Cagle Post: The Spirit of 1776 is the Spirit of American Exceptionalism

This Independence Day marks the 236th year since 56 courageous men signed the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, these Founding Fathers embodied the spirit of what is now known as American Exceptionalism.

A City Upon A Hill, produced by Citizens United, explores the concept of American Exceptionalism from its origin to the present day. The idea of America as an exceptional nation began with John Winthrop, a leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who urged his fellow settlers in 1630 to create a “city upon a hill,” a model community for the world. This wasn’t a coronation, but a challenge and an opportunity that has been seized upon by great American leaders ever since.

The United States is an exceptional nation that stands above all others because of its unique devotion to freedom and opportunity. At the time of our founding no other country had adopted the radical ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No other nation had declared, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” In the American understanding, our rights are not gifts or privileges conferred by kings or legislatures; they are endowments that we’ve received from God Himself. The government didn’t give them to us and the government cannot take them away.

Read more at Cagle Post here.