The Declaration of Independence Each year in the United States of America, Americans honor and celebrate the courageous actions that our nation's founders took on July 4, 1776. In the late 1700’s, the British Parliament passed a number of laws that severely limited the freedoms of English colonists in America. According to the Library of Congress’ official website, “On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House, approved the Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies' ties to the British Crown” (Loc.gov). Throughout our Nation's history, Americans …show more content…
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson exposes the British King of his tyrannical antics toward the colonies to his readers. In this essay, I will prove how Jefferson uses a rhetorical structure in his work to attract his audience about the usurpations of the King of Great Britain (King George III). I feel that Jefferson’s rhetoric is justly what makes the Declaration of Independence so significant because he emotionally draws in his readers by presenting them with a lengthy list of grievances that Great Britain had on the United States colonies. I will then show how Jefferson uses literary terms such as the warrant to state his belief on the conflict with Britain, gives supporting facts (list of grievances) to support his belief, and then makes a claim for independence after his exhausting list of grievances to make a solution to the conflict with the British. By having such an effective rhetorical structure in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson eventually leads the U.S. colonies to independence from Great Britain. According to the chapter “Understanding Argument” from the anthology titled Elements of Argument, the warrant is “an assumption, belief, or principle that is taken for granted, and it also guarantees the credibility of the relationship between the claim and support” (Understanding Argument 11). In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s warrant is shown in the
Thomas Jefferson discusses the relationship between England and the United states in the pamphlet “ A summary of View of the Rights of British America”. This pamphlet goes on to discuss various situation between these individual countries .These documents highlight some of the many troubles with the two governments . I would like to discuss 4 different instances that arise and have a huge impact between these two states . Jefferson makes some very strong and valid arguments against the tyrannical king of England King George.
One reason that The Declaration of Independence was so influential was that Thomas Jefferson’s claims against the King of England were easy to understand and logical. Typical complaints include “For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us;” and “For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent.” Jefferson uses plain language that everyone can understand to point out large injustices done by the king. His statements about the King are short and to the point. He does not waste any words or bore the reader with abstract writing or excess words and thoughts. He goes from one point to the next to the next in such a fashion that the reader’s concentration is never broken. His points are logical and everyone living in the colonies at that time and many people around the world probably had some idea of the incidents behind all his grievances against the king. Jefferson raps up the injustices done by the king by declaring the United Colonies to be free and independent states.
Therefore, the right of liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness cannot be taken away and should never be obstructed by anyone or power. In addition, Jefferson uses pathos and logos to zealously state the facts of why the people demand independence. While using TRACE, the author presents his argument strategically and to create a certain appeal. At last, the numerous claims justifies the American colonist need of Independence from the tyrannical rule of the British
He was given the responsibility, by the continental congress, to compose a draft of the declaration. Jefferson took this opportunity to compose one of the greatest testaments in American history. He utilized rhetorical strategies that encouraged and uplifted the colonists. By listing all the acts of tyranny that King George III committed, Jefferson stirred up feelings of anger and disappointment into the colonists. An example from the Declaration of Independence, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people”(US 1776). In this quote, Jefferson writes about King George III ruining the lives of American colonists. Jefferson’s goal was to open the eyes of the colonists to fight against King George’s tyranny. Colonists gained inspiration from Jefferson’s work, and they united with one common goal—to gain independence. Though this document was intended to inspire the colonists, it was also written as a formal and official document so that King George III would interpret it in a serious manner. The Second purpose Jefferson had for the Declaration of Independence was to declare America’s independence from Great Britain. Jefferson is speaking directly to King George III of Great Britain when he declares America as an independent new
The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was an important document that helped the colonists while their rights weren’t being respected by the government or the King. He continued by saying they didn’t take necessary laws into consideration or they abolished the laws they desperately needed. Jefferson argues that everyone should be treated equally and have the same rights, these were known as unalienable rights. In the letter, Jefferson uses logos, pathos, and ethos to further explain himself and convince the colonists to join him in declaring their independence. Jefferson begins by stating, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The Declaration of Independence was written for the purpose of separating the American colonies from the British Empire. In context of history, The Declaration was the first step into a modern representative democracy. In addition, the makers of the declaration, primarily Thomas Jefferson, constructed an argument to state the problems they had with Britain and tell how the new American government was going to deal with the problems. The argument Jefferson constructed was one made with all the wrong evidence; however, he built the argument in such a way to rally a people for war. The Declaration of Independence is a well-written example of argument and persuasion with its use of structure as a whole, use of specific fallacies, and use of appeals.
1B) The Declaration of Independence uses several rhetorical strategies, making the argumentative testament of the wrongdoings of the king an effective in pursuing equality for all men. Jefferson utilizes logos, pathos and ethos to prove his point to the country holding their liberty prisoner. Jefferson’s use of logos begins with stating the obvious reason the king should set the people free: the people have the right to the pursuit of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” (2). The King has not done good to the people, in fact he has refused to pass the laws necessary to create order, dissolved representative houses, cut off trade, and imposed unlawful taxes upon the people. They have the basic human rights given to them by God that should set them free from the tyrannical king. Some of the emotional side of Jefferson’s views slip into this argument, such as "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable" (5). While stating further wrongdoings, Jefferson’s use of pathos increases, raising the rage of the republic at the injustice of the rules they have been subjected to. “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation” (26). Jefferson calls for a sense of empathy from the crown and establishes a sense of severe discontent
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary that someone must judge another to reassure their own position as a superior being. It is at this time, those that threaten individuality and culture be reminded that they are made of the same matter that nature intended for us as humans, and these oppressors of unique must now swallow it.
The American colonists gained their independence in many ways. The documents that were written at the time were key to gaining independence. The battles were very important parts of achieving self-government because it gave strength and confidence to the colonists. Strong leaders helped the colonist and had great confidence for the entirety of the Revolutionary War. Alliances with other countries helped greatly in gaining victory and independence.
With America being a new country, the founding fathers created the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in order to establish the goals for the young country. During the time period of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, there are many occurrences such as slavery that took place, which represented America following the sacred documents. Slavery was when white males bought black men and women, then made these human beings undergo terrible treatment and work all day and night. However, these slaves were not considered to be citizens during the time period. Also, major events such as the Whiskey Rebellion supported the roles of these important documents. The Whiskey Rebellion was when westerners rebelled due to the tax on whiskey,
In “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson displays why the colonies should gain sovereignty through rhetorical appeals, harsh diction, and complicated syntax.
In Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence he uses focal points to help people perceive his document. By showing the failure of the British Crown and demonstrating the rights of the citizens Jefferson is able to get his audience to understand his message clearly. He also uses ethos, pathos, and logos to improve his writing. Thomas Jefferson’s argument was effective in the separation from Great Britain, because he focuses on the failure of the British Crown and the rights of the colonial citizens; through egos, pathos, and logos.
In the Declaration of Independence, the author, Thomas Jefferson, uses both logic and emotion to justify America’s separation from Britain.
Jefferson began the document by explaining that the rights of the Americans had been brutally molested by the unjust King of Britain. Following this accusation, he provided evidence of this abuse by listing not just a mere handful, but 27 grievances that the King had inflicted against the colonies. Lastly, the conclusion of this article publishes and declares that the United Colonies have the right to be freed from the British and that they have the right to govern themselves as any free country does. The strategic organization of the Declaration of Independence allowed the colonies to be powerfully represented by such a clear and prudently worded
A formal explanation to a “candid world’ was needed according to the textbook authors because Jefferson’s defiant Declaration of Independence gave his appeal universality by invoking the “natural rights’’ of humankind, not just British rights. He argued that because the king had flouted these rights, the colonists were justified in cutting their connection. He then set forth a long list of the presumably tyrannous misdeeds of George III.They put facts on paper about what the King of England has done to let the world view this and judge for themselves whether or not they were right or wrong.