American exceptionalism is the belief that the US is unique and occupies a special position in history and the world. It has various origins, including Puritanism and the environment. Some proponents suggest genetics, while opponents argue it is a myth that fuels americentrism and a belief in US superiority.
The term “American exceptionalism” is used to describe the belief that the United States occupies a special position in history and on the global stage by virtue of some characteristics deemed unique to the United States. This belief has undergone a number of incarnations since it developed in the 1800s, and there are both proponents and critics of American exceptionalism. Because it plays a role in political thought in the United States, understanding the uniqueness and roots behind the idea is important for people interested in history and politics.
This concept seems to have been first proposed by Alexis de Tocqueville in his work Democracy in America. Tocqueville pointed to the United States as a very successful emerging representative democracy and suggested that the relatively new nation needed to have some outstanding characteristics to be successful.
Several theories have been put forward to explain American exceptionalism. One theory, based on the United States’ Puritan origins, suggests that early settlers’ religious faith and commitment may be involved. Another theory is that the unique environment of the United States is the cause. The nation’s size and relatively wild nature of the environment are credited with rewarding innovation, determination, and courage, all said to be important components of American exceptionalism.
At various times in history, people have also suggested that exceptionalism has its origins in genetics. Many of these theories had a distinct whiff of eugenics, suggesting that the United States thrived and was so successful from the start because it reflected a blend of Europe’s best races. Others have pointed to the US “melting pot” environment to argue just the opposite, that the US thrives on its racial and ethnic diversity.
Proponents of American exceptionalism may ignore the fact that the early origins of the United States parallel those of many former colonies. Manifest Destiny, the sense that the nation is meant and allowed to expand, is sometimes portrayed as a uniquely American phenomenon when, in fact, many European nations have exhibited similar attitudes when colonizing other regions of the world. Likewise, many other nations are racially diverse, were founded by religious groups, have different or challenging environments, and have risen up to establish democracies.
Opponents sometimes describe American exceptionalism as a myth and argue that it contributes to americentrism and the belief that the United States is above the law. These critics believe that the concept of exceptionalism fuels a belief that the United States is uniquely qualified to arbitrate global conflicts or that people in the United States are superior to those elsewhere.
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