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American exceptionalism is basically just the idea that America is superior to everyone else. The idea has been around for centuries, but exact interpretation varies.
In his "City Upon a Hill" speech (1961), John F. Kennedy said that America is an example to other countries, using the city upon a hill reference: "We must always consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us." Kennedy inadvertently addressed religion when he said God picked us to be the best, to be that city upon a hill, to be exceptional.
Ronald Reagan used our economy and our nationalism to define American exceptionalism. He also pointed to our democratic form of government. In his Farewell Address to the Nation (1989), he said, "But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will always be ours...'We the People' tell the government what to do; it doesn't tell us."
In "Obama's New Exceptionalism", America's current president, Barack Obama is quoted: "We don't look to be ruled. Our power comes from those immortal declarations first put to paper right here in Philadelphia all those years ago: We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that together, we, the People, can form a more perfect union."
President Obama says that America is great because we made the government and we made it together. American exceptionalism stems from our political structure giving people the power to make change if they feel change is necessary.
2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said at the American Legion's National Convention, "The United States is an exceptional nation. It's not just that we have the greatest military, or that our economy is larger than any on Earth, it's also the strength of our values. Our power comes with a responsibility to lead." (The Inverted Politics of American Exceptionalism) According to Clinton, with American exceptionalism, we have a moral responsibility to support other nations.
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Hillary Clinton's campaign slogan was "Stronger Together." Independent of race, religion, or sexuality, Clinton stressed that, together, we can make America even more exceptional.
Contrary to Hillary Clinton, 2016 President-elect Donald Trump does not believe America is exceptional at all. He does not point to faith in religion or in each other, instead saying to the American people, "I am your voice. I alone can fix it. I will restore law and order."
Of the term American exceptionalism, as said in "The Inverted Politics of American Exceptionalism," Trump says, "I don't like the term, I'll be honest with you. I don't think it's a very nice term, we're exceptional, you're not...I never liked the term." Basically, Trump's philosophy is that America was never exceptional, and that America will only become exceptional if he becomes president.
In "Obama's New American Exceptionalism," Alexis de Tocqueville is credited as being the first to use the term American exceptionalism, citing America as being different from other countries because of its "national credo, ethnic diversity, and revolution-sprung history." National credo associated with politics, ethnic diversity with race, and revolution-sprung history with religion.
While Alexis de Tocqueville is viewed by many as the first to use American exceptionalism, there have been others in history who used the same philosophy of American superiority.
In fact, ideas of American exceptionalism go as far back as to 1630. Governor John Winthrop took a very religious stance on exceptionalism, saying that America will be exceptional only if the children of God promise to unite and love one another unconditionally. In "A Model of Christian Charity," Winthrop said, "...but when Christ comes, and by his spirit and love knits all these parts to himself and to each other, it is become the most perfect and best proportioned body in the world." According to Winthrop, we are all under God, and therefore we all belong together as one family. Follow God, and we will be exceptional.
Specifically Kennedy, America's only Catholic president to date, said in an address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, "I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all."
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Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, September 12, 1960
George Washington, too, preached ideas of American exceptionalism. In the "Letter to the Jews of Newport" (1790), Washington said, "The Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."
In the same letter, Washington said, "The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy - a policy worthy of imitation." Specifically in the letter, Washington was saying others should look to America as an example of religious tolerance; however, even in other aspects, such as race or sexuality, I am sure he'd say the same.
Yeah, so, in general, we Americans point to ourselves as being exceptional. We say we're the strongest, greatest, most tolerant country in the world, and therefore everyone should look to us as an example. (Well, except for President-elect Donald Trump).
Homonationalism is a form of American exceptionalism that focuses on America's being more tolerant of sexual differences compared to the rest of the world - basically that we accept people of all sexualities.
James Baldwin would argue that American exceptionalism only pertains to white Christians. He said that the American Dream is unattainable for people of color. "Until the moment comes when we, the Americans, are able to accept the fact that my ancestors are both black and white...I am one of the people who built the country--until this moment comes there is scarcely any hope for the American dream." Baldwin would say that American exceptionalism doesn't apply to all Americans.
Malcom X would agree with Baldwin that only white Americans get to experience America at its finest. In "The Ballot or the Bullet," he says, "Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. And as long as you and I have been over here, we aren't Americans yet." Here, X was speaking as a black Muslim who doesn't feel like he can relate to white Americans. Based on what Malcolm X says, minorities in America have a viewpoint on American exceptionalism that is different than the definitions given by our privileged presidents.
In order to create the American exceptionalism white Americans talk about, it is important that those who are oppressed hold the privileged accountable for their actions, especially with acts of hate. Roxane Gay said, "What white people are really asking for when they demand forgiveness from a traumatized community is absolution." She offers here that white people just want relief from their guilt. To the oppressed religions and races: Don't grant the privilege freedom from guilt unless they deserve it. Make them change their behavior until they live up to the idea of American exceptionalism to which they preach.
American exceptionalism is significant today because Americans say we are exceptional for a variety of reasons, yet there aren't enough people checking our actions and calling us out when we do not live up to the components of exceptionalism. At this point, is American exceptionalism even attainable? Can we change our society so that America really is the greatest? I have faith in us.
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