Allen Guelzo and Vincent Harding approached Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the eventual abolition of slavery from two very different viewpoints. The major disagreement between them is whether the slaves freed themselves, or Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation freed them. Harding argued the former view, Guelzo took the later. When these essays are compared side by side Guelzo’s is stronger because, unlike Harding, he was able to keep his own views of American race relations out of the essay and presented an argument that was based on more than emotion. Allen Guelzo
Fredrick Douglas gave an extremely moving and impactful speech which includes many rhetorical devices and appeals. Douglas uses rehetoical devices such as irony and rhetorical questions. Douglas uses irony when saying, "America vis false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future", Douglas explains that America is false to its foundation of freedom, as slaves in America have to fight for their freedom. Douglas shows the irony of America being built on freedom while slaves within America now have to fight for their freedom, effectively showing Americans that the premise that the country was built on is being denied to African Americans. Douglas also uses rhetorical questions to effectively show
In this speech given by Fredrick Douglas, a man fighting for racial equality, Fredrick Douglas uses a precise tone which can only be described as accusatory. He expresses this feeling several times the most prominent of which is "a thin veil covering crimes which would disgrace a nation" (68). This shows that he accuses America for the slavery the slaves are dealt with and claims it is shameful for a country which is supposedly the "country of freedom" to restrict people who have done no wrongs from their freedom. He also accuses them by saying that the boast of celebration they speak is just a thin blanket barely protecting them from being exposed to the cold world around them, so that nobody knows their horrendous secret. One should be able
In the Rochester city’s celebration for the National Day of 1852, the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglas gave a speech in which he severely criticized the citizens’ hypocritical actions of celebrating their independence, ignoring the oppressive and unjust slavery that millions in the nation were suffering to. In his speech, Douglas achieved the audience’s agreement on his claim by employing commonly admitted allusions, contrast of two subjects and subtle but efficient word choices. In the speech, Douglas discloses the contradiction between the normal citizens’ gratification and the slaves’ expulsion from this happiness to aim a provocative satire on the national day, which carries the white’s pride and ecstasy and the black’s suffer and
On September 2nd, 1862, Abraham Lincoln famously signed the Emancipation Proclamation. After that, there’s been much debate on whether Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation truly played a role in freeing the slaves with many arguments opposing or favoring this issue. In Vincent Harding’s essay, The Blood-red Ironies of God, Harding argues in his thesis that Lincoln did not help to emancipate the slaves but that rather the slaves “self-emancipated” themselves through the war. On the opposition, Allen C Guelzo ’s essay, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America, argues in favor of the Emancipation Proclamation and Guelzo acknowledges Lincoln for the abolishment of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although a century apart, Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and Frederick Douglass’s What to a Slave is the fourth of July are kindred spirits. Notwithstanding the many differences in their respective writing styles, deep down the essence of the message conveyed is still very much the same. Both Martin Luther King Junior and Frederick Douglas had similar beliefs and concepts related to the treatment of the African American community. They both describe a tough yet heart breaking situation that makes them question their moral values and doubt the system and its ability to change for better.
Frederick Douglass, born a slave and later the most influential African American leader of the 1800s, addresses the hypocrisy of the US of maintaining slavery with its upheld ideals being freedom and independence on July 4th, 1852. Douglass builds his argument by using surprising contrasts, plain facts, and provocative antithesis. Introducing his subject, Douglass reminds his audience about the dark side of America for slaves, in sharp, surprising contrasts with the apparent progressivity within the nation. He first notices “the disparity,” that “the sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and deaths to me,” as an African-American former slave. It is surprising for the audience to hear that the Sun does not bring him any prosperity, that the Sun, the source of life on earth, brings him destruction.
This will get the listeners thinking about what sincerely is happening with the issue of slavery and stimulate interest in the abolitionist mindset. Additionally, the author laconically questions, “What to the American Slave is your Fourth
All people are created equal, and they deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is stated in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution grants these rights to all human beings. In his editorial, “No Compromise With Slavery,” William Lloyd Garrison exposes that freedom and slavery contradict each other. Throughout the text, Garrison uses his passion for abolishing slavery to convince the readers that slavery is amoral and the work of the devil. Lloyd disputes that a country can stand for both freedom and slavery.
One of the strategies Douglass uses to convince his audience slavery should be abolished is by “calling out American hypocrisy in his Fourth of July oration” (Mercieca 1). He shames them with no remorse. He speaks on the opposite treatments that enable whites to live in a state of freedom and liberty, while the blacks are living in a state of bondage. As the audience listens, he reminds them, there are men, women and children still held hostages to the chains of
Douglass establishes his credibility and authority on the issue of slavery and inequality in the United States by drawing on his own experience and expertise. He begins the speech by introducing himself as a former slave and expressing his sadness and disappointment at the Fourth of July festivities which celebrate the nation’s independence while ignoring the ongoing oppression of African Americans. He says, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” By acknowledging his own identity as a former slave, Douglass gives himself immediate credibility on the issue of slavery and inequality.
he uses bold words and biting criticism to call attention to the gross injustices and hypocrisy of slavery in the United States. In the opening remarks of his speech, Douglas provides heart-wrenching descriptions to pull his audience into the lives of their fellow
In Frederick Douglass’s The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro, he exposes the hypocrisy and iniquity that is infused into considerably one of the most prolific American moments in history known as The Fourth of July. Douglass, who was a former slave that eventually reached freedom, was invited to speak about what Fourth of July meant for the black population within America. Although Douglass provided much gratitude to the Founding Fathers for their courage and ability to oppose oppressive systems, he criticizes the American country for its involvement within slavery. Slavery served as the foundation that constructed America, allowing for it fuel the economy and develop into a cultural and political norm within society.
The development of slavery and self-government in the Americas from the colonial to the revolutionary period presents two main contradictions which are important not in setting the stage for the American Revolution but also help to establish division between the colonies after the Revolution leading into the Civil War. While one contradiction applies exclusively to the Northern colonies, the other applies to all the colonies and is a key factor leading up to the American Revolution. For the New England colonies, the contradiction between the development of slavery and self-government lies behind the reason these colonies were developed. Around 1608, the Separatists, beginning to receive more hostility from the Anglican Church and government
“With them, justice, liberty and humanity were “final”; not slavery and oppression.” This relates to the hardships and the fact that the people don’t recognize how terrible it is. And that these meanings of these “free” words mean something else to him and other slaves. He shows that the changes are hard but once they are made everything will be peaceful. Rhetorical features and strategies are Douglass’ forte’ in engaging with the audience.
