Response to Crevecour

  I find Crevecour’s definition of an American to be quite accurate in the sense that Americans are not necessarily pure blooded because the people who have claimed to be Americans have come from many different places. However, I disagree with him when he says they are only of European descent.  People from all over the world have made America their home.  I also don’t agree with Crevecour when he says that when people come to America they leave behind all,  “ ancient prejudices and manners”and ”receive new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced.” I think that people probably hoped to break free of the bonds that were problematic in their old land and escape - some of them probably did. But, it is too hard to let go of the many prejudices, etc. that people have held their entire lives. Crevecour’s definition of an American still holds true in some ways today, such as being able to become something better in America, the ability to come into contact with so many different races, and the ability to get quality education.  Those are some of the reasons people still come to America today.  Although I think America is still great, I feel as if we are losing some of the credibility that Crevecour claimed we had, such as us “carrying along the great mass of arts, sciences, vigor, and industry.” Americans are becoming less and less known for these things because other countries are leveling the playing field by investing and working hard.  We are starting to fall short.

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