Patriotism Speech By Emma Goldman

“What is Patriotism?” is a speech by Emma Goldman, a feisty Jewish anarchist from Prussia. She delivered her speech in 1911, near the closing of President Roosevelt's second term. Goldman gave her speech in San Francisco and targeted those who refuse to acknowledge the faults of their country. “What is Patriotism?” analyzes what patriotism truly means with the intent of pushing its listeners to redefine what patriotism is and what it means to them.

Throughout the speech, many individual quotes are significant to the message. Goldman defines patriotism as the “love of one's birthplace, the place of childhood's recollections and hopes, dreams and aspirations” (Emma Goldman: What is patriotism?). This quote is important because it is the initial

For example, she says how “few American men of today would be called upon to be patriotic, since the place of play has been turned into factory, mill, and mine, while deepening sounds of machinery have replaced the music of the birds” if patriotism was as simple as the love of your country (Patriotism: A menace to liberty). The Library of Congress explains how during this time, America was going through a “period of change, unrest, and economic uncertainty for the workers of the United States. Industrialism was growing largely unchecked in the United States after the Civil War, creating new jobs and new problems simultaneously” (America at work : articles and essays: America at work, America at leisure: Motion pictures from 1894-1915 : digital collections: Library of Congress). During this time, readers can infer many people are struggling with working conditions and the growth of industrialization. Goldman tells how the “spirit of militarism has already permeated all walks of life” (Patriotism: A menace to liberty). With this, it can be put together that the growing militarism of America has begun to be troubling. During this speech, America is subjected to growing industrialization and militarism throughout the

For example, in “1911[,] the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Manhattan caught fire” (Chapters 20. The Progressive Era). In this tragedy, the doors had been locked by managers to avoid employees taking unwarranted breaks. The single, crumbling fire escape ladder collapsed, leaving workers to decide between jumping to their demise or burning to death inside the building. The American Yawp tells of how during this time “environmental destruction wrought by industrial capitalism was unparalleled in human history” (Chapters 20. The Progressive Era). Activities such as bison hunting nearly left the species entirely extinct. Logging companies and chemical power plants are damaging the environment even more day by day. America was going through a period of poor working conditions, environmental destruction, and tragedy during this