Rhetorical Analysis Of A Simple Speech By Susan B Anthony

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A simple speech made by Susan B. Anthony would lead the way for the expansion of women's rights and eventually lead to the 19th Amendment. Susan B. Anthony in the speech, “Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote?”, asserts that her voting was not a crime and she was exercising her rights. Anthony supports her argument by acknowledging her rights, demonstrating mockery throughout the piece, and attacking a part of the audience by minimizing tones. The author’s purpose is to explain that she did not commit a crime by voting. Anthony writes in a serious tone for people in politics or women who may be looking up to Anthony. First, Anthony explained to the audience that she was exercising her rights. In the very beginning of her …show more content…

The reasoning for this quote could be to show the motive for why she wanted to vote and do something unheard of back then. . . women voting for the re-election. Anthony chooses to mention four important sources that support her claim, “The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the constitutions of several states, and the organic laws of the territories, all alike propose to protect the people of their God-given rights. Not one of them pretends to bestow rights”. The reason, she added, shows she had every right to vote. The quote also connects to the audience because it tells them that in all these sources it never says we can’t vote and we have every right to vote. Anthony also adds a quote that supports her claim even more: “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it”. The quote explains that the government is being unfair to try and change it. It could be argued this is what Susan B. Anthony did. Another way I saw this quote was possibly a motive for why she voted, she saw the system was unfair and decided to change. Next, Anthony decides to use mockery throughout her