Rhetorical Analysis Of Alfred Green

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Green and the Union Forces As the states realized the corruption of enslaving other human beings, a major division was created on the belief on whether or not to maintain or end their oppression. Alfred Green, a former abolitionist, attempts to influence the free African Americans to enlist in the Union forces by delivering a speech in 1861. Throughout his presentation, he formally addresses the difficulties they have endured, and motivates them to pursue in the war to establish the feeling of patriotism and unity among the people. In order to influence such a crowd, Green utilizes appeals to emotion to instill the idea of partnership in order to put an end to enslavement. Green implements the use of structure and diction to stress the idea …show more content…

Repetition of the words “let us” signify Green’s attempt to appeal to his audience by establishing the idea of unification. By doing so, it supports his purpose in creating the essence of heroism and honor endowed from joining the Union forces. This phrase goes on to make the African Americans believe in their capability to overthrow the tyrant system, thus enabling them to sign up and enlist. Similarly, his allusions to Washington’s Revolution and Jackson’s War of 1812 enhance his idea of assembling a greater army to obtain victory against the slaves states through alliances. As Green states, “It is true, the brave deeds of our fathers, sworn and subscribed to by the immortal Washington...” Both events have achieved supremacy afterward, by utilizing the tactic of retaining more man power in order to achieve a purpose. As for the reference to Dred Scott, it acts as the flaw in America’s actions and how people, through unity, could endeavor to learn from their faults and eventually build a greater country driven by patriotism. By alluding to these powerful figures, it exemplifies the greatness in which the Union force has to offer, not only to benefit that of the states but for the African Americans as well. Green, throughout his speech, displays the significance in instituting an essence of unification through the use of repetition and allusions to empowering figures in order to invoke the feeling of patriotism within his