Now that you have done a close reading of George Washington's "A Faithful Friend to the Army", you will write a rhetorical analysis. Which appeal, ethos, pathos or logos predominates? Your analysis should reflect that.
If you are struggling, take a look at the questions on pages 40-41. Also, make sure you include in your introduction the kairos of the speech. That is a good way to set the stage for your analysis.
One more thing, make sure you comment on the posts of AT LEAST two classmates. And each comment, if you want full credit, should be a minimum of 20 words and should discuss the content of the post. Do not tell someone they did a good job. You are supposed to be either qualifying what they wrote or challenging it. Wimpy comments will not get credit.
George Washington, one of America's founding fathers, asserted his opinions on the Newburgh Conspiracy thus reassuring his army's growing distrust with Congress. The Newburgh Conspiracy was written in order to create civil distrust with the intentions of Congress. It was written anonymously, a cowardly attempt to hide one's image and establish good character and intention. A man who will not stand with his word leaves his words meaningless.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington before he was the first president of the United States was a great military general who represented his army by entering the battlefield with his army with great trust that it was a battle to be won. From the beginning of his career as a military general during the Revolutionary War it was very apparent that he was a man willing to fight for the people of the United States. He began his speech disproving his enemy's claims by proclaiming, "That the address is drawn with great art, and is designed to answer the most insidious purposes; that it is calculated to impress the mind with an idea of premeditated injustice in the sovereign power of the United States," establishing he recognizes that the man who wrote this letter's intentions weren't for the common good. He's the only one who can see the initial intention of the letter and thus, the only one who can restore the army's faith in Congress and destroy the character of the anonymous man.
He continues on to address that he is here to fight against injustice and give justice to the men fighting beneath him. As a man who fights for the army he knows what it is like, and what must be done on the battlefield. He then brings up the rhetorical question of, "Then why should we distrust [Congress], and, in consequence of that distrust, adopt measures which may cast a shade over that glory which has been so justly acquired, and tarnish the reputation of an army which is celebrated through all Europe for its fortitude and patriotism? For what is this done? To bring the object we seek nearer? No, in my opinion it will cast it at a greater distance." Through this portion of his speech he establishes his ethos through goodwill, moral character, and practical wisdom achieved in the army and even uses Logos to ask why are we fighting against ourselves.
He continues on to restore faith in congress using his Ethos that he has established. He begins this by telling his army not to ruin their reputation and to have faith in Congress so that they can fairy pay them for their service. Because, if you support your nation they will support you back because that's the basis of a just society. There must be cooperation to continue the establishment of a given nation. He then hammers down his point that his character is dominant over the anonymous man's character because what he wrote will cause "the opening of the flood-gates of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in blood."
Throughout this speech George Washington, a great man who fought for the people, establishes his ethos because the man who wrote the letter lacked all forms of ethos making George Washington's character more reliable. He continues on to ask rhetorical questions and breaking down the letter using logical reasoning. He then finishes his speech, using pathos, to incite patriotism within his army's hearts by saying that they are what matters to this nation. Although this speech covers all three parts of rhetoric, it is dominated by George Washington's personal character, or Ethos.
You back up your opinions very well. I believe that George Washington’s speech was more directed towards the logos. He tries to win back his army and restore their faith in congress, but after reading your blog I can understand why it could possibly be ethos. You use a couple of good quotes that pull your thoughts together.
DeleteWell thought out. The only thing I take issue with is your stating he establishes his character as dominant over the authors. It's not that he is better than the author, the American people's interests are more important than one mans greed for money. Washington just happens to embody those values and interests.
DeleteGeorge Washington was America’s first president. What makes him such a phenomenal president is that he wasn’t at all removed from his country and it’s people. Instead of trying to solve the country’s hardships and issues from a desk, Washington actually went out and fought in the wars with the troops and solved problems with reason. These factors are what made him so respected and admired.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Washington also confronted and faced problems as they arose within his society. One such instance is the need for the speech I am about to analyze. This speech was needed because an anonymous letter was circulation throughout the members of the military containing many grievances with the government and why men should desert the army. This was a cowardly act driven purely by emotion.
A complete contrast to the anonymous letter, Washington’s speech was mostly characterized by logos. During the speech Washington says, “That the address is drawn with great art, and it is designed to answer the the most insidious purposes; that it is calculated to impress the mind with the idea of premeditated injustice... whoever he may be, intended to take advantage of the passions, while they were warmed by the recollection of past distresses, without giving time for cool deliberative thinking...” With this long quote, Washington is simply saying that the speech is mainly targeting the emotions of the men, and although it was written very well to make it seem like a sound argument, it is devoid of both morals and logic. He is essentially saying that the letter can be compared to the destructive work of the Sophists. Washington also calls the anonymous writer a hypocrite as he reads this passage from the letter, “‘If was continues, remove into the unsettled country; there establish yourselves and leave an ungrateful country to defend itself?.’”
Washington establishes his ethos when he says, “But as I was among he first who embarked in the cause of our common country; as I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty...” He later says, “... tarnish the the reputation of an army which is celebrated through all Europe for its fortitude and patriotism?” He continues further saying, “No, most certainly, in my opinion it will cast it [the objective to achieve] at a greater distance.” With these three selections, Washington establishes goodwill, moral virtue, and practical wisdom. He shows goodwill with the first selection because he shows that he has always been there for the army and the country and has never given them a reason to doubt him. Washington shoes moral virtue with the second selection when he talks about how the American army is regarded all over Europe for their fortitude. Lastly, Washington shows practical wisdom with the last quote. He is saying that giving in to the demands of the anonymous letter writer will only cause more problems.
Washington establishes the pathos through small points that build off each ought during the speech. He creates an atmosphere of anger through his outrage of this anonymous letter. This anger slowly transforms into patriotism at the end of the speech. Washington subtlety brings emotion into the speech unlike the anonymous writer of the letter. This is one reason why Washington’s speech to counter this letter is so effective. He uses the appeals that the anonymous writer failed to include in the letter (ethos and logos) to build the primary argument of his speech.
I like your opening paragraph, but the way you lead into your speech with "I am going to analyze" makes it feel almost amateur(?). Its just something that caught me off guard.
DeleteYou among many others claim that George Washington's speech was dominated by his use of logic, or logos, but I can't help but point out that it seems as if he established his ethos better and even you say towards the end that he established the three parts of ethos, practical wisdom, moral virtue, and goodwill. Are you sure that it's dominated by logos, or much rather could it be ethos and you're looking in the wrong spot?
DeleteI thought your blog was wrote very well. You started out by confronting the reasons why this letter was written. You then went in and broke it down. This actually allowed me to look at it differently. I thought you did a good job explaining the ethos in particular. Nice job!
DeleteEven though ethos and pathos are established remarkably well throughout the speech, Washington mainly supports his argument using logos. The whole speech focuses on the reasons why this letter is complete nonsense fueled purely by emotion, and the ideas in it are going to inevitably fail. He reassures Congress by presenting to them the logical reasons why this letter is not that much of a threat that it seems to be. Of course, he has substantial help in doing this from the establishment of his ethos. However, Washington primarily used the ethos as a base for the logos to help further support and build it.
ReplyDeleteBesides being an amazing president, Washington was an amazing orator. Through his speech, it is easy to see why Washington was so effective in cleanly shutting down The Newburgh Conspiracy.
The beginning of your post gives a good background of the situation. You establish the kiaros of the situation very well. I also like how you used multiple quotes from the speech and broke them apart. You gave a clear and short meaning to the long sentence that Washington used. This helped establish your reasoning of Washington using logic to demonstrate his ideas.
DeleteGeorge Washington, the first president of the United States, was a extraordinary military general and leader. These skill were present in his Newburgh Address. He has found a letter that has been circulating through the camp stating that distrust congress had in the military. This address was given just before the end of the Revolutionary War was over, so, it can be easy to see why the army would be frustrated with congress. The men were upset do to congresses lack of funding for the war. These men were fighting for the freedom of United States and congress was not helping them.
ReplyDeleteWashington’s main form of persuasion comes through his logos. All of his statements are backed up by multiple different facts. This can be seen in the long sentences that he uses. He states his opinion , then he goes int great detail to ensure that his audience understands his point, and final he backs up his opinion with facts. He puts all of this information into one sentence, and, by doing this, he can easily state his opinions. These longs sentences also allow for Washington to be able to control the emotions, pathos, of the sentence. He can take an argument from the anonymous letter and turn it back around and puts guilt back into the audience. Washington’s main point of this speech is to make the author of the letter and its readers feel guilty for their thoughts. He tells them that congress means good, but they are in rough times are trying to deal with many different issues.
The others side of the rhetorical triangle is used, but Washington mostly appeals to the audiences emotion, logos. Washington is a very respected man and has no problem establishing his ethos. He reminds his army that he is right along side of them in the war and feels there pain. He understands why the are frustrated, but he understands that congress is trying to help and that it is what he is trying to get across to his army. Washington’s well respected attitude allows his to skip establishing ethos and great right to the main point.
I find your blog very difficult to follow because initially you claim that he's using logos, but in the first sentence of the final paragraph you write "Washington mostly appeals to the audiences emotion, logos." Do you mean he applies to their pathos? You state throughout your blog that his speech is backed up by fact, but you lack evidence in your writing, and you go on to claim that his opinion is a fact, which it is not it's his opinion. Please clarify these issues, thank you.
DeleteI agree that it can be easily understood why the army was so frustrated with Congress. Without the pensions and other payment, they were getting negative consequences and that in itself was difficult for the fight.
DeleteI have a few issues regarding the content in your post. For one, in your last sentence you talk about how Washington skipped the establishment of ethos. Yes, he was respected, but there were several times throughout the speech where he did establish ethos. It is still a crucial point to establish in the argument despite the fact that he was already respected. Other than that, of my other concerns we already expressed with Logan’s comment.
DeleteAdding to Sophie’s comment, Washington did not skip ethos, in fact I believe he used ethos more than any other appeal. While Washington’s title alone makes him very credible, he still spent quite some time noting his credibility throughout his speech.
DeleteThe Revolutionary War was a huge changing pint for America; this much is obvious. However, it was also a great maturing point. Over the course of this war, one man or a group of men drafted a letter to every soldier fighting for blue. The sole purpose of this letter was to convince the troops to rebel against their congress, suggesting that they weren't being paid properly. None other than George Washington himself.
ReplyDeleteHe address his troops on the 15th of March, 1783, by immediately stating his displeasure and disappointment. He uses ethos almost exclusively, attempting to essentially guilt trip them into getting back on track. Washington begins his main argument by dismantling the author's purpose. This is done by first complimenting the author's talent and then tearing him down for misusing it. This is extremely effective given the nature of a compliment and his effectively taking it back. There are very few things that hurt worse than character assassination. He also commends the author's purpose, but condemns his actions, saying "[the author] should not think as he thinks, and act as he advises". Washington continues to say that the other purpose of the letter is sinister by design and very well executed. He the letter to attempt to plant the seed of suspicion in the minds of American citizens, denying them the ability to process events unheeded by burning emotion.
Washington also employs the use of respect. This is done in a manner that allows his credibility carry through with his argument. He says that he respects their opinions, but he believes they are wrong to follow this man's letter. This is followed by describing what would happen if all the soldiers were to up and leave the United States behind. This puts in perspective for the men just how much their service means to the country. He uses this to describe how near-sighted the author truly is. Washington then discusses how the sole purpose of the letter to create discord and separation, thus making him an "insidious foe".
The next few points consists of him stating his wanting the best for his men and his country and reassuring them that Congress will live up to its obligations. Essentially, Washington tells his men they need to have patience. They will receive what they deserve in due time.
This speech was an essential point to their winning the war. It dispelled a conspiracy and, in turn, strengthened the men more then they were prior to it.
I feel as if you forgot a sentence between "The sole purpose... None other than George Washington himself", it makes it feel as if you're saying George Washington was writing the letter to revolt against Congress, but other than that I enjoyed your blog. I especially agree with that you state he's establishing and using his ethos to tear down the opposing rhetor's character and also his use of respect and willingness to fight for the people's rights was a nice addition to this blog.
DeleteBruce, I definitely agree with you in where you talk about when he compliments the writer, then tears him too pieces. I feel like that method could be very useful in a lot of arguements and speeches such as this. I also like the historical background, giving a date for the exact date.
DeleteGeorge Washington was well respected as a leader because of his active role in the war, instead of passively solving problems away from the front lines. He became aware of an anonymous letter circulating amongst officers in his army. The contents of the letter were to be discussed at a meeting in which George Washington himself attended. Which was completely unexpected, and let to the further dramatic effect of his thoughts on the letter.
ReplyDeleteThe main rhetorical strategy used by Washington in his address is logic or logos. He uses this tactic to degrade the letters content and the writer itself. George says that the letter is only meant to bring an uprising of emotions (by using pathos) but states that is the only argument the parcel provides. The use of rhetorical questions in his statement allows the listeners to use their own logic concerning the arguement of the letter. Logos is most prevalent, but with the use of rhetorical questions and a pre-established character, is overwhelmingly effective.
The majority of people will be convinced by a speaker so long as they trust him. This technique is referred to as ethos and is said to be the most important component of a rhetorical situation. George Washington, a great historic figure, had a previously well established character coming into this situation. But that’s not all, during his speech he states he has always been a friend to the army and always will be. This is confirmed to his character by being unexpectedly present at this meeting.
Washington’s ending to his speech used pathos and the emotions of the audience to dramatically shut down the anonymous authors argument. At this time in the speech many were already convinced by Washington’s authority and logic. But the final use of pathos induced a strong patriotical feeling, fueling the war effort. Washington says, “You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism & patient virtue.” Meaning each person involved in this war will be exhibiting great national spirit, while still assuring them their patience with Congress will reward them.
George Washington’s speech clearly exhibits him as a well versed speaker and leader. His use of logos, pathos, and ethos throughout his speech leads to a convincing counter argument. This ultimately leads to the conspiracy spreading throughout the officers to be completely shut down.
I agree that the main appeal used here is logos amd that the reader has to use their own logic to interpret the meanings behind the letter. I also agree they the pathos used near the end of the address helped prove Washington’s ideas stated within the speech.
DeleteI particularly enjoyed reading you paragraph on pathos. I thought it was interesting how you brought up that Washington’s use of ethos was used to shut down the anonymous authors argument. I never looked at it that way. I wanted to add the fact that he used pathos to make the audience look at everything a little differently. He kind of made them feel guilty about what they were doing now and how it could affect people later on. Nice job!
DeleteGreat job Issac, really enjoyed reading this! Keep it up! All of your points made sense and all came together at the end.
DeleteI liked your paragraph on the use of logos. It showed me a perspective that I hadn’t really looked at before yours. As well as the use of the quote in the last paragraph.
DeleteGeorge Washington has been such a large figure of patriotism to America since becoming an army general to when he became president. Durning the Revolutionary War, Washington was an active participant in the fight and struggle for America. He led America courageously through its hardships and placed hope in its citizens. When a anonymous letter arose within the army, Washington addressed it head on with logic to prove his statements.
ReplyDeleteIn Washington’s speech, “A Faithful Friend to the Army”, he addresses the controversial letter that spoke of negative experiences and some untruths. Within this speech, he uses the logos appeal, or logic, to further the impact of the words he speaks. In the second paragraph, Washington states that the anonymous letter is addressed more towards the feelings and passions, or the pathos, of the army rather than the reason and judgement, or the logic. This means that the person who wrote the address was focusing on how the soldiers felt and forget to mention the logic that has been shown throughout the fight. The author then goes on to the personal struggles of the soldiers within the army and attempts to arise resentment within the reader. Washington states that this is a known problem, for he himself was involved in the fight and experienced firsthand the adverse situations that arose. He is equally as credible as any other fighter because he never used his position of power to give himself better circumstances or treatment. He endured as much as everyone else did which is a logical way to understand his personal character. Later on in the speech, Washington focuses on the freedom of speech that has been granted to American citizens. He states that this asset could be taken away if the people abuse it. This would not be logical because as a country, we would be leading ourselves to destruction. He then states that the logical and safe reaction to this anonymous address is to place full faith in Congress. Reacting in any other way, such as a revolt, will cause more problems than it will fix them. Logos had been such a large factor within his speech. Without it people would not understand the facts and truths of Washington and America in general.
While the two other appeals, ethos and pathos, some times shine through his words, the main appeal used here was logos. With the logos of his argument proved drastically throughout his speech, the people can truly understand why the anonymous letter was so incorrect.
Anna, I am having a hard time reading your blog post. I do see where you found logos within George Washington’s speech, but I do not think it is the main rhetorical strategy. Besides the fact that the chapter the speech is found in is titled “Ethos, Revealing The Speakers Credibility”, George, it seemed, did much more justice to the appeal of ethos. However, you are not the only one who found logos as the main strategy in George Washington’s speech. As Sophie said, it would be much easier to follow if there are quotes within the speech that you placed throughout your blog.
DeleteI found it interesting how heavily you focused on the logos. I enjoyed reading your ideas, especially the part where you mentioned that Washington didn’t do things to better his own image. It was a different idea pertaining him. Overall I think this was a very fun piece to read.
DeleteI do agree with some of the earlier comments that it was hard to follow. I think breaking it up a little bit and thoroughly explaining your thoughts might help. In the end, I think you have a very strong understanding of the text.
DeleteThanks for the tips. I do believe if you read it thoroughly though you would understand where my ideas are coming from but that’s okay.
DeleteI agree with much of what was said in your blog, but I had a hard time following your ideas. I think some quotations from the speech to back up your arguments would have been more helpful to better illustrate your argument.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington was the United States first president. Yet before that, he was a venerable general in the Revolutionary War. He wasn't an ordinary general of the time, he traveled and was fighting along side his soldiers. This is shown in the famous paining of him crossing the Delaware River. He was loved by the soldiers, and when Washington heard of an anonymous writer writing to the soliers about overthrowing the government, or not fighitng in the war, he knew he had to intervene.
ReplyDeleteAs the anonymous writer used pathos, or emotion the entire letter. Washington uses a lot of logos and rhetorical questions to prove his side. He wirter was also a very good writer, Washington said. And Washington acknowledge that he used emotions to rouse the men. Washington tells the men that the writer is using trying to clog the men up with emotions, so they will join his side. He also talks about how the writer is only showing his point of view, and that not everyone will have the same thoughts has him.
Later on he starts to us rhetorical questions, in rapid succession. He why does this is by making his own men think, instead of feeding him information and this own thoughts. This is a good strategy used by Washington, as it does add the men's own thoughts, so it's not just his own point of view. He also takes quotes from the letter itself, two contradictory ideas, and shows the hypocrisy of the writer there.
He, as he wraps us, says that people can't be led astray, like sheep. This so showing that he's telling the men "don't be too dumb to be led by a random person". He attacks the writers ethos there, and because the writer is anonymous, shows there also no ethos there also.
This speech shows that Washington was not only a smart and strategic military general, but also a speaker. He showed a well rounded speech. I could've only imagined what the response was too the speech by the men.
“He wirter was also a very good writer, Washington said.“ This was a sentence in your rhetorical analysis; this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Your whole forth paragraph is completely irrelevant. This paragraph does not discuss ethos, logos, or pathos. Gerg, take time to proofread your blogs. Your last two have been pretty rough when it comes to grammar and the topic itself.
DeleteI can agree a tiny bit with Gabe about the grammar, however, I think you made good points and I liked how you said it shows Washington is not only smart and a good general but also a speaker.
DeleteGabe, I agree with you in that I shouldn't have put in about the rhetorical analysis their, as I shouldn't put it in at the end of the paargraph too go into my next paragraph. Also, no one's perfect, so next to I'll make sure to double check my spelling mistakes before I post. Thank for pointing that out to me.
DeleteBeside the grammer, I enjoyed the paragraph about all the rhetorical questions. And the fact that he is taking in all points of view and not just his own.
DeleteI didn’t want to come out too harsh but I just though that this blog should be an eye opener for you. I usually agree with your blogs and ideas, however I just want you to take an extra 10 minutes after typing your blog to reread it.
DeleteAnthony I agree with everything you wrote, just your spelling. Along with Emily, I really like how you included George Washington's speaking skills.
DeleteGeorge Washington was America’s first president, founding father, and the general that led the Patriots to victory during the Revolutionary War. During George Washington’s time as a general an anonymous letter passed through the military. This controversial letter was given the name “The Newburgh Conspiracy”. The Newburgh Conspiracy was written with the intent of causing a disturbance within the people of the army to fight against the powers of Congress.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington’s speech relies heavily on ethos. General George Washington showed himself to his men by riding into battle with his men during the Revolutionary War. By going into the battle many people in the army grew their trust in George Washington. “...I have never left your side one moment...” in this part of George Washington’s speech he was establishing his eunoia, goodwill. He was showing his relationship with the people in the army and that he was someone they trust.
George Washington also talked about the man’s letter itself. “...the goodness of his pen; and I could wish he had as much credit for the rectitude of his heart...” George started by complimenting the man, but then goes into the main reason for the speech, calling out the man. He goes after the man saying that he should have as much credit as the attention his writing achieved to get. “...whoever he may be, intended to take advantage of the passions...” George Washington was calling out the man for being a sophist. The man was toying with the people within the military and their emotions. Later, George talks about how the anonymous writer has a strong command of both logos and pathos because he achieved his apparent goal of confusion. However, the man who wrote the letter has a weak ethos, he was not willing to put his name on his work. As said previous in the section we just read on ethos, “That is, one could argue that a speaker who hides her good character is also wrong, for she is withholding from the listeners an important factor in their decision-making.”
Throughout George Washington’s speech he was showing the people that he was a credible man while showing that anonymous writer is in the wrong and is not establishing his ethos. Ethos is the cornerstone of persuasion and George Washington brought it to light in his speech. Even though logos and pathos are scattered throughout the speech, to make it a valid point of persuasion, the ethos stands out the most.
I really enjoyed reading your work. I must point out how you quoted George Washington. The part that he said he has never left their side for one moment. I did not think of that while writing mine, I think that’s very powerful. He really did not leave his side. In my opinion, I believe George Washington also used pathos. He made them think many different ways by stirring their emotions. I personally felt guilt. However, great work!
DeleteYou could use some different phrases other than “The man” but overall I liked it.
DeleteGeorge Washington was a very humble person, in my opinion. He not only led America as a President, but he led the military on the battlefield as a General in the Revolutionary War. Everything that needed to be done, was done with him taking part in it. He never sat down and controlled people, he did it with them. This made him a very impressive president for his actions, this is why people admired him so much.
ReplyDeleteThe ethos is what most of the speech is led by. George Washington already held a lot of authority through being the President and the General. The ethos in the speech itself is brought to the readers attention when he says, “Gentleman, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.” There he shows that he too knows what they are going through, because he is going through it with them. He truly is a leader to the men. He is someone they should be looking up to. I also believe the fact that he is the one giving the speech to the army about the issues, also shows his authority over the rest. Ethos is developed more and more throughout the speech.
The logos were already established before the speech was even started. The military was beginning to revolt on the Congress because they were not paying their wages. This led to an anonymous letter to be sent around that was “unmilitary” like as George Washington called it. This is what drove Washington to talk to the army about fighting for this country. In the speech he says, “The freedom of speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent, you may be right, like sheep, to the slaughter.” This is how George Washington explained to the army what would happen if we do not continue to fight for this country of ours.
George Washington appealed to the pathos through the emotion of guilt. I thought that him talking about his issues as a General fighting for his country and having people wanting to give up, should have made them look at things differently. I also believe him explaining what could happen to the country if everyone revolted, was a very powerful move. I, myself, felt guilty for them. He continued to stir their emotions throughout the entire speech.
This speech was very powerful and moving. George Washington makes a strong point to both the military and the Congress. The pathos, logos, and ethos were all expressed in some way. However, I believe the ethos was most predominant. The entire speech was based around what he, himself, has done and why they should not give up. Can you imagine if all our military just quit on our country? Would we have a strong military today if this speech never happened?
I enjoyed reading your post and liked how you mentioned freedom and used quotes to prove your thoughts. I also liked how you talked about our military today as well. Good work !
DeleteLauren, I felt that your blog was well written and you expressed you points in a great way. You did a great job picking out quotes that correspond with the information within your blog. I do agree pathos and logos are present, that is how rhetoric is used, a mix of all three rhetorical strategies. I enjoyed seeing you write about all the rhetorical strategies but I especially agree that ethos is the dominating strategy. I don’t have many issues with your post. I would say that starting your blog with “in my opinion” may be a bit weak since our opinions don’t actually matter in rhetorical analysis, though it did not really affect the post as a whole. Good job.
DeleteGeorge Washington, the first President of the United States, established his thoughts in the Newburgh Address. He is a respected man because he fought in the wars with his men instead of sitting back and watching them fight. He tells them that he knows what they are going through because he is going through it to. He found an anonymous letter that was circulating amongst his officers. Men who cannot own up to their own words are cowards and leave the meaning of their thoughts useless. The letter was sent around to convince the soldiers to fight against their congress because they believed they were not being paid the amount they deserved. They believed they were fighting for the freedom of their country while congress was doing little help.
ReplyDeleteThe main rhetorical strategy used by Washington in his address is logos. He uses rhetorical questions in order to challenge the people to use their own logic to understand the real meaning. The use of pathos is also used in his address. It says the anonymous letter is addressed more towards the pathos(emotion) of the army rather than the logos(reason and judgment.)
In Washington’s speech he states he has always been a friend to the army, this can show qualities of ethos and pathos. This shows Washington could be trusted by the men because of his kind and well developed character. Most people can more easily be convinced by a speaker that they trust, meaning Washington could be a friend to the men if he has their trust.
Lastly, Washington creates a patriotic feeling, which brings emotion instead of the anger because of the letter. This is one characteristic that makes his work so effective. He is sure to use ethos and logos to argue the meaning of his speech because they weren’t used in the anonymous letter and ultimately shuts it down.
George Washington mainly supports his argument using logos throughout his speech.He proved to the men that the letter was not a huge threat and he shut it down. Washington presents outstanding presidential characteristics, however, he also is one of the most trusting men. Using logical reasoning, he breaks down the meaning of the anonymous letter.
This speech was very powerful because he continues to stay strong and lead his men. The pathos, logos, and ethos were all expressed in the speech. We could never be free if our men quit fighting for us and gave up. We must be appreciative towards those who are strong like Washington and do not give up on our Country.
Although I disagree with your ideas on Washington’s main appeal, I think you argued your opinion well. In other words, I think you justified many aspects of your essay with great knowledge.
DeleteI agree that the main persuasive strategy used in the address is logos. I also agree that each pathos, logos, and ethos were used not just one appeal.
DeleteI also want to add that I believe ethos is also a main part in his speech.
ReplyDeleteGreat points overall, but would’ve definitely liked to hear your ideas on the ethos!
DeleteGeorge Washington was the general of the patriots in the Revolutionary War.. He was also the United States of America’s first President. George Washington was not like the stereotypical war general; sitting in the barracks and planning war strategies while the army is battling. Instead, he would be in the front line of the army, as portrayed in the painting of him crossing the Delaware River. Since George Washington had this reputation, it would be unlikely that he would appear at an officer’s meeting. However, he did just the opposite. A meeting was held to discuss an anonymous letter that arrived to one of the officers. George Washington was not expected to show up, but he did arrive to the meeting and presented a speech.
ReplyDeleteThe predominant rhetorical appeal in George Washington’s speech is ethos. George establishes his ethos without tooting his own horn. He persuades the officers to agree with his opinion by telling them of his past experiences. He states, “I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common country; as I have never left your side one moment.” George said that he has always been a faithful to the country and the army. This ethos alone would be sufficient to convince the officers to agree with his opinion.
George Washington asked rhetorical questions to establish pathos. A quote from the letter is as follows, “If war continues, remove into unsettled country; there establish yourselves and leave an ungrateful country to defend itself.” George responds to the line by asking, “But who are they to defend? Our wives, our children, our farms and other property which we are to leave behind us?” This uses the emotion of guilt to persuade the officers. A soldier would feel guilty if he were to abandon his country to save himself.
George Washington is presenting the speech to inform the officers that the writer is attempting to disorganize the government. Since the letter was anonymous, George was able to easily present his opinion due to the write not being known. George says that since the writer was anonymous, he or she did not present any ethos to his or her argument, thus making it invalid.
George Washington was clearly well versed, as shown in his speech. His ethos, logos, and pathos all contributed to how his argument won the officers’ opinions. His focus on ethos and establishing his credibility helped his argument immensely.
Like your speech. It was very well put together and I agree with you all of your analysis. I really liked the use of quotes from the speech itself.
DeleteGeorge Washington, one of the most profound leaders in our country. Obviously being the first president of the United States, laid the foundation for the country we live in today. Along with that accolade, he is one of the most well known Army generals that have ever stepped foot on the battlefield. What makes Washington stand out from other presidents, is the fact he became involved with his country personally by fighting and leading the Army in many aspects.
ReplyDeleteIn his speech, George Washington was addressing the anonymous letter found circulating through the men and women fighting during the Revolutionary War. While speaking of this letter, he established logos, which I believe is the main rhetorical strategy used, by using facts and really digging deep into the heart of the letter. He then goes ahead to use an array of rhetorical questions to really trigger the logos and pathos of the audience to really dive into thinking about what he and the letter has to say.
The ethos of the letter becomes more and more predominant as he goes on reading to his audience. He begins by stating he can relate to how the men feel about the long days on the battlefield and how he can relate to the long days of traumatic experiences in the past, and those to come in the days ahead. He stated in his speech “... as I have been a constant companion and witness of your distresses, and not among the last to feel and acknowledge your merits...” That statement really shows how he felt, but also along with his ethos, this established his pathos in speaking of his time in war.
George Washington, being one of the most well known people known to man, obviously has some credit to his name for this speech. Again, reiterating what was stated earlier, logos may have been the most profound and important part of this article, but the pathos, along with the ethos were both established very well throughout the whole letter. All three strategies contributed to how the letter is read and taken in by all readers.
Your analysis touched on all the main points of rhetoric but I would have liked to see a little more detail of how he established his logos, you mentioned how but it seemed brief and kind of vague. However, I did notice that you used some good vocabulary in your writing which was nice to see. Overall, it was good but a little short for such a powerful piece of writing.
DeleteBeing a highly respected general of the army as well as the President of the United States, George Washington led a credible life. Washington notably shut down the Newburgh Conspiracy with an iconic speech in which he confronts an anonymous writer. The Newburgh Conspiracy was started by an anonymous individual that claimed Congress was not paying their wages. By surprising an assembly of officers and speaking on the issue, the Newburgh Conspiracy disappeared.
ReplyDeleteWashington first established his ethos by noting his tireless service and respect for his country, and the people in it. He references to his poor eyesight as a result of fighting for his country during the speech. He calls himself a “faithful friend to the army” and noted his passion for what he does by stating “ But as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common country; as I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and witness of your distress, and not among the last to feel and acknowledge your merits; ....” He repeatedly regards his connection with his country and the army, establishing his goodwill to the people, as well as his ethos. Washington uses ethos on several occasions throughout the speech, making it the predominant appeal.
While regarding his credibility, Washington also attacks the writer of the letter’s ethos. He references the anonymity of the letter several times throughout his speech, making it clear that the writer lacks ethos. By not revealing a title, the writer demonstrates fear. The writer must not be very credible if he would not reveal his identity and face the truth of his problem. Washington tells that the letter described impractical proposals, attacking the phronesis of the message. The writers eunoia is shut down as Washington explains that the desired effects of the letter would be harmful to the army. Washington effectively dismissed the conspiracy by attacking the ethos of the writer.
Aside from the abundance of ethos in the speech, Washington reached the pathos of the audience by referencing the sense of pride and love he has for his country, instilling a sense of patriotism in the audience. The speech contains instances of logos as well. Washington describes the truths of what is happening in the country, and the audience believes these truths as a result of his well-established ethos. Because the writer of the letter could have little ethos, he lacked pathos as well. Washington deterred his logos by telling the truth.
The extraordinary speech by George Washington predominately demonstrates all appeals of ethos, not only in Washington, but also the lack of good ethos in the anonymous writer. Pathos and logos are present through Washington as he displays patriotism and tactic. However, the most impactful comment of the speech is the one regarding the physical toll that Washington’s time in war had on him. Through his incredible speech, Washington shut down the Newburgh Conspiracy for good.
After I read your second paragraph, I started to get worried that it was all going to be quotes from the text, but you didn't go overboard with the quotes in the rest and I was relieved at that. The one other thing I noticed was how you mentioned that Washington dismissed the conspiracy by attacking the writer. While he did do this, your stating of it seems to suggest this is all he had to do and that kind of takes away from the rest of the speech which is all a masterpiece of rhetorical skill. Overall, your analysis is very well written and well broken into parts. Your opening paragraph was a good outline of the situation and helped me get into the atmosphere of what was happening.
DeleteI agree with your thoughts noting ethos as the most prominent appeal mentioned in Washington’s speech. In my opinion, I think you did an excellent job using a variety of direct quotes from the speech to develop a full understanding of what was actually said and what it can be perceived as. Also, not many others noted that the anonymous addresser and Washington were in complete contrast of each other; in which you did a nice job of including that. I really enjoyed reading your interpretation of the speech.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington was one of the most liked president of all time. Before he was president, he was a general in the revolutionary war. He was well liked, because he would always go into battle with his men, no matter how bad the battle was. This allowed him to gain the respect of his men, and an even better president. Washington was handed a letter that was passed through the army, called the Newburgh Conspiracy, which was about the soliders taking over the government, thus causing Washington to take action.
ReplyDeleteThe ethos is established throughout the whole story. It is prevalent in the beginning with the authority being help by George Washington through being a general and a president. He established his authority by going out into the worst of battles with his soldiers. The whole speech Washington gave showed his ethos, his authority to his men which shut down any plans of them revolting against the government. Washington said that he never left the side of his men, and he always stayed true to his word.
Ethos is the most prevalent rhetorical strategy he uses, however pathos is also important here as well.
The anonymous letter that was written used pathos, as it should how the soliders were feeling and led to writing of speech that Washington gave to his men. He showed how much he cared for his men, and his country, and some of the difficulties he had while serving as a general in the military. It brought out all the love and passion he had for this country.
This speech showed us exactly why George Washington was so well liked. He related to all the soliders bu sharing some of the bad experiences he had while being a general in the army. The speech brought out all the leadership qualities a true president or military general should posses.
I agree with your point that ethos was used predominately, but I would have liked to see your ideas on how ethos was used. In addition, I like your ideas on how pathos was used, I did not view it like that!
DeleteThe Newburgh Conspiracy wasn’t about the soldiers taking over the government, but rather a call to riot and rebel against Congress for not receiving their wages from the war. I agree with your thoughts that ethos was the most dominant appeal mentioned, but maybe a direct quote from the speech could have expressed your message a little more clearly. Overall, I think you had a good understanding of the speech, but could’ve used more detail!
DeleteDan, I like your introduction saying that George was one of the most liked presidents, as it gave an introduction to the ethos present in the speech.
DeleteI really liked your thoughts regarding ethos and pathos, but I think you could have elaborated more on how ethos pertains in many different aspects throughout the story.
DeleteIn March, 1783, during the Revolutionary War, there was a letter circulated around the army that the government wasn't being fair to the people. This letter wanted to use the emotions of the war to attack the government, and it wanted to use no other than the people who fight for the government to do it. In part, it was genius, to use a time of high tension and anger it at a target. But the aggressor forgot that this is a nation who was waging war upon it's roots, declaring it's independence, and fighting for what it believed. Strength comes from the passion to fight, and this is a people who knew what they were fighting for, freedom!
ReplyDeleteThis letter needed to be taken care of, but who would be the one the one to fight it? Why, George Washington himself! Washington showed up at the meeting, to everyone's surprise, to take care of this properly. Washington, even at this time, had quite a reputation, he was leader who fought with his men, he was exactly who the people needed to handle this matter.
Now, Washington's reputation preceded him but, for a true argument, he needed to show his authority in the moment. He starts this by giving credit to the author of the letter for his good work, this may seem counterintuitive, but it shows that George is a fair man and a logical thinker. This shows a lot about his character. Then, he goes on to mention his loyalty to the army and his country. That when they needed him, he was there, he helped however he was needed to. He was there for them since the beginning. This really shows his commitment to this country and that he is doing what is right.
And while the authority of the speaker is important, a good speech is held up by facts, it needs logic and reason to really get a point across. Washington knows this and uses it mainly to show the purpose of the letter. He reasons with the audience about the purpose of the letter. The letter is clearly meant to evoke emotion and anger at the government. This logically, cannot be a letter that is meant to help the people. It tries to hurt the government. The author is obviously not a friend to the army since he tries to undermine it. Washington also uses some rhetorical questions to further this point. The questions he asks are statements about the author and how it could ever be in the best interest of everyone to dislike the government. He controls the minds of the audience in this way. This use of logic may not be the most noble of sorts since it is used to discredit the author of the letter and not win by his own argument, but the opposition can be used in an argument as much as anything else. This, we have seen especially in the 2016 presidential election, this seemed like it may have been purely an argument of persons saying bad things about other persons. However, Washington wasn't like this, he did it in a more respectable and reasonable manner, not out of hate, but out of fact.
There is another reason that Washington's argument was so strong. While he had authority and reason, he also had his own use of emotion. The letter used mainly emotion to stir up the army, however, Washington didn't use purely emotion to persuade, he used it to further his logical points. He mentioned children and family to further the point that the letter was illogical in its point about an ungrateful country. He also used imagery to show detail when he was proving his character. He used specific adjectives to create a picture when giving credit to the author for using the darkest means for the blackest outcome. His use of superlatives shows the most meaning from the fewest words. And really, maximizing effect from the least input is a goal that all speeches should have.
There's no doubt that Washington's speech was a great one, if it wasn't, then it wouldn't still be being talked about and learned from today. He balanced all parts of his writing to impact where they needed to the most. He wrote in a time where the army needed a strong leader. He was that strong leader, and he lead by an even stronger word.
Chris, I agree strongly with your blog as a whole. I really like how you say at the end that even if Washington's speech wasn't written as well as it was, that people would still be learning about and from it.
DeleteGeorge Washington was a strong powerful leader back in the late 1700s and mostly everyone at the time knew it. Washington caught news of a letter circulating through the camp talking about an uprising against Congress and knew he had to use his power for the sake of the country. Washington realized this was critical moment in the war and he had to reassure the troops their sacrifices were well worth ii and he needed them to remain loyal. He started by reassuring the audience with this phrase, “Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.” This serves as a way to show the troops he has made his own sacrifices. This establishes he understands what they are going through. After displaying such actions in front of the people, he connects with them on a human level and highlights what they have in common . Before he starts even giving his speech, he established his patriotism and commitment to this country. But, Washington does not stop there, he established his rank within his speech as well.
ReplyDeleteThrough this, he develops his ethos, his credibility, and continues to do so throughout the whole speech giving them examples of what he has done.
Now, after his gesture, his job of convincing the troops to remain loyal is made easier because his audience is already interested and feels a connection with him. Having established his credibility, he can now lay down some logical reasons for the people, having already shown them that he does know what he is talking about. He establishes his logic(logos) by describing the letter as bad, and against their common purpose. Washington also points out that it comes from a bad person who is just trying to stir up negative emotions. He admits it is really well written but urges them to put their emotions aside and examine the options presented with reason. Washington asks them to think of the consequences of the alternatives the anonymous letter proposes. As he lays the logic down for these people he sneaks words and phrases in like “liberty”, “candor”, and “justice and love of country” which also appeals to their emotions (pathos) because these words can mean a lot to a patriotic person. He reminds them of why and what they are fighting for and how worthwhile their sacrifice will be if they stay committed to their cause.
During the Revolutionary War people were fighting for their country and their freedom so Washington plays on their emotions by using powerful words to make them engaged with what he is saying. He also keeps his audience engaged with a rhetorical questions. The stirring up of the emotions of pride and patriotism and saying what people want to hear just makes him a bigger hit with the crowd. When he does this, he establishes a more powerful ethos or credibility his name.
After getting the crowd more engaged and on his side, he gives more facts, some which may have sounded opinionated at first but since they trust in him, they will believe it. He makes the audience seem like his response to the letter is solely based on logic but by weaving in some key words which stir emotions, he also uses pathos to rally the audience. Through a combination of all three techniques, the people start to listen to the brilliant, hardworking general. They do this because they trust him and respect him. It is hard to separate the three and say which was the most important or dominant because all three were key components to his speech. If forced to choose one, the dominating ethos of this speech and his ability to establish his credibility would be the most important. He gave them reasons to not ruin what they have started and he roused their positive emotions but ifGeorge Washington hadn’t established his ethos, the whole speech would have gone in one ear and out the other.
One of the bigger problems that I have noticed in your writing is the grammar. Grammatical errors make the piece hard to read and even harder to understand. I would stay away from words such as "a lot" and "lay down" (in the context of including something or introducing a new topic).
DeleteThere were a few grammatical and spelling errors, but that will occasionally happen in many people’s articles. Like you, I also think ethos is the primary appeal found in this speech. The patriotic feelings established by Washington was a good touch. Also, the rhetorical questions were a major factor in keeping the audience engaged. Good work!
DeleteI enjoyed your blog, Ben. I completely agree with ethos being the predominate appeal, however, there were some grammatical errors. I know that people make mistakes, and stuff like this happens. Overall, your blog was well-written.
DeleteDuring the Revolutionary War, George Washington delivered one of the most consequential speeches for that time period. The “Newburgh Address” still receives mention in former times of the nation involving rhetoric. Also, it is undeniably one of the most prominent addresses delivered by the country’s first president. The background to the speech was first initiated when a conspiracy arose with Congress splitting up the members of the army without sufficiently paying them for their time and commitment. George Washington put a halt to that idea.
ReplyDeleteWashington was not just a typical army general. Instead of staying behind and allowing the other men to fight, he was right alongside with them representing America. In his speech, he establishes his authority by using ethos. This is organized in a way, in which, he contrasts himself and the anonymous author of the summons. Washington mentioned how the letter was dispersed in effort to convene the officers, but it was “inconsistent with the rules of propriety.” The proper way to relay the message would have been more professional and concerned with the discipline of the men. He wanted them to use common sense, or endoxa, by saying,” let the good sense of the army decide.” His second concern dealt with the intention of the letter. He stated that it was mainly “addressed more to the feelings and passions than to the reason and judgement of the army.” Knowing this, he suggested that his men “should have had more charity” than to doubt his own character and morals. Mr. Washington persuasively gathered the support of his audience, assuming that the officers trusted his reliability with good will and proper judgement of conduct from the war. The Commander-in-Chief expressed himself as open, candid, moderate, practical, and prudent. He asserted: “If my conduct heretofore has not evinced to you, that I have been a faithful friend to the army, my declaration of it at this time would be... unveiling and improper.” Indeed, he did declare it. He sounded like a broken record because he wanted to remind his audience that he was serving right there with them and constantly accommodating their interests.
Although ethos is most prominent throughout the speech, it does mention pathos and logos as well. He asserts pathos by recalling his time in the army with the men, which gives them a sense of allegiance for the country. As for logos, Washington mentions the realities of the war and the current situation.
Overall, Washington establishes his main use of ethos throughout the speech along with hints of pathos and logos. In contrast, the anonymous addresser did not mention ethos as the dominant factor, but rather pathos in attempt to fire up the officers of the war. In the end, Washington won the favor of his audience and eliminated the Newburgh Conspiracy.
I think there was some back and forth in your piece but I do like a lot of your ideas. I like how you did not just focus on one appeal, but rather included all three and just made one stand out. I also found it really interesting that you mentioned the lack of ethos in the anonymous addresser. I think most of us just focused on Washington but that was certainly a nice addition. Overall, I think you made some really good points here.
DeleteGeorge Washington, obviously the first president of the United States, was a very honorable man that had a talent for talking to the American people. He proves this in the Newburgh Address. In the Newburgh Address, Washington gave his opinions on the letter circulating within the Revolutionary Army that called for a revolt against congress. He voices his opinions in such a way that it does not degrade any one person and he was able to end the Newburgh conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteWhen beginning to read the speech, it is very easy to see where Washington uses ethos. Washington says things like, “I have never left your side one moment” and “I have been the constant companion.” He is proving to the people that he is someone who can be trusted in. He’s proving his credibility. The letter that is circulating at the time is anonymous and instead of ripping apart the author, Washington shows him respect. Don’t get me wrong, he definitely challenges the author, but some people would have shown him more disrespect than Washington did.
Even though ethos is very prominent in this speech, it is also very easy to see where logos is used. Washington uses his logic to form judgements, rather than his emotions. He takes common opinions people with have and backs them up with facts. There is a part in the speech where he states that the author has recommended such measures that the idea of him being a friend to the army is so far fetched that he must be a foe. All throughout the speech he highlights this same idea. The author has planted his ideas in everyones heads. Whatever is planted, whether it is good or bad, will grow if nourished. Washington takes it upon himself to let everyone know just how wrong this author is. He has to remind the people that they need to place their confidence in him. Once he has done this, he gets the people to realize the truth.
There are also parts where pathos is used but the speech mainly relies on ethos and logos. Whatever the case, Washington was very effective in delivering the words he had to the people.
Overall you did a very nice job on this piece. However I think you may be confused on the author of the Newburgh Address. Washington spoke out about the Newburgh Address, however he was not the author of it.
DeleteI agree strongly with you on the fact that Washington continues to establish his ethos throughout the speech. Also, I agree that he showed the author respect. Washington mentions that the author is simply using his freedom of speech and should not just be disregarded, but rather logically be disproven.
DeleteAlthough I agree ethos and logos played a large role, I think you underestimated how impactful pathos was. He related to the men about all the things they left behind to suffer in the cold and wild. Very good points were made!
Delete"A Faithful Friend to the Army," is an extremely important speech that took place in 1783. It was given by General George Washington at a military camp before he became president. Washington did an exquisite job on including all three rhetoric appeals, ethos, pathos, and logos.
ReplyDeleteIt is without a doubt that ethos is more predominately used within George Washington's speech. George first establishes his authority by acquainting that he as "grown gray but almost blind in service to my country." In this statement, Mr. Washington acknowledges that he has been a dedicated general of the United States because his body is going through physical changes due to the stress and hard work that he has put forth over the years. In the same fashion, ethos was then used at the cantonment, or military camp, on March 15, 1783 (the day of the speech). George Washington also added to his establishment of authority by addressing the speech and recognizing the background information behind the reason why he is there; this being the fact that "an anonymous summons" has brought this matter to the table. However, the fact that the writer is anonymous can somewhat contradict the accountability of ethos. This is because since the writer is anonymous, they cannot establish their authority, although, Washington, being the giver of the speech, has done so instead. Furthermore, the power of goodwill, another type of ethos, is also mentioned in this great speech. In the phrases, "I have been a faithful friend to the army," and "as I have never left your side for one moment," George Washington demonstrates his friendliness to the men by letting them know that he is on their side. Correspondingly, moral virtue is introduced when General Washington states, "With respect to the advice given by the author, to suspect the man who shall recommend moderate measures and longer forbearance, I spurn it...". He brings about this form of ethos by saying that it is okay for people to have their opinions, but he respectfully disagrees. Lastly, Washington mentions the last branch of ethos, practical wisdom. In the quote, " And let me conjure you, in the name of our common country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, and as you regard the military and national character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation of the man, who wishes, under suspicious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our country...," practical wisdom is established because it is common sense (endoxa) that a member of the army should defend their country.
In addition pathos was also touched on in the speech, "A Faithful Friend to the Army." Pathos was used at the beginning of the speech when General Washington proclaimed "...addressed more to the feelings and passions than to the reason and judgment of the army." Here he bluntly comes out and says that the speech will prey on emotions. Pathos was also conclusively proved at the end of the commentary when the general spoke about a quote that could be told by the men after they have set a "glorious example," because it wraps everything up and plays on a feeling of pride and accomplishment that the men want to have.
Finally, logos was the least inferior of the three appeals, but it did show up very lightly in the shadows of the entire speech. All around, George Washington used logos, or logic, to address his audience. He had to know how to confront them and understand what congress was thinking, as well as everyone else.
Due to the fact that this speech was given by a military general and future president, it is not shocking that the prevailing appeal was ethos. That type of person should pertain all of the qualities of ethos as a way of establishing their authority.
You did a very nice job giving us the kiaros so we know what is going on. You also did a nice job quoting the text. The only thing I saw is you started, what seems to be your conclusion, with the word, “Finally”. Next time just go right into your conclusion and we will know that it is your conclusion.
DeleteGeorge Washington, America’s very first president, was seen has an extremely honest and fair man. He led his men in war with his boots on the ground, instead of standing back and calling the shots. He never acted like he was above them in any sort of way and he never made them do anything he would not do. Acting this way earned him a great amount of respect, especially from the soldiers of lower rank than him.
ReplyDeleteWashington took the problem of the Newburgh Conspiracy head-on, much like he did when he was in battle. He delivered a speech regarding the treasonous letter written it response to military members not receiving the money they earned or the pensions that were promised to get.
George Washington establishes his ethos by disproving the credibility of the anonymous writer and proves his loyalty and dedication to protecting and serving the country. He explains how serving in the military has nearly cost him eyesight and how his age has caught up with him because of it. He repeatedly proves his allegiance due to his selfless nature which was proved time after time.
The letter from the anonymous author was a means of trying to persuade the members of the military to revolt against the army during the Revolutionary War. Washington believes that trying to convene the officers is unmilitary and it is not the doing of someone with a good moral compass. He also claims that the letter is not focused on the reason and good judgement of the army, but instead it is focused more on emotions and vulnerability. Washington openly believes that, “the author of the address should have had more charity,” instead of doubting his moral nature.
As I previously stated, George Washington used ethos heavily in his speech. He points out the author’s lack of phronesis, or practical wisdom, in the way that his/her plan is flawed nor is it well thought out. The writer also lacks a great amount of arête, or moral virtue, because they are extremely quick to act out of spite and they do not seem to possess moral virtues. They also lack eunoia, or goodwill. I suggest this because they do not deal with their problems with any form of friendliness or cooperation. Washington openly attacks any ethos the author may posses. Through Washington’s speech, he seemingly ended the Newburgh Conspiracy and even slightly embarrassed the anonymous writer.
I appreciate that you mentioned how Washington was not hypocritical. I also applaud you on your use of rhetorical thinking. Also, I like how you mentioned arête and other topics that we learned in previous classes.
DeleteYour first paragraph is well written, however, it is missing the kairos. You did not acknowledge when or where the speech took place. Although, I did like how you mentioned that George was one to take part in battle alongside the other soldiers. Also, one more thing, I would like to see more quotes from the text just so that you have hard evidence in your writing to back up your reasoning.
DeleteIn his speech, Washington portrayed himself as a friend to the army, and the kairos you provided fits well with this theme. The three types of ethos in relation to the anonymous author further picks apart the speech, which is well done. You obviously dug deep into the speech, which is evident because of the points you made. Keep up the good work!
DeleteI, too, enjoy your used of arete. I feel that it is important because it sums up what he learned in class this week. I like the “boots on the ground” description of Washington.
DeleteWhen the production of a letter was circulated with the hopes of causing a revolt against a newly formed Congress because of a lack of payments to the members of the military, George Washington was faced with the decision of letting his country fall or confronting the letter upright.
ReplyDeleteBefore the officers in Newburgh, New York, Washington said, “Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.” Without ethos, it is nearly impossible to persuade a group of people to think in the same perspective. This is why Washington placed so much focus on his practical wisdom, moral virtue, and goodwill before his audience. Also before his audience, he made sure to use keywords, such as “we,” “our,” and “us” to build trust and connection. He did not want the people he was persuading to think that they were all alone in their attempts to resolve the issue. Ethos was the most predominant of the three appeals in this speech, and the credibility it provided Washington was necessary in order for him to get his points across to his audience.
Pathos was the next appeal used by Washington. He pointed out that the anonymous writer used the emotions of the military men against them. Throughout the letter, the anonymous author tries to rouse the resentment of an army who was not given its fair wages. George retaliated to the letter by mentioning the shocking measures the author wants to take. He had then reminded the officers of his close connection with the army, even in its most desperate moments, which built ethos while incorporating feelings of patriotism and connection. In another line, George used the words “My God!” to pierce deeper into the hearts of his listeners. The pathos used by Washington brought another aspect of persuasion into the equation, but it would not have been possible without the ethos established beforehand.
Logos was the last appeal used in Washington’s speech. After establishing his credibility and rousing the emotions of the officers, reason was necessary to tie up the loose ends in the speech. George was entirely against the purpose of the letter, but he could not condemn the opinion of the writer without being a hypocrite to his freedom of speech policy. Therefore, he had to out-persuade his anonymous opponent, and incorporating reason was the final step. George assured the collection of people he would provide justice, which was reason enough to agree with his statement.
Washington’s speech provides a great example of the importance of ethos in decision making concerning important matters. The persuasive techniques used by George in this critical moment in history were key in the formula for maintaining a sound country.
Regis great job on the first paragraph it really shows how important George Washington confronting the letter was because if he didn’t the country could have “fallen”. It makes you also get the perspective that he had to be brave and let his military know what was truly important. You displayed how he used his ethos well through out the speech and closed it again showing that what he did was crucial or in your words a “critical moment in history”.
Delete
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington’s “A Faithful Friend to the Army”, was created in response to an anonymous letter written during the time of the Revolutionary War. The letter suggested that the U.S. military should rebel against a Congress because they were not paying the correct wages to the military. General Washington reacted to this letter by giving a speech in Newburgh, New York.
Washington proves his authority to give such a speech by including a dramatic statement; “Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.” This statement alone makes Washington entitled to his speech, because the statement shows how dedicated he is to his country, while the man who wrote the anonymous letter is not. Additionally, this statement can be considered Washington’s main source of ethos.
Towards the beginning part of Washington’s speech he states, “In the moment of this summons, another anonymous production was sent into circulation, addressed more to the feelings and passions than to the reason and judgement of the army.” Included within this statement, along with the rest of the paragraph that follows it, is Washington’s main use of logos and pathos. Within this particular statement Washington attempts to explain that the author of the letter doesn’t include any reason or valid judgement throughout the letter, instead the author appeals to the army’s feelings and emotions. Therefore, Washington points out that without any rational logic or knowledge, the letter is invalid.
With all of the following information in consideration, I have come to the conclusion that logos predominates the speech. I support this claim by restating the fact that Washington’s speech would be completely irrelevant without his use of logos. If Washington were an ordinary or mediocre man, his opinions would be invalid. Furthermore, if Washington would not have established his authority, no one would feel the need to listen to his speech.
I agree as well as disagree with some of your statements. I agree with the fact that the beginning quote you mentioned shows Washington’s authority right off the bat before he even begins his speech. However, in your analysis, you only mentioned the first one or two paragraphs and came to the conclusion that logos predominates the speech. I found that if you were to analyze the speech in its entirety, ethos is very prominent and authority is continually being challenged towards the letter and being proven towards Washington and Congress.
DeleteThe date was March 10, 1783. A letter was being circulated throughout the officers in the main camp located in Newburgh, New York. The unknown author of the letter had talked about his or her complaints regarding the army’s salary and other issues of financial earnings. The letter also requested for an unauthorized gathering of the officers, so they could talk about possible military ways to solve their problems. General George Washington stopped this attempt and called his own meeting instead on the 15th of March. Prior to the meeting, another letter belonging to an unknown author was circulated around the officers. This time, the letter alluded to General Washington showing sympathy towards the officers with complaints. George Washington showed up to the meeting unannounced, as he was a very hands on type of leader, and would rather be in the trenches than standing around and looking pretty. At the meeting he gave his speech.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Washington’s speech, he mentions that the author of the letter was writing using feeling and passions rather than reason and judgement of the army. Another way of saying this is that the letter was all pathos and there was no logos, or logic, behind the author’s words. The letter was trying to remind the people of past issues in the country, appealing to pathos, to, moreover, try and discredit Congress.
Also, through the speech, Washington tries to explain that this is freedom of speech and is written to impress and manipulate the officers into the anonymous author’s way of thinking. However, Washington encourages them to trust Congress and goes on to further explain why they should “place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress” as well as establishes the ethos of Congress in the fact that it has their best interests at heart.
When analyzing the text, it can be seen that the use of rhetorical questions was a useful tactic in George Washington’s favor. He brings up the author’s idea to desert their country and turn arms against it in revolt. Then, he continues to ask questions such as “What can this writer have in view by recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the army? Can he be a friend to his country? Rather is he not an insidious foe?...” Through these rhetorical questions, Washington’s argument can be logically placed together to make a truthful conclusion.
After that speech, the Newburgh Conspiracy for a military revolt ended quite abruptly. Washington used reasoning through logos to make his point. However, more importantly, ethos was used greatly in establishing the authority of Congress, and allowing his fellow officers to see why they should trust George Washington as well on his judgement of the situation though his practical wisdom, moral virtue, and goodwill.
I enjoy your introduction and it definitely draws the reader into your post. I also liked the fact that you alluded to his leadership skills, as it helps characterize Washington and makes his action makes sense.
DeleteWhen Americans think of the Founding Fathers, the first person that they think of is the first President, George Washington. George Washington is considered one of the best leaders and one of the greatest Americans of all time. However, Washington often came under criticism and attacks from his political opponents. In one of his most famous speeches, he responded to the anonymous critique in a skillful way. He convinced the army by using ethos, logos and appealing to the respect of the anonymous author.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington used ethos in a prominent way, but not in a way that seems like bragging. He claimed his undying loyalty to the Army, and claims that he would never desert the Army in their hour of need. He establishes his character by saying that his emotions are interconnected with the military, and that he has dedicated his life to public service. George Washington, at this time, had spent a huge chunk of his life in service to his country and it shows through this speech.
Logos is also a large part of the speech. He constantly refers to sense and logic. In the latter half of the second paragraph, he spends a huge about of time calling for civility and critical thinking. This creates a sharp contrast with the anonymous author, why appeals to the passions and emotions of the audience. He makes sure that the audience knows what he speaking about and never says away from fact. He constantly asks questions so that the audience will challenge their own minds and question their own thoughts.
George Washington also maintains that the author has a right to criticize him and others. He claims that he should not criticize others about their own thoughts and feelings. He also claims that he understand why people are drawn to the author. By using this subtle way, he saying converts people to his side of the argument, without being too harsh and over judgmental.
This speech is one of the most famous of Washington for good reason, the use of ethos, pathos, and respect of the author makes his argument extremely convincing.
George Washington was indeed, the first president of the United States as most people see him. What many people don't know is that he was one of the founding fathers of our country, along with his duties of serving as a general in the Revolutionary War. Unlike most other generals, he was a fighter. He put himself on the battle field with his troops to give our outnumbered army as many people as possible. During his time of being a general, there was an anonymous letter that was sent through his army hat brought about some disturbance.
ReplyDeleteThe letter was written to the army to convince them to fight against their own Congress. The letter was written by an anonymous author who used pathos or emotions to write this letter. He based the letter on his own feelings and the feelings that the soldiers should have. Washington addresses this letter by using his logos. Nearly each one of his statements are backed up by facts. This allows him to disprove the writer of the letter and defeat its purpose. Although Washington gives the author credit for a well written letter, he states that the talent of the writer is outstanding, but is being used for the wrong purpose.
Washington continues on to ask a series of rhetorical questions which also show his logos. He asks. . . "What can this Writer have in view, by recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the Army? Can he be a friend to this Country? Rather, is he not an insidious Foe? Some Emissary, perhaps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both, by sowing the seeds of discord & seperation between the Civil & Military powers of the Continent? And what a Compliment does he pay to our understandings, when he recommends measures in either alternative, impracticable in their nature?" These questions are very effective towards the convincing of the audience.
By the end of the speech, George Washington has had most, if not all of the audience convinced that Congress was rewarding them for risking their lives for their country. George Washington gave a great speech that many are still learning from to this day.
President George Washington is one of the most well-known presidents for a multitude of reasons. One prominent attribute that he had was he was an attorney general during the Revolutionary War. People gained a lot respect for this, but there were still many people revolting against the military. Washington gave a tremendous amount to the country and felt upset when being accused by what he believed to be a misjudgment.
ReplyDeleteIn order to express his feelings regarding an anonymous letter about military wages he gives a wonderful and powerful speech known as “A Faithful Friend to the Army.” In order to get his view and point across, Mr. Washington established his ethos. He gave countless reasons which persuaded you to believe what he was saying. He shows goodwill in ways of dignity. He was the president and physically took part in battle. George Washington cared about his people and in a sincere manner he addressed his people boldly about it. This pure fact gave him large credibility and persuasion needed for the people.
A very effective way President Washington used rhetoric was in rhetorical questions. He used this method as a way to point out all the ways the anonymous writer had been wrong. Some rhetorical questions are “Can he be a friend to the army? Can he be a friend to this country?” because rather than uniting this man is dividing the country. While he understands it might be a shock to his men that he is taking notice to the topic he wants them to realize how unjust the action was. Using rhetorical questions sets up your mindset to follow along with the rhetor.
Although all factors play a part ethos shows the most throughout the president’s speech. After all, not many people hold more authority than the president of the nation. He also does pull on the men’s pathos though, when discussing the emotions involved with leaving families and outting your life at risk to fight for your nation. Being the president and attorney general really gives you an upper hand and when you can give a speech with such authority, persuasion, and even genuine feelings it is bound to convince anybody.