What is an American?

Harold Ickes What is an American?

By: Elizabeth AvilesMs. Winsley English 11Fourth periodMarch 27, 2013Background Harold Ickes was born March 15, 1874 in Frankstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated as a lawyer at the University of Chicago.

He married a wealthy widow and had a son.

He worked for Theodore Roosevelt in his presidential election, but later on switched to Hiram Johnson which was unsuccessful. Than he became Secretary of the Interior for Franklin D. Roosevelt, yet he ended up resigning because he didnt like the way things were run.

He decided to present this speech to the public to specify why America should get involved in a war that hasnt yet directly affected us.

He passed away on February 3, 1952 in Washington.

Tell me what he decided to write/give this speech? 2Harold Ickes giving the speechThis is no video of Harold giving his speech.

My video

SOAPSToneHarold is stating what he believes an American stands for and why he thinks America should act in the war. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.Declaration of Independence- We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.By stating liberty it would go back to the speech which is Harolds point, to join the war and give everybody liberty.

SubjectOccasion SOAPSToneHarold was taking the chance to address his opinion on the issue if the U.S. should take part of the European war. On I am an American Day in New York central park. I say that it is time for the great American people to raise its voice and cry out in mighty triumph what it is to be an American.- During this speech Harold used I which means his opinion and later throughout the sentence he goes on to detail that Americans should make clear what it is to be a true American.

AudienceSOAPSToneThe audience for this speech would be any American that was considering taking part of the war, or anybody that has their doubt on why the U.S. should get involved.This is not a direct sentence from the speech, but a sentence of the description of the speech. - Many Americans, however, still questioned the wisdom and necessity of direct U.S. involvement in the European war. PurposeSOAPSToneThis speech was told to convince Americans that Europe needs our help defeating Hitler, so that he will not gain world domination. If Britain should be defeated, then the totalitarian undertaker will prepare to hang crepe on the door of our own independence.- I choose this sentence to serve as the purpose because it explains to you that if Britain were defeated, then Hitler would target the U.S.SpeakerSOAPSToneHarold Ickes is giving this speech on May 18, 1941. His a man with a plan to join the war, so that everyone can live in peace. I mean a future when free men will live free lives in dignity and in security.- The speaker (Harold) is stating that if we work hard for our country we will receive satisfaction and a reward. ToneSOAPSTonePersuasive, urgent, and audacious.Persuasive- The entire speech was focused upon persuading America to join the war.Urgent- We must know our will and make it felt. And we must hurry- Harold is implicating that we must hurry to make a decision if we want to see positive results. Audacious- Harold is taking a bold risk by trying to convince Americans to go into war knowing it will cost peoples life's. Major PremiseWe must also do everything to restore to the conquered peoples their freedom. This means the Germans too.

- The overall idea of going to war and helping Britain defeat Hitler was to make the world a safer place. After that you would help the people live a normal life where they have freedom and liberty. Thats what Harolds main point was to this speech, to help defeat Hitler before its to late. - Harold wanted to make sure that even if we won the war we would help the Germans. A true American would not turn their back on someone when they are in need of help. 11Ethos"The British nation can be counted upon to carry through to victory any struggle that it once enters upon no matter how long such a struggle may last or however great the sacrifices that may be necessary or whatever the means that have to be employed; and all this even though the actual military equipment at hand may be utterly inadequate when compared with that of other nations. By stating this quote from Hitler, Harold makes sure to convince the audience that he knows what hes talking about. This quote was just extra to his ethos because the audience are already going to believe what his saying due to the fact that his the Secretary of Interior.

Why have some of us been behaving like scared chickens? In the beginning of his speech Harold asks this question. Knowing well that this would cause the majority of the audience to get angry and pay more attention to see how he would back up his response. Pathos

What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. Harold is stating what he believes a American is made of. Its obvious that Harold would state this because its the main focus of this speech and its the reason the audience are there.Plus, the majority of the audience would agree that this is not want defines an American. Logos

RepetitionSome amongst us have begun to preach that the "wave of the future" has passed over us and left us a wet, dead fish.They shout--from public platforms in printed pages, through the microphones--that it is futile to oppose the "wave of the future.The so-called "wave of the future" is but the slimy backwash of the past.Harold used the metaphor wave of the future which means something that we are doing now that will effect us in the future. In the first bullet it means that some people are starting to believe that by the U.S. not doing anything it would effect the outcome of the war. Phrasing/MeaningHowever, my fellow citizens, this is not the real point of the story. The real point--the shameful point--is that many of us are listening to them and some of us almost believe them.- Harold is implying that plenty of Americans are starting to believe that we are a weak nation and simple minded. Whoever is considering this to be true should be ashamed of themselves because we are a strong and brave nation. I mean a future, not of concentration camps, not of physical torture and mental straitjackets, not of sawdust bread or of sawdust Caesars.- Mr. Ickes wants to convince Americans that if we join the war to defeat Hitler, we could create a country worth living for. That maybe we could be a country were you can have freedom and not live a dreadful life. Powerful LinesAmericans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in a just cause.- To me this is a powerful line because it describes that Americans dont get handed their rights; we earn them by fighting for them. Because we cannot live in the world alone, without friends and without allies.-This powerful line states that you cant live without friends because then you would be vulnerable to attack. Some FavoritesBrutality, injustice and slavery, if practiced as dictators would have them, universally and systematically, in the long run would destroy us as surely as a fire raging in our nearby neighbor's house would burn ours if we didn't help to put out his.- This was one of my favorite sentences because it compares a life event that could happen to one close near us that we could understand and relate to. But a perpetually militarized, isolated and impoverished America is not the America that our fathers came here to build.-This would be one of my favorite lines because I agree with what its stating. Our fathers did not build America to be like that and wouldnt approve of it. Some FavoritesThe continued security of our country demands that we aid the enslaved millions of Europe--yes, even of Germany--to win back their liberty and independence.- I especially like this sentence because it states that we should not hold resentment against Germany just because of Hitler. That we should help those that need help and not judge everyone because of one persons beliefs.

To FollowThe U.S. agree to go into war and help Britain. The allies won the war. The allies helped rebuild the country.

Questions?