The Rhetoric Of American Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism is the belief that this country grants unique freedoms and liberties that other countries do not. The common rhetoric, referred to as the "American dream", is that anyone in this country regardless of race, gender, or class can achieve prosperity through hard work and dedication. While this is an ideal concept, history has shown that this idea is not rooted in reality. Unfortunately, there are institutional barriers that rob many Americans of equal opportunity. While America prides itself for it's values of freedom and liberty, these rights have historically been granted to a select few of Americans. History has shown that the concept of freedom and liberty in this country has always been contradictory. During