“Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall!” President Ronald Reagan spoke these historic words that cut through the air at the Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987. After WWII, the Soviet Union divided Germany into East and West. Communism and the Soviet Union claimed the East, while the West allied itself with the United States, England, and France. In August of 1961 the Soviet Union started construction on a barrier to halt a mass emigration from East to West Germany. The barrier would become known as The Berlin Wall. It was a large concrete barrier that divided Germany physically and ideologically.
Four united states presidents have visited Berlin while the Berlin Wall divided the city. Of those was President Ronald Reagan, who made his second visit …show more content…
Near the beginning of the speech Reagan uses vivid imagery to create a picture of a beaten-down, divided Germany. “Every man is a Berliner, forced to look upon a scar” (1). He wants the German people to feel ashamed that an ugly blemish divides their city. Towards the end of the speech, he consolidates his argument with an anaphora, “Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall, for it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom” (1). He repeats the words cannot withstand to produce a rhythm and build emotional energy. But perhaps the most effective part of the entire speech was when President Reagan issues a challenge directly to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. In this passage Reagan repeats the words Mr. Gorbachev to trigger excitement and anger in the audience. “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev — Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” (1)!
President Reagan united the people of Berlin with his skillful use of rhetoric and encouraged them to keep fighting against the Soviet Union. Early in the speech, Regan established strong credibility by using his title and achievements. He used strong examples to compare the benefits of freedom to the flaws of communism. And he generated an emotionally charged audience using vivid imagery and clever word choice. Ronald Reagan’s compelling speech persuaded the people of West Berlin to reject communism and two years after his speech, the wall
Four united states presidents have visited Berlin while the Berlin Wall divided the city. Of those was President Ronald Reagan, who made his second visit …show more content…
Near the beginning of the speech Reagan uses vivid imagery to create a picture of a beaten-down, divided Germany. “Every man is a Berliner, forced to look upon a scar” (1). He wants the German people to feel ashamed that an ugly blemish divides their city. Towards the end of the speech, he consolidates his argument with an anaphora, “Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall, for it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom” (1). He repeats the words cannot withstand to produce a rhythm and build emotional energy. But perhaps the most effective part of the entire speech was when President Reagan issues a challenge directly to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. In this passage Reagan repeats the words Mr. Gorbachev to trigger excitement and anger in the audience. “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev — Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” (1)!
President Reagan united the people of Berlin with his skillful use of rhetoric and encouraged them to keep fighting against the Soviet Union. Early in the speech, Regan established strong credibility by using his title and achievements. He used strong examples to compare the benefits of freedom to the flaws of communism. And he generated an emotionally charged audience using vivid imagery and clever word choice. Ronald Reagan’s compelling speech persuaded the people of West Berlin to reject communism and two years after his speech, the wall