The American Promise speech

"It is a promise that each of us has the freedom to make our own lives what we will, but that
we also have an obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect." (Section 7). Obama
delivered this speech in Denver, Colorado, on August 28, 2008, a few months before he was
elected. Obama takes us through the American Promise, where he talks about how the
American Promise keeps the United States together. The Promise is an opportunity for every
person that, through hard work, can we achieve our dreams. We are all free and meant to
have the same chance to make our own lives.

One of the topics in the speech, for example, is the American dream "And it is that promise
that forty-five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand
together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's memorial, and hear a young preacher
from Georgia speak of his dream." (Section 16). Here he is referring to Martin Luther King's
speech "I Have a Dream." He shows that he cares about his African background, American
history, and the Civil Rights Movement. Here, Obama also uses logos by making references
to history.

Another topic is The American Promise. "It is that promise that has always set this country
apart – that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our dreams but still
come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their
dreams as well" (section 3). Here he explains what the American Promise means. It is to
have equal opportunities for every American, and you can conquer Intervertebral dreams.
However, you still must come together as a family so the next generation can also pursue
their American dream.

The circumstances of this speech are that Barack Obama was running for president in
2008.

The speaker of this Speech is Barack Obama, who was running for president when he held
the speech. He was the first African American president and a part of the democratic party.
He was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The receiver of this speech is the American people "Thank you, God Bless you, and God
Bless the United States of America" (section 21). Here we can see that Obama is speaking
to the American people.
Here is an example of Repetition

"That Promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck
them in at night and a promise that you make to yours – a promise that has led immigrants
to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and
women to reach for the ballot”. When you're using repetitions, you will remember and
understand the topics much easier.

"And it is that promise that forty-five years ago today brought Americans from every corner
of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's memorial, and hear a
young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream". Here is Obama using pathos because he
is bringing Abraham Lincoln up, which Bildt on Barack Obama's Credibility.

Here is another example allusion "Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and
in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess" (section
20, lines 4-6). Here is Obama using an allusion to the bible, and Christianity is a big part of
many Americans' lives.

Obama uses pathos in this speech example when he speaks on Martin Luther King's "I have
a Dream" and "The Declaration of Independence" He is reminding the audience about two
very important historical occasions in American history. He is, therefore, using pathos.

Here is an example of ethos. "For years ago, I stood before you and told you my story - of
the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who
were "t well-off or well-known but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve
whatever he put his mind to" (section 2). Here is Obama speaking on personal experience.
He speaks on how America has helped him fulfill his dramas, and this story shows that
Obama understands the American people. Because of that, he is connecting with the
audience.

The American Promise gives us a great picture of what Barack Obama would like to do if he
became president and how America is a country full of dreams, and he is referring to himself
and how it was in the past. That makes this speech very interesting, and his referring to
himself makes it more relevant to current affairs. Obama also does a good job of getting a
clear picture of how history and the Promise are linked together, and that Obama thinks the
Promise is the way to make America great.