A Vernacular Republican Rhetoric: William Manning's Key of Libberty

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2004

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Quarterly Journal of Speech

Abstract

Our analysis of farmer and tavern-keeper William Manning’s 1798 Key of Libberty extends the concept of American republican rhetoric to include both elite and vernacular forms. We find that the key components of Manning’s vernacular republicanism are: an aggressive use of the rhetoric of critique; the demand for transparency in public argument; the rejection of elite leadership; and the belief that decisions must be made in the interest of the common good. We compare vernacular to elite republicanism and conclude that the vernacular perspective has endured in American reform rhetoric.

Description

Keywords

republicanism, rhetoric, early republic, William Manning

Citation

Jennifer R. Mercieca & James Arnt Aune (2005) A Vernacular Republican Rhetoric: William Manning's Key of Libberty, Quarterly Journal of Speech, 91:2, 119-143, DOI: 10.1080/00335630500291299