Letters from an American Farmer (1782)

1. Letters from an American Farmer (1782) Michel St. John de Crevecoeur Kristen Icenhower

2. Born:Michel- Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur Caen, Normandy 1735-1813 Age 19 moved to England/engaged 1755 enlisted in the Canadian militia 1759-69 surveyor/Indian trader in the New England colonies 1769 married Mehetable Tippet Alias: J. Hector St. John bought land in Orange County, NY Farm: Pine Hill Tory sympathizer While trying to leave New England he was captured as a British spy. Finally reached London in 1780 and remained in France until 1783. Background

3. Cont. Background • On return to America he learned that his farm had been burned in an Indian attack, his wife was killed and his children were living with strangers. • Made honorary citizen of many American cities for his diplomacy, and St. Johnsbury, Vermont was named in his honor. • 1785 Returned to France for good and lived in Paris • 1793 retired to Normandy

4. What is an American? • 12 Letters • Wrote letters while living in Pine Hill • Sold letters to a Bookseller in London • First appeared in 1782 • Ubi panis ibi patria?? Motto of emigrants (The land I work is my country.)

5. Discussion of Text • “The American ought therefore to love this country much better than that wherein either he or his forefathers were born.” What is he saying? • Why does he not support the American Revolution? • Was religion as open as he would have his readers to believe?

6. Historical Significance • Historically the document is taken from a fictional essay. “James”, the character of the book, is fictional. Creveceour wrote many great things about this nation and in that, literary Americans and politicians draw from its romanticism and optimism that plays in all of our minds of how we (Americans) view our country.