During the Progressive Era, women began reforms to address issues in society, and one of the most prominent reform group was the National American Woman Suffrage Association. As president of the group, Carrie Chapman Catt actively campaigned for the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In the winter of 1917, she addressed the Congress about the proposed suffrage amendment (History.com). To urge the arrogant politicians to pass the women’s suffrage amendment to the Constitution, Catt not only induces fear and culpability, but the language she employs more importantly establishes herself as a credible individual by aligning with respected figures and emulating the politicians’ style of speech.
Catt establishes …show more content…
By using the anaphora “some of you” to isolate the politicians holding back the passage of the amendment, Catt directly puts the blame on them (42). The first time she says “some of you,” she confronts her audience for being too “indifferent” to the issue (42). She employs a bandwagon fallacy by saying the seriousness of the situation even prompt allies to address, making her audience culpable for inattention to such a serious issue. Then, she introduces a chain of rhetorical question: “Are you willing that those who take your places…blame you for having failed to keep pace with the world? Is there any real gain for you…? Do you want to drive…[people] out of your party?” (42). The use of “you” in the questions confronts the politicians stagnate state, and makes them culpable for future problems (42). To prevent people from blaming them, Catt urges them to pass the amendment immediately. Lastly, she points out the failure to pass the amendment will prevent “a nation from keeping up with the trend of world progress,” which is unjustifiable (43). By not passing the women’s suffrage amendment, the United States falls behind the other democratic countries. She creates a sense of culpability in the politicians because they are the ones not acting; they are the ones not passing the amendment; they are the ones holding America …show more content…
By ending the address with an either-or fallacy of asking whether the audience will “help or hinder” women’s suffrage, Catt emulates her audience’s style of speech one final time (43). Reducing the complexity of the situation to two choices, she forces her audience to make a choice. Since her audience composes of arrogant politicians who talk to each other in that manner, the use of this direct tone builds her credibility. Ending her speech with a rhetorical question, she hopes that her message will resonate. Despite how she thinks her tone impacts this particular audience, her address’ effectiveness can be questioned. Dating back to the fall of Lucifer, pride appears to be universal among the human race. Even though Catt tries her best to build credibility, the politicians’ pride in their ideas may contribute to its ineffectiveness. If their pride causes them to think highly of their own opinion, then it may be difficult for them to address the wrongs that Catt, a woman,
Catt establishes …show more content…
By using the anaphora “some of you” to isolate the politicians holding back the passage of the amendment, Catt directly puts the blame on them (42). The first time she says “some of you,” she confronts her audience for being too “indifferent” to the issue (42). She employs a bandwagon fallacy by saying the seriousness of the situation even prompt allies to address, making her audience culpable for inattention to such a serious issue. Then, she introduces a chain of rhetorical question: “Are you willing that those who take your places…blame you for having failed to keep pace with the world? Is there any real gain for you…? Do you want to drive…[people] out of your party?” (42). The use of “you” in the questions confronts the politicians stagnate state, and makes them culpable for future problems (42). To prevent people from blaming them, Catt urges them to pass the amendment immediately. Lastly, she points out the failure to pass the amendment will prevent “a nation from keeping up with the trend of world progress,” which is unjustifiable (43). By not passing the women’s suffrage amendment, the United States falls behind the other democratic countries. She creates a sense of culpability in the politicians because they are the ones not acting; they are the ones not passing the amendment; they are the ones holding America …show more content…
By ending the address with an either-or fallacy of asking whether the audience will “help or hinder” women’s suffrage, Catt emulates her audience’s style of speech one final time (43). Reducing the complexity of the situation to two choices, she forces her audience to make a choice. Since her audience composes of arrogant politicians who talk to each other in that manner, the use of this direct tone builds her credibility. Ending her speech with a rhetorical question, she hopes that her message will resonate. Despite how she thinks her tone impacts this particular audience, her address’ effectiveness can be questioned. Dating back to the fall of Lucifer, pride appears to be universal among the human race. Even though Catt tries her best to build credibility, the politicians’ pride in their ideas may contribute to its ineffectiveness. If their pride causes them to think highly of their own opinion, then it may be difficult for them to address the wrongs that Catt, a woman,