The Real Meaning of American Exceptionalism
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Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) -- In recent years, the term“American exceptionalism” has sometimes been an empty applauseline, a fancy way of shouting “USA! USA!” Vladimir Putinrecently went so far as to proclaim that “It is extremelydangerous to encourage people to see themselves asexceptional,” without bothering to investigate what Americanexceptionalism might entail.
As it happens, the term has become familiar only in thelast three decades, with explosive growth since 1985. But we canfind a version of the concept as early as 1787, and in aprominent place: the very first paragraph of “The Federalist,”in which Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay tried topersuade the nation to ratify the new Constitution.