AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND VIETNAM WAR

American Exceptionalism and Vietnam War

Abstract

The paper aims to investigate the concept of American exceptionalism and the US involvement in the Vietnam War. These are the most debatable and discussed topics in political science. There are comprehensive and significant findings in the paper that will enlighten the facts of American Exceptionalism and Vietnam War. The paper provides significant facts and figure that will help to conclude the final results. The paper is result of deep investigation of American Exceptionalism and Vietnam War. The paper focuses on the valid secondary sources that will help to investigate the findings. The paper provides diverse thoughts of the topic.

American Exceptionalism and Vietnam War

American Exceptionalism

American Exceptionalism is the centuries-old idea that the United States is a unique—and superior—entity in the world, in a class separate from other nations and blessed by the divine (or marked by destiny) in an extraordinary way for a special mission. The view dates back to the Puritans, who saw America as the “New Israel” and, specifically, the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a “city on a hill” for the Old World to look upon as an example. Elements of American exceptionalism are said to include religion, social class, and politics, emphasizing high church attendance compared to other countries with a Christian heritage; the failure of socialism to make major inroads in American culture; and the narrow political spectrum represented by the two national parties (Lepgold, Timothy, 1995, p.369-384).

Those who accept the premise of American exceptionalism are more likely to regard the United States as a safeguard for democracy in the world. In the Gettysburg Address (1863), for example, Abraham Lincoln suggested that if the North did not win the Civil War and preserve the Union, then In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt identified Four Freedoms (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear) as basic human rights that should be pursued universally following World War II. That same year, magazine publisher Henry Luce announced the American Century, envisioning the United States as the world's redeemer nation (Kammen, 1993, 1-43).

Regardless of the extent to which American exceptionalism is a valid concept—scholars are divided on this question—many politicians have acted on it as a reality. Presidential inaugural addresses, in particular, have been framed around the idea of American exceptionalism (Merk, 1963, P.121-135).

Observations

Many observers thought Obama's speech represented the president's acceptance of the notion of "American exceptionalism"—the idea that the U.S. has a special role to play in world events. Proponents of American exceptionalism tend to argue that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to spread freedom and democracy around the globe. Conservatives have long championed that idea and had previously criticized Obama for what they considered his rejection of it (McEvoy, 2001, p..45-52).

The policies of Obama's predecessor, President George W. Bush (R, 2001-09), exemplified for many the belief in American exceptionalism. In 2001 and 2003, the Bush administration launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively, that overthrew those countries' ...