On March 15th, 2015, in the USA Today news article, "50 years ago, LBJ and 'We Shall Overcome ' " by David Jackson, examined the impact that Lyndon B. Johnson 's speech had on the American public and government in the previous era and in the modern era with a brief history during. Furthermore, the speech, "We Shall Overcome" by Lyndon B. Johnson was a great speech because of his usage of allusion, understatement, and parallelism. By using these rhetorical elements and the two of the three types of appeals, he was able to urge Congress to pass the new voting rights legislation while involving the "motives" of the Civil Rights Movement and its people for extra support throughout his speech. Lyndon B. Johnson 's desire to pass the Voting Act
…show more content…
He often mentions the event that became known as "Bloody Sunday", that occurred in Selma, Alabama, when men and women were protesting about their right to vote. From History Channel on A&E Website, the SCLC planned to march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery ended almost before it began at Pettus Bridge on the outskirts of Selma when mounted police using tear gas and wielding clubs to attack the protesters. This event was one of the first time that the civil rights organizations organized a walk for equality and voting rights that began in Montgomery to Selma, Alabama. There also another peaceful march to Selma that happened afterward where a white civil rights activist and preacher from a Baptist Church, Jimmie Lee Jackson, died from a gunshot by an Alabama state trooper when they were trying to break up the protest. Johnson mentions briefly about this death near the end of the third paragraph. On the top of everything, Johnson took the opportunity that arises with these exigencies to allow for a rhetorical conversation to take place. By purging his emotions to the American people, he was able to encourage more support for his cause. The timeliness of his argument gave the speech a deeper meaning, which heightened the emotions of many who heard the …show more content…
Presidents rarely deliver special messages to Congress in person to advocate for a specific bill, especially on domestic policy. Such speeches are risky, as they put the president 's credibility on the line and chance making members of Congress resentful, feeling they are being coerced into action and having their law-making duties usurped. Johnson did not decide for certain to make a public speech until nearly the last minute, following a meeting with members of his administration and congressional leaders on the evening of March 14. The meeting reinforced his belief that a public speech was needed to calm the public and assure them that the federal government was working to solve the problem of voter discrimination. In the context of the speech, Johnson achieves what he wanted as his usage of ethos throughout the speech provided him with the support that convinced the audience that he was serious about that the bill that he presented and the issue that needed to be
He often mentions the event that became known as "Bloody Sunday", that occurred in Selma, Alabama, when men and women were protesting about their right to vote. From History Channel on A&E Website, the SCLC planned to march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery ended almost before it began at Pettus Bridge on the outskirts of Selma when mounted police using tear gas and wielding clubs to attack the protesters. This event was one of the first time that the civil rights organizations organized a walk for equality and voting rights that began in Montgomery to Selma, Alabama. There also another peaceful march to Selma that happened afterward where a white civil rights activist and preacher from a Baptist Church, Jimmie Lee Jackson, died from a gunshot by an Alabama state trooper when they were trying to break up the protest. Johnson mentions briefly about this death near the end of the third paragraph. On the top of everything, Johnson took the opportunity that arises with these exigencies to allow for a rhetorical conversation to take place. By purging his emotions to the American people, he was able to encourage more support for his cause. The timeliness of his argument gave the speech a deeper meaning, which heightened the emotions of many who heard the …show more content…
Presidents rarely deliver special messages to Congress in person to advocate for a specific bill, especially on domestic policy. Such speeches are risky, as they put the president 's credibility on the line and chance making members of Congress resentful, feeling they are being coerced into action and having their law-making duties usurped. Johnson did not decide for certain to make a public speech until nearly the last minute, following a meeting with members of his administration and congressional leaders on the evening of March 14. The meeting reinforced his belief that a public speech was needed to calm the public and assure them that the federal government was working to solve the problem of voter discrimination. In the context of the speech, Johnson achieves what he wanted as his usage of ethos throughout the speech provided him with the support that convinced the audience that he was serious about that the bill that he presented and the issue that needed to be