George Wallace Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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In his speech, George Wallace employs the demagogic tactic of scapegoating, a strategy often used by politicians to influence public opinion. Wallace declares, “I shall fulfill my duty toward honesty and economy in our State government so that no man shall have a part of his livelihood cheated and no child shall have a bit of his future stolen away.” This statement is an obvious example of demagoguery, a strategy often employed by politicians, that sways public opinion by appealing to the deep emotions and prejudices of the audience, a process that heavily influences the connotations of their rhetoric. Wallace’s words could have had a significant impact on certain groups of white people, particularly those of the Protestant faith community, …show more content…

By hiding this fact and using misleading messages, he manipulated his audience’s perceptions to align with his political agenda. He adeptly used these concerns to his advantage during his political campaigns, employing demagoguery to connect with and mobilize his audience. Moreover, George Wallace's speech can be analyzed to understand how he effectively used language to appeal to his audience's deepest emotions. For example, when he mentions that no man should have his livelihood “cheated away” and no child should have their future “stolen,” he is using powerful, evocative language to play on the fears of economic and social instability. It appears he did not want the North to take Southern children or teach them to mix races, equating the idea of freedom and a new life rather than traditions from Southern religion. His ideas and appeals caused panic among Southern people, who became scared that the North would steal their children, leading them to a different life or to become wealthier or self-employed. This challenges his idea of the economy. This suggests that he shares their concerns and is fighting for their

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