Crevecoeur Describes The Qualities Of An American Society

For my journal, I am examining the second and third paragraphs on page two of J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s essay, “What is an American.” Using persuasive strategies, de Crevecoeur examines “that race now called Americans” (2), juxtaposing their former experiences in Europe with those upon arrival “on a new continent” (1). In this passage, de Crevecoeur anticipates the notion of America as a “melting pot,” while establishing the foundation of the concept of the American Dream.

Throughout America’s history, we have believed that humans have individual rights that should be protected and supported by the rulers of our country. The Constitution’s Bill of Rights was created to protect these rights, and the Declaration of Independence even proclaims that “all men are created equal”. However, there were hundreds of people scattered throughout the colonies, and then states, in America who did not have these same rights and were not always seen as human, such as African Americans, women, and Native Americans.

Thomas Paine’s characterization of America from his book, Rights of Man, does not completely hold true in today’s American society. His description of social class relationships as well as just government is currently not a reality for Americans. However, his description of diversity is something that we do have in America today.

In Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, he portrays America in the 1790’s by saying there were no restrictions toward immigrants, there were no oppresions towards the poor, there were no riots, and there were no acts of racism. Although these American ideals may have been true during the foundation of America as a nation, most of his nationalist ideas have changed throughout history. In the 21st century,there have been many riots, acts of racism, harsh policies toward immigrants, and oppression towards the poor. Thomas Paine and his views on the positive aspects of America expressed in Rights of Man, are not still expressed in today’s time. However, racism is positively evaporating from America, but disagreeing with Paine, it is still present.

In 1630, John Winthrop dreamt that America was a “City on the Hill”, predestined for preeminence. In 1776, the American Colonies proclaimed independence with the affirmation that all men are equal, free, and blessed with the sacred rights to life, liberty, and happiness. These uniquely American ideals ideals characterized the young democracy in contrast to the oppressive monarchies of Europe. European citizens saw the correlation between America’s greatness and its democratic principles. The liberties that America furnished to all men, regardless of status, gave citizens pride in their nation and drew envy from constituents of tyrannical monarchies. The notions of equality and freedom, however, did not extend to all of America’s population;

In today’s society, the variation of social, cultural, political, and economic life mirrors our Founding Fathers dreams. Since then, America has learned to adjust and accept every citizen's differences with the help of The Bill of Rights, US Constitution, Northwest Ordinance, and the Declaration of Independence. As these documents represent the development of America then, books like the Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore reflect the variations of social, cultural, political, and economic life today. Over time, the definition of being an American has evolved and molded with society to make what the United States citizens know now.

In Charles Murray’s journals he examines the changing American landscape and how it evolves from 1960 to 2010. He looks at marriage, honesty, industriousness, religion, and crime. The first journal to examines is titled “Belmont and Fishtown— On diverging classes in the United States”. He begins the journal talking about American exceptionalism and many different qualities that make up Americans. American exceptionalism is the idea that americans are exceptional. More specifically it is the idea that the way of American life is exceptional when compared to others around the world. He describes Americans has a group of hard working people always striving for something better. He talks about American neighborliness. He talks about how generosity

Thomas Paine is often considered one of the unsung heroes of the American Revolution and wrote some of the greatest revolutionary propaganda that is still being studied today. In his 1791 Book “Rights of Man” he postulates that America is a bastion of hope and is an unlikely melting pot of cultures, languages and religions brought together greatly by a non-oppressive government that supported the rights of all people. 1791 America was by no stretch of the imagination the flawless perfect republic sought out by Thomas Paine on account of slavery (among other factors). Even today we are teetering on the edge between Paine’s ideal unoppressive society and total chaos. While Paine’s characterization of America still rings true in many regards there are some facets of modern life that Paine may find to be troubling. He also may believe that American’s today have strayed away from his vision of the “cordial union between all peoples”.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This sentence from the Deceleration of Independence is one of the most well known of American documents. However, consequently we have all become comfortably numb to this statement and don’t take into consideration the struggles, fights, and deaths from our history that made this statement true. Due to the unceasing fight of men and women of three different groups, America was altered for the better. The late 1800 to early 1900 was an essential time for three key groups women, African Americans, and Indians to fight for their constitutional rights.

Thomas Paine, a revolutionary, intellectual, and supporter of American independence from England published a book titled, “Rights of Man” which deals with the government shielding the natural rights of its people. Initially, the book captures the diverse aspect of this nation, but it fails to reveal the struggles that arise to preserve and adapt to such a society. Paine expresses his optimism towards the supposed perfection of American society, as one “made up...of people from different nations,” with certain expectations. Additionally, the time gap between “Rights of Man” and modern America cannot be neglected. Paine wrote during an era in which “constructing a government on the principles of society and the rights of man” was the essential objective of the country. However, modern-day America experiences opposite ideals and Paine’s theory no longer remains true because of the educational gap between the rich and poor, terrorism, and racial profiling.

Both Hixson and Perkins reference the uniqueness in which America incases itself, which furthermore influences the commitment to republicanism and individualism as a nation. Although the world is seen through a distorted prism, the prism is laced with individualistic ideas and perspectives. Thomas Paine’s prism allowed him to see how differences were able to peacefully coexist but then he applied that knowledge and inspired other people to join the fight for independence. He also saw the economic prosperity in America and urged it because it “eased the path to republicanism, contributed to national stability, and strengthened the devotion to individualism” (Perkins, The Unique American Prism, 6). Individualism is rooted in Winthrop’s sermon

Thomas Paine, famed intellectual and revolutionary, wrote in his book Rights of Man (1791) of the newly liberated United States of America as a land of freedom and equality. Paine describes America as diverse and harmonious all while having a fair and just government. Although Thomas Paine’s description of America being a melting pot of numerous cultures, languages, and religions holds true today, his other assertions on the absence of civil unrest in America and the fairness of the new nation’s economic system do not. In his 1791 book Rights of Man, Thomas Paine claims that America is “Made up, as it is, of people from different nations…speaking different languages, and more different in their modes of worship…”

Thus I will wonder “What are the most popular archetypes that Americans view as embodying the values of their society?” The first archetype to consider and maybe the most important is the self-made man. Since we haven’t really studied this notion in class I will not take much time on it. Nonetheless, the self-made man fulfils absolutely the American Dream.

Americans through the years of existence have adapted well to the radical changes throughout the world. Technology, independence and social equality are some of the diverse concepts the United States have adapted to and developed in order to become a more unified country. Our nation believes that it is exceptional when it comes to other countries worldwide. As can be shown through the popular reference to America as the ‘shining city on a hill’. The term “American exceptionalism” is derived from ideals held by many Americans throughout history. Different people have analyzed American exceptionalism through multiple literary devices. Works such as A Model of Christian Charity, What is an American and Acres of Diamonds illustrate the

During Crevecoeur's American experience he interacted mainly with farmers and the occasional lawyer or clergy, but I have to agree that the one percent of elitist dominates the ninety nine percent and is largely removed from the reality of the average American. It seems that today I am hearing more often that we are loosing are religious freedom in America, but I have to disagree. I think we are able to have religious freedom as long as it does not impose on the civil rights of another. I would have to agree with you that religious freedom has evolved.