farmer essay

Mrs. Sommers
English 3 honors
12 February 2014
Letters From an American Farmer Essay Is it really worth living in America if you’re an immigrant? In Jean de Crevecoeur’s Letter from an American Farmer he talks about how living in America is better than living in Europe in 1763. During this time, countless Europeans wanted to leave Europe because of increased poverty, religious freedom, and poor harvest seasons. Immigrating to America was a good idea during the 1700’s, but now its not. Many changes have occurred since 1763 like discrimination, lack of jobs, and requirements to be a US citizen. Since 1763, The United States has made a list of requirements on how an individual can enter the country. If you wanted to move to America, back then you could just pack your stuff and go. Now we have laws like the Naturalization Act; where you are required to become a citizen for 14 years, the Alien Enemies Act; the president apprehends and deport an individual if the US and the individuals home country were at war, amongst others. According to Jean de Crevecoeur’s “Letters from an American Farmer,” “The laws the indulgent laws, protect them as they arrive”(148). If this statement is true about America today we wouldn’t have hundreds of people trying to get in the country illegally.

With the United States being in a huge recession most, of the jobs that were available last year were shipped overseas. With all of the jobs being shipped overseas it’s making it harder for anyone to get a job. “They receive ample rewards for their labors: these accumulated rewards procure them lands”(Crevecoeur148). Most of the immigrants that come to America are mainly here because we have better job opportunities and since most of the desired jobs are being shipped to other countries there is really no need to move.

One of the biggest problems that many immigrants face in the United States would be discrimination. Discrimination is being spread all over the United States. It’s on the television, in the news, and on the radio. “ I could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman, and whose present four sons have now four wives of different nations. He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners”(Crevecoeur 148). You would assume that that statement was still true today, but its not. There are a lot of people in the United States who are being judged by where they are from, who they marry, and on what race that person is.

In conclusion, I do not think that Jean de Crevecoeur’s statement about living in America is true today because we have jobs that are now being shipped over seas, new immigration laws, and an increase in discrimination.