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Mackenzie Clark

Mrs. Crandall

AP Language-2nd

17 December 2019

Rhetorical Analysis: Wendell Phillips’ Speech

The speech was presented by Wendell Phillips, a white American abolitionist, in 1861.

This was the beginning of the Civil War when Northerners were debating whether to allow

African Americans to serve in the military. The purpose of Wendell’s speech was to convince his

audience to allow African Americans to serve in the military. He concealed his purpose by

praising Haitian general Toussaint Louverture in front of white American citizens. Through the

use of a commonplace and tone shift, he effectively achieved his purpose.

Wendell Phillips begins his speech with a strong statement that his audience can relate to

as a way to gain their attention. He boldly assumes, “Were I here to tell you the story of

Washington, I should take it from your hearts, you who think no marble white enough on which

to carve the name of the Father of his country”. Phillips establishes common ground with his

audience before introducing his subject. This was smart to do because he proves that he is aware

of his prominently white audience and their morals, but his goal is to capture their attention

before changing their mindset. Using a commonplace made his audience more receptive of what

he had to say, so it worked to his advantage.

In the middle of his speech, Phillips transitions from describing the battles Toussaint won

to listing all the possible ways to show him praise. His tone shifts from strong and powerful to

persuasive and reverent. He points out, “Toussaint forged a thunderbolt and hurled it at what?

The proudest blood in Europe, the Spaniard and sent him home conquered”, and then shifts to
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continuous praise, “This main risked his empire rather than permit the slave-trade in the humbled

village of his dominions”. The shift serves as a way to change the audience’s outlook on the

topic. The audience is made aware of Toussaint’s credibility and accomplishments, and then they

recognize that he does deserve praise and recognition.

By the end of Wendell Phillips’ speech, he enforces a call to action. He effectively

concludes, “then, dipping her pen in the sunlight, will write in the clear blue, above them all, the

name of the soldier, the statesman, the martyr, Toussaint- Louverture” (Phillips 41-44). As a

result of this statement, the audience cheered and applauded. It served as a call to action because

his audience was prompted to honor Toussaint and allow African American citizens to serve in

the military. Phillips’ call to action clearly achieves his purpose and works well to summarize his

end goal. After spending the majority of his speech reasoning with his audience and convincing

them to see his outlook on General Toussaint, he is able to end victoriously and give his audience

the opportunity to act.

Wendell Phillips effectively achieves his purpose through various rhetorical strategies.

He begins with a strong claim and establishes some common ground with his audience.

Throughout his speech, he uses various examples of Toussaint’s success, and concludes it with

an empowering call-to-action.