Rhetorical Analysis Of What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July

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Every year on the Fourth of July, America celebrates its independence and the freedom of the citizens. Before emancipation, the Fourth of July holiday was celebrated by all American citizens with the exception of the people who were not free, the slaves. If not everyone in America was free, then how could freedom be celebrated. Frederick Douglass points out the irony in America 's Fourth of July in his speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”. Douglass uses immediate and larger context to present the purpose in his speech along with compelling use of ethos, logos, and pathos; his language and style displays his aggravation towards the celebration of the Fourth of July, making his speech highly effective.
Frederick Douglass uses the immediate and larger context to show his view towards slavery in America. Douglas delivered this speech at a meeting for the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, but Douglass intended his speech to immediately touch the heart of the American people and get them thinking. He was aiming to have his speech get around locally, but also heard by all Americans . He was condemning America as a nation for allowing slavery. By condemning the citizens, he was hoping that his speech would impress upon …show more content…

Douglas 's thesis statement was clearly stated at the beginning of his speech. He was very well organized with his speech by stating the issue at the beginning and digging deeper into the issue as the speech continued. He uses repetition with the phrase "What, am I to argue"(381) many times throughout his speech. He frequently uses rhetorical questions in his speech, such as, "Is it that slavery is not divine; that God didn 't establish it; that our doctors of divinity are mistaken?"(381) Douglas 's tone is formal; he is well spoken throughout his speech. There was no doubt what Douglass wanted to accomplish is his

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