Jane Addams- 1903

In Jane Addams speech she discusses George Washington; what a great man he was, and the ideals he left for this country to follow. Her speech is very strategic and yet heart felt.

            A major persuasive strategy that she uses is ethos. Although people listening to this speech will know about, and who George Washington was, she creates a character that they can admire and respect. For example she discusses him as a soldier, states man, and citizen. As a soldier we admire him for, “the power of losing his own life for the life of a larger cause” and “he holds his personal suffering of no account.” This shows the love he had for his country. As a statesman she describes how tirelessly he worked on our constitution because of a “belief that they were founding a nation on the axiom that all men are created free and equal.” Lastly as a citizen Addams discusses how he never bought or sold a slave himself, and freed his on his own will. This shows that he believed in everyone being free. By creating this character that audience can connect, and create mass respect for Washington.

            Addams is responding to the historical context by discussing freedom and patriotism. The one quote that really stands out is “he is a man who had looking through the confusion of the moment and has seen the moral issue involved.” At the time of George Washington, America was fighting for their freedom, and creating a country based on those ideals. Addams’ is stressing that, so people remember who fought for them and why, and to remember how much it should be appreciated. This can always be related to the times, because even if there is nothing-tragic happening in the country, patriotism could always be re-implemented. Another idea is women’s suffrage. This speech was given in 1903, which was the beginning of the movement and women starting to speak out about the right to vote. Perhaps Addams was speaking to that, and when stressing freedom and rights that the “great George Washington” granted our country, women should be included. Possibly, she was attempting to get people thinking, with out them knowing it. Because if Washington was so passionate about freedom and rights (as he let his slaves free) what about women?