Herrmann 1

Brianna Herrmann

English 1302

Professor Moore

31 January 2017

All Men Are Created Equal

President Lyndon B. Johnson gave the speech We Shall Over Come, which was

addressed to a joint session of Congress on voting legislation. President Johnsons concern in the

speech was the right to vote for the African Americans in the country. Stating how difficult it was

for people of color to even get qualified to vote, several tries and restrictions only to be turned

down every time because of the color of their skin. By using inspirational quotes, repetition and

the stories of the hardship of the history for African Americans to vote Johnson argues for voting

rights for people of color in his speech We Shall Over Come.

President Johnson is able to argue for voting equality for all regardless of skin color by

the simple use of inspirational quotes. Johnson quotes the United States Constitution as a

reminder to the audience, that they were once denied their basic rights as well. LBJ uses the

saying all men are created equal to help emphasize the point that not every man is being

treated equally, because not every man is getting the chance to get to vote or voice their opinion.

When Johnson mentions give me liberty or give me death he is talking about the irony of how

the Americans fought for the liberty that they wanted from the British, but are doing the same to

the African Americans. When the Americans were denied their rights as Englishmen by the

British they revolted and gained their independence. But yet they do not see that they are doing

the same thing to the Africans. They were treating them as poorly, if not worse than what the

British had treated them. Johnson also addresses that the government was created as a
 Herrmann 2

government for the people, by the people, so why was it that not all people could be able to

participate in a vote.

Johnson uses repetition in his argument to help emphasize the bigger picture of his

speech. He states there is no cause to help show what the problem is, but backs it up with there

is a cause and gives his solution. President Johnson repeats over a century has passed to

showcase that it has been over one hundred years since the Emancipation Proclamation and

nothing has hardly changed for the African Americans. He mentions that they are freed but that

they are not free. That they are not treated the same as any other American, especially when it

comes to getting the right to vote.

To help gain the support of the audience, President Johnson mentions the current events

that are going on around the country, such as But a century has passed, more than a hundred

years since the Negro was freed. And he is not fully free tonight. Since this he also talks about

the practically impossible way that people of color have to go through to try to vote. Many of

which, are not able to no matter what the qualifications are. He points out that it does not matter

how qualified these people are, they are too dark and will not get a chance to vote. He mentions

to the audience of how the African Americans could be lied to saying the day is wrong or that no

one is in. Some may be able to get past enough to take a test, but Johnson mentions the

unfairness in that too, He may be asked to recite the entire Constitution, or explain the most

complex provisions of State law. And even a college degree cannot be used to prove that he can

read and write. In response to these conditions, Johnson says that he is going to send a bill to

Congress to eliminate the illegal barriers to the right to vote.

President Lyndon B. Johnson took a stand for the African Americans by giving this

speech and giving them a voice they so desperately longed for. Johnson gave the speech to
 Herrmann 3

showcase a civil rights bill that was getting sent to Congress. Johnson wanted to extend the rights

of citizenship to every citizen there was. At the time, it was not common for any President to do

this. Johnson broke out of the box by giving this speech in support of voting rights for all. Which

is probably why the speech being so successful and the civil rights bill got passed. Johnson broke

the barrier delivering a speech that would help change voting issues for many people of color.
 Herrmann 4

Works Citied:

American Rhetoric: Lyndon Baines Johnson -- We Shall Overcome. American Rhetoric:

Lyndon Baines Johnson -- "We Shall Overcome",

www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/lbjweshallovercome.htm. Accessed 19 Feb. 2017