- identify the assumption
- provide a written description of the assumption - What does it look like? Where can you see it? There are no restrictions here. You can find assumptions of American exceptionalism in art, music, film, popular culture, politics -- anywhere you care to look really.
- specifically explain the connection or relationship between your assumption and a particular element of American exceptionalism
From time to time I will provide you with an example in class as well.
You will be expected to post your underlying assumptions of American exceptionalism on Chalk Up. Between now and January 13, 2019 you will need to post TWO different assumptions. Between February 4, 2020 and May 4, 2020 you will need to post TWO more assumptions.
You will be expected to post your underlying assumptions of American exceptionalism on Chalk Up. Between now and January 13, 2019 you will need to post TWO different assumptions. Between February 4, 2020 and May 4, 2020 you will need to post TWO more assumptions.
Informality
Egalitarianism (identification with the middle class) and Community Life (neighborliness) are the forces that cause Americans to intuitively prefer informality in most settings. In the latest presidential election, Donald Trump was perceived to be "an average guy" and this perception was based on such things as Trump's "plainspokenness" and his reliance on simpler language and "common sense" to describe policy prescriptions instead of the kind of technocratic language that Hillary Clinton used to showcase her depth of knowledge and familiarity with public policy issues.
American presidential races have often seen victory go to the candidate who can most clearly identify with the American people. George W. Bush defeated both Al Gore and John Kerry for this reason despite the fact that both Democrats were perceived as "more knowledgeable" than their respective opponents. Bill Clinton defeated both George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole for a variation on the same theme. Clinton was perceived as "better understanding" the challenges confronting ordinary Americans. As well, both Clinton and Barack Obama were seen as "more hip" and "in touch" with people than their opponents.
Ronald Reagan was clearly perceived as "warmer" and "easier" around the public than Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. In particular, Carter lost the election because his campaign tried to cast Reagan as a dangerous and simple minded extremist who would cause World War III with his jingoistic talk and his finger on the nuclear button, but the image of Reagan that people saw during the debate was a smiling, friendly and seemingly reasonable person who managed to sum the election up in one simple question, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"
Perhaps Americans dislike formality because it reminds them of the class system inherent in their British lineage -- a system which they fought to break away from.
The Underdog and The Belief that Anything Is Possible
Americans love to cheer for the underdog in sports. Super Bowl III is still regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history and because of this it remains one of the most popular championship games of all time. No one believed the AFL Champion New York Jets had any chance against the veteran and star studded NFL Champion Baltimore Colts. But Joe Namath, the Jets quarterback shocked reporters when he guaranteed that the Jets would win the game -- and they did. Namath's legend is in large part tied to this one game and the fact that he called it.
The underdog and the "anything is possible" theme is after all the story of the American Revolution -- where a small band of colonies take on the most powerful nation on the face of the earth and win. Believing that "anything is possible" validates a lot of the key values of exceptionalism. It requires faith not only in oneself but faith that "everything will turn out alright," which connotes religiosity. Believing that "anything is possible" also implies humility, which supports egalitarianism. More importantly, when the underdog wins, arrogance is punished and true equality is vindicated -- the winning is less important than the respect that comes from winning and the proof that "everyone has a chance to succeed" is the most important lesson learned.
This theme also reinforces the idea of industriousness. In particular, the underdog needs to commit to hard work to beat the favorite. Also, being self-reliant is indispensable to an "anything is possible" mentality. You need to believe in yourself and in the possibilities of achievement while everyone else is telling you that you have no chance.
http://www.businessinsider.com/25-nike-ads-that-shaped-the-brands-history-2013-8#failure-and-the-michael-jordan-underdog-myth-1997-12
http://www.businessinsider.com/25-nike-ads-that-shaped-the-brands-history-2013-8#tiger-woods-shows-off-1999-14
http://www.businessinsider.com/25-nike-ads-that-shaped-the-brands-history-2013-8#my-better-is-better-2008-21
Only in America
Extending the "anything is possible" thinking leads us to perhaps the purest expression of exceptionalism -- the "only in America can this happen" theme. Another manifestation of this is the American Dream, but we will get to that later in the course. "Only in America" can apply to a "rags to riches" story where an immigrant can come to the country penniless and rise to incredible wealth. Industriousness and all its aspects - self-reliance, hard work, and getting ahead are all reinforced to a high degree.
Politicians love to tell the "only in America" story when they talk about their own backgrounds as it helps show their natural connection to egalitarianism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqL2ZiP8AvE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbaP0Jzd6QA
Making a Difference
Making a difference or having an impact has always been something that Americans have aspired to and respected. When Benjamin Franklin emerged from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a certain Mrs. Powell called out to him and asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?”
Franklin responded, “A republic, madame – If you can keep it.”
With those words, Benjamin Franklin unveiled a great truth – that the American nation was qualitatively different than any other that had come before and that in order to maintain her genuinely unique character, her citizens would have to play an active role. "We, The People" have a responsibility to make a difference thereby protecting the Republic.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence as "an expression of the American mind".
See the letter from Jefferson to Henry Lee where he describes the Declaration of Independence as "an expression of the American mind".
http://www.nlnrac.org/american/declaration-of-independence/primary-source-documents/jefferson-to-lee
"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."
Jefferson's writing was a source of utopian aspirations and as such did not seek to describe America as it was but instead make manifest the America that needed to be. The phrase "All men are created equal," spoke to egalitarianism and equality of human dignity. With these words, Jefferson sought to make a difference -- specifically, he took action throughout his political life to codify equality of human dignity by seeking to end slavery.
See the short article below:
Jefferson's other actions to stop slavery included but were not limited to:
- His work on the Virginia Constitution, which he hoped would lead to abolition (1776);
- His leadership in crafting a Virginia bill aimed at outlawing African slave importation (1778);
- His proposed ban on slavery in the Northwest territories (1784);
- His attempts at advancing the end of slavery through gradual emancipation and deportation
Jefferson's efforts to end slavery were motivated by his prescient fear that slavery would result in a civil war that would tear the nation apart.
See Jefferson's letter to John Holmes
Yet, while he acted politically to make a difference, personally he continued to own slaves. For a better understanding of this contradiction see the article below.
"Making a difference" requires action -- and American culture reveres those who act. Note the ubiquitous nature of this concept -- the honorable place that taking action holds in American culture.
Dirty Harry Callahan is a detective made famous by Clint Eastwood in a series of popular films. Callahan is surrounded by a city in decay and crime but he acts to enforce the law -- often in spite of the danger to himself and the seemingly impossibly long odds against him.
Nike launched one of the most popular advertising campaigns in history with the catch phrase, "Just Do It."
Larry the Cable Guy immortalized the phrase "Git-R-Done." See his thoughts on what it means and how it became popular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TU-li1BqZ4
Political slogans have also tried to catch on to the American need to act -- consider the slogans of the most recent presidential election winners:
- Yes We Can
- Make America Great Again
As a matter of fact, you'll remember Donald Trump criticized Hillary Clinton for not having the "stamina" to be president. He also called Jeb Bush "low energy". Both attacks were designed to tap into the preference that Americans have for doers and allowed Trump to draw a contrast that he saw as favorable for himself.
President Obama also chimed in on this issue after the election, suggesting that Clinton perhaps failed to work as hard to earn the votes she needed to all across the country. According to President Obama, she just had to get out and do it.
Another example of the "just do it" principle is after 9/11, when Americans signed up to join the military to fight terrorism.
