way the government worked, and different in its aspirations. The ideology of America has changed making it where America is no longer exceptional.
For years, America has always been perceived as one of the top world powers due to its ability of achieving so much technological, economical, and social progress within a mere couple decades. Despite their great accomplishments, America is actually regressing psychologically, preventing the country from reaching its true potential as an “opportunity rich” country. In Anthony Burgess’ Is America Falling Apart? , the author unveils the circumstances in which America’s restricting society and selfish ideology cause the nation to develop into the type of society it tried to avoid becoming when it separated from the British Empire.
American exceptionalism is a belief that the United States is different from other nations around the world and as such superior; the term was coined by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831, yet the philosophy of American superiority can be traced all the way back to the days before the United States was even an idea. They saw their new culture as “A city upon a hill” and sought to achieve moral and spiritual perfection. With this moral superiority the colonists, later Americans, saw a duty presented upon them by God and nature to instill such superior values into other cultures and the world. One such example can be clearly seen in the work of St. John de Crèvecoeur in Letters from an American Farmer where the narrator “Farmer James” states his belief