American Exceptionalism A Contextual History And Modern...

American Exceptionalism: A Contextual History and Modern Critique The ideals of American Exceptionalism have been on display and ever-changing since the United States became a country. American Exceptionalism, is a historical attitude differentiating both the American regime and its citizens from the rest of the world. Historically, the difference also implies being better; this can be exemplified by much of what we regard as patriotism. In 1764, amongst a brewing revolution, John Adams formulates a critique of the connection between canon and feudal law, or church and state, which had long been in cahoots to oppress common people (CITE). Thus, America would be a nation to offer freedom of religion which was almost unheard of; therefore†¦show more content†¦The societal balance of these two groups lead to a distrust in a consolidated power thus like Adams, Americans wanted separation of powers as well as checks and balances, in order to contain man’s sinful nature, which is especially prominent when put in a position of power. Amer ica is both a constrained and unconstrained society, if we impose the values and ideologies outlined in A Conflict of Visions to a societal body (CITE). By this I mean that the constitutional values outlined by the framers gave future politicians some wiggle room to govern, in the necessary and proper clause, but also outlined a system to separate powers as well as establish checks and balances, thus the framers constrained their own governmental power in order to avoid tyranny; however, the creation of a consolidated power was to avoid anarchy a balanced recognized by the Newtonian ideals related to politics. This was a unique system created to balance the illustrated problems, which highlighted the discrepancy Madisonian and Hamiltonian views that we know recognize as a living document versus original intent. In that way the combination of constrained and unconstrained visions of America, has facilitated for the concept of American Exceptionalism, we are unique in how we determine d ourselves and how we continue to do so. In the 19th century, amidst population growth too big for the original states, we looked toward the western frontier toward expansion. We now recognize that expansionShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesBrier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M