1a. What does Kennedy pledge to the nations of South and Central America? To whom is he also speaking?
2a. To what emotion does Kennedy link negotiation? What issue is at highest stake in the negotiations he discusses?
3a. In what way does Kennedy feel his generation is uniquely situated?
4a. Identify the groups that Kennedy addresses in his speech.
5a. How realistic is Kennedy's vision for the United States at home and abroad?
1b. Why might Kennedy's pledge be particularly important at this time in history?
2b. How does Kennedy suggest the two sides approach negotiation? What benefits for humanity might arise from his plans?
3b. What challenge and privilege does the unique situation of Kennedy's generation create?
4b. With what unifying concept does Kennedy address these groups?
5b. In his speech, Kennedy refers to the United States at the time of its founding. What similarities do you see in Kennedy's Inaugural Address and Thomas Paine's Crisis, No. 1 in Unit 3?
Anaphora.How does the anaphora "Let both sides" emphasize Kennedy's ideas? What other examples of anaphora can you find in the speech?
Parallelism.What does Kennedy suggest about the ideas "victory of party" and "celebration of freedom" at the beginning of the speech? How does he link them?
1. Imagine you are Kennedy. Write an outline of the main points you plan to make in your Inaugural Address.
2. In his speech Kennedy states, "For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed." Write a paragraph for your history teacher supporting or refuting this statement.
3. Imagine that you are part of the "new generation of Americans" described by Kennedy. Write a letter to the president stating which ideas expressed in his Inaugural Address you agree and disagree with.
Achieving Parallelism. Rewrite each of the following sentences to achieve the parallelism found in the selection.
1. We observe today not a victory of party but freedom's celebration—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signified renewal as well as change.
2. The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, showing pride in our ancient heritage.
3. We shall pay any price, be willing to bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, opposing any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
4. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Being divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and be split asunder.
5. To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—assisting free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty.
Diorama. To prepare for your drawings, research the legacy of the Kennedy administration. Use the following reseach log to take notes on your reasearch.
Important Contributions of the Kennedy Administration:
Sources used:
Press Release.Use the Internet or library resources to locate another historic speech by John F. Kennedy. If you use the Internet, one site you will find useful is "John Fitzgerald Kennedy: 35th President of the United States" at http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/. Read the speech, then write a press release giving the date of the speech and summarizing its main points. You may want to review how to write a press release by reading the Language Arts Survey 6.9, "Delivering a Press Release." http://www.geocities.com/~newgeneration/. Read the speech, then write a press release giving the date of the speech and summarizing its main points. You may want to review how to write a press release by reading the Language Arts Survey 6.9, "Delivering a Press Release."">
