The purpose of this study was to identify and describe major trends in American rhetoric during the nineteenth century. Elements of traditional rhetoric--invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery--were examined. Subobjectives involved (1) a verification of the extensive use of certain textbooks, (2) an identification of the addition or deletion of rhetorical topics by each writer in his textbook, and (3) an examination of how each author treated the elements of traditional rhetoric. Twelve rhetoric textbooks, selected on the basis of the number of editions issued, the evaluation of their popularity, and their use in schools, were analyzed. This study found that very few rhetorical topics did not change during the formation of a completely American system of rhetoric. One of the most noticeable changes was that formal rhetoric was largely replaced by emphases on a practical student-oriented rhetoric. The only constant topic during this period was the rhetorical classification of sentences. (Author/DI)