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American Exceptionalism Research Paper

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The United States of America is a great and powerful nation. It is made up of a country of fifty states covering a large continent. The United State Armed Forces is the most powerful military force in the world, with 1,369,532 active servicemen, the largest navy including, its twelve aircraft carriers and the second largest stockpile of nuclear warheads. Its economy produces almost a quarter of the world's wealth. Citizens of the United States are among the most hard-working, affluent, and generous in the world. There is no debating the significance the United States has played on the global stage and as an international superpower. Almost every single American citizen believes that the United States is an exceptional power. The truth is, it …show more content…
Many Americans believe this labels the United States as destined for greatness and obligated play a distinctive as well as a positive role as a world actor. It is true that America has done some very outstanding unique and special feats in the past. America shocked the world when they defeated the British Empire in the Revolutionary War. The world was equally surprised when they realized the United States was there to stay. There was no single nation who could possibly fathom the idea that the United States would become the great power it is …show more content…
Additionally, some exceptionalism supporters believe that “God is on our side.” Confidence is definitely an important aspect for any country, but too much confidence could potentially be dangerous. When a state begins to believe “it enjoys a mandate of heaven and becomes convinced that it cannot fail or be led astray,” issues are bound to surface. Napoleonic France, Imperial Japan and many other nations have fallen victim to this type of belief, all with severe results. A great deal of America's prosperity is due to the geographic location of the nation. The United States was lucky, they had vast resources at their disposal, a large and unclaimed land mass to explore with many interconnecting rivers. More importantly, they were physically separated from Europe and European conflicts by a massive body of water, which allowed them to prosper without interruption. Despite America’s many successes, the nation is hardly removed from setbacks, failings and mistakes. America does have its own special qualities, all nations do, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is “a state deep in a very competitive global system.” American exceptionalism is fueled by nationalism, which inevitably highlights the nation’s virtues while also sugarcoating less savory aspects. If America really wants to be exceptional, it might be a good idea to look at political moves with more

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