American dreams,American imperatives

In this article I.F. Clarke continues his theme that the special nature of life in the American colonies inevitably led to an extra-European view of society. That can in general be called a composite idea—individuality, liberty, freedom, and great opportunities—and it appealed to many Europeans who saw in the USA a hope for the future and a model for imitation. It is reported that when some of Robert Owen's contingent crossed the Atlantic to New Harmony, they celebrated their approach to New York with a song composed by one of the party. ‘Land of the West! we come to thee,’ they sang. ‘ Sick of the old world's sophistry’, they went on. Today, only the well-off can sail into New York, usually on the QE2, and they do not usually sing as they sail.