American Exceptionalism In The United States

408 Words2 Pages
Americans have often believed that they were exceptional. American exceptionalism is the claim that Americans have “a moral purpose of acting altruistically in defense of freedom and democracy...with the aim of maintaining peace, of spreading justice or of defending human rights.” (New World Encyclopedia). They also believe that the United States must be a positive role model for the world. President Bush’s address that “America had gone out into the world to protect, not to possess, and to defend, not to conquer” is the same ideal of American Exceptionalism. His inaugural address is based on the idea that the United States cultivates peace, human rights, freedom, and liberty more so than any other country. In reality the United States