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Alfred M Green Speech After The Civil War

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Alfred M Green Speech After The Civil War
The Civil War. Slavery or Freedom? North and South, or a unification of both? That is what the American Civil War ultimately decided and forever shaped what is the United States. During the 1860s, African Americans were not permitted to join the Union Army and fight against the South. Alfred M Green a black man was opposed to this, and he delivered a speech urging his fellow African Americans to enlist for the war and spoke of their harsh treatment in both the north and the south by the white oppressors. In his speech, Green uses various methods of persuasion, in hopes of persuading the African Americans to enlist for the Union Army, but also talks of the struggles.
Green’s diction is squandered throughout and is a source of motivation because
…show more content…
Green alludes to the prominent figure of God, who is revered and seen as a savior in the black community, especially during the dark days of slavery. The African Americans believe the lord is the “God of Truth, Justice, and equality”, and should feel obligated to fight because this is what God believes in, justice and equality…. what the lord says, goes. Being that the whites and the blacks worship the same ONE God, Green reminds the whites too that the god they worship is a believer in justice and freedom. Therefore, they too should honor the lord’s values. The African Americans can fear none as Green cites “let us. take the sword... trusting in God”. They are safe knowing that their trusting God will protect them in combat. This is should be enough reason to enlist because with this much protection, what is the reason for not enlisting?
Green hopes to unite the whites and African Americans in his speech and concentrate solely on the greater enemy, the south. Defeating slavery in the south will provide newfound opportunities for the African Americans in the end, while also bettering the country. With his speech, Green hopes that the whites and African Americans can see what he sees for the American future, a free independent “one nation, under god, invisible with liberty and justice for

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