The “A More Perfect Union Speech” was rendered by President forty four, then Senator Barack Obama, in Philadelphia, PA. This speech was giving during the 2008 campaign for nomination into a first term of office for President Obama. President Obama opens up his speech by addressing the crowd with mentioning the first three words of the United States Constitution “We the People”. This statement is followed by Mr. Obama describing how farmers, scholars, statesmen, and patriots traveled to finally make real their declaration of independence at a conference lasting thru spring of 1787. There was a point in the opening where a point was made that words on parsonage alone wouldn’t be able to complete the task of unity and equality during a time …show more content…
Ashley Bye organized a campaign group in Georgia told the Campaign group a story of her own struggles. She mentioned being from a low income household and a time in her life where her mom became ill. Her mom couldn’t afford health care and still maintain their household. Ashley Bye described her favorite meal being a relish and mustard sandwich. Pres. Obama stated that Ashley felt it was the cheapest way for Ashley to eat. Ashley ate that way for a year until her mom got better. In the story about Ashley Bye Pre. Obama mentioned how Ashley told the group that she joined the campaigned so that she could help other children who needed and wanted to help their families in the same way. Ashley went around the group of volunteers asked them to give their reason for joining the campaign. President Obama told the audience; while everyone had their own reasons there was one elderly black man whose reason was quite simple. Ashley asked the man why he joined the campaign and he said, “I’m here for Ashley”. Obama closed out with mentioning that, that simple statement spoke volumes. It took several generation to fight against injustice in America and the same march would have to continue to unify our government and accomplish a more perfect
Many speeches have shaped the nation we live in today. Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” and Benjamin Franklin’s “Speech in the Convention” are two of the most prominent speeches that have assisted in the forging of our new nation. The “Speech in the Virginia Convention” serves to encourage those that listened to take arms against the British and fight the injustice being done to them. The “Speech in the Convention” admits to the imperfections of the Constitution but supports its ultimate purpose. Both Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin believe leaders must do away with compromise and lead when it’s best for the people as a whole. However, Patrick discourages any future compromise, while Benjamin Franklin feels that future
The Constitution of the United States is one of the most iconic and important documents of all time. However, when it was first generated, its writing and ratification caused some major concerns. The purpose of the Constitution was to address the great number of issues of a new nation. To be more specific, the Constitution was meant to resolve the political, economic, and social problems of the country. Nevertheless, the document spurred much discussion and concern over people’s rights, the economy, and political corruption.
In the making of the United States, there were many events that are important. This paper intends to highlight a few of those events including; Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Federalist Papers. Many events in America’s history helped to establish the United States as a free and independent country. The Declaration of Independence in particular explains the rights and freedoms that Americans. Each document is like a stepping stones that leads to the next and building upon the pervious document.
In George Washington’s Farewell Address, he made a few main points. Some of the main points he stated were that there was a "need for national unity", an "independence from foreign countries", together this was "unity at home and independence abroad”. The paradox of the American Revolution relates to this because Americans fought for freedom but still owned
The signers of the Declaration are to be thanked on behalf of the American people, the courageous sacrifices they showed in defending the people’s rights and standing their ground despite the consequences they faced, is certainly oddly astonishing. How outstanding is it that letters came to be mightier than swords and weapons? How glorious is it that such sacrifices were given for some words? Words that set free a whole society and abolished another? The Declaration is objectively a set of words, which were strong enough to end persecution under the mighty rule of monarchy, once and for
Does being American mean working together or is it everyone for themselves? Unification will solve the issues troubling America, like privileges, education, and healthcare. The so called white privilege that all other races blame as the reason they get passed up for jobs or use as a way to hide their insecurities , the crumbling education system that is separating the rich from the poor during childhood, and the horrible healthcare system that causes the poor to remain uninsured. The speech given by Senator Barack Obama in 2008 called “A More Perfect Union” as a response to Reverend Wright’s preaches about racism. Using the comments as a platform, Senator Obama addresses other issues in the country. This speech
The House Divided Speech was an address given by Abraham Lincoln in 1858 with the goal to make a distinction between himself and Douglas, and to openly talk about a prognostication for time to come. Unlike Douglas, who had long supported popular sovereignty, under which the settlers in each new territory determine their own place as a slave or free state, Lincoln considered that all states had to be the same in order to become a united country. Although Lincoln’s intentions seemed to be pure, the complication with the speech is that it is not absolutely probable because of the fallacies within its wording. This speech may have appeared to be powerful and even authentic in its upholding points, but the fallacies must be recognized. Among these fallacies are false dilemma, ambiguity, appeal to authority, name-calling, and sequential fallacies.
He makes sure his audience connects with him directly by making them feel at his level, and at hiss. This way he connects to the audience, and in exchange, helps his statement of unity. Using various examples of parallelism, anaphora and refrain, Obama brands the theme of equality and togetherness in our country throughout the speech, vital to gaining the respect of his audience. Obama recalls the ‘enduring strength of the constitution’ by delving into the past alluding to America’s allegiance to the Declaration of Independence by quoting “we hold these truths. that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
Roy Peter Clark, author of “A More Perfect Union”: Why It Worked, takes a stance on President Barack Obama’s speech while analyzing it. President Barack Obama delivered a speech titled “A More Perfect Union.” His speech focused on the prominent issue of racism in America. In this article, Clark talks about President Obama’s known power and brilliance. Clark makes references and comparisons to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and W.EB. DuBois. “A More Perfect Union” features writing techniques that makes the message more defined and effective. President Obama utilizes four closely related rhetorical strategies. Clark broadly explains the purpose of the rhetorical strategies. Allusion, parallelism, two-ness, and autobiography helped to shape President Obama’s speech that that was meant to create
In creating the Constitution, the states had several different reactions, including a rather defensive reaction, but also an understanding reaction. As a document that provided the laws of the land and the rights of its people. It directs its attention to the many problems in this country; it offered quite a challenge because the document lent itself to several views and interpretations, depending upon the individual reading it. It is clear that the founders’ perspectives as white, wealthy or elite class, American citizens would play a role in the creation and implementation of The Constitution.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (qtd. in Allison 65). Before 1776, Colonial America was a colony of Great Britain. Then, when their mother country became too oppressive, brave revolutionaries planned a Declaration of Independence to rid themselves of their bonds. This document launched the colony into The Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Eventually, The United States of America gained independence at the hands of many brave men and women. Prominent among these heroes and heroines is Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Apart from the Declaration, Jefferson accomplished great achievements in his lifetime; our nation would not be the same today without his genius: “Even among that remarkable group of men known as the Founding Fathers, Jefferson was truly a giant” (Allison 9).
The United States Constitution is arguably considered one of the nation’s most influential documents in America’s history. This centuries old document has not only guided the United States to becoming a successful society, but has also helped other nations in the forming of their own governments. Although, there has recently been a great deal of controversy as to whether the Constitution is still valued today. America has changed greatly in the time since the Constitution was first ratified, it is argued that the older views of the Constitution don’t necessarily reflect the views of today’s society. When the Constitution was created the delegates understood that there would be problems as the young
This piece of the evidence goes to show that Barack Obama made his speech very credible by including something that everyone in the audience have knowledge to. He used the declaration of independence to explain American’s Pride. He used something every American can or could relate or have access to as a way to show credibility on the knowledge of what America stands for. It is our duty to take pride of the paths that we create in the United States of
We may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction. Barack Obama’s speech “A More Perfect Union” (Nov. 17, 2008) captivates our nation with its thought out structure of the division and inequality in America. Obama successfully used allusion and repetition. Along with personal anecdotes to identify with the audience.
Patterson, Thomas E. We The People: A Concise Introduction to American Politics. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill,