American Literature - Essay Example

First Sur American Nationality St. John de Crevecoeurs "Letters from an American Farmer" showcased to bring out thepicture of an American and the advantages of being an American citizen by then. In an excerpt from his third letter, the author describes the new American man as acting on new principles (St. John de Crevecoeur 48). He further asserts that the new American must entertain new ideas and form new opinions. The letters brought forth the idea that America by then comprised settlers who formed a nation based on shared dreams: freedom and equality.

Additionally, St. John de Crevecoeur depicts the new American as trying to establish differentiation from its ancestors spread across the globe in areas such as Ireland, Europe, China and Africa among others (50). In fact, de Crevecoeurs idea was the pioneer of the compound question concerning the nature of American nationality towards the declaration of independence in 1776 and establishment of the United States Constitution. Indeed, the American nationality question was complicated by the fact that they were partly immigrants while they viewed themselves as the distinct people of the new republic of United States.

However, the author leaves some important aspects in his exposure. For instance, he neglects the fact that Africans share the American nationality since they helped build it as slaves. African slaves in America endured suffering yet they had no hope of freedom coming their way. Similarly, the author does not consider the plight of the Native Americans who existed there long before Europe’s discovery of North America. Ironically, de Crevecoeur wrote about a society that had no distinction between rich and poor.

However, the notion changed over subsequent centuries when Some Americans, such as Rockefeller, amassed huge wealth at the backdrop of struggling peasant farmers. From the twentieth century stretching into today, Perkins acknowledges the social and economic conditions of American has evolved dramatically (). In fact, political movements are making every effort to shape the character of American society. For instance, making all public school classes be taught in English is a move that may subjectively imply the restriction of Spanish-speaking immigrants from South or Central America.

ReferencesPerkins, George. American Literature before the Civil War. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2014.St. John de Crèvecoeur, J. Hector. Letters from an American Farmer. [New York]: American Library, 1963. Print.