I recently came across a document, “What Is An American?”, written by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur in 1782 discussing the concept of an American. J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur was born in France, made his way to Canada and served as an officer in a militia. He moved to New York to get a fresh start on life, changed his name, language, occupation, everything. Later he made his way back to France but still held onto his concept of an American.
I really found it fascinating that even though America was just a brand new nation, John de Crevecoeur saw the potential of this place. He discussed the idea of America being a melting pot of acceptance and diversity.
I especially liked how he described the family: An Englishman married to a Dutch woman had a son who married a French woman. The son and the French woman had four sons who each married women from 4 different nations.
Throughout U.S. history, opposition toward immigration has always been prevalent, so it was interesting to read praises in support of the melting pot concept rather than fear of the unique and unknown.
My favorite part of the entire document are these sentences, “Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world… The Americans were once scattered all over Europe; here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared, and which will hereafter become distinct by the power of the different climates they inhabit.” And then he continues, “The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.”
I love that! Several races from around the world came together to combine and form a new race of man, acting upon new principles to make the finest system ever to inhabit the world; John de Crevecoeur saw the big picture, he could see the potential that was being established.
John de Crevecoeur also recognized that this great gift of being an American would carry enormous responsibility; “he must therefore entertain new ideas and form new opinions”. In a time where there was little National Pride; our nation was not yet the world power that we have the privilege of growing up in. In a time where the framework was still in the infant stages, John de Crevecoeur almost seemed as if he was able to glimpse into the future to see the influence that this nation would have on the world.
His message was not just to those who inhabited the Americas in 1782, but rather to anyone who chose to become a part of this race – all have the responsibility to continue to seek new, innovated ways to help the progression of mankind, to make the world a better place for all of its inhabitants. The ideas of civil liberties and self-reliance were never meant to be only for the lucky 5% of U.S. citizens; it has always been the intention that this 5% would be the breading ground for new ideas and new opinions that will benefit America as well as the other 95% of mankind.
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