American Exceptionalism

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American Exceptionalism
Introduction
American exceptionalism refers to a concept that the US is exceptional or distinctive when compared with other nation’s historical development. Additionally, it is used to describe the special personality of the country based on the outstandingly free nation founded on the principles of personal liberty and democratic ideals (Dunn ed. 21). In most cases, this unique feature is inferred from the type of political institutions in the US created in the 1776-89 era, constitution (1787), revolt (1776-83), and independence declaration (1776). In this regard, the idea of American exceptionalism is generated from the development of American ideology founded on laissez-faire economics, democracy, republicanism, individualism, egalitarianism, and liberty (Restad 13). For this reason, the idea is interpreted to mean that the country has a particular position to transform the global politics. Subsequently, the Americans have established a feeling of their exceptional part of the continent and the world as well as their distinct sense of destiny (Toje 75).
The role of conception of Providence in American Exceptionalism
The conception of Providence is based on the faith of God’s divine intervention in the world, which was advanced by many American Puritan teachings. In 1630’s, the Puritans introduced an exceptional logic in America (Dunn ed. 22). They felt that they were establishing a disruption with the dishonesty of Europe and they considered themselves to be in a covenantal association with God; hence, assigned unique spiritual responsibility to lead other parts of the society.

It also describes the God’s distinct involvement in people’s lives (Restad 13). The held that God had established an agreement with their believers and had selected them to serve as an example to other nations across the globe. For instance, persons such as John Winthrop communicated the model of a “City upon a Hill.” In this regard, he argued that the Puritan community of America (New England) must act as the position model for the other parts of the world. The Puritan’s myths suggested that they had a unique part to develop an outstanding political and spiritual destiny in the society and church in the New World, which would be a prototype for the rest of the nations (Wilsey 101). Based on Winthrop’s statements, his colleagues were determined to develop a ‘city on a hill’ where future generation would seek for motivation on the way to live an outstanding life. They also had faith that they were selected by the deity to be honourable exemplars. For these reasons, they thought that Providence consecrated them. Consequently, the moralistic values of the Puritans played a significant part in the growth of national identity of the US for a long period. The effects of such moral values are evident in the current generation (Forsythe and McMahon 63).
Future generations have attempted to extend and develop this belief. For instance, they have alleged that the United States has a unique mission and destiny (Wilsey 101). Similarly, they believe that it is the only country developed with an ideal foundation. Therefore, it is unlike other countries in its fundamental values, and it thinks diversity to be a source of power and strength (Dunn ed. 24). Furthermore, the conception of Providence has forced people to believe that the US is superior to the rest of the world because it has best institutions and values, more religious, more democratic, and richer.
The conception of Providence also implies that the country is ordained by Almighty to establish better living conditions in the society (Restad 15). Therefore, this belief was part of inspiration and spirit to pursue a problem-solving culture. More importantly, later generations held that the United States was divinely blessed which meant that it was supposed to grow westwards and create the Providence’s blessings to the world (Toje 75). Therefore, Americans have always drawn the inspiration of developing a good society based on the beliefs that they destined by Almighty to do so. Studies have indicated that the phenomenal American spirit was founded by the conception of Providence, so it was divinely blessed to become the source of democracy and liberty across the globe. For instance, it has used the concept to justify various was such as Panama, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico annexation and Spanish America war (Dunn ed. 27). Precisely, President McKinley William asserted that God had instructed him to go to war with Spain to deliver these lands from Spanish domination and misrule. The American armies were motivated to fight in order to secure justice and liberty, happiness and peace, and law and order (Forsythe and McMahon 67).
The role of notion of manifest destiny in expressing notions of uniquely American progress
Manifest destiny refers a phrase that stated the conviction that the US had a duty to expand geographically in order to facilitate spreading of its type of freedom and democracy (Restad 17). Proponents of manifest destiny claimed that the expansion was a suitable idea because it was specific (destiny) and apparent (manifest). It also explained the US territorial expansion towards the Pacific Ocean and throughout North America (Moorhead 524). It was mainly used in the 1840s to encourage annexation of large pieces of lands, which is presently the Western states such as the Mexican Cession, the Texas Annexation, and the Oregon Territory. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the term is majorly utilized to represent the mission of the country to defend and promote democracy across the globe (Toje 75).
John O’Sullivan coined the term in 1845 when he wrote in the New York Morning News that the US had a God-given mandate to grow westwards (Moorhead 525). He used the phrase to urge the US government to conquer a continental country and spread constitutional administration to uneducated people. It became part of the United States foreign policy to compel nation building using democratic processes (Dunn ed. 33). According to O’Sullivan, Providence (God) had gifted the US with a duty to disseminate republican democracy across North America. He also thought the concept was a higher law (moral ideal) that surpassed other considerations (Forsythe and McMahon 67). Firstly, due to existing boundary conflicts in Oregon Country between the US and Great Britain, he suggested that the former had the audacity to occupy entire Oregon. In this respect, he argued that the entitlement to US manifest destiny to possess and spread the complete continent was God-given right in order to realize self-government and liberty (Restad 19). The idea was founded on rich American culture accompanied by religious belief, culture, and landscape transformations.
The manifest destiny was important in expressing the philosophies of unique American progress. For instance, it helped to convey the distinctive virtues of the Americans and the government institutions. It also advocated for the mission to distribute the institutions, hence remaking and redeeming the earth in the image of the United States (Wilsey 105). Finally, it emphasised the destiny of the Almighty to achieve this obligation. For instance, they held that God had assigned them the opportunity to establish the decisive government by separating Europe geographically from the US. It was understood that the American people identified the Constitution as the main worthy expression of rational governmental deliberations (Toje 77).
The idea of liberty contribution to the concept of American exceptionalism
The United States has outstanding national ideals, which emphasize on the concept of liberty (Forsythe and McMahon 70). The nation considered a beacon of freedom. All individuals are given the right to express their thought without being afraid of government punishment. The right to worship is guaranteed based on the prescription of human conscience (Dunn ed. 45). The country also prides itself right fair hearing and trial, rights against torture and opposes discrimination. These liberties demonstrate the uniqueness of this country.
The availability of liberties in the US has contributed to the rise in American exceptionalism. The country attempts to spread tenets of democracy in other parts of the world. The country also uses liberal democracy in order to help citizens realize their rights and freedoms especially in new democracies (Restad 19). Liberalism demands the rights of a person mainly right to fair distribution of resource, opportunity and right to own property. It also encourages freedom from indiscriminate authority, right to education, and freedom of religion. The special nature of American democracy is based on civil liberties (Toje 90). Therefore, the US seeks to encourage other nations to embrace liberal principles in order to achieve democracy since accountability, competition, and political participation are the pledges that individual liberties are protected.
Therefore, the US supports nations by encouraging free and fair elections in order to allow the minority groups in the society to enjoy their rights (Restad 21). Its foreign policy should also is geared towards protection of democracy by compelling regimes to defend individual liberties. Furthermore, by supporting the free and fair election, the electoral democracy assists citizens to remove dictatorial leaders consequently leading to democratization processes. Such cases have occurred in Burma, Chile, Haiti, and South Africa (Dunn ed. 55). The US believes it has the moral obligation to reinforce electoral democracy that can help to strengthen the evolving global norms that leaders must be answerable to their persons. It has also stepped up efforts to spread liberal principles prior to and after elections in different countries. Its foreign policy is design to progress liberalism in the developing countries (Toje 91). The majority of American believe democracy is an essential virtue hence the need to be advanced across the globe. People typically have a better quality of life when the virtues of democracy are protected (Wilsey 111).
How did Americans come to conceive of their country as an empire?
American conceives their nation as an empire of liberty. Thomas Jefferson initiated the theme with an intention to place a duty to the US in the spread of rights and freedom across the globe. In addition, he viewed the country’s mission in terms of being a model (Forsythe and McMahon 70). Similarly, it was aimed at the enlargement of its territories in the western parts of North America. Therefore, the US as an empire becomes a source inspiration in the expansion processes. It was also used to mean the process of disseminating freedom across the society. American leaders used it to spur encouragement during the World War II (1941), the World War I (1917), the Spanish-American War (1898), and cold war (1947) (Moorhead 526).
The term was first used by Jefferson in 1780 during the time of American Revolution. His primary objective was an empire determined to liberty, which could check the rise of the British Empire. Moreover, his vision was an “empire” that a stretched westward over the continent of America since he thought the future of the country was pegged in that expansion. The US was the first country to break away from the British Empire (Restad 32). In 1803, the US succeeded in the purchase of French Louisiana Territory. In this regard, it eliminated the barrier in its quests for the westward extension. The creation of Empire of Liberty was a huge chance of transformation in the improvement of liberty and freedom across the world. The American leaders were dedicated to using either interventions or expansion to pursue their goals (Dunn ed. 54). Therefore, the US started opposing totalitarianism and tyranny.
Consequently, in 1823, the country launched a foreign policy referred to as the Monroe Doctrine (Forsythe and McMahon 72). The doctrine stated that any attempt by European nations to interfere or colonize countries in the American continent would be interpreted to mean acts of violence, which would lead to the U.S intervention. The reasoning behind the Monroe Doctrine is to ensure that America was safe for its republicanism and liberty (Restad 34). Moreover, it was envisioned to prevent any more development of European territories in the New World. It was entreated against the occupation of France in Mexico in the 1860s. In the mid-19th century, the US utilized this doctrine to contain the spread of communism from countries such as Grenada, Nicaragua, and Cuba (Toje 99).
In the 1940s, the empire was also characterized by the Marshall Plan, which part of American economic management in the society. Due to slow financial recovery after the World War II in Europe, American economic principles were usually executed to guarantee the required growth (Wilsey 121). The US set up management schools in Europe to advance these values. Regarding culture, the empire has attempted to spread movies and music prepared by American artists in various global markets (Toje 103). The country has also use missionaries to propagate Christian values in diverse locations and cultures.
Conclusion
American exceptionalism refers to the uniqueness of the United States in terms of democratic principles and ideals of liberties (Moorhead 524). The country is distinctive when compared to the historical development of other nations. The idea of American exceptionalism can be traced from American Puritans who believed that God had chosen the country to be an exemplar of the rest of the world. For instance, Winthrop argued that God has offered distinctive duties to the country in order to lead other parts of the world (Dunn ed. 54). They envisioned a country whose responsibility will act like a “City on a Hill” and whose political structure and organization others will emulate. The Manifest Destiny by O’Sullivan explained that the US had God-given responsibility to spread its freedom and democratic values by expanding in the western region and rest of the globe (Toje 107). The idea of liberty in the country provided a chance for the US to initiate foreign policies that encouraged democratic principle and rights for the citizens. Finally, the empire of liberties was intended to recognize its part in dispersing freedoms across the globe.

Works cited
Dunn, Charles W., ed. American Exceptionalism: The Origins, History, and Future of the Nation’s Greatest Strength. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013.
Forsythe, David P., and Patrice C. McMahon. American exceptionalism reconsidered: US foreign policy, human rights, and world order. Taylor & Francis, 2016.
Moorhead, James H. “Between progress and apocalypse: A reassessment of millennialism in American religious thought, 1800-1880.” The Journal of American History 71.3 (1984): 524-542.
Restad, Hilde Eliassen. American Exceptionalism: An idea that made a nation and remade the world. Routledge, 2014.
Toje, Asle. “American exceptionalism: an idea that made a nation and remade the world. By Hilde Eliassen Restad.” (2015): 677-678.
Wilsey, John D. American exceptionalism and civil religion: Reassessing the history of an idea. InterVarsity Press, 2015.