Rhetorical Analysis Of George Washington Speech

General in the revolutionary war and officers first president George Washingtonin his speech “George Washington Prevents the revolt of his officers” in 1783 Newburgh, Nyadresses the conspiracy, a plan to change the congress of their finacial obligations to the military, planned a meeting to organize a revolt. Washington begins by stating his sacrifices for his army and country as he states Washington chastized the officers and reassured them of his faith in the government and their intentions in paying the solders for their survice. Washington adopts a nagging attituede tone in order to make his solders feel stupid for thinking of revolting aginst their country and families. Washington begins his speech by adressing his officers and their unmilitary like behavior by calling this meeting without his knolage or the knolage of the government.

Washington convays his feelings of no recognition through their struggles as he states “As I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty.

As I have been the constant companion and witness of your distress, and not among the last to feel and acknoledge your merits. As I have ever consitered my own military reputation as inseparably connected with that of the army.” He has helped them as much as he could and tries to assure them that congress is trying to find a way to repay them for their survices. When Washington repeates his “As I’s” he is listing all the ways he has helped them and has been there for them in all their struggles. George Washington reminds his solders and fellow generals of the way people look to them for protection and of how there is no way the government can juct ignore them. He also reminds them of how bad of an idea it is to turn aginst their country when its in a time of need and the thought of abandoning country, home and

family.

Washington is ashamed of his officers and their behavior over not being payed and although he adressed them as the well educated men they were he nagged them for their stupidity in making themselves look childish by calling this meeting behind governments back. None of the officers were truely serious about this until the moment Washington put his specticals on did any of them begin to take any of Washintons words serious. Washington had helped his men in as many ways as possible such as letting most of his men stay on his property incuding selling most of his land to ensure that his men had food and a warm place to sleep. In the end Washington encouraged his solders to choose congress out of patriotism in hopes that they woul save themselfes and their families Washington used fear to promote his solderes thoughts by saying “If peace takes place, never sheathe your swords, says he, until you have obtained full and ample justice; this dreadful alternitive, of either deserting our country in the extreamest hour of her distress or turning our arms aginst it (which is the apparent object, unless congress can be compelled into instant compliance), has something so shocking in it that humanity revolts at the idea.” Washington uses this aginst his solders by hopefully guilting them into changing their minds from being aginst the government to wanting to fight for their country. In the single moment of sheer vulnerability, Washimgton’s men were deeply moved, even shamed, and many were quickly in tears, now looking with great affection at this aging man who had led them through so much. Washington read the remainder of the letter, then left without saying another word, realizing their sentiments. His officers then cast a unanimous vote, essentally agreeing to the rule of congress. Thus, the civilian government was prevented and the experiment of mecoracy in america continued.