As Crevecoeur travels more, he begins to become more critical of Americans. At the beginning of his travels, he paints an idealistic portrait of America and praises it as the best society in the world. But as he learns more and more about the realities of American life, his views begin to change. In particular, his descriptions of slavery and of Native Americans reveal the reasons for his increasing pessimism.

Crevecoeur did not intend to investigate slavery in America but encountered an enslaved man who told him about his horrible experiences. The story stunned Crevecoeur, and he began to question the morality of American society.

Crevecoeur’s reactions to the brutality of slavery show that witnessing it made him more critical of the American way of life. This sentiment is also present in his descriptions of Native Americans. For example, in his last letter, he observes the values of the natives, noting that without complex political institutions like those in Europe, they are in many ways “superior.” He also describes how the natives are more connected to the Earth in a positive way. His experiences observing Native Americans makes him realize that there are more fulfilling and peaceful alternatives to the American way of life.