Why Does American Exceptionalism Matter?

Emily Rein / November 12, 2010

In his acceptance speech on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, Senator-Elect Marco Rubio of Florida said, “Americans believe with all their hearts…that the United States of America is simply the single greatest nation in all of human history, a place without equal in the history of all mankind.”

The reality of American exceptionalism was a theme on the campaign trail, especially among conservatives. Americans agree that the United States is a great nation, but why is America exceptional and why does it matter?

While other nations are bound by a common ethnicity, religion or history, America’s dedication to liberty makes it unique. Understanding America: Why is America Exceptional? is a new e-book from The Heritage Foundation that explores how the United States’ commitment to the universal truths of human equality and the right to self-government—as proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence—requires a vigilant defense of the cause of liberty, both at home and abroad. (more…)