Rhetorical Analysis Of Ronald Reagan Speech

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Ronald Reagan gave this speech on June 12, 1987, in Berlin, Germany. He was giving his speech during a time where the city of Berlin was split in two, between the USSR and the Western powers. These two sides had been very hostile to each other and war nearly broke out between the two. The wall that Reagan was referring to was a twelve foot wall with electric wires and guard towers to stop the East Germans from escaping to Western Europe. Freedom to leave USSR territory was not the only freedom that was limited by communism, in addition, many other aspects of the people’s lives were controlled by the government. These included what they could eat, what they could say, and where they worked. Ronald Reagan’s speech delivered a message of hope for prosperity and peace through unity between both the West and the East. The first way Ronald Reagan …show more content…

He used multiple examples of logical reasons to tear down the wall. The first example was to do things with the youth of both sides of the East and the West, that there should be “summer youth exchanges, cultural events, and other programs for young Berliners from the East. Our French and British friends, I'm certain, will do the same.” He also said that he hoped that one day the Olympics should be held in Berlin, both the East and West sides. He said that achieving these things in Berlin would help “to promote true openness, to break down barriers that separate people, to create a safe, freer world.” Ronald Reagan’s speech delivered a message of hope for prosperity and peace through unity between both the West and the East. He did so through connecting to the audience through emotion, logic, and familiarity. Many received his message as inspiration of hope for a better future. Although his speech was not originally thought of as his best speech, it quickly became his most memorable and famous after the USSR took down the Berlin