Khafra Flynn
Intermediate composition
April 17, 2016
Rhetorical Analysis of “Race Question in the United States”
Rhetorical strategies are commonly used in writing when the author is trying to persuade the
audience in believing a point or case. When regarding the essay written by John Tyler Morgan, “the Race
Question in the United States”, there are many uses of Rhetorical strategies that are used efficiently
enough, that it can lead to proper persuasion. Morgan talks about the differences between the inferior,
low class Negroes and the prominent white man in hopes of connecting with the struggling south. He
uses a plethora of rhetorical strategies in this essay including the Logos, Pathos, and Ethos modes of
persuasion. He also conforms his wording, and thoughts toward the general public at the time, and
because of that, his arguments become more believable, regardless of how silly they may sound now.
John Tyler Morgan, was not only a southerner born and raised, but also a prominent figure in
the south. Spending time in numerous political parties such as the Whig party, the Know nothing party
as well as the Democratic Party, gave him more than enough clout to be supported with his claims,
however the fact he also was a confederate brigadier general only increased his popularity within the
south. His word, speaking out against the unholy uprooting of prominent southern traditions could
become a rallying point for the pro south community, because of his background and credibility. The
only reason why Morgan was able to sound so convincing and persuasive, is because of his use of ethos
mode of persuasion.
During the 1890’s the South was formulated by a very secular type of view. Southern pride has
been recently dealt a major blow considering their loss in the Civil War. The standards, beliefs and
traditions that formulated the south at that time were beginning fall apart, and the era of reconstruction
was upon southerners. Obviously when the way of life for an entire group of people gets changed
dramatically, there will be feelings of hatred towards the person or event that caused it. For
southerners, the idea that the inferior African race, that provided them with vast wealth and luxuries,
was now being slowly freed from their forced labor. The idea and mindset was focused on the belief that
blacks were so different, so inferior, that any piece of writing that agreed with that thought was
regarded as truth. Because of this, people can preach all forms of ridiculous ideas, and provide equally
as ridiculous “evidence” to sway the public to their side.
Using facts derived from faulty research, Morgan voices his opinion on the plethora of differences
between Blacks and Whites. He uses the logos mode of persuasion, which means convinces his audience
through the use of facts and “logic”. The facts that Morgan used throughout his essay were no more
than fabricated lies to suit the times. He states that black are extremely inferior in a myriad of ways. He
states
“Amongst these differences, color of the skin, while with distinguishes the races unmistakably, is
the least important. The mental differences and differing traits, including the faculty of
governing, forecast, enterprise, and the wide field of achievement in the arts and sciences, are
accurately measures by the contrast of the civilization of the United States, with the barbarism
of Central Africa.”(Morgan 65)
He goes on to say, that:
“Slavery continues in Africa without modification, or abatement. Slavery has always been the
common law of the negro race in Africa, and its abolishment there as a domestic institution is a
very remote expectation”. Using these as facts, he says that the Negro race should continue to
be oppressed, because of their vast differences from whites. These statements were regarded
as legitimate facts at the time due to the obvious lack of knowledge. Due to the common
southern white way of thinking, these false facts were regarded as truth, and connected with
the weakened south. (Morgan 67)
Morgan uses emotion to drive his essay, and conveys a sense of anger throughout his piece.
When describing the inferiorities between the races, he describes them with the intent to rile up a
response from the reader. Hate and anger control most of his arguments and it seems like he is trying to
not just rally, but bolster the audience because of the low blow to their pride. He also tries to connect
with the reader on a deeper level, and paints a picture of “peaceful” world by saying, “It is the presence
of seven or eight millions of negroes in this country and the friction caused by their political power and
their social aspirations, and not the fact they were recently in slavery, that agitates and distresses the
people of both races. If they were not in the United States, there would be perfect harmony amongst
the people”. By connecting with the audience through anger and hate, a common feeling felt by the
southern population at the time, he is able to persuade with a lot more ease.
Regardless of what John Tyler Morgan was trying to convince the public, the process and way he
presented his arguments were very persuasive, and because of that, he probably convinced a lot of
people that his claims were legitimate. His writing prowess is something to behold, even though his
words are full of spite and anger.
Works Cited
1. Morgan, James Tyler. “The Race Question in the United States” 1890
2. Thomas, Brook. Plessy v. Ferguson 1997