Vanesa Ripley

September 15, 2017

The Growth of America in the 1940s
America, land of the great and home of the brave this is the famous saying that defines

our great nation, but according to Harold Ickes, America wasnt always quite so brazen. Before

1941, America was engaged in an era of isolationism; in which Ickes informs us that America

was thought by the rest of the world to be a weak nation. However, after World War II

America had become a major super power that was willing to help anyone in need. The article

What Is an American presented by The New York Times magazine, features the strong,

powerful, and generous America that we know today. World War II is what led our nation to

become the embodiment of strength and power it is today, however, back in 1941 our nations

citizens were referred by Ickes as scared chickens. Where as in the Times article, the statement

I am an American, has become one of the most dignified titles any citizen could claim. Ickes

was calling out our isolated nations courage by comparing our citizens to scared chickens, and

in doing so he was able to encourage his audience to question their silence in the midst of this

terrible war.

Ickes draws attention to the fact that we Americans believe in a free democracy by

saying, An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. and proves

that in order to defend our belief we must join with those who share our idea of freedom in the

war to protect the rights of man both here and abroad. The Times article also exhibits our

continuous firm belief in freedom even on a governmental level in expressing, The U.S. citizen

would vociferously deny that he was the subject of any government-even in name. His

government belonged to him; what his nation did, it did only with his consent and by his will.

Ickes also exhibits the fact that the American people should liberate the Germans and those being
oppressed by the Nazi party because the American people have a history of being liberators. He

also encourages them to help deliver the Germans from the Nazis oppression by referring to

each Americans past experience in the great depression. The fact that America remains a

defender that others look to in times of crisis remains true both in 1948 and today. However,

since America has grown economically in relation to the war since 1941, our people no longer

remember the struggles of extreme oppression. This fact has enabled us to become an immensely

blessed and privileged society.

In contrast to the economic depression of 1941, the America of 1948 is blossoming in

economic success. Not only have the people of our nation remained hard working but they have

also become the leaders in innovation and economic success. As the Times article clearly

displays, the advances in our factories, schools, and hospitals helped us grow as a nation in

economic power. Since our nation was struggling economically in the early 1940s we were not

able to provide aid to others in the midst of our own struggles. However, the sudden economic

abundance that came after the war in 1948, enabled the U.S. to aid others in need, causing us to

become a country that others look to when in need. According to Ickes, We have always helped

in struggles for human freedom. And we will help again. This statement remains true, even in

1948, as America provides aid to Europes recovery.

Ickes tone fluctuates between that of shame to a rallying encourager throughout his

speech as he urges our citizens to take up their true potential as an American who is trustworthy,

brave, and generous. He persuades the people of this great nation to be heroes who are willing to

lay their life down to protect the freedom of others and themselves. Fortunately, the fruit of his

labors are revealed in the 1948 article in which both America and Americans have stood up to be

the brave and powerful defenders of the world. As the Times article The Nation: What Is an
American so proudly states, The wisdom. The U.S. was strong; it was generous. Was it also

wise? History would have to judge; at least the people of the U.S. were showing their capacity to

learn. Though they were still busy with their own affairs, Americans were beginning to

understand the hard lesson they had first learned at Pearl Harbor: that they were also citizens of

the world and that good citizens are responsible citizens. What had once been a beaten down,

scared, and isolated nation, according to Ickes, has transformed into the powerful, brave,

trustworthy, generous, and blessed nation we know today. Had it not been for Harold Ickes

rallying speech, we may have never learned what it was to be a true American who is part of a

nation that is worth being proud of.