Slavery In James Crevecoeur's Ugly American

The mainstream tale of America’s founding is as follows: tired of suffering under an unjust king, some brave ex-europeans created a new government, built on the tenets of democracy, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Yet even in its embryonic stages, this clean notion of America was marred by a dark culture of willful ignorance and cognitive dissonance. James himself is a single coconspirator in this mass-perversion of the pillars in which the country was founded on and his conflicting views on slavery show that he has not given the problem of slavery much thought. Moreover, James showcases his true colors when he abruptly flees his farm in the ultimate letter. Crevecoeur sets up James as the prototypical ‘Ugly American’, ultimately …show more content…
In his initial discourse with the minister, James mentions very briefly alludes to the all encompassing “wench”(62) Wench of course referring to the slave hand that helps the hardened bootstrapping farmer with his dinner. This solitary acknowledgement of the actual slaves that enable James’ American way of life serves as a keen metaphor as James’ never truly reconciles the importance of slavery to the prosperity of America he so vehemently touts in the opening letters. Framing the supposed virtue of America in such plain, one sided terms allows Crevecoeur to slowly ease into the hypocritical core that formed our …show more content…
The American fantasy is under threat of war and James thinks he must flee to the frontier; much like his colonial forebearers did whilst leaving Europe. I would like to think that this ironic twist has much to do with Crevecoeur’s loyalist leanings .By showing the once proud American fleeing the reputed land of opportunity , Crevecoeur twists the knife viciously into the heart of the American ideal. James ditches his old fantasy for a new one; he is going to assimilate into a native tribe to the west. Yet James is not without his principles as he claims “ for however I respect, the inoffensive society of these people in their villages, the strongest prejudices would make me abhor any alliance with them in blood”(459) James wishes to adopt customs of Native Americans only on terms convenient to him. Even though James can reconcile relinquishing his title as an American farmer he refuse to cede his white skin. Crevecoeur allows James to retain only the most surface level of identity, accurately depicting the early American as intellectually