Journal of Law and Judicial System Volume 2, Issue 3, 2019, PP 7-17 ISSN 2637-5893 (Online) The Claim of U.S. Exceptionalism within a Context of Race, Gender and Class Inequality Julian B. Roebuck, Komanduri S. Murty* Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Fort Valley State University, USA *Corresponding Author: Komanduri S. Murty, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Fort Valley State University, USA, Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT American exceptionalism has gained considerable attention among scholars and political leaders alike. Some scholars pointed out that the presence and extent of U.S. exceptionalism is that procedural political democracy has been spelled out in the U.S. legal system; that is, universal participation; political equality; majority rule; representative democracy; and, governmental responses to public opinion—all under the rule of law. However, there is no U.S. official definition of, or call for any kind of, or control of economic equality; though, in fact much economic inequality has always existed in the U.S.; and moreover, is now increasing at a more rapid rate than in the past. And yet, the U.S. politicians, especially those running for the presidency, find it necessary to consider American exceptionalism as an article of faith that must be accepted and promulgated. This article attempts to shed some light on America’s so-called exceptionalism and the need of an equalized economic society. Keywords: Civil Rights; Liberalism; Manifest Destiny; human rights; Great Depression; cultural knowledge; political parties; economic inequality; grid locking. INTRODUCTION SOME BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTES ON American exceptionalism is currently the AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM subject of many books, scholarly articles, and The idea that the Unites States has been singled popular publications. Though the statements out by God’s providence to play a redemptive supporting this concept have varied somewhat and regenerative role in human world-wide over the years in format, articulation and affairs has become one of the most frequently presentation, a central core of claims and heard shibboleths of the hard right in the United States; though, it is hard to distinguish between doctrines remain intact: that is, the presumptions those who believe it, and those who enunciate it that American values, political and economic as a political weapon (see Lewis 2011). And systems, and history remain unique, and superior to some scholars still absurdly maintain that that of other nations; and, that the U.S. is both fundamental Christian values remain a part of destined and entitled to play a distinct and U.S. exceptionalism (Bradley 2011). Accordingly, positive role on the world stage (Walt 2011). the United States may act as an exemplary Others have claimed that the U.S. is the greatest nation at times, or as a more regenerative and most commendable nation on earth, and the country that is intervening in world affairs for leader and protector of the free and democratic the universal good at other times. Consciousness of an exemplary nation or land preceded the worlds; and that therefore it must maintain a th strong and an ever-ready military force (Restad founding of the nation in the 18 century. The New England puritans saw their migration to the 2015; Richard 2012). The hubris of such claims new world as an enactment of the biblical is mindful of the doctrines of former president Exodus; that is, a move to the “promised land.” Theodore Roosevelt, a war monger par excellence. John Winthrop wrote that “We shall be as a Perhaps more Americans should read Edward shining city upon a hill; the eyes of all the Gibbon’s classic work, The History of the people are upon us.” Another early example of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that met this belief is a quote from the Federalist Papers the needs of many but was finally brought down (in 1788), wherein Alexander Hamilton describes with the great help of the rise of Christianity. the American political experiment as one of Journal of Law and Judicial System V2 ● I3 ● 2019 7 The Claim of U.S. Exceptionalism within a Context of Race, Gender and Class Inequality universal relevance for the future of all people. that liberty and democracy required hard work He said, “It seems to have been reserved to the to sustain” (Gamble 2012: Para 21). people of this country to decide, by their conduct The George W. Bush administration was marked and example, the important question, whether by U.S. military invasions into several countries; societies of men are really capable or not, of war in Iraq and nation building—all in so-called establishing good government from reflection noble causes. Since then the U.S. has engaged in and choice, or whether they are forever destined military invasions of Afghanistan, Libya, to depend, for their political constitutions, on Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen at the costs of accident and force” (Bailey 2012:18).The millions of lives, and heavy costs of millions of revolutionary generation saw the Revolutionary dollars in defense spending—that could have War as a world event. been spent on more worthy needs. Bush’s major Later on, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that difficulties began with the Homeland Security those who died in the battle at Gettysburg gave Act passed during his first term in office in their lives so that “government of the people, by response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist the people, and for the people shall not perish attacks on U.S. soil, that denoted the de- from the earth” (Prothero 2013, Para 7). In the territorializing of U.S. citizens; and, the global 20th century many Americans came to think of extension of U.S. imperialism whether in military, themselves as a more regenerative nation rather economic, or political terms; thereby challenging than an exemplary one. On April 2, 1917, when the ideology of American exceptionalism (Meinel President Woodrow Wilson asked the U.S. 2014). Congress to declare war on Germany, he stated: ADDITIONAL EARLY HISTORICAL NOTES “We are glad to fight this war for the ultimate So-called democracy did not come to America peace of the world, and for the liberation of the on the Mayflower. While New Englanders were people…” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt governed by a white clerical oligarchy the (arguably the most democratic president the middle and southern colonies were ruled by U.S. ever had with the help of his Vice President white landowning settlers and plantation owners Henry A. Wallace) told the U.S. Congress on (many of whom owned African American July 6, 1942, when the U.S. entered World War slaves). Everywhere it was generally accepted II: “Our objectives are clear, establishing and that elites should rule, and that common folk securing the freedom of speech and religion, and should defer to their betters especially in the removal of fear and want—everywhere in governmental affairs. This acquiescence prevailed the world” (Rosenbaum and Brinkley 2003:120). in the main until the two presidential “spoils’ system” terms of Andrew Jackson (1829-37); William Graham Sumner, an eminent professor that is, despite the July 4, 1776 Declaration of of sociology at Yale University delivered a Independence, the adoption of the U.S. speech in 1899 entitled The Conquest of the Constitution in 1787, and the passage of the Bill United States by Spain, that argued against U.S. of Rights in 1793. All of these democratic expansion, imperialism, and war—all he said documents were applied to whites, but not to were against the best traditions, principles, and African Americans or to U.S. Indians (Native interests of the American people; and, that a war Americans) (Guyatt 2016; Tocqueville 2002). would plunge us into a network of difficult However, the absence in the new world of problems and political perils, that we might feudal institutions, a hereditary class system and have avoided; and, which offers us no a dynamic frontier provided a partial leveling corresponding advantage in return (Sumner effect that has been overemphasized. 1911:326). Richard Gamble noted that Sumner feared the then so-called “new exceptionalism” Despite some leveling forces, Andrew Jackson’s —the belief that Americans were somehow spoils system did not promote any individual, secure from changing circumstances, immune to social class, or racial democracy. He distrusted limits on power and resources, and exempt from the Eastern U.S. liberal elites; promoted the impact of war and empire that had seduced atyranny of majority rule; maintained a strong the public into believing that their prosperity, sense of white identity for himself and others; liberty, and security were inevitable blessings expressed and demonstrated a violent policy accruing to a special people, rather than to the toward other races than whites; assured an air of fragile products of abundant land, a small superiority as a slave owner, Indian fighter, population, and benign neighbors. Once these slaughterer, and remover of Native Americans circumstances changed, America would discover (Cha 2015).Even Alexis de Tocqueville, who 8 Journal of Law and Judicial System V2 ● I3 ● 2019 The Claim of U.S. Exceptionalism within a Context of Race, Gender and Class Inequality studied some forms of democracy in America democracy; and, governmental responses to from 1871-1932 noted the undemocratic divisions public opinion—all under the rule of law. of the U.S. population into three races (whites, However, there is no U.S. official definition of, Indians/native Americans and blacks) and the or call for any kind of, or control of economic problems thereto that have existed in many ways equality; though, in fact much economic to the present day. He even suggested the inequality has always existed in the U.S.; and miscegenation of whites and blacks as a moreover, is now increasing at a more rapid rate plausible solution to black-white racial than in the past (see Grusky and Hill 2018).