Lafayette, America's Hero: The Growth of a Legend

View/ Open
Date
1963Author
Bloxom, Marguerite Doris
Advisor
Beall, Otho T.
DRUM DOI
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The legend of Lafayette began to grow about the time
of his 1784 goodwill visit to the United States. Identical
biographical sketches of Lafayette appeared in several early
histories of the Revolutionary War, and similar versions
were included in other histories. The core of the sketch
was the picture of a young French nobleman, inspired by the
ideals of liberty and equality, who came to America at great
personal sacrifice and his own expense to take part in the
fight for freedom. His story was used to add weight to the
rightness of the action of the American patriots, and to
stimulate feelings of national pride.
After the turn of the century, the story of Lafayette
became shorter and more routine. It was dropped from some
textbooks, and was greatly abbreviated in others. It seems
probable that while Lafayette would not have been forgotten,
his place in American history would have been small, perhaps
even obscure, if he had not visited America again in 1824.
During this last visit, after an absence of forty
years, the General received an enthusiastic and overwhelming
reception. Interest in Lafayette revived quickly, and
accounts of him appeared in newspapers, periodicals and
separate books. The importance of his contribution to the
foundation of the United States was emphasized; as a hero,
he approached the position of America's savior. In addition,
his personal characteristics endeared him to the people. In
all probability, Americans' lasting esteem for Lafayette was
developed as a result of the 1824 visit.