A Study Of The French-Americans' History And Characteristics From The 17th Century To The 19th Century

As we all know, America is a country made up of immigrants. Its immigrants almost come from all the countries and regions in the world. The research on this subject has a long history, and its focus is quite varied. However, comparatively speaking, the study on the French immigrants is not sufficient. There exists many causes. For example, the total number of French immigrants is relatively small, which results in the ignorance of this subject as far as the American academe is concerned. On the other side, the French academe always seems to be indifferent to this subject intentionally. Nevertheless, the French immigrants still have theirs own distinctive characteristics : French immigration has been the smallest and most stable of that of any European country, and the rate of returning has been very high, even though the French have been successful in the United States. One of the most significant characteristics is that French Americans are mostly composed of middle class.This thesis is divided into three parts.The preface reviews the immigration history of French immigrants, including several immigration peaks. Then it combs the status quo of French immigrant researches.The author organizes the straight matter with emphasizing explaining the characteristic of French immigrants, which means that they are mainly composed of people from middle class. Chapter one summarizes the dimension and history of French immigrants according to the causes: religion, economy and politics. Then, from the angle of the French history, it tries to explain why, unlike other immigrants which are mainly made up of low class represented by farmers, French immigrants are mostly composed of middle class possessed of some skills. Chapter two discusses the complex views of the French intelligentsia towards North America in the eighteenth century. Different opinions are presented tit for tat and interweaved continually. The focus is whether North America is suitable for the living and development of European people. However, the ordinary French people care little about these discussions, which explains why they seldom chose North America as their destination. With the outbreak of Seven Year's War in the 1860s', the reports about North America increase progressively, and the exchange between these two countries becomes more frequently. Especially the appearance of Benjamin Franklin spurs the Americanism in France. With the push and pull power, as well as the turbulence caused by the French Revolution, quite a number of French middle class go to the United States. Chapter three focuses on the DuPont family. Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, an nobility during the Ancient Regime, experiences the French Revolution and loses his nobility status. Moreover, thanks to his special identity, he is quite familiar with both high class of these two countries. As a member of physiocracy, when his theory loses support in France, he chooses to go to America to realize his dream. Unfortunately, the conditions of America make him feel at loose ends, and he is forced to go back to France. But the situation of America changes a lot, and finally he passes away in America. However, his second son Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, with his own endeavor as well as the good opportunity offered by the time, became a successful model of French middle class immigrants in the United States.