Examples Of American Rationalism
In 1630, John Winthrop famously pleaded with the puritans to consider “that we shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people upon us” (John Winthrop, 1630). This was the birthplace of an idea for a nation that would develop, and be observed by many as creating its own ideology. It provoked the creation of attitudes and morals in the resulting United States, which would become known as ‘American Exceptionalism’, a nation viewing itself as above and more superior than any other nation. Exceptionalists see Winthrop’s words as a narrative about the US being founded as some sort of ‘Promised Land’: a new type of republic encompassing ‘a popular form of government to empower individuals and enable them to improve their lives’ (Tomes, p.30,
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This ideological formula based on liberalism, individualism and egalitarianism manifested itself in the ideal of ‘the American Dream’. The idea behind America, its ‘Dream’ and perceived ‘Exceptionalism’ will help reinforce what we mean by ‘Beacon’. In addition to ideology and moral superiority, has the United States been a beacon in the past? Looking at ideology and political makeup, foreign policy and military prowess, economic power and the nature of its society. Is the United States still a beacon today given the same factors? Or does it behave like a normal country motivated by normal interests now? Finally is the US more than just the sum of its parts? Is the idea more than the …show more content…
America has no experience with European feudalism and is instead focused on hardship and strife in creating a new nation. ‘The situation of the Americans is therefore entirely exceptional, and it is to be believed that no other democratic people will ever be placed in it’ (de Tocqueville, p.420, 2000). The US, ‘unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the declaration of independence and consolidated in the constitution’ making it unique in its formation (Cullen, 2004). These ideals harbour liberalism, individualism, and egalitarianism as their blueprint in a secular society. The idea of American exceptionalism is essentially what makes it a theoretical beacon to the free world. It is the exceptional example, set for the rest to follow. This idea of an exceptional America is perhaps less proudly or arrogantly presented in front of the rest of the free world of late. “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism” (Obama, Strasbourg, 2009). Here we might infer that the US’s approach to exceptionalism is changing. Obama clearly makes the US appear not to be above and beyond fellow nations in the ‘Free
This ideological formula based on liberalism, individualism and egalitarianism manifested itself in the ideal of ‘the American Dream’. The idea behind America, its ‘Dream’ and perceived ‘Exceptionalism’ will help reinforce what we mean by ‘Beacon’. In addition to ideology and moral superiority, has the United States been a beacon in the past? Looking at ideology and political makeup, foreign policy and military prowess, economic power and the nature of its society. Is the United States still a beacon today given the same factors? Or does it behave like a normal country motivated by normal interests now? Finally is the US more than just the sum of its parts? Is the idea more than the …show more content…
America has no experience with European feudalism and is instead focused on hardship and strife in creating a new nation. ‘The situation of the Americans is therefore entirely exceptional, and it is to be believed that no other democratic people will ever be placed in it’ (de Tocqueville, p.420, 2000). The US, ‘unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the declaration of independence and consolidated in the constitution’ making it unique in its formation (Cullen, 2004). These ideals harbour liberalism, individualism, and egalitarianism as their blueprint in a secular society. The idea of American exceptionalism is essentially what makes it a theoretical beacon to the free world. It is the exceptional example, set for the rest to follow. This idea of an exceptional America is perhaps less proudly or arrogantly presented in front of the rest of the free world of late. “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism” (Obama, Strasbourg, 2009). Here we might infer that the US’s approach to exceptionalism is changing. Obama clearly makes the US appear not to be above and beyond fellow nations in the ‘Free