American Exceptionalism The first day of class, I wasn't sure what the term "American Exceptionalism" meant, but by the end I figured it out. American exceptionalism is the notion that America is uniquely different from other nations. The reason America is “uniquely different” from other nations is because the world expects America to lead, to have values, to seek freedom, to be diverse and open , and that it also practices democracy. Being a democratic nation makes us the city on the hill. America is like a big brother, other nations look to us for help, advice and prosperity. Values ​​and beliefs about politics and government shape our American culture. The emphasis on a distinct national identity is appropriate in an increasingly diverse nation-state and an ever-globalizing world. I agree with this statement, because America deserves to be known as the “it” nation. America is more tolerant, we are like a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities. In the beginning, we were a nation of immigrants that prospered in ways people have never seen. America is known as the land of opportunity, we have a spirit of innovation and when you work really hard you can definitely make a change on your own. Turner invents American development through the westward movement. Moving west and exploiting the resources given to us is what sets us apart. Turner's thesis is as follows: "The existence of a free land area, its continued recession, and the westward advance of American colonization explain American development. The idea that success came from moving west. This idea encapsulates how America became the nation in the making. In the episodes of the movie "America, the Story of Us", I saw how America globalized to become the "one nation" that...... middle of paper ...... of the construction of skyscrapers, railways, and imperialism. We have come all the way west and what remains for us to do is to globalize our nation and continue to contribute to the betterment of the nations we help lead. We must first ensure that we practice democracy, free trade, our values, freedom and our beliefs. This is what it means to be an exceptional nation. Other nations look to us, and when we don't respond accordingly or practice what we preach, they call us hypocrites. History Channel, and DVD. Foner, Eric. “Jimmy Carter on Human Rights.” Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History. New York: WW Norton, 2005. 307-09. Print.Turner, Frederick Jackson. “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” The Frontier in American History. New York: H. Holt et, 1920. 1-26. Print.