American Character Analysis

Defining the American character is quite difficult because American identity is vaguely founded on shared values and ideologies, more so than a particular creed, race, or culture. In order to describe the American character, we will consider the dominate and distinctive qualities of Americans as interpreted by J. Hector St. Jon De Crèvecoeur and Thomas Paine. First, we will examine how Crèvecoeur illustrates Americans as industrious, prideful, and political in “Letters from an American Farmer.” Then, we will analyze from Thomas Paine's “Common Sense” how he depicts the prevalent qualities of Americans to be driven by justice, liberty, emotions, and individualism. Also, because both authors consider the American character and culture different

from many other nations, we will establish how Crèvecoeur implies diversity among Americans distinguishes American identity. Finally, we will consider how Paine describes Americans with a unique opportunity in the New World that creates a diverse nation built on courage and the ideas of change. In consideration to both authors, we can conclude America's diversity and fairly new identity distinguishes its people because of this American character consists of industry, independence, liberty, pride, ego, and self-interest. Because American character is more individualized and complex, we will examine the common personality traits among Americans, prior to the Revolutionary War, according to the experiences of immigrant writers.
The American characteristics depicted by Crèvecoeur and Paine are significant because we can derive traits that are common to Americans from a broader perspective. Crèvecoeur was well-traveled and visited many countries including England, Canada, and eventually America. Being a native of Normandy, he describes Americans as self-reliant, persevering, and prideful in his “Letters from an American Farmer.” He began writing his portrayal of the American character during the Revolutionary War, from his home in New York. During this time, Crèvecoeur depicts his experiences of Americans to be people who are self-sufficient, self-employed, and individualist. He admits, “we are all animated with the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself” (310). Crèvecoeur claims Americans work harder because they work for themselves. He further explains that Americans have a sense of pride for achieving personal freedom from government, religion, or any obligations that are not of their own. While individualism is significant, Crèvecoeur explains that the American character is somewhat narcissistic. In doing this, he implies American traits are to be more self-reliant, but their behavior is governed by self-interests. Crèvecoeur suggests Americans live according to “industry, good living, selfishness, litigiousness, country politics, the pride of freemen,” and that “religious indifference are their characteristics” (313). Though Americans are portrayed as almost combative, prideful, and egocentric, during this time, America was struggling to claim it's independence from Britain. This is important because Crèvecoeur suggests that American traits are perhaps intertwined by the current circumstances, causing the American character also to be more industrious, politically involved, and prideful.
According to England-born, American Revolutionist, Thomas Paine, prevalent traits of the American character are based on a creed of justice, liberty, and individualism. Because Americans are not unified by religion, race, or traditions,Thomas Paine portrays Americans as like-minded individuals who are defined by their love of civil rights and freedom. In “Common Sense,” Paine describes “this new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe” (327). Paine suggests American culture becomes established by a strong sense of individualism, and freedom from government, religion, and dated traditions. While Crèvecoeur insinuates American individualism has evolved into egotism, Paine considers Americans are temperamental due to a passion for justice and autonomy. Paine simply suggests that being over emotional is justified by America's conviction of high integrity. He states, “the robber and the murderer, would often escape unpunished, did not the injuries which our tempers sustain provoke us into justice” (331). Considering Paine was writing while Americans were struggling for an independent government outside of British rule, he confesses that it was somewhat necessary for Americans to be proactive in order for Americans to have personal rights and freedoms. Crèvecoeur occupation as a diplomat and Paine's career as a revolutionist are significant because they provide similar definitions of the American character from two very different experiences with their knowledge of the world outside of America.
The American identity is unique because it is founded on shared principles, values, and morals instead of a specific organization, culture, race, or religion.

Crèvecoeur depicts Americans as though they are a new race or sub-set of people formed from European descent. He mentions, “they are a mixture of English, Scotch, Irish, French, Dutch, Germans and Swedes. From this promiscuous breed, that race now called Americans have arisen” (310-311). Although the American character is founded on liberty, industry, independence, and happiness, Crèvecoeur mentions how extraordinary the diversity is among Americans. Although many Americans came from different customs, traditions, and governments, Crèvecoeur suggests their ability to unite on relatively new ideologies distinguishes them as a nation. Also, adopting the customs of America and rendering an individual's previous traditions, seems to be the product of the high-risk, high-hope behavior distinctive to Americans. He defines, “he is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds” (312). Incorporating new doctrines, governments, and hierarchies the American character develops with the growth of the nation. This becomes exclusive to American identity because it is relatively new as is the American nation and culture. While Americans are unified by similar ideas, and those ideas

influenced their character, Crèvecoeur would consider that the cultural, religious, and traditional diversity among Americans distinguishes them as a new nation that is much different from any other.
During this time, the American character was evolving under the influences of revolution, new freedoms, independence, and courage, which ultimately distinguished the Americans from the British and as a people.

While Crèvecoeur may insist cultural diversity is the significant quality that establishes American character from any other nation, he and Paine agree that the American identity is formed by the ideas of freedom, civil rights, and justice. According to Micheal True, Paine is able to capture how Americans dream of personal freedom, and how a fairly new and untested government becomes unique to their experience. True depicts Paine's “ essays embellished the American dream and showed a deep trust in the democratic process, as represented by the colonial experiment. It showed a firm belief in a new age, free of the burdens of the past. “ (American Writers:A Collection of Literary Biographies, 506). While Americans seem to demand more from their governments and justice systems, Paine suggests Americans have an uncommon character for justice. Paine says what is lawful and ethical according to the common people is a ubiquitous and specific trait to the Americans. He admits American justice and integrity, “they distinguish us from the herd of common animals” (331). While freedom, justice, and civil rights can be desires of the character from many other nations, the opportunity to enact their ideologies into a new society separates Americans from those under a pre-existing

government.
In conclusion, by defining the American character according to foreign diplomats and revolutionists prior to the Revolutionary war, we are able to understand the complex circumstances that created the American identity that is still affluent today. Both Crèvecoeur and Paine agree that the dominate traits of Americans are industrious, self-reliant, prideful, and individualistic, however, cultural and religious diversity, along with the development of a relatively new nation, distinguishes Americans from any other nations. Crèvecoeur and Paine's portrayals of the American values and customs are important because they provide an educated and unbiased opinion from well-traveled individuals.