Rhetorical Analysis Of I Am An American Day Address
Amiyah Eason
Cochran
Final Draft
12 June 2023
The Change In America
Learned Hand's 1944 "I Am an American Day Address" sought to prioritize liberty and freedom from oppression and wants. Hand tries to persuade listeners to agree with his priorities using pathos, religion, repetition, and racial justice as a backbone to his speech. While Hand makes some excellent points in his "I am an American Day Address," they are outdated, and no longer as persuasive as they were in 1944.
"We sought liberty, freedom from wants, freedom from oppression, and the ability to be ourselves." This was Learned Hand's response to the question of what America's main purpose was after WWll. These were very inspiring words from Hand that easily evoked emotion
…show more content…
He defines the spirit of liberty as "...Him who, two thousand years ago, taught mankind that lesson which it has never learned but never quite forgotten." In 1944, more than 90% of Americans identified as Christian or Catholic, making Hand's statement very persuasive at the time. This contrasts with many demographics in the United States today, where only 63 percent of Americans identify as Christian or Catholic, as a result of immigration and new religions emerging in the country. Hand's point of view and statements would no longer be reasonable to Americans today, as religion has evolved drastically over the …show more content…
Hand mentions freedom from oppression as a key point to what we would have when we gained America; however, oppression persisted over time, contradicting his statement of "...freedom from oppression." Oppression remains a major issue in society, causing pain for many people. Despite numerous movements throughout history attempting to provide justice for these minorities, many people still consider people of color as a burden to our society. Because of their strong beliefs, those who see the world in this way would disagree with Hand. Childish Gambino, a musician, represents these negative views in his music video "This is America." Many African Americans are depicted in stereotypical situations such as murder and theft in the video. He made this video to show the audience how he believes the people of America perceive his ethnicity. Due to racial injustice in America remaining unresolved challenges Learned Hand's claim that America is a land of freedom from
Pros And Cons Of Windrow Wilson
1245 Words | 5 PagesNot Many people knew that Mr. Brown was a man god. Some textbooks claims that “John believed that God had called on him to fight slavery” (Loewen, 1995 , p.180). But in reality “He thought deeply about the moral meaning of Christianity and decided that slavery was incompatible with it ‘’ (Loewen, 1995, p.181) . The Gettysburg Address is one of the most important speeches ever given in America. Five books do not even mention the speech, while five others provide only the last sentence or phrase of it” (Loewen, 1995, p.186) .
Rhetorical Analysis Of State Of The Union Address
510 Words | 3 PagesBushra Ahmed Mrs. Norris AP Language and Composition 7 February 2023 The State of the Union Address enables Presidents to describe the most pressing issues the US is facing and provide solutions through the proposal of new laws and policies. It serves as a reminder of the current affairs in which legislators are attempting to reach a bipartisan consensus. On February 7th, 2023 President Joe Biden fulfilled his constitutional duty in his State of the Union Address after the selection of Kevin McCarthy as the new Speaker of the House. Confronting the nation's most critical issues from foreign policy with Ukraine to gun reform President Biden addresses the members of Congress to come together and unite the US in an effort to rebuild the economy.
The Civil War As A Theological Crisis By Mark Noll
796 Words | 4 PagesMany Americans believe the divine wisdom and devoted to Gods holy word; as it provides purpose and give stability to their lives. In Mark Noll’s book entitled The Civil War as a Theological Crisis, the religious leaders of that time leading up to the Civil War were unable to provide answers to some of the most difficult question of that era; does the Bible condone or does the Bible condemn slavery? Americans were at odds over the understanding of God’s divine word as both Northern and Southerners tried to find meaning on this war and what Gods role was in it. How could either side claim to have the support of God through his word for their position? Clashes over the interpretation of the Bible on slavery were matched during the era of the Civil
How Did Frederick Douglass Use And Abuse Of Irresponsible Power
845 Words | 4 PagesFour thousand and two hundred religions exist in the world each supposedly guiding their followers through commandments, decrees, and customs. The largest of all these religions that impacted the American culture is Christianity. Pioneering with the Salem Witch Trials to the various cult movements that still materializes on the news, some people have a tendency to manipulate religious teachings or abuse their powers for leverage over others. Frederick Douglas writes in depth about fanatic ideologies of slave owner combined with warped interpretations of religious text furthermore, he demonstrates how sudden irresponsible power can corrupt one's ethics. Frederick Douglas wrote about the various people that owned him and a slave owner that
Rhetorical Analysis Of I Am An American Day Address
843 Words | 4 PagesChildish Gamino has a music video that came out in 2018 that talks about and shows what's going on in America. Which is lots of violence, guns, and distraction by entertainment. 74 years earlier, in 1944, Learned Hand had his "I Am an American Day Address". In this speech, he talks about liberty, freedom, what people sought when coming to America, and what America means. Both Childish Gambino and Learned Hand are trying to unite people
How Does Lyndon B Johnson Use Allusions In The American Promise
569 Words | 3 PagesJohnson used allusions to evoke a sense of shared history and unity among Americans. This speech included allusions to some of the most important phrases in the foundation of the United States. He states, “this was the first nation in history of the world to be founded with a purpose. The great phrases of that purpose still sound in every American heart, North and South: "All men are created equal," "government by consent of the governed," and “give me liberty or give me death.” ...
Great Awakening Rationalism
1141 Words | 5 PagesTo those living in British America in the 1700’s, religion was a central fixture of everyday life. One’s denomination was intrinsically tied up in one’s ethnic and social identity, and local churches in the mid-Atlantic depended upon the participation and donations of their parishioners to survive. However, as the 18th century progressed, poorer farmers and ministers across the diverse sects of colonial America came to resent the domination of church life by the upper class. In a parallel development, a split had grown between the rationalists, who were typically wealthy, educated and influential men who represented the status quo, and the evangelicals, who disdained the impersonal pretention of the rationalists and promoted a spiritual and
Rhetorical Analysis Of George Washington's Inaugural Address
1040 Words | 5 PagesIntro Growing up, we have all heard the many stories of George Washington. While many recognize him as one of the most important figures in U.S history, others only recognize him by one of his multiple accomplishments; he was the 1st president of the United States. With presidency comes the variety of duties and responsibilities, the main being a president 's inaugural adress. In George Washington 's very 1st inaugural, he uses three rhetorical strategies: personification, amplification, and last but not least, repitition to convey what he truly wants for the States and why a successful Constitution should be in order.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama Speech
873 Words | 4 PagesIntroduction Hook: I never knew that one day, one idea could have such a big impact. That one thing could change the history, set up the rest of the country to follow suit with this specific topic, and things that need a change in general. Background: Over 50 years ago, on March 7, 1965, now known as bloody Sunday, segregation was still prevalent. At the time it was not allowed for blacks to vote at the time.
Frederick Douglass And Religion Analysis
346 Words | 2 PagesThough a Christian nation, American’s practices and believes are not consistent to Bible’s laws and commandment. Douglass argues that “the existence of slavery in this country brands republicanism as a sham, humanity as a base pretence, and Christianity as lie” (35), meaning that America is a nation of “inconsistencies.” Though they call themselves Christians, their religion is nothing but a lie as they do not follow God’s commandment of piety, they are full of pride, insolence and vices. He further argues that the “national inconsistencies… saps the foundation of religion” since it “shelters crimes” (35) against humanity. However, he does do that to ridicule Americans, rather he does it to emphasize the inconsistence amongst American believes and practices.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Kennedy's Inaugural Address
1817 Words | 8 PagesIn his speech Kennedy uses different rhetorical devices to unify the citizens of both the United States and the world. Kennedy was giving this speech after winning by a very small margin of votes so he was trying to unite the people of the United States and show he was the correct choice for the president. This speech was given during the Cold War so he was trying to connect the people around the whole world and establish peace. Kennedy was able to unify the people and try to establish peace while at the same time making himself seem like a very competent leader. In his speech Kennedy tries to build his credibility as a personable leader by creating ethos.
Second Great Awakening's Impact On Abolitionism In The North
1246 Words | 5 PagesIf thou doesn’t love thy neighbor as thyself, thou was unchristian like. Fervent sermons transferred meaningful ideas of equality to everyday citizens. Reverend Miller presented this sermon at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist denomination was one of the most outspoken anti-slavery sects. The Methodist gained the most membership during the Second Great Awakening, in fact one in five Americans belonged to the Methodist Church (Keillor 1).
Rhetorical Analysis Of Born In The USA
793 Words | 4 PagesThe Irony of “Born in the U.S.A.” As the fireworks explode in the night sky to celebrate Independence Day, “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen plays loudly for the audience to hear. As the men, women, and children bellow out the chorus proudly, they never seem to grasp its intended meaning. By studying the appeals and irony used in Springsteen’s lyrics, it is easy to see how Springsteen’s message of the poor treatment of Vietnam War veterans is misconstrued by millions of listeners into American pride. Springsteen’s intended audience is a group made up of mainly white, blue collar Americans-
Rhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address
884 Words | 4 PagesThe 44th and first African American President, Barack Obama, in his Inaugural Address, promotes a call to action. Obama’s purpose is to express his gratitude for his opportunity to become president and discuss his plans for economic advancement. In order to reach the American people of the U.S., Obama adopts a serious and thought-provoking tone to urge them to support his plans for advancement. During this time of economic crisis, Obama clearly conveys to the American people through his use of metaphor, allusion, and anaphora, that it is time to take a stand and make a change in America.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama Speech
908 Words | 4 PagesThis speech occurred in New Hampshire. In this paper, I’ll provide some information of the speech, discuss the main issues she addressed, and analyze the profound message of her speech. The former First Lady of the United States Michelle
More about Rhetorical Analysis Of I Am An American Day Address
Pros And Cons Of Windrow Wilson
1245 Words | 5 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of State Of The Union Address
510 Words | 3 PagesThe Civil War As A Theological Crisis By Mark Noll
796 Words | 4 PagesHow Did Frederick Douglass Use And Abuse Of Irresponsible Power
845 Words | 4 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of I Am An American Day Address
843 Words | 4 PagesHow Does Lyndon B Johnson Use Allusions In The American Promise
569 Words | 3 PagesGreat Awakening Rationalism
1141 Words | 5 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of George Washington's Inaugural Address
1040 Words | 5 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Obama Speech
873 Words | 4 PagesFrederick Douglass And Religion Analysis
346 Words | 2 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Kennedy's Inaugural Address
1817 Words | 8 PagesSecond Great Awakening's Impact On Abolitionism In The North
1246 Words | 5 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Born In The USA
793 Words | 4 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address
884 Words | 4 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Obama Speech
908 Words | 4 Pages