Florence Kelley worked tirelessly to pass laws against child labor. Her speech convinced people of her Child Labor Laws. She succeeded in influencing the audience by using rhetorical questions, which evoked feelings of sympathy for young children.
Kelley brings up the age of her children many times in her speech, demonstrating how young they are. She also shows that they sleep late at night. Because they love their kids, they wouldn’t wish it on them. “Tonight, while we sleep, a thousand little girls are going to work in textile factories.” In her speech she pulls at the heartstrings, saying that. The strategy used appeals for sympathy from the audience. This strategy would encourage people to feel sympathy for the children who are working all night in dangerous places. If the New Jersey Legislature had been enfranchised, would they have passed a repeal bill that allowed girls aged 14 to work through the night? Kelley allows the audience to reflect on the issue and come to a similar conclusion as she has. Child labor should stop.
Kelly was passionate about stopping Child Labor. She was successful in her speech because of the way she used rhetorical questions and pathos. She was very persuasive and ultimately changed the Child Labor law for good.
