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Woodrow Wilson Declaration Of War Speech Analysis

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Woodrow Wilson was our great nation’s 28th President and he delivered an eye opening speech to congress on April 2, 1917. Woodrow Wilson’s Declaration of War speech was a plea to congress to recognize the already present war between Germany and the United States. Congress was seemingly ignoring the war until then. The speech was directed to all Americans and congress before him. The main point of the Declaration of War Speech was that German submarines were around and in American territory. This was considered war against all nations and to mankind because of the imposing nature of the act by the Germans. At the time, President Wilson’s reason for declaring war was to make the world a safer place for Americans and because of the need to make …show more content…

With President Wilson as the leader of America, he would have to make sure it was for the good of all mankind and not just America itself. Throughout his address to congress, Wilson appeals at different points to being human, mankind, and the freedom of people. This is also where the idea of the United Nations comes to light, at the time called League of Nations. The idea was that America would pursue the highest wishes of mankind for the best interest of the world. Even though the speech itself gives off the message that Americans should remain neutral in the war, Woodrow’s speech also gives the idea that this means the United States has to guide other nations in restoring justice and peace to the world against Germany’s selfish interest and power hungry war acts. No other president before Wilson made this a huge pitch to congress as President Wilson did. Many Americans, at the time, shared these same views because our independence was fairly new as a nation. Wilson uses the line, “for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.” to congress, in his speech to justify his want and need for war. He states to congress that it is needed so that all like-minded nations dedicated to peace, safety and justice can come together for the world’s

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In “Wilson’s War Message to Congress” written by Woodrow Wilson, it occurs in the time period before Congress enters the United States into World War I, 1917. Considering that in this document it explains how Woodrow Wilson says, “It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars… we shall fight… for democracy… for a universal dominion of right… shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free”(Wilson, “Wilson’s War Message to Congress”). All through Wilson’s speech, he explains how the Imperial Government went against their word/promise to not harm, sink or destroy American ships and warn other vessels if submarines were sought to be destroyed.

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Roosevelt effectively uses rhetorical techniques to ensure trust with his audience through the use of emotional diction, and repetition to appeal to his audience and help rally support for the war effort. Roosevelt’s speech inflamed the passions of the American people to the point that the day after Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech Congress declared war on Japan with the support of the majority of the American people. His mastery of rhetorical devices and language helped to get the U.S. on board to enter World War II which eventually helped to turn the tide of the war in the favor of the Allied forces. With his speech, Roosevelt was able to provide comfort to the U.S. people and inspire them to enter the war which makes his declaration of war one of the most powerful in

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