“The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” Rhetorical Analysis During the mid 1800’s, slavery was a large problem in southern America. The slaves were underclassmen who had no rights, were treated terribly, and were often harshly punished. Many African Americans were angered with the poor treatment, and could not do anything about it. Change was in order, but America had not made any changes. That is until Frederick Douglass, an escape-slave, spoke at a large Fourth of July celebration in Rochester, New
Sarah Schaefer Mrs. Kolich AP Language and Composition 3 November 2014 A Rhetorical Analysis of “What to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July” Sweat rolled down the backs of an attentive audience. Despite the sweltering temperature, a crowd had gathered to listen to a renowned orator celebrate the birthday of their fine new nation. The day was July 5th, 1852, and Frederick Douglass was poised to deliver what would soon become his most famous speech, “What to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July?” Commissioned
The nineteenth century is considered to be full of achievements, development, and liberty. In the eyes of the American people, they focused on their Independence and liberty, and equality between all the people in the society. Every year on July 4, people celebrate the Declaration of Independence, and that day became a symbol for liberty, justice and equality. Despite all of that, there were still some people who had not felt the freedom and couldn’t understand the meaning of the independence because
Rhetorical Analysis of Douglass In the excerpt “Learning to Read and Write”, Frederick Douglass talks about his experiences in slavery living in his masters house and his struggle to learn how to read and write. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, orator, writer, and statesman. Some of his other writings include “The Heroic Slave”, “My Bondage and My Freedom”, and “Life and Times of Frederick Douglass”. In this excerpt, Frederick Douglass uses an empathic tone
Douglass spent many years of his live traveling from place to another, attending meetings, supporting activists, giving enthusiastic speeches, and spreading his ideas of equality. One of the most famous speeches that Douglass gave was the one for the Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society on July 5, 1852 celebrating the Independence Day. The speech known by “What to the slave is the fourth of July?”. Douglass started his speech explaining the importance of this day; he applauded the American Revolution, and
Major writing project essay 3: Americans are Hypocrites Frederick Douglass states “For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling in the nation must be quickened, the conscience of the nation must be roused, the propriety of the nation must be startled, the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed: and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.” This statement expresses that the country
Rhetorical Analysis of Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln On the anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination and the emancipation of slaves in D.C., on April 14, 1876, a memorial of Abraham Lincoln was put on full display. Frederick Douglass, a former slave and advocate of black citizens, gave an arousing address during the celebration. This speech is given 11 years after the assassination of Lincoln and during this time in the U.S. many political issues are arising. For instance, the government ordered
Abolitionist leader and American slave, Frederick Douglass, in his autobiography A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, contemplates the enslavement he endured while emphasizing the importance of education as a key to freedom. Throughout Douglass’s educational awakening and his realization of its overall power, he comes to understand the slaveholder’s evil doings in keeping all slaves trapped in ignorance. Thesis too wordy condense it & briefly incorporate rhetorical strategies he uses (repetition
Individual rhetorical analysis of the selected readings by Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Beecher Stowe are necessary to arrive at a collective analysis of the most effective strategies. Olaudah Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavas Vassa, the African” was first published in 1789 in London, England (687). Equiano’s narrative is informative; however, it is critical of the treatment of slaves and persuasive in its appeals to
released, some saw Tom as too active to be believed. Particularly noteworthy is the praise given by Frederick Douglass, a prominent African-American abolitionist and one of the most often-studied today. Douglass unsurprisingly called Uncle Tom’s Cabin “the master book of the nineteenth century” and explicitly expressed a “reverence for [Stowe’s] genius” (Douglass, The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass 227–8, qtd.