Where Form 8815 Int 2023-2024

American exceptionalism is an ideology that holds the United States as unique among nations, whether in positive or negative connotations, based on its ideas of democracy and personal freedom. However, the concept lacks a formal definition, although there are common themes associated with it. One theme is the view of the United States' history as different from other nations. According to political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset, American exceptionalism stems from the American Revolution, making it the first new nation and leading to the development of the American ideology of Americanism, which is based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, democracy, and fair economics. This ideology itself is often referred to as American exceptionalism. Another theme is the belief that the United States has a unique mission to transform the world. This idea was echoed by Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address in 1863, where he stated that Americans have a duty to ensure government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. A third theme is the sense of superiority that the United States has over other nations, due to its history and mission. The theory of American exceptionalism has developed over time and has been influenced by various sources. French political scientist and historian Alexis de Tocqueville was the first to describe the country as exceptional in 1831 and 1840. The phrase "American exceptionalism" itself was originally coined by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin as a critique of a revisionist faction of American communists who argued that the American political climate was unique and an exception to certain elements of Marxist theory. US President Ronald Reagan is often credited with crystallizing this ideology in recent decades. However, in the 21st century, American exceptionalism has come under attack from the postmodern left as a reactionary myth. Critics argue...