POLSCI 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: American Exceptionalism, Free Negro, Pledge Drive
Document Summary
What the american dream looks like without the religious mission. American exceptionalism: the idea that america is unique as a nation and a political project, and explanations for what makes america unique differ. American exceptionalism does not equal the american dream. Vision of nature as an endless, open frontier. In winthrop"s version of american exceptionalism, we americans are going to be a model to the world, a model of christian living, righteousness. Our social superiors are not our betters. Jefferson is more radical on social mobility as the american farmer. We have more class hierarchy in america whether we brought it over or it develops here -- he wants to squash it. He offers proposals to flatten class hierarchy and for the emancipation of slaves following the new constitution. Jefferson think class is mobile, social construct, while race is natural and unalterable by law. Religious (winthrop) and non religious (american farmer) Ask: is feudalism really worse than america"s republican experiment.
