On April 2, 1917, the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, delivered a speech to a joint session of the two houses of Congress. This speech was addressed to the Congress to make a difficult decision; the decision of the US to enter the War. Wilson used several rhetorical devices to convince , but the main three devices used logos, pathos, and ethos.
Wilson immediately starts out by stating “... there are very serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making.” This sentence he conveyed with emotion that the United States had an obligation to join the war because of Germany’s unethical behavior. “It is our duty, I most respectfully urge, to protect so far as we may against the very serious hardships and evils…” The emotions he uses to bring Congress to an agreement of his case are very strategic. He brings to the table such a personal connection to each of the Congressmen by explaining that why they elected to Congress was because the American people believe…show more content… His explanation of the events brought forward many people's emotions and morals. To think that hundreds of innocent ships with different missions had been sunk to the bottom of the ocean was an unbearable thought. “Property can be paid for, the lives of peaceful and innocent people can not be.” While it may have seemed logical for Germany to sink the many passenger boats that were carrying supplies into “enemy waters”, it was very unethical in millions of eyes. The waters which the boats entered may have been considered “enemy waters,” but in all reality, the waters should be the highway of the world. Wilson emphasized this with a passion of emotions. Everyone should be able to travel the sea and come out safe unless a natural disaster was to
