Introduction:

Freedom and democracy: these two terms are most commonly used to describe the United States.  Without the monumental Revolutionary War, the United States would not be the capitalist superpower that it is today.  Certain documents have driven this: one being Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 “Join or Die” cartoon, created during the French and Indian War; and the other being the United States Constitution, continually followed since 1789.  Both the “Join or Die” cartoon and the U.S. Constitution evoke feelings of patriotism by uniting a divided nation, as well as encourage citizens to participate in civic engagement in different ways. While the political cartoon incorporates visual rhetoric and the written document utilizes commonplaces, both pieces of rhetoric employ the trust and rhetorical situation lenses.

Outline for speech:

Hook: War anyone? Regardless of your answer, there’s a war to fight.  I’d imagine the American colonists empathized with this when encountering Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon, picturing a disfigured snake embodying the 13 colonies.

Claim: By appealing to emotions, Franklin urges colonists to combine their individual power in order to win the French and Indian War.

Trust Lens Analysis: In the 1754 cartoon, Franklin appeals to pathos by evoking feelings on unity among the divided colonies.  He may also evoke fear by threatening colonists to join the army (basically a bunch of farmers and blacksmiths, etc. a real zero to hero moment), (focus on his diction here for further analysis).  Franklin, as a well-respected scholar in the colonies and a renowned writer for several newspapers, appeals to ethos and established himself as a trustworthy figure that people should listen to (later this foreshadows his mass influence during the American Revolution).

The Rhetorical Situation: Exigence=American colonies are being enlisted by Great Britain to fight invaders (the French and Indian War itself).  Speaker=Benjamin Franklin.  Audience=American colonists.  Purpose=Get colonists to fight against the French invading from Canada.

Visual Rhetoric Lens (sort of goes hand in hand with Trust Lens): First, talk more about the disjointed snake and how a choppy snake is basically dead (resembles weak, separated colonies and their lack of control).  Next, focus more on how simple the cartoon is (few words and is not cramped with material, as well as a single image that serves as the entire premise of the cartoon, self-explanatory).

Conclusion: Restate claim that I still need to write, give some sort of good closer about history (perhaps copy from pitch: “This artifact is significant because it played a critical role in American History and sufficed as a symbol of patriotism during the American Revolution.  So, what do you say, are you willing to join the cause? Thank you.”)