American Identity Paper - Essay Example

American Identity Paper J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur in his third letter ‘What is an American’ reveals the true individuality of an American and makes out the differences of an American from European. For this, he has taken a persona named James to speak out his points of view in the form of letters addressed to a minister at Oxford, England. He has traveled through the interiors of North America and has a deep passion towards the life style of the Northern people. For him, the major difference between an American and a European lies in their social set up.

In Europe the people live in a well established society and it carries all the negative aspects whereas in America the society is not well established and whatever it has, it displays more of positive aspects. In the very outset of the letter the author makes it clear that there is not much of disparity between the rich and the poor in America as the poor and the rich are far removed from each other in Europe; for him, one can find in America “no aristocratical families, no courts, no kings, no bishops, no ecclesiastical dominion, no invisible power giving to a few a very visible one; no great manufacturers employing thousands, no great refinements of luxury in Europe” (Crevecoeur, p.49). In America people are after the primary needs of the society whereas in Europe people have already achieved the primary needs and they are after the secondary or tertiary needs of the society.

In America all are equipped with ‘the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained’ (Crevecoeur, p.50). As the Americans have no superiors to work for, they work for themselves and everyone adheres to the common goodness. No castles and no proud mansions can be seen here: on the other way the perfect living of both cattle and men are here. J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur considers an American as “a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.

From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence” (Crevecoeur, p.56). The life in the British colonies of the North America had contributed a lot to the unique identity of the American people. In the British North American colonies people migrated from various places like England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. In each and every place of the colonies people had different attitudes, aspects, and notions too.

When these mixtures of people joined together in the northern territories of America a new race called Americans has been evolved. It is very common in Northern America that a man’s father was a Dutch and mother Irish and he marries a woman from Germany and their present two children for instance, marry ladies of French or Swedish origin. So in their family a mixture of culture also evolved and thereby making a new culture of its own. This imparts a kind of unity in diversity and North American colonies depict this unique identity.

They toil together for constructing a new society of themselves. The people from all these provinces put hands together for the general goodness of all. ‘Ubi panis ibi patri [A Latin term meaning ‘Where there is bread, there is (my) country] has become the motto of all migrants in America. They have given a great “share in the pleasing perspective displayed in these thirteen provinces” (Crevecoeur, p.51) As the author puts it, “here individuals of all races are melted into a new race of man, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world.

Americans are the western pilgrim,” (Crevecoeur, p.54), who had settled in this new continent. The Americans have left all prejudices and manners of their ancient life at various places mostly at Europe and they have opted a new way of life in the new continent where they obey a new rule and are ready to be the subjects of a newly constructed government. Later in the history of America it can be seen that the northern states of America stood hand in hand for the abolishment of the social evil ‘slavery’ from the American soil.

Even though this led for the civil war in America finally the Northerners succeeded in it. It is their unique identity of concern for the fellow beings that offered them this unique identity which has made America what it is now. ReferencesSt. John Crevecoeur, J. H. “LETTER III. WHAT IS AN AMERICAN”. Letters from an American farmer (provided by the customer)