Shirley Chisholm's Presidential Speech

PART A: Which statement best expresses the central idea of Shirley Chisholm's speech?

• Chisholm believed that women and women of color had previously been excluded from politics, not because of their lack of support, but because of the lack of funding they received.

• Chisholm ran for the Democratic nomination to give specifically women, and women of color, a voice in American politics.

• Chisholm believed that the white male Democratic nominations for the presidency weren't representing the needs of all Americans.

• Chisholm ran for the Democratic nomination because she believed she could change American politics for the better and bring a divided nation together.

Answer explanation

D - Chisholm ran for the Democratic nomination because she believed she could change American politics for the better and bring a divided nation together.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• . "The abiding concern of this administration has been one of political expediency rather than the needs of man's nature. The president has broken his promises to us, and has therefore lost his claim to our trust and confidence in him." (Paragraph 3)

• "I know that millions of Americans from all walks of life agree with me, that leadership does not mean putting the air to the ground, to follow public opinion, but to have the vision of what is necessary, and the courage to make it possible." (Paragraph 4)

• "I happen to believe that there's certain aspects of legislation that probably would be given much more attention if we had more women's voices in the halls of the legislatures on the city, state, and national level." (Paragraph 9)

• "the United States Constitution stipulates that anyone that is 35 years of age or over and is a natural born citizen can run for the presidency. All of who meet that criteria, the people will make that decision." (Paragraph 11)

What is Shirley Chisholm's overall purpose in her speech?

• to discredit the other candidates running for the Democratic nomination

• to persuade people that she is the right choice for the Democratic nomination

• to convince people that she has overwhelming support for the Democratic nomination

• to pressure people to vote for her for the Democratic nomination

How does the paragraph below from the passage contribute to Chisholm's discussion of politics?

"Elected office. Yes I definitely am feeling and recognizing that as a result of over 20 years in political life, only emerging 8 years ago publicly, there is a great need for more women in the political arena. I happen to believe that there’s certain aspects of legislation that probably would be given much more attention if we had more women’s voices in the halls of the legislatures on the city, state, and national level. And I will — legislation that pertains to daycare centers, education, social services, mental services — the kind of legislation that has to do with the conservation and preservation of the most important resources that any nation has, and that is its human resources."

• It emphasizes how the nation could benefit from more women in politics.

• . It explains why women struggle to reach positions of power in politics

• It shows why women, specifically black women, should support Chisholm's campaign.

• It highlights the obstacles that black women face in politics.

What is the relationship between unity in America and the success of the nation? Cite evidence from the text in your response.

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