Crevecouer And America In The 18th Century

The Early Americans really had it figured out. In 18th century Europe, aristocracy created an insurmountable gap between the wealthy and the poor, and despite citizens’ great efforts, this gap could not be bridged- until America. According to St. John Crevecouer, the Americans possessed a new and unique way of life, differing from Europe’s “great lords who possess everything”. He claimed that the American people comprised of “no courts, no kings,” and laid claim to “no great refinements of luxury”. Crevecouer compared America in such a stark contrast to Europe in an attempt to emphasize what a grand scale turn of events was. Never before had the Englishman been given a chance to see eye to eye with his peers, whom all began on a plot of land