1 18th , 19th centuries
1.1 degeneracy thesis
1.2 culture
1.3 politics , ideology
18th , 19th centuries
degeneracy thesis
in mid- late-eighteenth century, theory emerged among european intellectuals new world landmasses inherently inferior europe. so-called degeneracy thesis held climatic extremes, humidity , other atmospheric conditions in america physically weakened both men , animals. american author james w. ceaser , french author philippe roger (fr) have interpreted theory kind of prehistory of anti-americanism . , have (in words of philippe roger) been historical constant since 18th century, or again endlessly repetitive semantic block . others, jean-françois revel, have examined lay hidden behind fashionable ideology. purported evidence idea included smallness of american fauna, dogs ceased bark, , venomous plants; 1 theory put forth new world had emerged biblical flood later old world. native americans held feeble, small, , without ardor.
the theory originated comte de buffon, leading french naturalist, in histoire naturelle (1766). french writer voltaire joined buffon , others in making argument. dutchman cornelius de pauw, court philosopher frederick ii of prussia became leading proponent. while buffon focused on american biological environment, de pauw attacked people native continent. james ceaser has noted denouncement of america inferior europe in part motivated german government s fear of mass emigration; de pauw called on convince germans new world inferior. de pauw known have influenced philosopher immanuel kant in similar direction.
de pauw said new world unfit human habitation because was, ill-favored nature contains either degenerate or monstrous . asserted that, earth, full of putrefacation, flooded lizards, snakes, serpents, reptiles , insects . taking long-term perspective announced was, conquest of new world...has been greatest of misfortunes befall mankind .
the theory made easy argue natural environment of united states prevent ever producing true culture. echoing de pauw, french encyclopedist abbé raynal wrote in 1770, america has not yet produced poet, able mathematician, 1 man of genius in single art or single science . theory debated , rejected american thinkers such alexander hamilton, benjamin franklin, , thomas jefferson; jefferson, in notes on state of virginia (1781), provided detailed rebuttal of de buffon scientific point of view. hamilton vigorously rebuked idea in federalist no. 11 (1787).
one critic, citing raynal s ideas, suggests extended english colonies become united states.
roger suggests idea of degeneracy posited symbolic, scientific, america evolve beyond original thesis. argues buffon s ideas formed root of stratification of negative discourses has recurred throughout 2 countries relationship (and has been matched persistent anti-gallic sentiment in united states).
culture
according brendan o connor, europeans criticized americans lacking taste, grace , civility , having brazen , arrogant character. british author frances trollope observed in 1832 book domestic manners of americans greatest difference between england , united states want of refinement , explaining polish removes coarser , rougher parts of our nature unknown , undreamed of in america. according 1 source account succeeded in angering americans more book written foreign observer before or since . english writer captain marryat s critical account in diary in america, remarks on institutions (1839) proved controversial, in detroit effigy of author, along books, burned. other writers critical of american culture , manners included bishop talleyrand in france , charles dickens in england. dickens novel martin chuzzlewit (1844) ferocious satire on american life.
simon schama says: end of nineteenth century, stereotype of ugly american – voracious, preachy, mercenary, , bombastically chauvinist – firmly in place in europe . o connor suggests such prejudices rooted in idealised image of european refinement , notion of high european culture pitted against american vulgarity has not disappeared.
politics , ideology
the young united states faced criticism on political , ideological grounds. ceaser argues romantic strain of european thought , literature, hostile enlightenment view of reason , obsessed history , national character, disdained rationalistic american project. german poet nikolaus lenau commented: expression bodenlosigkeit (absence of ground), think able indicate general character of american institutions; call fatherland here property insurance scheme . ceaser argues in essay such comments repurposed language of degeneracy, , prejudice came focus solely on united states , not canada , mexico. lenau had emigrated united states in 1833 , found country did not live ideals, leading him return germany following year. experiences in usa subject of novel entitled tired of america (der amerika-müde) (1855) fellow german ferdinand kürnberger.
the nature of american democracy questioned. sentiment country lacked [a] monarch, aristocracy, strong traditions, official religion, or rigid class system, according rubin, , democracy attacked europeans in nineteenth century degraded, travesty, , failure. french revolution, loathed many european conservatives, implicated united states , idea of creating constitution on abstract , universal principles. country intended bastion of liberty seen fraudulent given had been established slavery. how hear loudest yelps liberty among drivers of negroes? asked samuel johnson in 1775. famously stated that, willing love mankind, except american .
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