American Culture Exceptionalism

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Slavery: How it Lead America to progress As a Thriving Civilization? Slavery is a lense through which it helps historians understand the importance of American ideology through principles such as civilization, exceptionalism, and nationalism during the period of the American Revolution. In particular, documents such as From Petitions of Slaves to the Massachusetts Legislature (1773 & 1777), Equiano-1789, The Declaration of Independence, Melissa Bohrer-Glory Passion, and Principle: Phillis Wheatley,Sylvia Frey-Rock-Intro/Prologue, Carol Berkin-Day of Jubilee, and Eugene Genovese-American Slavery, Amen Freedom, demonstrate the importance of American ideology principles of civilization, exceptionalism, and nationalism through the tool of “agency”. …show more content…
For example, The Declaration of Independence, highlights some important American ideological principles such as civilization, exceptionalism, and nationalism. Examples of nationalism mentioned were equality, life, liberty, and happiness. Examples of civilization mentioned were bringing in "inhabitants of our frontiers" and individuals of all ages, sexes, and conditions. Lastly, examples of exceptionalism were American qualities such as democracy, freedom, and having a democratic leader in charge of our country. In 1776, The Declaration of Independence, displays this notion of nationalism when Thomas Jefferson says the following “ All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Nationalism is evident is this excerpt because it displays the following American phrases that help define the identity of our country “All men are created equally, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. An example of Exceptionalism is evident in The Declaration of Independence s when Jefferson states the following: “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of governed”. Here exceptionalism displayed through power. The government controls the country and is the leader for power. It’s this notion that America’s way of government is more superior and beneficial than any other country is. As far as civilization, The Declaration of Independence states: “ Excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions” In this case, civilization is the mention of bringing in different cultures through accepting all ages, sexes, and religious beliefs and

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