Rhetorical Analysis Of Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Address

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On January 20, 1981 in Washington D.C. Ronald Reagan gave his first Inaugural Address as he was sworn in to be the 40th president of the United States. This inauguration was the first to be held on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building instead of the East Front. The purpose of the “Inaugural Address” is to inform the people of his/her’s intentions as president of the United States. The purpose of Reagans address in specific was to inspire the American people to revitalize the government and rebuild the economy. It also emphasizes the importance of returning the power to the people. Ronald Reagan’s writing is effective because he uses apostrophe, symbolism, parallelism, anaphora, and rhetoric questions. The most effective schemes …show more content…

(Utah) Reagan uses this method when he says, “All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.” This statement provides the use of repetition to affect the audience in a way that they will remember it. Anaphora is the repetition of the same work or phrase at the beginning of successive elements. (Utah) In his address he says, “To those neighbors and allies who share our freedom, we will strengthen out historic ties and assure them of out support and firm commitment. We will match loyalty with loyalty. We will strive for mutually beneficial relations. We will not use our friendship to impose on their sovereignty, for our own sovereignty is not for sale.” By using the wording, we will, so many times it creates a bond between the speaker and the audience. By saying “We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever.” Reagan is using symploke which is combining an anaphora and antistrophe. (Utah) The use of repetition again instills the idea into the mind of the audience. The last schemes that has a big impact in the speech is Parallelism which is the repetition of structural elements, but not necessarily the words is used when said, “It is rather to make it work—work with us; to stand by out side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide