Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural speech was given on January 20th, 1961. He spoke to not only the citizens of the United States but to the entire world. It was clear that his main goal was to unify the entire human race and to make the world a better place for everyone. John F. Kennedy was calling on all Americans to be the difference, to take a stand, to make the change, and to do what is morally right. There was a great reference to our country being the first to revolt against the will of greedy men, and that we are the heirs of that revolution with the duty to uphold and bring basic human rights to all human beings across the globe. His great use of logic and powerful emotions used throughout the speech brought this sense of duty, argued his

In his call to action, he indicated that his administration would be the beginning of change for the betterment of humanity and will need to continue on. He states that this generation will lead America to join in the effort to assure the “survival and success of liberty” (Kennedy). We as Americans believe in liberty and justice for all people; we are all descendants of the soldiers who fought in the revolutionary war to stand united in upholding such principles. Having this same background, President Kennedy brings more to the unification of the citizens of the United States. As stated previously, Kennedy further brings a connection to the audience through a civic call to duty, which is directed to everyone. He tells his “fellow Americans” to “ask not what your country can do for you” but do what they can for their country (Kennedy). Though this is a huge responsibility to the people of the United States, he makes the acknowledgment that this is possible if each citizen puts forth the effort to make a difference. Through the effort of an entire nation combined, the United States will be able to change the world for the

He used Americans shared backgrounds and their core values to strengthen his call to duty as well as connect the country as one. His call to action is based on the three rhetorical appeals, ethos, pathos and logos. He has appealed emotionally to the audience with patriotism, hope, and justice for all humans. Kennedy uses the contrast of feelings such as pride and fear and pity, which works very well to convey his call to action. He then utilized these negative emotions of pity felt by the audience for parts of the world that have people living in “huts and villages” as they try to remove “the chains of poverty” which push people further into his call to duty (Kennedy). Kennedy creates these unwanted feelings in a successful attempt to push people to rid themselves of such emotions. Then, in contrast, he continues to utilize emotional appeals by evoking pride in unifying America and the world. He keeps enforcing his call to duty through emotional appeal. Last, but not least, he has used reason in how he used American values and the cause and effect of the revolution of America to becoming a country who believes in liberty and justice for all. His whole speech makes sense and flows well together from point to