American Exceptionalism
...ited States of America was the most advanced nation and our socialist revolution has not and will not occur. It is believed that this is a result of our lack of class-consciousness. Exceptionalism applies to this matter in that it can explain the lack of classes through individualism, inalienable rights, and competition. (Levy) “What then is an American, this new Man? “ - Crevecoeur Europeans visiting the United States saw Americans most certainly as a new species of people. There the equality of man was not questioned by philosophers, but put into practice and accepted as an everyday fact. There was simplicity of manner and “men of principle”. Visitors could see easy laughter and the absence of prudery in the new nation. These were the type of men who had actually raised their muskets to the authority and resisted their control in order to create this forever different country. (Bowen) True-blooded Americans have been characterized by their patriotism and endless support of the government and nation. They protect American ideals and the American way. These men help exceptionalism live on. In 1854 a party was formed in efforts to protect America from the invasion of foreigners who were attempting to step in with government procedures. They called themselves the American Party, but were better known as the Know-Nothings. This phrase was coined due to their response to secret activities; “I know nothing”. This political group was very anti-immigration. (Beals) “In 1882, Congress slammed the door on Chinese immigration for ten years by passing the Chinese Exclusion Act. This act banned entry to all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and government officials. In 1892 Congress extended the law for another ten years. In 1902, Chinese immigration was prohibited indefinitely; the law was not repealed until 1943.” (Danzer) Growing numbers of immigrants in the United States yielded a rise in nativism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Most of this aggression towards foreigners was based on fear. When the economy turns sour, hostility towards minorities heightened, as was the case with the Chinese during the depression of 1873. As a result the United States passed a series of laws known as the “Chinese exclusion acts”. These laws were unconstitutional, but seen as protecting the american way of life. It demonstrated efforts towards protecting our our nation’s uniqueness and domination over this minority group. (Perea) “"It pleased God to visit these Indians with a great sickness and such a mortality that of a thousand, above nine and a half hundred of them died, and many of them did rot above the ground for want of burial." All followers of the Lord could only give thanks to "the marvelous goodness and providence of God," Bradford concluded. It was a refrain that soon would be heard throughout the land. After all, prior to the Europeans' arrival, the New World had been but "a hideous and desolate wilderness," Bradford said elsewhere, a land "full of wild beasts and wild men." In killing the Indians in massive numbers, then, the English were only doing their sacred duty, working hand in hand with the God who was protecting them.” (Stannard) Americans felt and believed from the very beginning that it was their duty to be something important in the New World. They took the incentive to take over the land once inhabited by natives only for the better of the new beginnings. They conceptualized the American ideals and set down the path towards America’s special destiny. This corruption of the natives can be seen in current films such as Little Big Man. It shows the means by which the Indians were removed in order to make way for Americans. As stated before, removing them was our business as we were meant to be there in order to become the great nation the United States of America has become. The Native Americans were not what was characterized “American” and thus were stunting the growth of the developing region. This fate allowed Americans to find a way to undermine slavery. They saw it as a necessary procedure in maintaining the nation and found their justification in the Bible. In the Cain and Abel story, after Cain murdered his brother his skin was marked so that he would not be killed and could be accordingly punished by God. African-Americans were thought to be descendants of the evil, darker skinned Cain. Africans were inferior and therefore could be used to help fulfill the American prophecy. This bitterness of slavery can be exemplified in Amistad. The fight for Texan independence displays the necessary expansion of America. Citizens that had gone to settle in Texas past the Mexican border fought for self government at the Alamo and Goliad when the Mexican government became unstable. Mexico refused to acknowledge Texas as an independent nation until later. The United States annexed the new LOne Star Republic, incorporating it as part of the country. On December 29, 1845 it became the 28th state in the Union. A map of the War for Texas Independence ( 1835-1836) accurately displays the struggle against the Mexicans in order to gain for America. The Treaty of Paris, signed on August 12 1898, ended the Spanish-American-Cuban War. Its results were as follows; Cuba would become independent, Spain would give Pyuerto Rico and Guam to the US, and we in turn would pay Spain 20 million for the annexation of the Philippine islands. This touch of imperialism spurs off of american exceptionalism. The United States has a destiny that sometimes involves reigning over other peoples. If it is part of our special fate, it will happen. Mckinley commented on the issue that there “was nothing left for us to do but take them all [the Philippine Islands]”. He stated that we would educate th...