In the third letter entitled “what is an American” of his book “letters from an American farmer” Jean de Crèvecoeur mostly answers the question of the letter’s title by giving an insight into the effects of the American environment has on an European immigrant. It gives us the various diversities between the kind of life which the Europeans lived in Europe and the way they start living in America. (Reuben)
When a Europeans go to America, they find that there are a lot of differences in almost everything between the two continents. While back in any of their native countries, say Germany, they could mostly only come into contact with their fellow Germans in a country that occupies a very small portion of the European continent.
In America, a vast country, a European will be able to meet people with very different origins, because a big percentage of Americans are from other European countries and they are all blended into a mixture.
“Here he sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, and traces in their works the embryos of all the arts, sciences, and ingenuity which nourish in Europe… It is not composed, as in Europe, of great lords who possess everything, and of a herd of people who have nothing. Here are no aristocratical families, no courts, no kings…” (Crèvecoeur).
The differences that the Europeans are exposed to in terms of how the formerly poor people adjust to life in America and start making their lives meaningful more often sows a seed of passion to imitate what the others have done in terms of hard work and success. The major differences that occur between these new Americans are brought about by the differences in the environments that they live in.
Most of the Europeans who went to America were poor in their own countries. They were looked down upon. “Alas, two thirds of them had no country. Can a wretch who wanders about, who works and starves, whose life is a continual scene of sore affliction or pinching penury …” (Crèvecoeur). They were not supported in their own countries and the laws were very harsh on the poor majority since in Europe only few people were rich and owned most of the wealth thus the gap between the rich and the poor was very big.
When they came to America, everything changed. There was a new democratic legal system which actually cared for and protected the citizens. The lifestyle changed, they were recognized as citizens with equal rights. This new environment made them change as they realized they could also be free and succeed in life like the rich people.
Crèvecoeur says “we are nothing but what we derive from the air we breathe, the climate we inhabit, the government we obey, the system of religion we profess, and the nature of our employment”. The Europeans who lived on the sea sides became boisterous, brave and inventive due to the diverse people they met and ventured into transportation of different products. The others who settled in the mid areas differed from them as they were involved more in agriculture.
Though they differed in occupation and characteristics, the general state of affairs inculcated in all them a sense of equality, freedom and belonging unlike in Europe. They developed pride, became more politically aware and involved as they participated in decision making in the issues that affected their lives. Hard work was instilled in them as they found it rewarding. They became more responsible citizens. Though Christians they became more independent in their beliefs as religion was not an all inclusive thing.
Further away from the seas were newer settlers who were more or less the same in characteristics but not well refined in culture. Even for them religion had little influence in their lives.
Those who lived close to the woods were quite independent as they were far from the government. Most of them went there due to social problems like poverty, indebtedness, unemployment and economic problems. Their unfortunate backgrounds were still replayed as the social ills did not relent. There was constant anarchy and internal disagreements. These people grew grains but mostly became mostly hunters due to their proximity to the wild animals in the woods. This isolated lifestyle let them develop some very backward shameless and lawless behaviors. According to Crèvecoeur this lifestyle rendered them ferocious, gloomy, and unsociable. With time, success and the legal system some became civilized and but the others receded further as more development conscious people replaced them.
The Europeans, though initially religious found that life in America was not influenced by religion as the beliefs were eroded and religious indifference became prevalent. They were left to worship peacefully and they did not bother other people with their religions who also left them alone. The government did not interfere so long as they were peaceful and hardworking. The denominations mingled and their religious enthusiasm diminished and they all became Americans without their former identities.
With the hectic lifestyle in America, they stopped following Christian rules strictly all together. Their children who had mixed backgrounds didn’t receive strict instructions and they had even less enthusiasm. This brought about a mix of religions, non being pure, be it catholic or Calvinism as their children intermarried. Thus the religious principles were eroded with time. Religious indifference thus became “imperceptibly disseminated” all over America. (Crèvecoeur)
Works Cited
Crèvecoeur J. Letter From an American Farmer Letter III – What Is An American. The Avalon Project 1996.Yale University. 2008. Web.
Reuben, Paul P. “Chapter 2: St. Jean De Crevecoeur.” PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. 1990. Web.