Ameican exceptionalism

ex·cep·tion·al  [ik sépshən'l] adjective

1.    unusual: not conforming to a general rule or pattern •exceptional circumstances

2.    outstanding: having or showing intelligence or ability well above average •an exceptional talent

ex·cep·tion·al·ism  [ik sépshən'l ìzzəm] noun

A country, society, institution, movement, or time period: unusual or extraordinary in some way

American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations. In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation" and developing a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire. Basically, men ruling themselves. This observation can be traced to Alexis de Tocqueville, the first writer to describe the United States as "exceptional". The term "American exceptionalism" itself was first used in 1929 by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin who was chastising members of the American Communist Party, in reference to their belief that America was very resistant to Communist revolution "thanks to its natural resources, industrial capacity, and absence of rigid class distinctions.

Although the term does NOT imply superiority, some writers have used it in that sense.