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Essay about independence day
Essay on independence day
Essay about independence day
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The first rhetorical strategy present in Audrey's Fourth of July essay is seen within the first sentence. Lorde uses parallelism to connect the experience of her first visit to Washington, D.C as the indicator of her coming to age. "The first time I went to Washington, D.C., was on the edge of the summer when I was supposed to stop being a child (Lorde 1)". Her use of the words "I went" and "when I" are indicative of these two things happening at the same time. Her thoughts on the end of her childhood come into play once her graduation gift is given to her.
On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to celebrate Independence Day in Rochester, New York and was to give a speech. His intended audience was the general public in which he believed needed to hear his opinion. Frederick Douglass was a former slave who had escaped his torment in his early twenties. In his speech, Douglass argues to the American people that they have a pretentious attitude toward slaves' freedom. Douglass states his thesis when he says "America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false in the future."
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, former slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, instead of praising the country, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. To convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country, he uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions.
An idea that was not well liked in the United States. It was considered radical. In “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Frederick Douglass tried not only to convince people of the wrongfulness of slavery but also to change people's minds about the abilities and intelligence of African Americans. Most white Americans believed that African Americans were inferior, even went as far to think of them as less human.
In other words, Douglass articulated that the fourth of July is celebrating the white man’s freedom from tyranny of the British, but excludes justice for the Blacks. Rather than glorifying America for its “success”, the abolitionist
Compare and Contrast: The Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July Speech The United States of America is forever proud of their past and always optimistic about the future. It 's interesting to see how passionate people are when it comes to America 's history and how bright the future can be. In the two pieces, one author uses pathos to evoke people’s emotions to remind them of their past, and another uses formality and articulate language to set plans for the future. In the Declaration of Independence and the Fourth of July speech both authors use tone, details, and syntax to make their purpose, whether it be about the past or the future, or whether it be setting goals or swaying opinions, understood.
When most people hear the words “Fourth of July” they think about fireworks, cookouts, and sparklers. During the 1850’s, the Fourth of July served as a reminder of the many horrors and injustices in the world. On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass-- a former American slave, abolitionist leader and adroit speaker-- spoke in Rochester, New York about the affectation of celebrating independence. In his speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”, he claims celebrating independence is unethical when slavery is widespread. To convince the reader of his claim, he uses rhetorical questions, emotional appeal, and antithesis in hopes of shedding light and sparking action on the wrongful situation.
In 1852, Fredrick Douglass said, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, You may rejoice, I must mourn.” Ever since the declaration of independence held a significant reason why the United States of America is still awake. The Fourth of July was significant in his speech about why many former slaves marched throughout America. The day before and the day after was no different when racial segregation was active in the South until 1964. Stressing of debating for the freedom of millions of slaves in the south during Frederick time remained in mind.
Douglass expresses to his spectators, while they dwell in the luxurious ability to partake in this joyous celebration of freedom for a nation, not everyone in that nation is sharing in the celebration. In The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, he writes “The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you and not by me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn” (Douglass 1).
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July Introduction The 4th of July is an important day in American history it represents freedom and is usually associated with fireworks, parades, alcohol, and concerts. Those activities more or less represent today’s culture. When Fredrick Douglass made his speech he talked about American values such as liberty, citizenship, and freedom. The irony of this speech was that at the time white Americans in the south were still participating in slave trading.
One of Douglass’s famous quotes during one of the speaking engagements depicted his view of how the July 4th festivities were not for the “Negro.” “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and
Douglass establishes his credibility and authority on the issue of slavery and inequality in the United States by drawing on his own experience and expertise. He begins the speech by introducing himself as a former slave and expressing his sadness and disappointment at the Fourth of July festivities which celebrate the nation’s independence while ignoring the ongoing oppression of African Americans. He says, “I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us.” By acknowledging his own identity as a former slave, Douglass gives himself immediate credibility on the issue of slavery and inequality.
In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was called upon to deliver a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. He uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions to convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country.
So, to a Slave, the 4th of July is a reminder of how brutal it was for them and isn’t a celebration, but a humiliation to there race. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave By Frederick Douglass, Douglass illustrated how he obtained a man out of the slave he was. When Douglass was marketed to Covey’s plantation he had limited labor to do because he was just an infant, but don’t let that deceive you. Covey was called the “slave breaker” and Douglass learned what that meant after the horrific flogging he got regular. Whenever he overheard the other slaves being punished he pronounces "The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness.
In the first couple of years abolitionists dealt with strong opposition of their moral campaign from the people in the south. The main speaker of this movement was Frederick Douglass, a native american former slave, so he knew what it was like to be a slave. On Independence day Douglass had a big speech for all of the abolishment movement supporters, Douglass asks, “What to the American slave is your fourth of July?” (document E). He asks this question at the start of his speech because he's trying to state that the fourth of july is really only for white people, not black and is wondering why he is there to talk for Independence for the white people.