• A simple explanation with examples of what is American Exceptionalism. It could help you understand why USA behaves the way it does. 

American Exceptionalism is the belief that the United States is a special and unique country. People who believe in this idea think that America has a special role to play in the world. They believe America is different from other countries because of its history, its political system, and its values like freedom, democracy, and human rights.

This idea began a long time ago. In the 19th century, many Americans believed that their country was chosen to lead the world in promoting liberty and justice. They thought America should be an example to other nations. This belief continued into the 20th and 21st centuries. It has shaped how the United States acts in world affairs.

American Exceptionalism means that America often sees itself not just as one country among many, but as a leader.

Some Americans feel that their country has the right or duty to act differently from other countries. For example, while many nations may follow international rules or organizations, people who believe in American Exceptionalism may say that the U.S. does not always need to follow those rules if they do not serve American interests.

This belief can be seen in how American leaders make decisions. President Donald Trump, during his term in office, often spoke and acted in ways that showed he believed in American Exceptionalism.

Here are two examples of President Trump’s decisions that illustrate this idea:

1. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

In 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would leave the Paris Climate Agreement. This was a worldwide agreement where almost all countries promised to work together to fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions. The goal was to protect the planet for future generations.

President Trump said the agreement was unfair to the United States. He believed it hurt American businesses and workers. He said other countries were not doing enough, and that the U.S. was being asked to do too much. Trump said, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

This decision shows American Exceptionalism because Trump believed that America should not follow the same rules as other countries if it was not in its best interest. He wanted the U.S. to decide for itself what was fair and what was good for its people, even if the rest of the world disagreed.

2. "America First" Foreign Policy

Another example is Trump’s "America First" policy. This was the main idea behind his foreign policy. It meant that Trump would always put the needs of the United States before the needs of other countries. He often criticized international organizations like the United Nations and NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), saying that other countries were not paying their fair share and that the U.S. was doing too much for others.

He also raised tariffs (taxes on goods from other countries) to protect American industries. He said he wanted to bring jobs back to the U.S. and stop relying so much on other countries, especially China.

This approach shows American Exceptionalism because Trump believed that the U.S. had the right to act alone if needed. He did not want America to be tied down by global rules or alliances that he felt were not helping Americans.

Conclusion

American Exceptionalism is the belief that the United States is special and has a unique mission in the world. President Trump strongly believed in this idea. By leaving the Paris Agreement and following an "America First" policy, he showed that he believed the U.S. should make its own path, even if it meant going against what other countries wanted. These actions help us understand how American Exceptionalism continues to shape U.S. politics and global decisions today.

Author Dr Subhasis Chattopadhyay is a Ph.D. in American Studies

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