Industriousness
The foundation of industriousness is hard work. Without a willingness on the part of the individual to perform, sacrifice, and give of their time to accomplish goals, nothing else is possible. Hard work directly leads to getting ahead, which means to see forward progress in one's life where they can meet their needs and have the power to make real what they deem as important and necessary -- hence, the term, "pursuit of happiness."
Don Draper on Happiness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTJrNHdzm0k
George Lucas on Happiness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnHyStDZ3_U
If you work hard and stay with it, you will get ahead. Ultimately, this will lead to self reliance. The confidence to know that you can accomplish things will help you pursue greater things and know that when things get difficult, you can trust in yourself to see you through to where you want to get to.
Community Life
Neighborliness is at the root of community life. Neighborliness refers to a mindset where people who are not related or otherwise intimately close will do good deeds for others. This can be in the form of volunteerism, charity or other actions that support other members of their community.
The American belief that people are generally trustworthy, helpful, and fair is defined as social trust. The American spirit of volunteerism and service to others whether it be political or otherwise is referred to as civic engagement. Neighborliness can either build social trust which inspires civic engagement or can inspire civic engagement which builds social trust.
Egalitarianism
A fundamental belief in the equality of human dignity as defined by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence is what causes Americans to have a natural identification with the middle class and is why America has had no aristocracy. Having built a society which consciously chose to have no aristocracy led to a natural identification with the middle class resulting in a culture where the equality of human dignity could not be ignored -- even when institutional inequality was insulated from criticism by the notion of local control and individual property rights.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 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. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Colonel Joshua Chamberlain on Egalitarianism and the Point of the Civil War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTZSwgnWtuA
Religiosity
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—and it was not there. . . . in her fertile fields and bound less forests—and it was not there. . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there. . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."
Conrad Hilton on America's Greatness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHA6Nx1H03U
The above quote has been long attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville, but there is no documented evidence that he ever wrote it. Regardless of where it comes from, it does capture some of the sentiments at the heart of American exceptionalism.
Religiosity as it relates to American exceptionalism begins with utopian aspirations -- "the better angels of our nature," as Lincoln referred to it in his first inaugural address. In America, these utopian aspirations are a combination of egalitarianism and community life validated and strengthened through the values taught and practiced in faith based communities across the nation. When combined with the notion of America as a participatory republic, these utopian aspirations inspire social activism. As well, utopian aspirations nurture inner self-government, where doing what is right is chosen over doing what is best for you at the moment.
American Truisms of Human Nature
- People are generally good and therefore have a respect and regard for others
- All people are capable of virtue and intelligence - this gives us a moral compass
- People serving in their own best interest will do public good "self-interest rightly understood" if they have a strong sense of community and morality
- People are tempted by power
- People tend to associate with those they see as having the most in common with them
The framers of the American Constitution applied these truisms to their efforts. The following conclusions may be drawn:
- The protection of individual and personal freedom supports the utopian aspirations of an egalitarian society. Respect for the equality of the individual requires freedom.
- Government is a necessary evil, therefore government must be limited and power must be diffused in order to make people less susceptible to the temptations of using power for their own purposes.
- Factionalism has many forms and is a natural outgrowth of participatory political discourse. The checks and balances of the Constitution including the electoral college are specifically designed to work against factionalism.
