The United States has always viewed itself as an exceptional nation. Throughout their history, the concept of American Exceptionalism has played a persistent role in American identity. What is it ? Where did it come from ? And is the United States today still exceptional ?
Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat, first coined the word exceptional in describing America during his travels of the United States in the 19th century. Tocqueville saw the recently formed United States as having a unique society, unique history and unique institutions compared to the countries of Europe. Similarly, Jefferson called America’s form of self-government a ‘peculiar ability of a peculiar people’, while President Monroe talked of America having the ‘most enlightened citizens’.
It was back in the 17th century that John Winthrop talked of the Massachusetts Bay colony as a ‘city upon a hill’ with ‘the eyes of all people upon us’ - imagery used by both Kennedy and Reagan, and generally reinforced by US Presidents throughout American history.
Even American communists in the 1920s argued that the Marxist view of the progression of history did not apply to the same extent in the US, because of American Exceptionalism. One thing these three views of American Exceptionalism, spanning over three centuries, shared was a claim that there was something unique and different about the United States.
Social scientists in the second half of the 20th century became increasingly interested in the ways in which the United States was objectively different to other countries - particularly in the context of why socialism had not taken root in the US during the Cold War. This often morphed into claims of American superiority, often used as justification for spreading American ideals throughout the world.
American Exceptionalism however is deeper than just claims of American difference, or American superiority. It is absolutely fundamental to American identity.
Unlike most other ideas of national identity, which may be defined by a common heritage or ethnicity, American identity is defined politically. This is predominately because the United States was created by choice, rather than geography or history. Consequentially, anyone, in theory, can become an American. But moving to America is not enough to become an American - you must embrace American Exceptionalism. It isn’t loyalty to the American nation, or the American people that defines their patriotism, but instead to American values. Principles such as freedom, democracy, individualism, egalitarianism and many others are all central to American identity. The rhetoric of Bush in the days, months and years after 9/11 is exemplary American Exceptionalism in action.
Rather than framing 9/11 as an attack against the American people, or a reaction to US foreign policy, Bush appealed to the values of the United States encapsulated by a belief in American Exceptionalism. On the evening of September 11th, President Bush proclaimed that the reason America was attacked was because it provided ‘the brightest beacon of freedom and opportunity in the world’. Ten days later, he said at the State of the Union:
“Americans are asking, why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this chamber - a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms - our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.”
Similarly, on America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003, Bush often framed the conflict as American troops liberating the Iraqi citizens from the evil tyrant Saddam Hussein, who brought terror to his own people, and threatened the world.
Obama also often embraced the concept. His 2004 speech to the DNC emphasised the uniqueness of America proven by his own amazing story of success. Four years later, on the night he won the Presidency, Obama exclaimed:
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”
In his second inaugural speech in 2013, Obama made the claim of American Exceptionalism directly:
“What binds this nation together is not the colour of our skin, the tenants of our faith, or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional - What makes us American - Is an allegiance to an idea articulated in a Declaration made over 200 years ago. We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal… with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.”
Both Bush, Obama, and many Presidents before them, Republican and Democrat, have leant heavily on this notion of American identity as loyalty to values and principles. Donald Trump is different.
Trump is an exception to American Exceptionalism. He stated in 2015 that he didn’t like the term arguing that not only did the evidence not support the idea that America was exceptional, but that it also displayed America’s arrogance towards other countries. Trump’s view is that American Exceptionalism is an objective claim.
For American Exceptionalism to be true therefore, the United States must be the greatest country in the world. For Trump, America would become exceptional again by regaining what it
had lost to the rest of the world, and acclaiming more wealth and power. His campaign was therefore centred on the claim that he would make America exceptional again.
Trump’s Exceptionalism isn’t about values, but superiority. This is perfectly captured by his America First policy.
But American Exceptionalism is not American nationalism. In fact, Exceptionalism is a rejection of the kind of nationalism which Trump invokes. He threatens to upend this central tenant of American identity by redefining it as American Nationalism.
Yet, America only remains exceptional as long as Americans believe it to be so. It is a myth which has consumed the American people throughout their history… The particular nature of the United States. A country created by choice. By freedom loving men. To provide a beacon of light to the world.
If Trump succeeds in redefining American Exceptionalism, America will become unexceptional.
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