Social Context Of Susan B Anthony Speech

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Social context of the Speech: Before her speech in 1873, Susan B Anthony was arrested and fined $100 after voting illegally in the 1872 federal election. She saw this injustice and embarked on a speaking tour in support of female voting rights. She spoke in many cities in New York. The 19th addition to the US Constitution allowed women the right to vote in 1920. She never paid the fine. “I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty” - Anthony’s trial. 1 Analysis The use of repetition in Susan B Anthony’s speech is minimal but effective. When she says “…an oligarchy of wealth, where the rich govern the poor. An oligarchy of learning, where the educated govern the ignorant, or even an oligarchy of race…” she is trying to say that they are …show more content…

Keeping in mind that this is only the beginning part of her speech, meaning she was only stating facts and asking rhetorical questions to establish with. Although if it looks at empowering words and sentences then she definitely uses them often and well, such as “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union” List making is when someone is trying to persuade by ‘piling up’ detail. Susan B Anthony does this, but not to fill in time or just for the sake of facts and information, but to show her level of understanding and knowledge she has on women’s rights and civil right. When Anthony asks the rhetorical question “Are women persons?” it is obvious that women are persons but it is a rhetorical question because she is trying to show everyone that the constitution is basically saying that everyone is equal, men and women. This is where she gets the audience to think deeply about who are the people who get to make the decisions in the world and who are there to abide by it and tolerate it. Allusion is a tactical and really smart way to allow the audience to get on the speakers side. Susan B Anthony is really smart in the beginning when she uses the constitution to back her up. This showed her audience that had evidence from a higher authority.

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