As a nation so powerful, America continued to prompt curiosity and interest abroad, especially with men of letters. In 1842, Englishman Charles Dickens, though primarily known for his fiction, wrote American Notes for General Circulation, a travelogue that not only described geography and landscape for his British readership, but also provided an outsider's look at American society. He chronicled his experiences visiting mental institutions, prisons, and even tobacco spitting contests. He criticized copyright laws as well as slavery, and tried to be fair in his assessment of the country, or even favorable, as noted in his preface: "Prejudiced, I am not, and never have been, otherwise than in favour of the United States…. To represent me as viewing AMERICA with ill-nature, coldness, or animosity, is merely to do a very foolish thing."
At the turn of the twentieth century, the American dream called to people worldwide. Between 1900 and 1910, over nine million immigrants entered the United States. Though centuries had passed since the arrival of the pilgrims, people still came to America because of religious persecution, as well as social and economic opportunities. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson reminded people about their patriotic duty and global responsibility as Americans.
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