The fundamental idea of Creator-endowed equality – rooted in morality and religion – produced liberty, rule of law, individual responsibility, free markets, and more, and defined American exceptionalism. Part 2 in a series, "Is America Exceptional?". To read Part 1, go here.
In Part 1 of this series, "Is America Exceptional?", we shared this quote from Winston Churchill:
“Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” (Churchill, 1947).
While Churchill spoke of democracy in general, American democracy is even more unique.
Alexis de Tocqueville studied this exceptionalism and uniqueness of American democracy in the years that followed the French and American revolutions of the late 18th century. These revolutions occurred only 13 years apart, but their vastly different philosophies turned one into a bloody reign of terror and the other into a prosperous democracy that continues to flourish to this day.
French Revolution (1789) vs. American Revolution (1776)
The defining difference between these revolutions – which both prioritized liberty – can be found in their declarations.
The French Declaration of the Rights of Man was based on the rejection of institutions – chiefly religion and the church, as well as monarchy – in exchange for a new state religion based on reason. The Declaration of Independence clung to the idea that “all men are created equal . . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (1776).
The basis for rights in the French Revolution was the shifting sand of human assertion and flawed reason, while the basis for rights in the American Revolution was built on the solid foundation of the inherent equality given by a sovereign Creator to all people, with rights which could not be taken away by any government.
At its core, the American experiment and subsequent American exceptionalism was rooted in religion and the belief in a sovereign Creator from whom all rights for humanity were derived.
With this assertion, “the United States was the first modern polity to claim political legitimacy on the basis of its recognition of certain truths, hard-wired into the human condition, about the human person and freedom” (Weigel, 2019). America was exceptional because it departed from the concepts of machtpolitik (right by might) and realpolitik (pragmatic, non-moral political perspective based on practical objectives rather than ideals and values).
“The United States was the first modern polity to claim political legitimacy on the basis of its recognition of certain truths, hard-wired into the human condition, about the human person and freedom."
Alexis de Tocqueville noted that “the extraordinary fragmentation of administrative power” in the new American nation was counter-balanced by “religious, moral . . . commercial and industrial associations” which replaced these European forms of political power (de Tocqueville, qtd. in Guelzo, 2018).
There was a deeply human, characteristically moral quality to American democracy, rooted in the fundamental idea that each person is inherently equal and possesses a God-given right to liberty.
In fact, the founding fathers recognized this morality and religious heritage as the reason for the Constitution’s success in forming this new American style of democracy. In 1798, John Adams wrote to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia:
“But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep . . . simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World. Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by . . . morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition . . . Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (Adams, 1798)
The fundamental idea of Creator-endowed equality – rooted in morality and religion – produced liberty, rule of law, individual responsibility, free markets, and more, and defined American exceptionalism.
With these basic rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the United States became a land of opportunity for people of all backgrounds and a melting pot of cultures. Regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, and a variety of other differences, Americans are united under a common, universal mission and deep commitment to freedom.
Originally, these religious, political, and economic freedoms were examples to be followed domestically, but as the United States gained power following WWI and WWII, the nation began to move away from domestic-focused isolationism toward a new form of internationalism focused on exporting democracy.
Given that American exceptionalism and American democracy are rooted deeply in morality and religion, it is necessary to examine the Christian approach to foreign policy as the nation continues to spread its influence internationally.
Stay tuned for Part 3 in this series, "Is America Exceptional?".
Sources:
Adams, J. (1798). Founders Online: From John Adams to Massachusetts Militia, 11 October
1798. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from
Churchill, W. (2017, March 20). The Worst Form of Government. Retrieved March 28, 2020,
Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2020, from
Guelzo, A. C. (2018, Nov 23). America was always an exceptional nation, but is it still?. Wall
Street Journal.
Weigel, G. (2019, December 5). National Interest, National Purpose: Reimagining Morality and
Foreign Policy. Retrieved March 28, 2020, from https://providencemag.com/2019/12/national-interest-national-purpose-reimagining-morality-foreign-policy/
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