Jane Addams About George Washington

Jane Addams, a social and devout activist, delivered a speech about George Washington to the Union League Club. As she celebrates George Washington’s birthday, in this speech she speaks to his morality and strength as a leader. Throughout her speech, Addams utilizes various rhetorical devices to illustrate how he fought for what he believed in when it came to common problems within society.

Addams is able to convey the idea that society has lost the “same spirit of the soldier” that George Washington was able to carry with him proudly in his time. As she talks about Washington and the courage he showed she also speaks to the audience's emotions to bring light to the patriotism that Washington exuded. His patriotism came from how he would risk everything in “his own life for the life of a larger cause.” Addams respected the former president because he’s an example for future generations. Addams begins with rhetorical questions that identify the qualities that created the legacy Washington holds today. For example she states, “What would George Washington say?” and “What was it he did?”. Within these quotes she exemplifies the sacrifices made by not just George Washington but many other founding fathers in order for the country to be a better place. Addams also understands though that times have changed which has caused the patriotic ideals to evolve overtime as well, they are now more of a “emphasis put upon material possessions.” Addams uses this sentence and idea to elicit a call to action stating that the country needs to revitalize the original ideals that created such a strong foundation for the United States.

Addams identifies important symbols like American flag as she conveys that it stood “for righteousness as well as for increased commercial prosperity”, it evokes nationalism within the audience. She included this symbol in an effort to try to renew the feeling of patriotism amongst America. Although George Washington can only be learned about in museums and other historical references his legacy still carries on today through many symbols that not only stand on a national level but they also recognize the pride that people once had for their country. Lastly, Addams repeats the phrase “we will have to” as it spreads her activist opinions through the audience and makes them lead in the same virtues that she does and which the country was founded upon.