Essay One: What is an American?
Gregory Coryell

American Literature I
Dr. Joseph Walker
January 19, 2011

What is an American?
America has always been based on the precept that it was formed as a melting pot. This term means that different religions, cultures, traditions and countries were blended together to create the “New America.” Europeans from various areas have fled their countries for many reasons and settled on American soil, “the land of the free.” Religious persecution, war, famine, and the hope for economic prosperity have enticed individuals to pull up their tent poles in their native lands and move to a bold new world, known as America. This new world, America would be a starting point and a birth of a new civilization and a new breed of people who all share one common goal. What does it actually mean to be an American? There are many definitions that have existed and that have helped us understand and shape our interpretation of this term. This paper will compare and contrast two separate views of what the new American is and what it means to be called an American citizen. In William Bradford’s, “Of Plymouth Plantation,” he accounts for his journey to the new world by describing the intent of his voyage, his first impression of his surroundings, and the things and people he encounters. Our text verifies Bradford’s hopeful spirit and passion for his beliefs when Bradford uses the term, “Pilgrims” to describe the “community of believers who sailed from Southampton, England, on the Mayflower and settled in Plymouth” (Baym, 2008). Bradford’s quest for a new beginning included rounding up people from his English community that had common beliefs and specific chosen goals similar to his own, that would act as cohorts on his voyage. Bradford’s intent was to exit England and leave behind the many hardships that he had endured and to find a place that was free of religious persecution (Baym, 2008). This bold move was just the beginning of what would redefine him as a man and label him as an American. When arriving in Plymouth, William Bradford had many responsibilities and obligations to his followers that he had influenced to accompany him on his journey. One would have to say that Bradford may have “bitten off more than he could chew” in regards to his aspirations and ambitions, he had for his new world agenda. However, it was this type of mentality that is a common fiber in the spirits of the true Americans and it is what drove and attracted people to the new land. This is in parallel with J. Hector St. John De Crevecoeur’s statement in “Letter III,” in which he writes, “here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of man, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world,” (Baym, 2008). Bradford also believed that with his leadership and his desire he could make a difference. Bradford worked hard to see that his supporters understood his vision and that it would come to fruition. This is similar to what Crevecoeur implied when he wrote, “here rewards of his industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor,” (Baym, 2008). Bradford’s account of the early settlers’ experiences does support the idea that the “American is a new man, who acts upon a new set of principles.” It is proven by Bradford’s motivation and actions when coming to the new world in what Americans still use as a measurement tool by which to gauge “The American Dream.” The dream being that any American, the new man or woman has the ability and the freedom, to make anything possible. The portrait J. Hector St. John De Crevecoeur paints of the identity of the new American man in his writing titled “Letters from an American Farmer, Letter III,” shows how leaving behind the old traditions and ideas when coming to the new world has reshaped and redefined man into a new race. As stated by Crevecoeur, “men are like plants; the goodness and flavor of the fruit proceeds from the particular soil and exposition in which they grow,” (Baym, 2008). This phrase is interpreted as great things come from certain influences and numerous elements, just like the many different cultures and countries that came to America to find their own identity.” Both of these American writers have a slightly different spin on what it is to be an American and what society views as an American, but these views melted together say one common thing. That to be an American one must make a vow to change things up and do things differently than what has been done in the past. Being an American is not a right, it is a hard-earned privilege because it exemplifies a higher level of thinking to a different way of life and acceptance of diversity in a single civilization. As Crevecoeur implies in his writing “this is every person’s country; the variety of our soil, situations, climates, governments, and produce hath something which must please everybody,” (Baym, 2008). This confirmed that the America had something for everyone and it was up to each individual to figure out and define what his or her needs and roles were. The defining of the new American is an ever changing and evolving undertaking. Its identity has taken many beatings over the generations and has had to reinvent and defend itself many times over the years. It is this original vision that has lost its shape through modern times and has changed culturally how America is viewed by its own and by outsiders. In today’s world, America is having an identity crisis of its own and it is not seen right now as the “land of milk and honey” or the “land of opportunity” as it once was. It is because of the state that our economy is currently in that America is under construction and reshaping once again. One of the original principles that America was founded on and a pillar of our moral American code has not changed or been touched and that is the freedom to choose a religion. America has prided itself on the fact that here, in America, people have the right to practice and worship any religion they see fit. It is in Crevecoeur’s word that shows the contrast between how modern day America is seen today and the America that was being originally settled and created. Crevecoeur states “he sees happiness and prosperity in all places disseminated; he meets with hospitality, kindness and plenty everywhere; he beholds hardly any poor; he seldom hears of punishment and executions; and he wonders at the elegance of our towns, those miracles of industry and freedom,” (Baym, 2008). This is very different from what new immigrants are seeing today as they land on American soil, with the hopes of the “American Dream” in mind. The depiction of America and the new man is portrayed in our American literature books as a hopeful, spirited, and energetic man that has big plans for himself and his future. He has had to write his own manual and learn from his old mistakes. He has had to take risks, by wiping his slate clean of his traditions, prejudices, culture and notions; and set his own framework and scaffolding of how he will live his life and serve as an instrument of his new country.
References
Baym, N. (2008) The Norton Anthology of American Literature (7th ed.). New York: Norton.