American exceptionalism - the idea that America is fundamentally distinct from other nations - is a philosophy that has dominated economics, politics, religion and culture for two centuries. This collection of primary source material seeks to understand how this belief began, how it developed and why it remains popular. Volumes are organized thematically and deal with land and economy, the American Revolution, the Protestant millennial redemption and criticisms of the exceptionalist stance. Documents largely consist of pamphlets, sermons, newspaper and periodical articles. The wide chronological spread covers the colonial period to the late nineteenth century. Editorial apparatus includes a substantial general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes, endnotes and a consolidated index.
Volume 1: Economy of Land James Rosier, A true relation of the most prosperous voyage made this present year 1605 by Captaine George Waymouth in the discovery of the land of Virginia (1605); A perfect description of Virginia: being, a full and true relation of the present state of the plantation, their health, peace, and plenty, the number of people, with their abundance of cattell, fowl, fish, &c. with severall sorts of rich and good commodities, which may there be had, either naturally, or by art and labour, which we are fain to procure from Spain, France, Denmark, Swedeland, Germany, Poland, yea, from the East-Indies... [1649]; Joseph Morgan and Increase Mather, The Original Rights of Mankind Freely to Subdue and Improve the Earth (1722); Roscommon, To the Author of Those Intelligencers Printed at Dublin (1733); George Duffield, A sermon preached in the Third Presbyterian Church in the city of Philadelphia, on Thursday December 11, 1783 (1784); 'Observations in Response to an 'Enquiry Whether the Discovery of America Has Been Useful or Hurtful to Mankind', Columbian Magazine (1788); William Linn, The Blessings of America (1790); Charles Jared Ingersoll, An oration, delivered at Mr Harvey's, Spring Garden, before a very numerous meeting of democratic citizens, July 4, 1812 (1812); Robert Finley, Thoughts on the colonization of free blacks (1816); Ralph Randolph Gurley, A discourse, delivered on the fourth of July, 1825, in the city of Washington (1825); Leonard Bacon, A discourse preached in the Center Church, in New Haven, August 27, 1828, at the funeral of Jehudi Ashmun (1828); James Allan, Oration delivered before the Chamberlain Philosophical and Literary Society of Centre College, on the Fourth of July, 1835 (1835); John O'Sullivan, 'The Great Nation of Futurity', United States Magazine and Democratic Review (1839); 'Territorial Aggrandizement', United States Democratic Review (1845); 'The Oregon Question', Western Review (1846); William Murdock, Address on the Free-Soil Question (1848); 'Miscellany,' American Whig Review (1850); 'Foreign Policy of the United States in 1852-6. Cuba', United States Democratic Review (1853); 'Wealth and Want', New York Journal of Commerce (1848); Benjamin Wade, Speech in U.S. Senate, 35th Congress, 1st session, 13 March 1858, Congressional Globe (1858); Samuel Sullivan Cox, Laws of national growth - Mexican affairs: Speech of Hon. S.S. Cox, of Ohio. Delivered in the House of Representatives, March 19, 1860 (1860); John Bates Clark, 'The Nature and Progress of True Socialism', New Englander (1879); Thorstein Veblen, 'Some Neglected Points in the Theory of Socialism', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (1891) Volume 2: The American Revolution Honore-Gabriel de Riquetti, comte de Mirabeau, Reflections on The observations on the importance of the American Revolution, and the means of making it a benefit to the world. By Richard Price, D.D. L.L.D./Translated from the French of the Count de Mirabeau (1786); 'An Essay on American Genius', Massachusetts Sentinel (1787); James Tilton, 'Oration', Columbian Magazine (1790); Thomas Morton, Columbus, or, The discovery of America: An historical play, as performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, London (1794); Thomas Barnard, A Sermon, Delivered on the Day of National Thanksgiving (1795); Morgan Rhees, The Good Samaritan: An Oration (1796); Timothy Dwight, A Discourse on Some Events of the Last Century (1801); Abiel Holmes, Two Discourses on the Completion of the Second Century from the Landing of the Forefathers of New England at Plymouth, 22 Dec, 1620 (1821); James Brent, [Speech], in Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of Louisiana. Which Assembled at the city of New Orleans January 14, 1844 (1845); Orestes Brownson, 'Conservatism and Radicalism', Brownson's Quarterly Review (1848); 'Guizot's Democracy in France', Southern Quarterly Review (1849); John Hughes, The Church and the World: A Lecture (1850); 'The Pr
