In 1917, Carrie Chapman Catt addressed the United States Congress regarding women right to vote. She relied on ethos and logos to make her argument rather than emotional appeal. In 1776, Thomas Paine addressed the whole population of the thirteen colonies regarding the independence of the colonies from Britain. He also mainly relied on ethos and pathos to make his argument.
Catt claimed that women suffrage was inevitable while Paine’s claimed that the colonists had a natural right of independence.
Although both authors presented appealing arguments, Catt wrote more convincingly since she used the history of democracy, suffrage already established in some states, and fundamental American principles to make her claim even stronger.
Catt’s persuasive methods were facts, rhetorical questions, and repetition while Paine used loaded words, facts, quotations, and rhetorical questions. Catt was very effective using claim of fact, such as, “…with the others seizing the billions of dollars paid in taxes by women to whom he refuses ‘Representation.’” Paine also used claims of fact. “A government of our own is our natural right.” Her argument was effective because her logic was powerful especially when she stated that “Taxation without representation is tyranny.” What makes his argument effective was his ability to convince people that it was infinitely wiser and safer to form a constitution of their own.
Catt uses rhetoric arguments as well as Paine. For example, Catt says: “Do you realize that in no other country in the world with democratic tendencies is suffrage so completely denied as in a considerable number of our own states?” Paine example was: “Ye that tells us of harmony and reconciliation, can ye restore to us the time that is past?” Catt showed that women suffrage could no longer be denied. Her example appealed to logic rather than emotions. Pains rhetorical argument showed that the people in the colonies