James Henry Harriotton Speech Analysis

James Henry Hammond of South Carolina, was known to be in a pro-slavery state of mind. With the biggest issue of this time period in the United States being the idea of abolishing slavery in the southern states, Hammond was one of the well known spokespersons for the south. Hammond shows his ideas of why slavery is needed in the south and the effects abolishing slavery would bring for both the southern and also the northern states (“James Henry Hammond” My GA). Needless to say, Hammond would not tolerate abolishing slavery. Throughout this speech, Hammond attempts to change the northerners views of slavery using literary techniques such as imagery, bold contrast, ethos and pathos.

Historical Background/Purpose of the Speech James Henry Hammond was a very Southern type of man. Hammond owned huge plantations in South Carolina where he was born, along the Savannah River (“James Henry Hammond”PBS.org). He became a congressman in 1835, and Governor of South Carolina in 1842. while in both of these positions, he showed his ideas of secession of the southern states (“James Henry Hammond” PBS.org). Hammonds moved on to become a U.S. senator. In the year 1858, he gave a speech titled ¨Cotton is King.¨ This …show more content…
17th 1807. Growing up and living there, Hammond lived from the beginning to near the end of the so called Southern Cotton Kingdom. He attended South Carolina college. After college, Hammond went on to become a lawyer in Columbia (“James Henry Hammond” encyclopedia.com). He married a woman by the name of Catherine Fitzsimmons, some say that he only married her for the wealth of her uncle who was a South Carolina plantation owner. Hammond became a representative in the house of South Carolina in 1834 and served until 1836. It is said that Hammond was known to have a harsh attitude toward the abolitionist who were fighting for the rights of the enslaved people (“James Henry Hammond”