In recent years, the term "American exceptionalism" has sometimes been an empty applause line, a fancy way of shouting "USA! USA!"
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently went so far as to proclaim that "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional," without bothering to investigate what American exceptionalism might entail.
As it happens, the term has become familiar only in the last three decades, with explosive growth since 1985. But we can find a version of the concept as early as 1787, and in a prominent place: the very first paragraph of "The Federalist," in which Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay tried to persuade the nation to ratify the new Constitution.