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American Exceptionalism and its Malleability: An Examination of Presidential Rhetoric in State of the Union Addresses

Chapman , Jessica
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6796-8794
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1462126222

Abstract Details

2016, BA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Peace and Conflict Studies.
This honors thesis aimed to look at the changeability of American Exceptionalism over time by examining presidential rhetoric in in State of the Union Addresses from 1965 to 2016. This thesis asked the questions, does American Exceptionalism rhetoric decrease during times of failed military intervention, do Republican presidents use more American Exceptionalism rhetoric than Democratic presidents, and is presidential rhetoric of American Exceptionalism increase during times of war compared to times of peace. State of the Union Addresses were coded by groups (i.e. times of failed military intervention and times in the absence of failed military intervention, for the first research question.) and group means were compared using independent samples t-tests. For the qualitative analysis the Constant Comparative method was used to code the statements into three categories: uniqueness, superiority (social identity theory), and miscellaneous. This research found that Republican presidents use American Exceptionalism rhetoric more often than Democratic presidents and that intensity of American Exceptionalism increases over time (from 1965-2016). Further research is needed to develop more coherent conclusions on the finding of a detected increase in intensity over time
Landon Hancock (Advisor)
53 p.
Political Science; Psychology; Social Psychology; Social Research
American exceptionalism; Vietnam War; Iraq War; presidential rhetoric; greatness; social identity theory; social psychology; conflict management; state of the union address; presidential speeches

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Citations

  • Chapman , J. (2016). American Exceptionalism and its Malleability: An Examination of Presidential Rhetoric in State of the Union Addresses [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1462126222

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chapman , Jessica . American Exceptionalism and its Malleability: An Examination of Presidential Rhetoric in State of the Union Addresses. 2016. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1462126222.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chapman , Jessica . "American Exceptionalism and its Malleability: An Examination of Presidential Rhetoric in State of the Union Addresses." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1462126222

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors1462126222
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.