Alexander H. Stephens was known as the Vice President of Confederacy. As you know the Confederacy was a strong supporter of the idea of enslavement of Africans. They also believed that there was not any moral issues because they were not actual people. We today however know that this is completely incorrect. Alexander Stephens will eventually give a speech addressing the Confederate named the Cornerstone.…
The “First Inaugural Address” by Ronald Reagan as the 40th President of the United States was held on January 20, 1981. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Ronald Reagan to be remembered as one of the greatest President’s ever. It was the first time the Inaugural Ceremony was held on the West Front (rear) of the capital, which to many Americans, that direction had always symbolized the boundless manifest destinies of opportunity. In this speech, the President talks about the many problems that America was facing back then. The rhetorical techniques that I find effective are hyperbole, allusion, Personification, metaphor, and Synechdoche.…
Strategic or Reactive: The transformation of Lincoln’s rhetoric during his presidency From an Illinois lawyer, to the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is one of the most celebrated historical and political figures of all time. He led the United States through its civil war and paved the way to the abolition of slavery. Not only a proficient politician, but also an amazing rhetorician, Lincoln is the author of some of the most memorable speeches and letters in the American history such as: the Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, his first and second Inaugural Addresses and so on. His distinct writing style has a restrained, legalistic, calmed tone and most importantly, passive. David Herbert Donald, an American historian, two times Pulitzer Prize winner and best known for his biography of Abraham Lincoln, argues mainly about this aspect of Lincoln’s rhetoric.…
In President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, he recalled the past and look toward the future (Johnson, 200). Lincoln stated, “He [God] now wills to remove [slavery], and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war” (Johnson, 201). Lincoln asserted that God imposed this dreadful and violent war on both the North and the South because He wanted to end slavery (Johnson, 201). Lincoln also suggests that God imposed this brutal war to punish each side for their wrongdoing (Johnson, 201) Did Lincoln think that God punished both sides equally? Although Lincoln suggested that God punished both sides, Lincoln believed that God punished the South more than the North because the Confederacy intended to expand the institution of…
In the Farewell Address that George Washington was on that said main, but said the same thing at the same time too. The Farewell Address was not only a farewell, but advice and warnings for the American people. Three of the things he talks about that was in the address were no other than “the danger of factions”, “religion and morality”, and “America’s role in the world”. The first one speaks about him warning of the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party as well permanent alliances. This means that they need to watch for the ones who claim to know what the common good is and rights of others, for these are the ones that cause pain and destroy what America is really supposed to be.…
President William J. Clinton delivered a speech on November 19th, 1993 called “Remarks to the Convocation of the Church of God and Christ”. In this speech, Clinton addresses the people of the church. The occasion of this speech was to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s anniversary. The purpose of this speech was to persuade America into letting Clinton pass his bill for stricter gun laws, criminal laws, and a greater health care system; he achieves this by stating that we are abusing the freedom that Martin Luther King Jr. fought for, and letting irresponsible minors own and abuse handguns.…
Background and Summary Ronald Reagan did not begin his spotlight of fame as a politician, but rather a Hollywood actor. He started his political career off as a conservative California governor, but he aspired to achieve greater heights as he ran multiple times for the Republican nomination of president. He won such nomination in 1980, and ultimately the presidency. The speech is his inaugural address to the country before claiming the position. Additionally, he was the face of the conservative movement, and the speech reflects this as shown by the ideals pushed throughout.…
The division between the united states began in the early 1800’s due to the different beliefs the northern and southern states shared. The disunion had began long before Lincoln’s election, but his inaugural address was the commence of an unfair war between the north and south. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the union after Lincoln was elected president. They were followed by six more states who shared the fear of Lincoln terminating all slavery in the south.…
Inaugural Address My fellow Americans, I stand before you today as a part of our country’s very rich history. A country that has based itself on the most sacred document of all time: the Constitution. Two hundred thirty-nine years ago, our founding fathers constructed what they believed our country should abide by. As the country has evolved with the rest of the world, we must not forget what our fathers asked of us.…
Although Washington’s Farewell Address was written 221 years ago, Washington’s words of wisdom stay timeless. Washington laid out valued advice, and even though Washington gave this advice long ago many of it still shows up into today’s events. I believe Washington’s advice should be followed with dignity. $19,943,535,767,897. Most people wouldn’t have even read that whole number, but it doesn’t matter very much because even though I only typed that about 30 seconds ago, it has gone up about 5 million dollars.…
Imagine how frightened the people must have been: to awaken knowing a completely different language, and also not really knowing anything at the same time. God pretty much had to knock the people off of their high horses and bump them down a notch on the totem…
On January 20th, 1961, war veteran, Pulitzer prize winner, and thirty-fifth president of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his Inaugural Address. An inaugural address is a combination between a ceremony where the new president is inducted into office and their first speech to the people as president. The first speech is supposed to inform the people of their intentions as a leader of the country. Kennedy’s speech was filled with strong and poetic but also simple language with a resemblance to President Lincoln. His words followed a theme of unity and peace but also self-defense.…
In the beginning of the speech President Obama said, “My fellow citizens” (Jan, 2009). An emotional image was drawn in the citizen mind that the president has goals and aims in common. Goals and aims that helping to solve the current problems that most of the citizens had. Also, the president used through his speech we to connect himself the public and he stands as citizen like them. Moreover, President Obama proved how American citizens able to change and he provided an example of himself when he said “why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath” (2009).…
In his 1961 inaugural address, John F. Kennedy said, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” This statement embodies the patriotic mentality of the United States government and military during times of war, whether the nation is directly involved in a conflict or they are providing aid to a less apt nation. Although this speech was delivered after the United States’ premature involvement in the Vietnam War (1950s), it encompasses the spirit of the American forces as they fought to achieve their goal during this time. The Vietnam War (1954-75) was a struggle which pitted the communist government of Northern Vietnam and its…
Language has always been one of the most crucial building blocks to the personal puzzle of self-identity. It is the carrier of culture, and culture is the carrier of identity. In some of the earliest days in history God recognized this fact. He realized that the best way to prompt his people to heed his command and obey his words during the building of the Tower of Babel was to confuse their languages. Why did he do this?…