American exceptionalism
American exceptionalism is the belief that
the US is unique and special
the US has a unique mission to transform the world
the US is superior to other nations because of its unique history and mission
Unique nation
The US started from the American Revolutionary War. Martin Lipset calls it the "first new nation". It developed an American set of ideas (Americanism) based on republicanism, democracy, laissez-faire (no government interference in economy), liberty, equality, individualism (importance of individual).
Unique mission
Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg address (1863), that Americans have a responsibility to make sure that the "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Related pages
American decline
American imperialism
Americanism (ideology)
Americanization
Americentrism
Anti-Americanism
Juche (nationalist North Korean state ideology)
Sonderweg (German exceptionalism)
Yamato-damashii (Japanese spirit)
Nihonjinron (Japanese uniqueness)
References
Ethnocentrism
American culture