Similarities Between Henry And Ben Franklin

Persuasion or manipulation, one lets you select the choice yourself and the other attempts to make the choice for you. Persuasion is the action of cause someone to do something through reasoning or argument. Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention and Franklin's The Speech in the Convention both are prime examples of persuasion. There are numerous ways to persuade someone, whether it’s antithesis, restatement, repetition, or rhetorical questions; These are examples of rhetorical devices are exceptional tools for persuading an audience. Franklin uses antithesis as well as logic to persuade his audience to unanimously pass the constitution, while Henry uses parallel rhetorical questions and appealed to the audience's sense of logos and ethos to persuade his audience that we must go to war with Britain.

Franklin practiced antithesis to persuade the audience to pass the constitution. Franklin starts his speech off by saying “I do not entirely approve of this Constitution at present; but, Sir, I am not sure I shall never approve it…” if you heard that at the beginning of a speech that was trying to get you to approve what they don’t approve of, wouldn’t that make you want to listen and understand why, or maybe even push your own prejudices aside and approve this Constitution. Franklin's approach was quite effective, by saying that he doesn’t completely agree with everything but is still going to sign it because it secures the happiness of the people and is worth pushing aside your own prejudices. Franklin also pares logic with this argument, because if you consider the fact that we are all human and are driven by our own passions and desires, we will never completely agree on anything; but if we can compromise and make sure it’s protecting people and protecting our nation then it’s worth