Different ideas of what an American flourished in 1782 and later on became a part of their modern political life. It traced the roots of the “new man” called the Americans.
Benjamin Franklin believed that the Americans were a happy mediocrity in general. In his essay Information to Those Who Would Remove to America, he argued the difference between the American society and the European society. The American society was a mixture of poor and rich people, therefore equality was well-exercised. The European society exercised social classes and cultural distinctions for its citizens. There is no such thing as upper and middle class. Everyone was the same though there would always be individual differences.
Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur defined an American as a multi-cultural person, which was a result of an immigrant nation. Crevecoeur believed that American was “mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans, and Swedes[1].” The “new man” abandoned his ancient biases and adapted a new lifestyle, traditions, and etiquette through education. He put into account the perspective of the America as a melting-pot. The interacting cultures in the same region were the same as the overlap of different cultures around the globe. He developed an ambiguous view of the America due to tensions between varying cultures. Crevecouer talked to his readers as if he has a dual personality, just to depict the different sides of the story. He created an appeal to the readers by conceptualizing the span of the American territory, and then see the cultural identity of the Americans. He argued the vast cultural encounters would lead to difficulty in controlling the outflow of their national heritage.
The Americans proved themselves as a freeman due to the intensity of their work. According to Benjamin Franklin, a freeman must preserve his independence while searching for his profession, and calling without contention and corruption. Men as husbandmen or even a mechanic were still honored due to a specialized type of job they do[2]. Exaggerated expectations were very common in the emigrants of America since they have considered it as a melting pot, a land flowing with milk and honey. He cautioned migrants regarding the public offices, “no Office should be so profitable as to make it desirable.[3]” So these would-be migrants were confronted with a dilemma in which hard work would only payoff moderate rewards. Americans, to be truly free must be public-spirited. He could do the things he wanted without being shy to other people surrounding you. Virtuous people were an independent person. Being independent opens a person to lots of cultural information that they could adapt someday. It never limited their capacity for knowing and picking up the different customs and manners of emigrants. Emigrants also learn from them on how they would live their everyday life.
Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur’s created an American identity by using the controversial issue of “freeman”. He argued a freeman in an American philosophy believing in the power of hardwork with little assistance in manufacturing. He creates oneself anew to take opportunities, and to be an individualist.
Thus, the contrast of Franklin’s and Crevecoeur’s “freeman” was developed in the different social contexts of each nation.
Benjamin Franklin offered a new enthusiasm in inviting the hardworking Europeans to see the other part of the world not by confining in their social norms but by exploring the other parts of the globe. Though arts and artisans do not have much place in the Americans, they were still welcome in America since “there was room enough for them.”
Benjamin Franklin offered an advice for those who would like to go to America and try their luck in that country: People do not inquire about a stranger; instead, they inquire about the skills and abilities a person can do. Even though America is the Land of Labor, hard work, thrift, and fairness were still the keys to earn a moderate amount of money in order to survive.
America would always be the home of the Americans and other nations wanting to improve the quality of their lives. Yet, there were more things that must be understood in America’s concept as a nation. It was one of the most complex nations in the world with a vast land and a multi-cultural environment.
[2] , The Founders’ Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, Information to Those Who Would Remove to America. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch15s27.html. (2000)
[3] , The Founders’ Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, Information to Those Who Would Remove to America. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch15s27.html. (2000)
