Creating a Better America
Dania Orozco
February 6, 2013
AP English II
2nd pd.
J. Hector St. John de Crevecouer had a unique opinion about America in the late 1700s. He believed that every person that lived here shared some things in common, “Here [in America] individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great change in the world… The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore, entertain new ideas, and form new opinions” (Crevecouer).
Throughout the years many changes have occurred in America, but since the independence of this country the government has always been “of the people, by the people, for the people” (Lincoln). The concept of America is to create a new country different from any other. Where everyone is equal and people can achieve their dreams and goals as long as hard work is done. President Lincoln’s speech, delivered in devotion of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, has a connection to the quote by the Frenchman J. Hector St. John de Crevecouer written in 1793. Both emphasize that the hard work of men will not be in vain. “…New race of men, whose labor and posterity will one day cause great change in the world” (Crevecouer). Both had the same idea when Lincoln stated, “The world will little note, nor longer remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” As Lincoln concludes his speech he mentions, “these dead shall not have died in vain,” which means the effort of all the men that fought in the battle of Gettysburg will always be remembered and he makes it clear that they have helped America grow in one way or another.
Many people had the same opinion about America at different time periods. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence he also agreed with Crevecouer without even knowing. When America declared its independence, one of the most important pieces of information was when Jefferson wrote, "We hold these truths to be
February 6, 2013
AP English II
2nd pd.
J. Hector St. John de Crevecouer had a unique opinion about America in the late 1700s. He believed that every person that lived here shared some things in common, “Here [in America] individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great change in the world… The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore, entertain new ideas, and form new opinions” (Crevecouer).
Throughout the years many changes have occurred in America, but since the independence of this country the government has always been “of the people, by the people, for the people” (Lincoln). The concept of America is to create a new country different from any other. Where everyone is equal and people can achieve their dreams and goals as long as hard work is done. President Lincoln’s speech, delivered in devotion of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, has a connection to the quote by the Frenchman J. Hector St. John de Crevecouer written in 1793. Both emphasize that the hard work of men will not be in vain. “…New race of men, whose labor and posterity will one day cause great change in the world” (Crevecouer). Both had the same idea when Lincoln stated, “The world will little note, nor longer remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” As Lincoln concludes his speech he mentions, “these dead shall not have died in vain,” which means the effort of all the men that fought in the battle of Gettysburg will always be remembered and he makes it clear that they have helped America grow in one way or another.
Many people had the same opinion about America at different time periods. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence he also agreed with Crevecouer without even knowing. When America declared its independence, one of the most important pieces of information was when Jefferson wrote, "We hold these truths to be