Premium Essay

Declaration of Independence Strategy - Essay

In: English and Literature

Submitted By legosfreak
Words 1075
Pages 5
Persuasive Strategies in The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence is, in a sense, an argument for freedom and severance from the British crown. The famous document features some of the elements of argument, such as the claim of unjustness by the colonist’s ruler and the evidence to back it up. The document lays the groundwork for both the American colonies’ independence from England and the eventual war that follows. Of course, for a document of this importance, to be persuasive, it must be written in a carful and particular way. Jefferson’s use of certain mechanical devices and language and diction expresses to his audience the reasons and justification for independence of the American colonies. One of the most obvious and effective strategies that Jefferson uses is midway through the document. He spends a huge chunk of the Declaration listing all of the objections the colonists have to King George III’s regulations and how he has abused his power. This technique brings the audience into the same rationale as the author. Jefferson talks about how the king has “abdicated Government [in the colonies], by declaring [the colonies] out of his Protection and waging War against [them]”, but the colonists’ “repeated petitions” to the king’s rule “have been answered only by repeated injury” (Jefferson 267). Jefferson is making an emotional appeal to his audience and is trying to convince them that any revolution from the colonists is justified as the unjust tyrant that rules them has not listened to their appeals. By making the offenses personal and providing concrete examples, Jefferson is providing evidence, one of the key features to any good argument. He tries to bring us into his way of thinking so that we see that there is only one option; independence. Jefferson goes into how the king has “called together legislative bodies

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Abolishment of Slavery in the Northern States

...Abolishment of Slavery in the Northern States Abolishing Northern slavery was a result of the Declaration of Independence. Ending Slavery in the North was not easy, and is something that should not be taken for granted. [1] Importing slaves to the North fell off shortly after 1770, and internal trade in blacks rose in importance. The change in the economy helped the North to give up its direct involvement in expanding slavery, without giving up its fortune they already made. The army commanded by Lord Dunmore, the Royal governor of Virginia, became the first refuge of African Americans who hoped, by serving the Crown (or just by escaping their masters), to gain permanent freedom, encouraging the Rebels themselves to enroll free blacks and slaves in their armed forces- and to promise some of the slaves’ freedom if they served for the duration of the war. The actual taking up of arms by the Royal forces encouraged slaves to run away. These runaways certainly gave Lord Dunmore the idea to officially encourage runaway slaves to leave their masters. Dunmore’s proclamation of November 1775 freed only the slaves of Rebel masters and only those who actually joined the British forces. Rumors that the British would employ blacks to control rebellious whites were circulated in London and at home, from Virginia to South Carolina. Dunmore did not want to encourage wholesale slave rebellion, which would have angered loyal Virginian slaveholders. But he did want to make the Rebels as vulnerable...

Words: 583 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Benjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis Essay

...For my Benjamin Banneker rhetorical analysis essay, I would give myself a score of eight. I believe that I would have scored an eight because I have effectively explained the purpose of several logical rhetorical strategies using evidence. In my thesis, “Banneker’s unexpected eloquence combined with his political and historical allusions work to produce undeniable evidence that supports an argument Jefferson cannot refute,” I have incorporated the specific rhetoric strategies that I discuss in further detail in the following paragraphs. For instance, in discussing the logos of Banneker’s political allusions, I incorporated quotes that demonstrate the legitimacy of the Declaration of Independence, and explain that Banneker includes this reference...

Words: 259 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

American Revolution

...Sohee Kang England's Vietnam essay The devastation of the French and Indian war left the British in heavy debt, which then led to the various acts and taxes imposed on the colonies. Starting in 1764 with the sugar act and ending with the conclusion of the revolution in 1783, many factors contributed to the defeat of the British. Mostly due to vast distance of the mother country from the colonies, it was difficult for England to supply themselves with soldiers, food, and weapons. Other factors that contributed to their defeat were the alliance between the Americans and England’s bitter rivals such as the Spanish and French, who sent soldiers and supplies to the colonies, as well as England’s own strategical follies. In the aftermath of the French and Indian war, England’s parliament taxed the colonies heavily to recover from the debt by passing various Acts that taxed materials such as sugar, paper, and tea. This caused the unrest and dissent among the Americans which was then followed by resistance and oppression. After several years of uneasiness, a violent battle occurred in Lexington and Concord on April 19 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution. George III then proceeded to begin and quickly end a war against the colonies to set an example of them. This method, however, required vast numbers of soldiers and other supplies, which was scarce and hard to obtain due to the distance separating the opposing sides. Even if the British did obtain...

Words: 749 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Relations Between Usa and Uk

...start since the very beginning when a group of men migrated to another country and started to think up in a different idea of nation, but recognizing after all their inheritance from English traditions. This essay is going to be more focused on to the ethnic and political relations these two countries share in common and how their relation is distinguished to the point that it has been called a “special relationship.” In order to have a clear understanding about the relations between the United States of America and the United Kingdom is necessary to know their past since most of their history reflects present-day manifestations. First of all, it is important to state that every epoch is different, everyone who intends to give historical approach to these major countries needs to be situated in time and context since the history of the two has many particularities and it is too broad to explain all aspects. When the first north Americans settled in that new and extended land they started to think in a rebellion sense of been independent; subsequently of what would be the leading politic of this nation, then for British soon weakened their relation; at that moment, the five men including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson started the Declaration of Independence, in which part of the resolution stated : “… these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all...

Words: 1198 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Essay On Was Slavery Good Or Bad

...During their lifetimes many of them, that I mentioned throughout this paper did politically and socially advocate to end slavery. This has puzzled the historians I have used in this essay. Reading through these resources, they all admit that owning slave was wrong but they all continued to own them. The historians I have used in this essay, have also been perplexed by the reality in which slaves were used as a bargaining strategy in the Revolutionary War, and were still not emancipated in the post war...

Words: 529 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Governance in Zimbabwe

...transition in Zimbabwe were essentially about preserving white interests in Zimbabwe. Discuss in relation with the (i) The Home-Smith Settlement Proposals, (ii)Détente, (ii) The Anglo-American Initiative, (iii)The Geneva Conference and (iv) The Malta Conference During the struggle of Zimbabwe, when the war between the nationalist and the Smith regime was intensifying efforts were made by various countries such as Britain, South Africa, United States of America, Zambia, Botswana and Malawi to find or to implement peaceful ways by which Southern Rhodesia would achieve its independence other than violence. These strategies included the Home Smith proposals, Détente, The Anglo-American Initiative, The Geneva Conference and The Malta Conference. However these failed to achieve independence in Southern Rhodesia as they entrenched the interests of the whites, and failed to gain favour in the eyes of the nationalist. This essay will look at how each of these talks entrenched the interest of the white settlers. Home- Smith settlement proposals 1971-4 The period from 1971-1974 was a period marked by the Anglo- Rhodesian settlement proposals. For the first time during this period Africans became the masters of their own fate. The period also marked the emergence of African National Council by Muzorewa and Zvobgo and the intensification of the armed struggle. (Ngunyoni and Nyandoro1979; p 187) 24 November 1971 The Smith-Home pact was signed, Home persuaded Smith to increase African representation...

Words: 2266 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker

...“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” -Abraham Lincoln. In Benjamin Banneker’s critical letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker supports his point by contradicting Jefferson's beliefs regarding slavery. Banneker uses two main rhetorical strategies to support his claim. The first strategy focuses on an appeal to patriotism while the second focuses on an appeal to religion. Banneker focuses on using religious ideals that reflect many people's ideas, values, and morals. He persuades Jefferson further by referencing direct quotes from some of our nation's most important founding documents. By combining these ideas and contradicting Jefferson, Banneker creates a powerful and convincing argument. As exemplified in the first half of his essay, Banneker uses strong political arguments and primary sources to support his main idea. He challenges Jefferson's own beliefs when he states, “You cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that is the peculiar blessing of heaven” (Banneker 11). Banneker uses founding ideals of the United States to...

Words: 519 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Louisiana Purchase

...Louisiana Purchase 1803 Bridget Cochran 01/28/2012American InterContinental University |...

Words: 1318 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Lenovo

...| Assignment Handling ServicesDivision of Information ServicesNathan CampusGRIFFITH UNIVERSITY QLD 4111 | ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET | DATE RECEIVED: Postmark: DATE RECEIVED: Postmark: Please complete all sections below Course Code:   3033IBA Course Name:   Managing People in Global Economy Due Date:   27/04/2015 Assessment Item #:   3 Enrolment: Off Campus On Campus Campus (Enrolled) Nathan   GC   Logan   Mt G   SB   Course Tutor:   Dr Anne Christie Course Convenor:   Dr Anne Christie Please provide your STUDENT NUMBER:   s2681179 Student Name:   Joshua Grima ACADEMIC INTEGRITY DECLARATION Breaches of academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, falsification of data, collusion) seriously compromise student learning, as well as the University’s assessment of the effectiveness of that learning and the academic quality of the University’s awards. All breaches of academic integrity are taken seriously and could result in penalties including failure in the course and exclusion from the University. Students should be aware that the University uses text-matching software to safeguard the quality of student learning and that your assignment will be checked using this software. I acknowledge and agree that the examiner of this assessment item may, for the purpose of marking this assessment item: reproduce this assessment item and provide a copy to another Griffith staff member; and/ submit this assessment...

Words: 1836 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Eassy

...Qualities of a Good Essay Title that has depth, more than one meaning Introduction: lead-in that draws, notable strategy leading to thesis Thesis: an opinion that shares a worthy explication (an unfolding) • Avoid plot summary • Avoid reducing story to dusty platitude ("Crime doesn't pay", "Be kind to animals") • Underline thesis Body: logical support drawn from within the story • Strong topic sentences (underlined) without pronouns (preferably the first sentence) • Strong logical progression of support for thesis • Strong logic within paragraphs • Smooth transitions within and between paragraphs • Simple documentation of borrowed materials Conclusion: noticeable strategy that adds integrity to the essay Consider: 1. Title is first read 2. Lead-in is next 3. Conclusion is last read and probably most remembered The Qualities of a Good Essay • Even if the essay is about a personal experience, be sure there is a thesis statement (which may be implied). It should be: -declarative -simple, clear, and direct -one that requires explanation, illustration or proof -one that can be explained, illustrated or proven -one that makes a claim that not everyone would accept or automatically agree with. • Limit your essay (and your term paper) to something you can manage. Which of the following theses are too ambitious for a 2-page essay? - Jokes can reveal a great deal about culture. - Brazilians constantly communicate...

Words: 3999 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Selenidad Symbolism

...Lopez, digital artist Alma Lopez expresses her desire for Latinas to embrace their commonality in spite of differences created by origin and tradition. In her essay Cristina Serna demonstrates how the traditional and religious symbol of La Virgen de Guadalupe was reconstructed by the three artists to be used as symbol for Latina unification, "[They] give her new life and meaning...to represent feminist and decolonial struggles,..." (Serna p.168). The appropriation and reconstruction of traditional symbols used by the dominant culture has always been strategy employed as a call for unity. Tey Marianna Nunn who wrote an article for the anthology Our Lady of Controversy explains how the traditional image of La Virgen de Guadalupe was used by Father Miguel Hidalgo to rally Mexicans to fight against their Spanish masters and for their independence (Nunn...

Words: 1095 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Liberty

...Fourth of July The Declaration of Independence We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775). And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776). So what did happen on July 4, 1776? The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes. July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776...

Words: 16917 - Pages: 68

Premium Essay

Thirteen Colonies Characteristics

...The Thirteen Colonies, starting 1775, were British states following the British empire on the east coast of North America which had been established between 1607 (Virginia) and 1732 (Georgia), extending from New England toward the northern border of the Florida’s (British East and West Florida). They had fundamentally the same politics, and were commanded by Protestant English-speakers. The thirteen colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. You can see them in the map below. The Kingdom of Great Britain in London rehearsed a strategy of mercantilism. It regulated the colonies...

Words: 992 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Compare and Contrast Fredrick Douglas and David Walker

...The essence of this paper requires a contrast and comparison view on two important historical articles; Fredrick Douglass “What to the slave is the fourth of July” and David Walker’s “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World”. The essay will attempt to discuss the very famous speech Fredrick Douglas made in 1952 as well as David’s Walker’s appeal while comparing and contrasting both the appeal and the speech. Afterward, a summary will be given and a conclusion will be drawn. As we look throughout history, one would argue that we couldn’t find a more appalling and unjust act as that of slavery. Slavery played a major role of not only history but of an innumerable amount of American people. In David Walker’s appeal and Fredrick Douglass what to the slave is the fourth of July, men and women of African American descent struggle with the reality of slavery and the cruel results and affect it had on people like themselves. Fredrick Douglas was one of the most influential African Americans of his day, in spite of his inauspicious beginning, he was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland where he was called Fredrick Augustus Washington Bailey. Douglas always suspected that his father was his mother’s white owner, Captain Aaron Anthony. He spent his early childhood in privation on the plantation then he was sent to work as a house slave for the auld family in Baltimore. There, he came in contact with printed literature and quickly realized the relationship between literacy...

Words: 3165 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Kennedy's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

...Inauguration Speeches are a custom that has existed since the very first inauguration featuring the United States first president, George Washington. During Washington’s second inauguration, after his re-election, Washington gave the shortest Inaugural address on record. This address was just 135 words. Nonetheless, every president since Washington has delivered an Inaugural address. The purpose of this address is for presidents to present their vision of the country (United States) and to set forth their goals for the nation. With that being said, this paper will use the strategy of genre analysis to critique to examine Barack Obama’s second Inaugural Address and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech. Genre analysis is a type of rhetorical analysis that examines speeches based on the artifacts or commonalities that contain. The artifacts of speech are created by the rhetor as a response to a specific exigency. So as Bitzer’s essay, The Rhetorical Situation, saw it, in order for a text to be rhetorical, it must come in response to a rhetorical situation. Furthermore a rhetorical situation has three characteristics, an audience, an existence of constraints, and as mentioned above, an exigency. One manner, in which we can analyze an artifact, is through...

Words: 1448 - Pages: 6