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Rhetorical Analysis Of John Adams

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John Adams, the second president of the United States, was very involved in foreign affairs and was a diplomat to France. He was very passionate about politics and devoted much of his time to settling foreign policies. In this speech, Adam speaks to the people of America more specifically, Adam is also speaking to the people who are wary of the idea that a group of selected people will be controlling the country and the laws. Adam starts off his speech praising how far the country has gotten. He strays away from the formal speech format that George Washington used is his speech. He basically sets himself up as a person who is friendly and takes his role as preserving American freedom seriously. The tone starts off pleased and appreciative. …show more content…

John Adam uses phrases such as “presence of mind, resolution, or integrity. Measures were pursued to concert a plan to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. The public disquisitions, discussions, and deliberations issued in the present happy Constitution of Government”(http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/adams.asp). Phrases such as “perfect union”, “domestic tranquility”, and “the secure blessings of liberty” are used to describe how he currently feels about the country; this creates a relaxed atmosphere and allows for the people to be proud of the government they helped to create. He continues to use this diction by calling the government “comfortable” “and it was conformable to such a system of government” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/adams.asp). Again through his word choice, Adam attempts to create a comfortable atmosphere between his and his audience. He uses this to create a friendly relationship between him and his audience. This way his audience does not feel imitated or threatened by his presence. Adams also uses positive diction as a way of convincing the public that they should trust …show more content…

Adam expresses his feelings towards his country when he says “returning to the bosom of my country after a painful separation from it for ten years, I had the honor to be elected to a station under the new order of things, and I have repeatedly laid myself under the most serious obligations to support the constitution.” Adam establishes himself as someone who deeply loves his country and wants to see it strive. This makes it easier for his audience to trust him-also making it easier for his audience to see him as a normal person, not just a “ruler”. Adam also includes that he was employed “in the service of my country abroad”. John Adam makes it known that he is a patriot and has completely devoted his life to serve his country. Incorporating this in his speech, shows that he is relatable to the American

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