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How Does Lyndon B Johnson Use Allusions In The American Promise

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Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 speech “The American Promise” is a powerful, emotive address to the nation that declared the United States' commitment to ending poverty and racial injustice. In this speech, Johnson paints a vivid picture of the progress and potential of America, and issues a passionate plea for the nation to embrace its collective promise to protect and advance the rights of all Americans. Johnson's speech is an example of powerful rhetoric, as he uses a range of persuasive devices to appeal to the nation's sense of morality and justice such as connotative diction and allusions. In his speech, "The American Promise," Lyndon B. Johnson used connotative diction to evoke an emotional response from his audience. From the very beginning …show more content…

Johnson 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.”... In their name Americans have fought and died for two centuries, and tonight around the world they stand there as guardians of our liberty, risking their lives” (Johnson). The phrase "all men are created equal" is a reference to the Declaration of Independence, while "government by consent of the governed" is a reference to the Constitution. The phrase "give me liberty or give me death" is a reference to Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1775. These allusions serve to remind the audience of the founding principles of the United States and the sacrifices made in order to achieve them. Through his allusions, Johnson was able to create a strong sense of shared identity and purpose among his

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Lawyer and politician, Patrick Henry in his speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” (March 23, 1775), explains that he give this plea to urge the old dominion to form militias to defend itself against British. He supports his claim by first using a religious reference to express the themes of freedom, equality, and independence. Then uses a selection of other strategies like rhetorical question and allusion to disprove the opposing arguments and clarify the point he is making. Patrick Henry purpose is to fight back and he wants other to fight with him in order for independence. He creates a powerful and commanding tone for the second Virginia convention.

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John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, leaving his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, in charge of a hopeless and disbanded country. Shortly after he was sworn in, Johnson attempted to ease those emotions in his speech, "Let Us Continue." In his speech, "Let Us Continue," Johnson's purpose is to persuade his audience that the country needs to be united again in order to move on and to ease the hopelessness and emotional tension after Kennedy's assassination. Johnson first addresses his audience, and then starts out with the usage of an antithesis, stating that "The greatest leader of our time has been struck down by the foulest deed of our time," creating an empathetic mood in order to soothe the emotional tension within the audience.

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Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech was given out during the Revolutionary era. During this period in time the founding fathers were in the second Virginia convention deciding if they should make an infantry to fight against Great Britain and be able to gain their freedom. There were many discussions regarding this issue since many of the colonies were afraid of being killed since this infantry was going to be made out of mostly farmers and colonists who did not have any type of military experience. This frightened everyone since many of them believed that the infantry would not be able to win in a revolutionary war.

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Lyndon Johnson’s mix of Pathos and Logos helped convinced the crowd into helping him abolish racist voting restrictions. In the speech “We shall overcome,” Lyndon Baines Johnson used Logos and Pathos to convince the crowd, and backed it up with a strong, determined tone. In this speech, Lyndon Johnson stated how unfair the racist voting restrictions and said that it was wrong and that everyone had a right to vote. He also backed everything up with a stern, unbreakable voice to help deliver his

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In the 1960’s during the era of the Civil Rights movement, America had been divided by the voting rights that were not given to the African Americans. Although, a decade ago the African Americans had been freed from slavery, but they were still not considered “equal” because they weren't able to vote. The discrimination in the area even had political leaders affected, therefore many of those political leaders during that time attempted to put an end to the several agonizing events going on. Lyndon B Johnson, a white persistent president speaks out to the lawmakers using compassionate encouraging appeals about voting for Civil Rights, in order to unify the nation “to build a new community”. President Johnson utilizes many devices in his speech such as anaphora, emotional appeals, and

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“ Give me liberty or give me death”,( Patrick Henry). The most well known speech given by the prestigious Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 expressing his thoughts and feelings about fighting back against Britain and protecting their beloved country. At this time the British was defeating America terribly which had made Patrick Henry feel as though his freedom was being jeopardized. Patrick Henry’s speech was an attempt to persuade the american citizens not to just sit and do nothing, he wanted to fight back against Britain. Patrick Henry felt as though many of the citizens were not aware of the seriousness of what was happening and that the needed to have a wake up call.

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His speech was pointed precisely at his direct audience. He first started out by greeting everyone present, the governor, the president of the university, congressmen, and the students, which he called his “fellow Americans" For the most part Johnson did an excellent job on delivering his promises, but international affairs threatened the Great Society and although Johnson won the presidency in

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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" is a speech by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775. Around this time, America as we know it was not in existence. We were the thirteen colonies ruled by the ever so controlling Great Britain. It was our want of independence and multiple speeches such as this one which were given all over the colonies that soon led to the formation of the Declaration of Independence and the Revolution War.

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He “inceptions” the idea into their head. As a male with one of the most powerful and influential jobs in America, it is his prime responsibility to solidify and represent what it means to be a citizen of the U.S. The entirety of his speech uplifts Americans into creating a brighter future by letting go of the past and finding justice through change. Johnson immediately starts off with an optimistic tone acknowledging that destiny can be rewritten and encourages citizens to make their own decisions. He builds on beliefs and rebuts his claim of technological advancement, clarifying that even with all the technology in the world, it will get you nowhere without faith.

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In the 1960s the African Americans were freed, but did they really have all the rights they were promised? Racial conflicts were everywhere. Lyndon B. Johnson was current president and was trying to encourage congress to pass a bill called The Voting Rights Act. To influence the vote he gave the speech “We Shall Overcome.” In “We Shall Overcome” President Lyndon Johnson used ethos, pathos, logos, and other rhetorical devices such as allusions, repetition and appeals to authority to persuade congress to pass the act.

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