Walt Whitman vs Crevecoeur

Both Walt Whitman and Crevecoeur were important writers of literature. However, when comparing Walt Whitman's America with Crevecoeur's What Is an American? there are noticeable similarities as well as key differences.

Similarly, both authors use America as their subject matter. This can be seen while reading both works as well as looking at the title. Both authors also say that America is a land of equality. Whitman says this "Centre of equal daughters, equal sons," and Crevocoeur says this "The rich and the poor are not so far removed from each other as they are in Europe". However, Crevocoeur goes further, saying that "...we are all tillers of the earth, from Nova Scotia to West Florida. We are a people of cultivators, scattered over an immense territory, communicating with each other by means of good roads and navigable rivers..." This takes the idea of equality in America even further by saying that the people of the United States are united through their work as farmers and people of the land. Overall, Whitman and Crevocoeur both are similar in their writings of the use of America and equality.

While both authors have similar subject matter, each work has differences. One of which is the type of work. Crevecoeur wrote a book "Letters from an American Farmer", where this excerpt was taken, in 1782. In 1782, the United States of America was a new nation, which would explain how Crevecoeur writes in his work. Whitman wrote America in the mid 19th century. This time period difference would have a vast effect on the work. Whitman would have seen the Civil War and the US almost split. Because of this, Whitman uses the phrase "Chair'd in the adamant of Time". This phrase means that he wants to see the United States stand together and survive the test of time. Crevecoeur has no such message in his writing, instead only talking about the founding of America "I wish I could be acquainted with the feelings and thoughts which must agitate the heart and present themselves to the mind of an enlightened Englishman, when he first lands on this continent. He must greatly rejoice that he lived at a time to see this fair country discovered and settled;" Crevecoeur talks about how he wishes to know how the first settlers of the United States felt, and how they must feel now that the territory has been settled and become a new nation. Cevecoeur also talks about how hard work will allow someone to survive and thrive in the world.

What does it mean to be American?

What does it mean to be an American? Depending on who you ask, you will get different results. For example, if you were to ask a history teacher, it would mean to be from the United States and if you asked an economist, it would mean someone who became successful. However I think it means to be free. One of the core values that America was founded on was the idea of natural rights. This idea was first proposed by the philosopher John Locke, who said that mankind has certain, undeniable rights to life, liberty and property and it was the governments job to protect these rights. This key root is one of the main causes for the founding of the United States. Thomas Jefferson proves this when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, saying "...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

When we use the word freedom, most people use it in the sense of "I will do anything I want to because this is a free country" and they are wrong. The dictionary definition of freedom is "The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint." Just because you have the ability to do anything you want does not mean that you should. For example, I could walk down the street and punch a random person in the face. However they have the freedom to punch me back as well. The best illustration of freedom would be the saying "my right to throw punches ends at your face". In a free country I have the ability to do anything, as long as it doesn't affect you. That is what it truly means to be American. Being American means you can work as hard as you want, say what you want, and be what you want and no one can stop you, which is the true essence of freedom. It's a shame that other countries don't allow that, because it brings along progress. If we couldn't say what we wanted to, then how could we criticize and improve on ideas and inventions? If we couldn't be who we wanted, how would our culture evolve and establish ourselves as Americans?