How Did U.S. Individualism Become U.S. Exceptionalism?

Individualism is the core value of the U.S. nation state.

At what point did U.S. Individualism become U.S. Exceptionalism?

I'm in the process of researching this question mainly for my own understanding of what it takes for a sovereign nation-state to develop Ethical Democracy.

Why?

Because lessons from the U.S. history of democratic nation-statehood can be important cautionary lessons, as other nation-states, particularly in the Global South develop more complex democratic institutions and democratic civil society.
Our Global South nation-states can attempt to avoid the destructive trajectory of U.S style militarist predatory market fundamentalism masquerading as democracy.