What Is an American

American Identity

Jennifer Black

University of Phoenix

American Identity

What is an American? That is a question that has many different answers. According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary (n.d.), an American is a citizen of the United States, but being an American means much more. When one reads the letter that J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur wrote to a friend in England, a grander, more poignant idea of what it means to be an American comes to mind. The words he uses to describe the land, people and lifestyles makes one feel as if they could be seeing it for themselves. He is painting a picture with words so his friend can experience the wonders of this New World, this new society and what he believes is the definition of an American.

America is referred to as the Melting Pot. It was founded by different people, from different cultures and from nations. According to Crevecoeur that is one item that distinguishes an American from a European. They come from various bloodlines and backgrounds and with the intermingling of these cultures the American was born.

The mixing of these people in the British North American colonies contributed immensely to the creation of a unique American identity. Crevecoeur writes about a common colonial community of which each neighbor is from a different country and of a different religion. He speaks of the fact that they worship God in different ways but ultimately they are worshipping the same Eminent Being. The neighbors are tolerant and respectful of each other. Even though each is different they have a common goal. Each family wants to create a strong healthy community in which they can raise their children and enjoy the bounty of their hard work. Through these strong communities and the mingling of cultures, new families were born to carry on the uniqueness of the American identity.

J. Hector St John de Crevecoeur also writes about the strong love of country colonial Americans had. He...