When Thomas Jefferson included the words “… Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, he signaled that America was different, even revolutionary. Gone were the tribal rights of Englishmen. In their stead were universal, individual rights.

Individualism — defined as “the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant” and, in the broader sense, as the “social theory favoring freedom of action of individuals over collective or state control” — is a core American principle.

It manifests itself in visible ways. If you’ve ever watched a European soccer match, you know what I mean. When an occasion calls for applause, Europeans clap in sync, creating a familiar beat, rather than a cacophony of noise. By contrast, we Americans clap to the beat of

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