"Literary Nationalism"

During the early 19th century when these works were written ("Rip van Winkle" and "My Kinsman, Major Molineaux"), America was trying to establish itself as a new nation as opposed to Britain's colony. People have said that during this time, many writers exhibited "literary nationalism", whether it be through their writing as a whole or through a specific character in their writing(s). How do you think these two stories reflect this time period's struggles and/or exhibit "literary nationalism" towards America?

Who were the "real" Americans?

After reading texts from the three authors, Crevecoeur, Tocqueville and Turner, we started to notice how their views of the colonial Americans were in some places different and in some very similar.  In each text, each author describes who they believed to be "real" Americans and how these Americans emerged among Europeans.  How do Crevecoeur, Tocqueville, and Turner differ in their beliefs of who were the "real" Americans?  How were their beliefs similar?

Homer Simpson, the embodiment of Americans nowadays...

During the last few days we were reading critiques about American society during the 17th century. I want to kind of continue the  discussion from the previous week. We talked about America and its puritan traits today. Now I want you to think about the democracy and what effect had democracy on the development of American qualities. Do Americans still have the qualities of De Crevecoeur's farmer or do they have the traits of Groening's Homer Simpson?