American Superiority Essay, Research Paper
In his series of essays and "letters" on American life,
Michel-Guillaume-Jean de Crevecoeur gives his readers
numerous examples of the superiority of America to all
other countries of that time. He believes that one reason for
superiority is that America is with out the aristocracy so
prevalent in Europe at the time, which led to a hard
working and socially equal society. Another reason
Crevecoeur sees America as a superior society is the
accepting, and assimilating into one new race, the poor
peoples from all European countries. This led to an
extraordinarily diverse population, much more diverse than
any one of the European countries eight-tenth century. It
was for these reasons, as well as many others that
Crevecoeur saw America as the greatest nation of the
1700?s.
Crevecoeur admires the equality and the freedom of the
American people. He sees life without the harsh rule of
kings and bishops as much more easy going and pleasing to
the general public. The lack of an established aristocracy
allows for the rich and the poor to intermingle and
exchange ideas in a way never thought before in Europe.
The classes were also brought to a single level by the fact
that all people in the colonies had to work to survive. The
rich and poor alike had to, at first, work their own land to
supply food and income to support themselves and their
families. This requirement for work led to the American
people being very industries and self sufficient, even under
adverse conditio
seen, by Crevecoeur, as an amazing accomplishment for
any nation of the time; and therefore, makes it the greatest
in the world.
Another point Crevecoeur makes is that all people, from all
countries, and of all status are welcome here. This
acceptance of many diverse people became a hallmark of
American society. That hallmark was unique to our new
country, as a certain majority group dominated most
others, while the minorities were harshly suppressed.
America accepts those who have no country to call their
home. Here these people are "adopted" by a new country
and are given both an identity and a future, with endless
possibilities. Here people are rewarded for their labor with
the chance to better their lives: much unlike the rigid class
system of Europe. And finally people of many races are
"melted" into a new race with the ability to "change the
world". Crevecoeur saw the assimilating of many various
cultures as a major sign of the superiority of the American
people.
Michel-Guillaume-Jean de Crevecoeur conveys strong
feelings of American superiority in his various writings. He
believes that the loss of a classed society most definitely
raises the American people above people of other lands.
He also sees the assimilation of hundreds of cultures into
one as a huge step forward for the American people and
the world. Crevecoeur has many arguments for why
America is better than other countries; many of which may
still be valid to this day.