Persuasion To Join The Union At the onset of the Civil War in 1861, the African Americans found themselves in a hard situation. It is hard because the Civil War could be considered both a good and bad time for the African Americans. It could be considered good because the Civil War was technically fought for the African Americans to receive freedom. But, it could be considered bad because at this time African Americans were not allowed to join the Union forces, so they were being discriminated, and there were still slaves in the south. When Alfred M. Green delivered his speech in April of 1861, he looked past the bad and was able to persuade his audience of African Americans to join the Union forces in the Civil War. He was able to persuade his audience by establishing ethos, pathos, and kairos, constructing his speech in a parallel manner, and alluding to famous historic events and people. Before even …show more content…
let not the honor and glory achieved by our fathers be blasted or sullied by a want of true heroism among their sons”. He is appealing to their sense of family by saying if they do not want to fight for themselves, then do it for their fathers. He then appeals to the people’s sense of revenge by stating why the Confederacy went to war: to expand slavery. By appealing to their sense of family and revenge, he is establishing pathos. Family is an important factor of African American heritage, and should invoke emotion in the audience. Alfred Green’s overall tone is both powerful. By using ethos, pathos, and kairos, alluding to famous people, and by constructing his speech in a parallel manner, he persuades his audience to join the Union Forces and fight against the Confederates in the Civil War. He ends his speech by telling his audience to never lose faith, regardless of the situation by saying “... and confidence in the armies of the living God - the God of truth, justice, and equality to all