Address Before a Joint Session of Congress Lyndon B. Johnson Speech

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

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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?

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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?

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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.

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"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?

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How does Johnson establish ethos in his speech?

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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?

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

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