Some might suggest it is a land of opportunity and freedom of expression, as it was often considered, and hoped for, by those who colonised it in the seventeenth century. However, particularly outside the United States, we can see a quite alternative interpretation to this naïve and somewhat dated description.

The overwhelming social and economical hierarchy displays a massively contradictory attitude to this concept of equality for all. Although this does mirror some initial acceptance and even encouragement of an almost feudal system, as early as 1630. Aboard the Arbella, en route to the New World, John Winthropp described the inequality of wealth and social/political status (into which people were born at the time) as “for the glory of (the individual’s) Creator and the common good of the creature, man.”

Later however the religious emphasis put on American lifestyle by the first Puritan settlers was lost, to an extent, with writers such as Franklin who suggested it was not a message from God whether or not, for instance, a c

‘ “Henceforth be masterless,” retorts Ben. “Be ye each one his own master unto himself, and don’t let even the Lord put His spoke in.” ’

Franklin also believed that only people of the nature which he encouraged could truly be free, which one could argue was his reason for encouraging ‘virtuous’ lifestyles of ‘industrious, frugal, independent and public-spirited’ people, as he strove for independence, or freedom, from British influence and order. Franklin is taken in history to have launched the revolution in the minds of the American people, and for the good of the people, although many suggest he took on this role during the first rumblings of independence so that he may assume power of these apparently free thinking, self sufficient people.

This emphasis on violence is still very present in American society, supported by the fear which many believe is instilled in the American public like it is in no other nation, through their selective media coverage. However Jefferson would have his audience believe that even if violence does occur as a result of America resisting external oppression, then any casualties will be justified for the good of the whole people, the country as an establishment, and as the example to all other ways of life. And indeed this very attitude is itself upheld; as long as a greater good is served, then force is a perfectly just way of enforcing what the United States believes is the correct conduct of a society. In effect, this is the land of the free, as long as you adhere to basic morals of the dominant ideology and are willing to reject and attack other countries and social systems if they do not do the same.

Some topics in this essay:
Benjamin Franklin, Franklin’s American, John Winthropp, United America, British Empire, George III, Franklin Jefferson, British America, English Americans, Gazette Franklin, eighteenth century, benjamin franklin, declaration independence, rest world, american culture, american dream, establishment america, today’s society, financial gain, ‘american dream’,