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Missouri State University

A Rhetorical Evaluation of Claiborne Fox Jackson's Speeches on Slavery and States' Rights, 1847-1861

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson assumed office at a critical time in Missouri history. Elected governor at the onset of the Civil War, his techniques at dealing with the crisis in Missouri as well as his entire career have met with critical appraisal by numerous historians. His rhetorical hesitation and indecision has been regarded as a major factor in allowing Missouri to remain in the Union. Employing classical forms of rhetorical evaluation, this study examines Jackson's speeches and documents and the types of ethical, logical and emotional proof he selected to deal with the secession crisis from 1847 to 1861. His speeches indicated a weak development of logical proof that was enhanced by excellent use of ethical and emotional proof. His indecision resulted from an inability to deal with the wide diversity of opinion in Missouri in 1860.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts in Communication
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Communication
Year
1984

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Igel, Joseph A.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Donal Stanton

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © Joseph A Igel

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/515
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1516

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Missouri State University
Base URL
bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Igel, Joseph A.. A Rhetorical Evaluation of Claiborne Fox Jackson's Speeches on Slavery and States' Rights, 1847-1861. Masters thesis, 1984. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/515