American Identity Paper Essay Example

J. Hector St.John Crevecoeur’s 1782 letter “What Is an American” highlights the differences between Americans and Europeans in terms of political and social structures. Specifically, he noted that in Europe, great lords controlled the people and possessed all while those without power had nothing and answered to kings, bishops, and courts. In contrast, America had no great lords, and people were able to make their own choices to a certain extent. Additionally, Crevecoeur pointed out that in Europe, the rich and poor were segregated while in America they lived together and traveled the same roads. He also noted the prevalence of farming and the absence of aristocratic families in America, creating a society where everyone was equal. L