Rhetorical Analysis Of Crevecoeur's Migration To America

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In 1782 J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur wrote about the migration of Europeans into America. He was a French aristocrat who settled into the American colonies where he purchased a farm in New York. Crevecoeur is explaining that America is made up of different cultures and is a new place that is equal to all people, and explains so with a passive tone and a powerful use of rhetoric. Crevecoeur’s purpose of the reading is to convince Europeans to move to America and that everyone will be treated equal and given an opportunity at a good life. In this quote, “He is either a European or the descendent of a European” Crevecoeur states that we are all brothers and sisters in the new American colonies. He starts by showing how Europeans were treated. He states that the poor are not treated well and that the rich don’t care about the poor. He then switches to say that in the American colonies things are different. That instead of there being social classes like in Europe, people are together as one. Crevecoeur’s imagery is strong throughout his essay. He quotes “wanting vegetative mold and refreshing showers; they withered and were mowed down by want, hunger, and war.” He uses the example of the Europeans being like plants, wanting life and a place to call their own, but they are being withered or humiliated in their homeland. Early on in the essay he states …show more content…

“He is an American who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced.” In the quote Crevecoeur shows that the prejudice life that Europeans were living is no longer an issue due to the movement or migration of Europeans to the American colonies. Crevecoeur’s repetition of the word “new” shows that it truly is a new beginning and a change in life for everyone. It is no longer the old way of life and they are no longer labeled as the poor or the weak, but now everyone is equal and nobody has