Lyndon B. Johnson Speech Address Before a Joint Session

Why do you think Johnson appeals to such a broad and diverse audience at the beginning of his speech?

An allusion is a reference to a historical event, literary text, piece of art, etc:

The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first battle in the American Revolution.

Appomattox was the scene of a major Civil War battle.

Selma, Alabama, was the site of a protest that turned violent.

Johnson makes allusions to conflicts from throughout U.S. history. Why would he make these allusions?

Johnson makes use of parallelism when he begins two sentences in a row with "There is no . . . " and then starts the third sentence with "There is cause for . . ." What effect do you think he hoped his use of parallelism would have on his audience?

Johnson makes use of another allusion, this time from the Bible (Matthew 16:26). Put this line into your own words and explain why it relates to Johnson's speech overall.

"We Shall Overcome" is a protest song that came to be the anthem for the civil rights movement. Why do you think he chooses to reference this song here and elsewhere in his speech?

How does Johnson establish ethos in his speech?

The Emancipation Proclamation is the document that outlawed slavery in the United States. What does Johnson mean when he says "emancipation is a proclamation and not a fact"? Why does he mention the Proclamation?

Why do you think Johnson ends his speech by mentioning the will of God?