Use of Rhetoric by All Stances in the Debate Surrounding Slavery in Nineteenth-century United States Politics

Abstract

Nineteenth-century United States politics was primarily marked by the intense political debates surrounding the institution of slavery. Previous researchers mainly focused on the rhetoric employed by abolitionists but not the role of rhetoric in the arguments of all positions in the slavery debate, sparking the goal of this research study: What rhetoric did all stances employ in nineteenth-century United States politics surrounding the institution of slavery? Two research methods were incorporated to assess the research question: content analysis of primary sources, including four speeches in favor of slavery, four against it, and four neutral, to determine the prevalent themes in their discourse, and historical research to provide context and co-text for the broader dynamics of the period. Conclusions indicated that rhetoric played a pivotal role in shaping the arguments on various positions of the slavery debate and public opinion. These positions were also deeply intertwined with issues of human rights, societal structure, and the role of government. These conflicting positions ultimately contributed to the start of the American Civil War and the eventual abolition of slavery.