Question

Read the following excerpt of a speech by Lyndon B. Johnson. Answer the question that follows:

The voting rights bill will be the latest, and among the most important, in a long series of victories. But this victory–as Winston Churchill said of another triumph for freedom–"is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

That beginning is freedom; and the barriers to that freedom are tumbling down. Freedom is the right to share, share fully and equally, in American society–to vote, to hold a job, to enter a public place, to go to school. It is the right to be treated in every part of our national life as a person equal in dignity and promise to all others.

But freedom is not enough. You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: Now you are free to go where you want, and do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please.

You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, "you are free to compete with all the others," and still justly believe that you have been completely fair.

Thus it is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All our citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates.

This is the next and the more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom but opportunity. We seek not just legal equity but human ability, not just equality as a right and a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.

...

For what is justice?

It is to fulfill the fair expectations of man.

Thus, American justice is a very special thing. For, from the first, this has been a land of towering expectations. It was to be a nation where each man could be ruled by the common consent of all–enshrined in law, given life by institutions, guided by men themselves subject to its rule. And all–all of every station and origin–would be touched equally in obligation and in liberty.


In a well-developed paragraph of 5-7 sentences achieve the following:


identify at least one rhetorical device used in the speech and explain how the device strengthened the speech

identify at least rhetorical appeal used in the speech and explain how the appeal strengthened the speech

use correct grammar, spelling, and conventions

Answer 1

Answer: In this speech, one rhetorical device used is the allusion. The speaker refers to Winston Churchill's statement about another triumph for freedom to emphasize that the current victory in passing the voting rights bill is not the end but rather an important milestone in the ongoing battle for civil rights. This allusion strengthens the speech by invoking a historical figure and his words to convey the idea that the fight for equality and justice is a continuous process. Additionally, one rhetorical appeal used in the speech is pathos. The speaker appeals to the emotions of the audience by emphasizing the importance of not just freedom but also opportunity and equality. By highlighting the struggles faced by individuals who have been oppressed and emphasizing the need for justice and fairness, the appeal to pathos creates an emotional connection with the audience and strengthens the speech by evoking empathy and a sense of shared humanity. Overall, the use of the allusion and the appeal to pathos in this speech enhances its impact and effectiveness, as they help to engage the audience, convey the speaker's message, and inspire a deeper understanding and commitment to the fight for civil rights and equality.

Answer 2

Lyndon B. Johnson's speech is strengthened by his use of analogical comparison and the pathos appeal to highlight the need for true equality, beyond just legal rights, for marginalized groups.

Step-by-step explanation:

In his speech, Lyndon B. Johnson employs the rhetorical device known as analogical comparison, where he compares the newly acquired freedom of marginalized groups to entering a race after being hobbled by chains. This analogy strengthens the speech by vividly illustrating the injustice of expecting immediate, fair competition from individuals who have just been emancipated from societal constraints. Furthermore, Johnson utilizes the rhetorical appeal of pathos to connect emotionally with his audience, emphasizing the unfairness and enduring impact of discrimination. He conjures an emotional response that supports his call for not just legal equality but also equality in opportunity and result.