Alfred M. Green Speech The Civil war, beginning in 1861, began to abolish slavery and guarantee the civil rights of freed slaves. Alfred M. Green delivered a speech in Philadelphia in the 1860’s at the beginning of the civil war. Green strives to create a sense of patriotism in his crowd using a multitude of methods in order to persuade his fellow African Americans to prepare for war against the southern oppressors. Green uses repetition to stress the importance of the African Americans joining the union forces. Throughout his speech Green uses the repetition of “we” and “our”, by doing this he unites himself with his fellow African American audience. This shows his audience that he knows what it feels like to be them because he is the same. Green also talks of the “bravery” it will take in order to fight for their rights, and the “honor” that it grants. This helps his listeners gain the courage to tackle this task of defeating the confederate forces. …show more content…
Green doesn’t encourage his audience to regret their position but let it create a “burning zeal and enthusiasm for the field of battle” within them. Green does this to bestow the courage African Americans need in order to push their limits and fight for what is theirs, freedom. Green also creates a sort of evil Villain by calling the Confederacy a “tyrant” much like Cruella Deville from 101 Dalmatians. The Dalmatians being African Americans who are only used for Labor and are often abused like the puppies, which are only used for their fur coats. This gives the heroes or puppies, being the Brave African American soldiers, something to put all of their rage into defeating. By calling the South’s slave system “tyrant” this also feeds the fire to the already angry African Americans and give them even more of a reason to join the union