American Exceptionalism facts
While investigating facts about American Exceptionalism, I found out little known, but curios details like:
With the exception of college or military service, 37 percent of Americans have never lived outside their hometown, and 57 percent of Americans have never lived outside their home state.
In a case between two African-Americans, a New York jury found use of the N-word at the workplace creates a racially hostile environment. No excuses or exceptions.
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 45 of the best facts about American Exceptionalism I managed to collect.
-
The Grandfather Clause. After the American Civil War, South States made literacy tests to prevent former black slaves from voting. When whites failed them too, an exception was given to anyone whose Grandfather was eligible to vote. All whites had eligible grandfathers and few blacks did.
-
The US entered the Vietnam War after an American naval ship was attacked by the North Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin... except the attack never happened. There wasn't even a North Vietnamese ship in the area.
-
Chicago, "The Windy City", got that nickname not because of its weather, but because of its politicians bragging about the city to win the 1893 World's Fair. Its average wind speed of 10.3 mph is not even exceptional relative to other American cities: Boston- 12.4mph, and NYC- 9.3mph.
-
American Exceptionalism is one of 3 related ideas: 1st that the history of USA is inherently different from other nations, 2nd the idea that the USA has a unique mission to transform the world, 3rd is the sense that the USA' history & mission give it a superiority over other nations.
-
The CIA funded Creative-Writing Programs during the Cold War to promote American Exceptionalism & fight "Communist Ideals."
-
When it became evident that the British were preparing a military expedition, most of the Patriot leaders left Boston, with the exception of Paul Revere and Joseph Warren. Revere and Warren did not leave Boston until April 18, which is when Revere did his famous midnight ride to warn the citizens of Concord that "the British are coming!"
-
In 1987 he was the Esselen Award of the American Chemical Society and in 1989 he received the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Advancement and the United Nations Environmental Programme Global 500 Award.
-
After excepting the authority of the United States government, Geronimo agreed to live on reservations in Arizona. Reservation life didn"t last long usually, as Geronimo led "breakouts" off the reservations in 1878, 1881, and 1885.
-
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the British proclaimed an amnesty for all Patriots who put down their arms, with the exceptions of Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
-
Stalin coined the phrase "American Exceptionalism." It was an insult. An American communist told Stalin that American workers wouldn't revolt, and Stalin demanded that American communists end the "heresy of American exceptionalism.”
What is true about american exceptionalism?
You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.
The American state of Utah forbids, except under narrow circumstances, interstate "import" of alcohol (including beer and wine) by a private citizen. As a nuance of these laws, it is easier to bring alcohol from a foreign country into Utah than it is from elsewhere in the US.
Chisso, a company that polluted a bay and caused mercury poisoning, hired yakuza to beat up an American photographer who covered the story. The photographer won a Robert Capa Gold Medal for "best published photographic reporting from abroad requiring exceptional courage and enterprise." - source
The phrase "American Exceptionalism" was coined by Joseph Stalin - source
Mrs. Two Shoes from Tom and Jerry is African American and her face is never shown except for a split second in the 1950's one-reel "Saturday Evening Puss" cartoon.
Disney America, a theme park in the mold of Disney World except it revolved around different eras in American History. There was supposed to be a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Roller Coaster, where you where chased by Southern Slavers and Dogs. The project was announced in 1993. - source
The term "American exceptionalism" was invented not by de Tocqueville but by Stalin, because he was angry that America was the only Western democracy which showed little interest in Communism
American martens are solitary animals except during the mating season which takes place from June to August. Males aggressively fight for the attention of females (their heads and shoulders are often covered with scars).
Throughout their 24 years being active the American metalcore band "Zao"s current lineup has none of the founding members. Each position has had at least 3 musicians, except the rhythm guitarist with 2.
Latin American is a term which applies to Spanish AND French Speakers in America, with the exception of Québec
Bees kill more Americans every year than any other animal (except humans)
The American Meridian in Washington, DC, is like the one in Greenwich except no one uses it anymore.
