The Civil Rights Movement was a period of time that occurred between 1960-1980 in which there was much racial injustice, civil unrest, and popular rebellion. The process of moving towards equality and peace was hard, protracted, and risky due to stringent and unjust laws such as the Jim Crow laws and literacy tests set in place to hinder the efforts of African Americans gaining equality or even respect. However, one man, named Martin Luther King Jr., dared to take a stand towards accelerating this equality and peace by presenting a powerful speech that served to inspire and uplift his audience during such rough times.

This historical speech entitled I Have a Dream was delivered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. King frequently employs metaphors that play upon patriotism, American history, and American culture. By coupling these nationalistic metaphors with sermonic anaphora, he attempts to draw his audience toward a peaceful movement of unification instead of separation (which is often misconstrued to be the purpose of the first half of his speech). His words proved to be a hallmark for understanding the social and political upheaval of the time. Consequently, King’s speech served as a stepping stone to racial justice in America.

Rhetoric is an aptitude of persuasion relying on reason, authority, or emotion. Many people such as politicians, debaters, and spokespeople use rhetoric to sway a group of individuals to a concept they believe to be true. However, not every politician, debater, or spokesperson excels in this refined mechanism of speech. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson uses an eloquent but simple writing structure to convey his vital premise: King George has exercised tyranny and oppression over the colonies and the colonies have a duty to rebel.

Throughout the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson uses logical, ethical, and pathos appeals. This powerful combination serves to set up a strong foundation which can draw and engage his audience to his premise. One specific logical appeal that Jefferson brings to the surface is the purpose of government. He states that

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power to such form, as to them shall seem mostly likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

By using a logical appeal, Jefferson helps his audience to think, reflect, and become cognizant of a concept the he wishes them to believe. Thus, the audience can use their common sense to rationalize and conclude that what Jefferson is saying is analytical.