Preview

American Exceptionalism In American History

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
612 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
American Exceptionalism In American History
After learning American history, which acknowledged me a lot of the interesting things, I understand how wonderful the U.S it is. The best thing I see that the American characters such as diverse ethnicities and religions, independence and freedom, liberty and equality,… which shaped by the powerful union for the better the lives of all immigrants. Therefore, I realize the history that helps me wisely how to fit into the American society like an immigrant.
The notion American Exceptionalism is an abstract theory about the belief of American. By comparing with other nations, American believed that they have the unique characters which contributed distinct national features from other countries. American historians said that “Its uniqueness is explained by any or all of a variety of reasons: history, size, geography, political institutions, and culture.” The word “exception” has two opposite meanings, one is a rare instance, ususual, the other hand one is unusually
…show more content…
A new world, America land, provided the conditions and environment that allowed the American Revolution to occur. The American history passed through two times Civil War, the first one is to gain the right to own the slaves and territories and the second Civil war is the right for racial equality. The proceess to freedom of the African American is the most typical movement for Civil Right. In the World War II, million black soldiers were joint up and these soldiers were the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. The Blacks had a lower status than Whites in society in the past centuries, that would have taken place to occur the present if they didn’t fight for justice. At the end, in 1963, they really did win in the Civil Right that arranged the new society with the equality and justice in American

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    How would you characterize the relationship between William Byrd and Lucy Parke Byrd? If Lucy had diary, how do you think she might have characterized the same events? The relationship William Byrd and Lucy Parke Byrd was quite different than most marriages in the old Virginia days. Lucy Parke was rather knowledgeable than most women her age, while she grew up educated. Lucy Parke caught the attention of William Byrd, by the grants her family had inherited but also from her beauty. William Byrd consumed a weakness for feminine women. He often was unfaithful to Lucy Parke. In William Byrd diary he says,” I kissed Mrs. Chiswell and kissed her on the bed till she was angry and my wife also was uneasy about it, and cried as soon as the company was gone.” Another incident occurred, in which Lucy’s anger and jealousy may have gotten the best of her. For example, “In the evening my and little jenny had a great quarrel in which my wife got the worst but at last by the help of the family Jenny was overcome and soundly whipped. Jenny is also known as “a mistress.” William Byrd cared for Lucy Parke’s health and well-being. William often prayed for Lucy Parke during her very sick days while dealing with a miscarriage. William was saddened for the pain his wife was dealing with. In his diary he mentions, “Wife grew very ill which made me weep for her.” The characterization of this relationship was uneasy, wealthy and troubling at times. Through the marriage was primarily based on the wealth of William Byrd owning slaves and land. In my conclusion I sense that Byrd had slight compassion for Lucy and primarily saw her as an “object” to him. Lucy Parke in my opinion would have characterized it in a more perturbed way. She had a rough time dealing with her miscarriages. Lucy Parke would have expressed her personal life with more detail on how she felt about William,…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The author begins with famous quote lines as a clear example of “American exceptionalism” and the idealistic descriptions of the United States, especially over the last two centuries. As the author notes how American exceptionalism is similar to other nations that claimed exceptionalism as well. He clears out there are no differences between them when it comes to their self-assertion conduct, many which resulted in a righteous attitude that leads them to think they are positive role models to the world. A believe that makes the Americans with their privileges and unique qualities to think they are superior than others, when in fact they are no less different.…

    • 605 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Apush Reconsturctoin Dbq

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The United States Civil War was one of America’s darkest hours of nationhood, but resulted in new rights and liberties for African Americans and revolutionized the United States for the better. The war resulted in the freedom of black slaves, and called for a complex reunification procedure to rejoin the depleted South and the high spirited North. Constitutional and social developments during the Civil War and the Reconstruction period created a sense of hope and promise for African Americans, but with these new possibilities came much resistance and struggle.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    POL 201 Week 1 Quiz

    • 651 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The answer can be found in the section “The Social Contract and “Core American Values.”…

    • 651 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    (pg. 11 in AE) The definition of American Exceptionalism is in no way explained in Morgan’s article. The English colonists of Jamestown had no concept of what it meant to be American yet. Most of the men who stepped foot on what would become Jamestown faced their coastal frontier with little training, preparation, or skills to survive. These were not the “rugged individuals” that would build a nation. It even says in American Exceptionalism that such people tended to be courageous, honest, incredibly hardworking, and to belong to close-knit families. These qualities are the complete opposite of the characteristics the settlers of Jamestown possessed. Even though these settlers were not the “rugged individuals” that America needed, the ones who would build the nation would soon come. Jamestown was almost an experiment. While Jamestown was separated by the Atlantic from the two world powers, England and Spain, the settlers chose an area with a more powerful native government that existed anywhere else on the Atlantic coast. So, they still weren’t free to make their own government decisions. They had no authority over their own choices yet because the Indians controlled them. Because of the colonists’ lack of power, ability to make their own decisions, and qualities to build a nation the Jamestown settlers did not display any signs of exceptionalism. Although Jamestown is a major part of American history, Morgan doesn’t mention any aspect of American Exceptionalism in his article, The Labor Problem at Jamestown.…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    American Revolution Dbq

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page

    The American Revolution was not revolutionary for lower classes, African Americans, Native Americans, and women. After the Revolution developed the idea of equality for all, the social order of America was compromised, but ultimately, the people in these minorities were not revolutionized. Following the war, the lower class did not rise to power and they continued to be uninvolved in politics. Another problem post-war was abolition of slavery and the biggest obstacle for it was the fact that many people understood that slavery allowed white men their freedom. Even though the war between the Americans and the British did not cease slavery for African Americans, steps were taken to emancipate slaves, as well as slaves publishing ‘freedom petitions’.…

    • 240 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Apush Slavery Dbq

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages

    From 1775 to 1830, the United States gained their independence and began their formation of a new country. During this period, the ideas of the Revolutionary War had an influence on the African Americans. A number of African Americans were freed but the institution of slavery spread due to social and economic reasons. Both the free African Americans and enslaved confronted and endure the challenges they faced as they fought for rights and equality.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When Historians understate the faults of columbus, rather than condemn him, he is given praise for his discovery of America. I agree with the author for saying that “... but an ideological choice. It serves- unwittingly-to justify what was done”, because instead of giving all the facts of what really happened, historians give the facts that serve the common interest of the people.…

    • 63 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Understanding the meaning of American exceptionalism is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand what it has meant to be an American." (Charles Murray) American exceptionalism is the idea that the United States is exceptionally different then other countries in qualitative ways. This theory can be traced to writer Alexis de Tocqueville who was the first to state that America is 'exceptional. ' Many historical figures have used this term in speeches, writing, etc. A popular saying that demonstrates American exceptionalism is "city upon a hill" which was stated by John F. Kennedy. There are two sides to this concept: those who agree and those who disagree. Where does this idea of being genuinely different play a role in the controversial issue of intervening in Syria?…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The world is full of rich culture, diversity and experiences unique to each individual. When determining the validity of historic accounts we must factor in that particular historian’s point of view, which should be characterized by ethnicity, idealogy, theoretical or methodological preference. With these factors views of the past often vary from person to person. In this essay I will be discussing the four different stages that shaped the writing of American history over the last 400 years.…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In 2009, at a press conference in northern France, President Barrack Obama responded to a question concerning American exceptionalism replying, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism”, neglecting to mention the historical aspect of this question. He later elaborated in his response, which eliminated the majority of the criticism surrounding his statement; however some continued to persist with their criticism, objecting to his comparison between America’s exceptionalism and others countries. Among the members of the public who disapproved of the former president’s statement was Charles Murray, author of American Exceptionalism.…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Mission

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Issue one from the McKenna text presents two divergent political philosophies from Humanities professor Wilfred M. McClay and Historian Howard Zinn regarding the concept of American exceptionalism. McClay and Zinn provide convincing arguments as they support their contrasting viewpoints with key examples from American history on the question, “Should Americans believe in a unique American mission?” On one hand, McClay offers a belief in the unique American “mission” as interconnecting with our Founding Fathers through divine providentialism. On the other hand, Zinn rejects this notion asserting that restraint from the mythical belief of American exceptionalism will suppress combative desires.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Place For Refugees Now

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Our history's timeline up to today's time is a huge part of what makes the American identity what it is today. After our class spent about a month of learning and discussing how in the past the American identity was a safe place for refugees to come and live. Refugees today are still trying to escape from their homes to come live in America. They are coming to America to have freedom, to accomplish their goals, and to overall have a better life.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Types Of Family Values

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Exceptionalism - that America is a land of limitless opportunities and, as such, has a duty to act as an example to other countries.…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Early America experienced discrimination, slavery, segregation, and racism. In addition, individual rights are not equal and same for everyone. When American Anti-Slavery and Civil Rights timeline is analyzed, one can say that everything started with the slave trade. White people brought millions of black Africans to America in order to make them work as slaves. They worked in the gold mines and did the hardest works. As the time passed, slavery started to be regarded as a legal institution. Slave trade expanded in time. While in some parts of America slavery was protested, some parts continued to legalize it.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays