History Of American Exceptionalism
American Exceptionalism
What is American Exceptionalism? This was a phrase I was not familiar with until I listened to
the podcast, “City Upon a Hill: A History of America Exceptionalism” by Back Story with American
History Guys. American Exceptionalism is the belief that America is special because of our history in
our democracy, individuality, and geography. Also stated in Back Story, American Exceptionalism
argues that we are unique for we are a god-given place in the world. The term was used optimistically
by Americans. Even political leaders and candidates used the term to spread hope to the fellow
Americans. A historian on the podcast dubbed American Exceptionalism as “Americans having an
obsession with being special”.
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Winthrop’s hatred of democracy does not follow the
American Exceptionalism ideology.
Another contrast found in chapter two in America: A Narrative History is that John Winthrop
persecuted dissenters, which would be against American Exceptionalism. Winthrop believed that,
“enforcing religious orthodoxy (the “true religion”) and ensuring civil order justified the persecution of
dissenters and heretics” ( Shi and Tindall). The people he classified as “dissenters” were the Catholics,
Anglicans, Quakers, and Baptists. He would punish, imprison, banish, or execute these people.
Puritans, which was Winthrop’s religion, sought to be a perfect society. They did not accept people
from different beliefs. From the podcast, Back Story, American Exceptionalism allowed people to
thrive freely, no matter the religion. It was the “last best hope on earth” as one historian said. (Ayers,
Onuf, and Balogh). Winthrop’s persecution obviously showed he did not possess the same worldview
of American Exceptionalism as Americans do.
Lastly, when John Winthrop used the phrase, “city upon a hill”, he was not talking about
American Exceptionalism according to the definition. This phrase, “city upon a hill” was in a
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As Back Story discussed, Winthrop
explained to the Puritans that the world was watching them as they began the settlement in the New
World. The colony they would start, he also added, would be exposed like a “city upon a hill”. He was,
in reality, warning the Puritans to behave themselves and be perfect. Winthrop was not actually
referring to the land. A core element to American Exceptionalism is American’s “spirit of discovery”
and its obsession with expanding west. The abundant and beautiful land inspired musicians to write
songs such as “America the Beautiful”. Winthrop’s “city upon a hill” phrase is in stark contrast to the
definition of American Exceptionalism.
In conclusion, there are three signs that prove Winthrop does not share in the American
Exceptionalism belief. John Winthrop’s hatred of democracy, persecution of dissenters, and
well-quoted phrase, “city upon a hill”, confirms the accuracy of this argument. His
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