One of the things that De Crevecouer thinks makes America exceptional is the natural surroundings and nature found within the country, and through his descriptions of the land he very much sums up the fundamental building block of The United States, that of freedom. This is made apparent from the very beginning and throughout all of his letters. He makes comparisons to Europe to emphasise the abundance of resources and choice and personifies the plants and trees, in the way they spread, grow and have so much freedom about them.
"American, wild cherry-trees, such as nature forms them here, in all her unconfined vigour, in all the amplitude of their extended limbs and spreading ramifications, - let him see that we are possessed with strong vegetative embryos." (P.19)
"Were I in Europe, I should be tired with perpetually seeing espaliers, plashed hedges, and trees dwarfed into pigmies." (P.19)
America is exceptional because it has such vast space, nothing needs to be cramped and packed in together like it is in Europe. As well as having new and varied species, not the same monotonous scenery. This again, can be compared to the people within America as the diverse population gets the chance to start in a fresh, new land and do what it is they desire to do, with the freedom and opportunity to do it.
"Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. . . . An immigrant when he first arrives . . . no sooner breathes our air than he forms new schemes, and embarks in designs he never would have thought of in his own country" (P.44)
However, is this idea of freedom being what makes America exceptional just a thing of the past? It didn't take long to find sources that disagree with De Crevecouer's idea, such as this quote from an article on http://uk.askmen.com/daily/blogs/news/is-america-exceptional.html
"How exceptional do Americans truly feel after the last eight years? Today we are facing wars that we can’t win, a housing crisis, a crashing market, skyrocketing fuel prices, massive unemployment, and our government is bailing out mortgage lenders -- just to name a few."
(To see more opinions go to: http://uk.askmen.com/includes/components/posts/postPage.php?id=1002531&p=1)
I did find an article that did support the views of De Crevecouer though, entitled "Why is America Exceptional" by Matthew Spalding, Ph.D.
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/09/why-is-america-exceptional
He writes about America after they gained their independence in 1776 and although it is primarily about the principles found within the Declaration of Independence he brings up a couple of points that show De Crevecouer's vision to still be around today.
"To this day, so many years after the American Revolution, these principles—proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence and promulgated by the United States Constitution—still define America as a nation and a people. Which is why friends of freedom the world over look to the United States not only as an ally against tyrants and despots but also as a powerful beacon to all those who strive to be free."
Another point he brings to our attention is that of equality and religious freedom, an idea raised by De Crevecouer as well.
"There is room for every body in America."
"Then the Americans become, as to religion what they are as to country, allied to all." (P.48)
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