Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Chief Sagoyewatha’s Speech to Missionaries; 1805

Bertsch 1

A Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Chief Sagoyewatha's ("Red Jacket") Oration to Christian Missionaries, 1805

By Kevin Bertsch

Prepared for Professor Mary Walch COM 3343; CRN 10617 in Rhetorical Criticism

Spring 2014 Semester

Bertsch 2

A Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Chief Sagoyewatha's ("Red Jacket") Oration to Christian Missionaries, 1805

by Kevin Bertsch

Introduction

Sagoyewatha later dubbed "Red Jacket", because he frequently wore an embroidered coat given

to him by the British as a gift, was a Seneca Chief of the Iroquois Confederacy situated primarily in the

North Eastern part of what is now the United States of America. Founded in the 15th century or earlier

the confederacy was originally comprised of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca

nations. The Five Nations incorporated the Tuscarora tribe in the early 18th century and was thereafter

known as the Six Nations. Extending east to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and as far north as Quebec,

Canada, the Iroquois Confederacy covered approximately 4/5ths of what is now New York State. At the

time that refugees fleeing religious persecution in Europe landed on the shores of North America, the

Iroquois Confederacy had existed as a socio-political entity for more than 300 years. This democratic

union derived its power from a constitution that bound the individual tribes together for mutual support

and protection. Known as the "Laws of the Great Peace", it was this concept of separate political

entities joined together in a democratic union that became the model for the founders of the fledgling

United States to develop the three-branch system of government comprised of the Legislature, Senate

and House of Representatives. (Murphy)

Description of the Artifact

Having sided with the British during the Revolutionary War, in the years after cessation of

hostilities, Red Jacket was instrumental in facilitating peace talks and establishing...