Americans on American Exceptionalism

In a few weeks, Americans across the country will mark the nation’s 250 th birthday. A time of celebration, yes, but also a time to reflect on the founders’ contributions and how their work informs us today. To this end, AEI inaugurated the “We Hold These Truths: America at 250” initiative , with symposia and volumes of essays on important aspects of America’s revolutionary heritage. As part of this initiative, AEI is also releasing a new public opinion survey on how Americans view our history and what our nation stands for. This is the second in a series of five blog posts with highlights from the survey. See the full report here. In an appearance at the White House press briefing on May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked by a reporter about his hopes for the future of the country. In an eloquent, off-the-cuff response, Rubio said this:“[America] is a unique and exceptional country. And as we come upon this 250-year anniversary, I think we have a lot to learn and be proud of in our history. It is one of perpetual and continuous improvement, where each generation has done its part to bring us closer to fulfilling the vision that the founders of this country had upon its founding.” Several questions in AEI’s new America at 250 survey touch on the idea of American exceptionalism, including one that asks people which of two views comes closer to their own. In the survey, 65 percent chose “The US is a unique country that stands for something special in the world,” while 32 percent chose “The US is just another country whose political system is no better or worse than other countries.” In another question, 75 percent agreed that “America is not perfect, but we have made substantial progress in addressing past wrongs such as slavery.” 65 percent said it was important for the US to have public discussions of the country’s historical failures and flaws. In another question, a virtually identical 66 percent said it was important for the country to discuss historical successes and strengths. See the full report here. The post Americans on American Exceptionalism appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI .