In the 2008 Presidential Election of the United States of America the democratic Afro-American Senator of Illinois Barack Obama won against his republican competitor, the Senator of Arizona John McCain. This was partly a consequence of Obama’s tactic to deliver speeches which transmitted hope and the faith to believe in America as a great country with a great future where everything is possible, by using common American cultural concepts like the American Dream, the American Exceptionalism and talking about an American Unity, an inclusive America where everyone is welcome.
In the following paper I will firstly show what exactly the concept of the American Dream means, why it is still important until today and why Barack Obama fits very good into this construction of the fulfilled American Dream.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Barack Obama as a Personification of the American Dream
- 3. Analysis of Barack Obama's Speeches in the Presidential Race 2008
- 3.1. New Hampshire Primary Speech of January 8, 2008
- 3.2. President-Elect Victory Speech of November 4, 2008
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the role of hope and belief in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign rhetoric. It analyzes how Obama's speeches, particularly his New Hampshire primary speech and victory speech, employed the concept of the American Dream and promoted a vision of unity and inclusivity to resonate with the American public.
- The American Dream as a central theme in Obama's rhetoric.
- Analysis of Obama's use of hope and optimism in his speeches.
- The role of inclusivity and unity in Obama's campaign message.
- Obama's personal narrative as a personification of the American Dream.
- The effectiveness of Obama's rhetoric in achieving his political goals.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by outlining the context of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential victory. It highlights Obama's successful use of rhetoric to instill hope and faith in the American people, emphasizing the concepts of the American Dream, American exceptionalism, and American unity. The chapter introduces the key speeches that will be analyzed: the New Hampshire primary speech and the victory speech, and briefly explains the scope of the analysis to follow, focusing on how these speeches conveyed hope and a belief in the possibility of a better America.
2. Barack Obama as the personification of the American Dream: This chapter delves into the cultural concept of the American Dream and its significance in the American identity. It explains how the American Dream, representing the belief in opportunity and upward mobility, is often used by politicians to create an optimistic atmosphere. The chapter then positions Barack Obama as a powerful embodiment of this ideal, highlighting his unique background as an Afro-American and his personal journey to becoming a leading political figure. The chapter argues that Obama's life story, marked by overcoming racial barriers and achieving success through hard work, resonated deeply with voters and added authenticity to his message of hope and possibility.
3. Analysis of Barack Obama's speeches of the Presidential Race 2008: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of two key speeches from Obama's 2008 campaign. It explores the rhetorical strategies employed in both speeches to convey hope and inspire the American people. The significance of Obama's use of slogans, such as "Yes We Can," and his focus on creating a vision of a united America are analyzed within the context of his overall campaign. By examining the linguistic choices and structural elements of the speeches, this chapter explores how Obama’s rhetoric successfully communicated his message of change and optimism to voters.
Keywords
Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, American Dream, rhetoric of hope, political speeches, campaign strategy, American exceptionalism, inclusivity, unity, "Yes We Can," racial equality.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign Rhetoric
What is the focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the role of hope and belief in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign rhetoric. It examines how his speeches, particularly his New Hampshire primary speech and victory speech, utilized the American Dream and promoted unity and inclusivity to connect with the American public.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the American Dream as a central theme in Obama's rhetoric; the analysis of his use of hope and optimism; the role of inclusivity and unity in his campaign message; Obama's personal narrative as a personification of the American Dream; and the effectiveness of his rhetoric in achieving his political goals.
Which speeches are analyzed in detail?
The paper focuses on two key speeches: the New Hampshire Primary Speech of January 8, 2008, and the President-Elect Victory Speech of November 4, 2008. The analysis explores the rhetorical strategies used in these speeches to convey hope and inspire the American people.
How does the paper address the concept of the "American Dream"?
The paper examines the cultural concept of the American Dream and its significance in American identity. It positions Barack Obama as a powerful embodiment of this ideal, highlighting his unique background and personal journey to becoming a leading political figure. It explores how his life story resonated with voters and added authenticity to his message.
What rhetorical strategies are analyzed in the speeches?
The analysis explores the rhetorical strategies employed in Obama's speeches, including the use of slogans like "Yes We Can," his focus on creating a vision of a united America, and the linguistic choices and structural elements used to communicate his message of change and optimism.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper (briefly)?
The paper concludes by summarizing the findings of the analysis of Obama's speeches and their impact on his successful 2008 presidential campaign. (The specific conclusions are detailed in the full paper.)
What are the key chapters and their content?
The paper includes an introduction setting the context and outlining the key speeches; a chapter exploring Obama as the personification of the American Dream; a chapter providing a detailed analysis of the selected speeches; and a conclusion.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, American Dream, rhetoric of hope, political speeches, campaign strategy, American exceptionalism, inclusivity, unity, "Yes We Can," and racial equality.
- Quote paper
- Lisa Meyer (Author), 2016, "Yes We Can". Barack Obama's Rhetoric of Hope in the 2008 Presidential Race, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/376862
