American exceptionalism

American exceptionalism is the belief that the United States is distinctive, unique, or exemplary compared to other nations. Proponents argue that the values, political system, and historical development of the U.S. are unique in human history, often with the implication that it is both destined and entitled to play a distinct role on the world stage. The term was coined by German Marxists in the 1920s. Focusing on the abundant natural resources in the United States, it was intended as an explanation for why the United States was not experiencing the level of class conflict that existed in Europe. However, the idea of American exceptionalism dates back much further, to French political scientist and historian Alexis de Tocqueville's observations and writings on the United States, most notably in his comparison of the United States with the United Kingdom and his native France. De Tocqueville wrote about the United States as a uniquely free nation based on personal liberty and democratic ideals. Seymour Martin Lipset, a prominent American political scientist and sociologist, argues that the United States is exceptional in that it started from a revolutionary event. He therefore traces the origins of American exceptionalism to the American Revolution, from which the U.S. emerged as "the first new nation" with a distinct ideology, and having a unique mission to transform the world. This ideology, which Lipset calls "Americanism" but is often also referred to as "American exceptionalism", is based on liberty, individualism, republicanism, democracy, meritocracy, and laissez-faire economics; these principles are sometimes collectively referred to as "American exceptionalism". As a term in political science, American exceptionalism refers to the United States' status as a global outlier both in good and bad ways. Critics of the concept say that the idea of American exceptionalism suggests that the U.S. is better than other...