How does The American contrast American and French social values?

In The American, Henry James explores the clash between the values of the "New World" and the "Old World" through the experiences of Christopher Newman, a self-made American millionaire.12

The novel contrasts Newman’s inherent American traits—characterized by his guilelessness, forthrightness, and democratic optimism—against the rigid, exclusionary social values of the Bellegardes, a family of French aristocrats. While Newman represents an open, individualistic spirit, the Bellegardes are defined by their arrogance, cunning, and an uncompromising allegiance to social class and family tradition.13

This conflict manifests when Newman attempts to marry into the French aristocracy. Despite his wealth and character, he is deemed socially unacceptable by the Bellegardes, who prioritize their lineage and status over personal merit. Ultimately, the narrative highlights James’s recurring theme of American innocence and exuberance colliding with the complex, often corrupt, traditions of European society.124