How Did Thomas Paine Use Rhetorical Devices In The Revolutionary

This rhetorical device is called logos. Logos is used in this essay to persuade the audience that they should continue to fight back, because it was clearly the best option the Americans had. Paine used common sense when he stated that, "It is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice." He was saying that if the British have refused to represent us in Parliament or negotiate, why do you think they will show us mercy in the Revolution? Paine was saying that it was madness that the colonists, especially the soldiers, should expect Britain to be kind to them in battle and should instead see how they disdain America. He was breaking down all of the complexities of war and putting them into simple and logical terms so everyone could understand that this was not going to be a war easily

Throughout The Crisis, Paine incorporates multiple uses of language to persuade the men to enlist in the war for freedom. Paine states, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered” (1). He emphasizes that Britain's tyranny of the American colonies will be

“Unite the liberality with just frugality; always reserve something for the hand of charity; and never let your door be closed to the voice of suffering humanity” (“Patrick”). Patrick Henry was an important figure throughout the American revolution. During the revolution, Americans fought against the British for their independence and liberty. Before the war began, Americans were hesitant to fight because they feared the backlash that could have come with if the revolution was unsuccessful, and also because some refused to believe that their motherland would fight against them. Henry felt they had no choice but to battle against Britain and that the war was inevitable, so he decided to speak to the Virginia Convention in hope to rally them. In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, he uses logos when talking about Britain to persuade the colonists to take up arms.

The first reason the revolutionary war was justified was because the king ignored a myriad of petitions. In return, their “petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.” (7) Can you serve, respect, and honour a country that has brought death and soldiers into your land? Even after the King George III received the pleas of the settler, he continued to send more troops to their land, waging a silent war with the colonist’s. In Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, makes a very bold point that supports a big reason why the colonists were not guilty of declaring independence from Britain. He says “But...then tell me whether you can hereafter love, honour, and faithfully serve the power [ English Parliament ] that hath carried fire and sword into your land?” (6)What Paine

Thomas Paine, in his renowned work Common Sense, unambiguously uses pathos to call the founding fathers, and the American colonies as a whole, to action against the oppression of the British government. By using explicit figurative language, passionate diction, and the persistent parallel structure used to create correlation between citizen and governing powers, Paine masterfully manipulates the rhetorical appeals and devices in this piece in order to inspire action.

According to Patrick Henry, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7). Patrick Henry was able to give an outstanding speech at the Virginia Convention, regarding the actions needing to be taken by the colonists. This speech included the criticizing and denouncing of Great Britain, along with the urging of the colonists to fight for independence. This including that the colonists need to become prepared because the unjust actions of the British were not simply going to go away. Henry urges the colonists to fight for the freedom that they rightfully deserve, and he does it extremely well. In Patrick Henry’s ‘Speech to the Virginia Congress’, he demonstrates passionate pathos appeals and rhetorical questioning to persuade the colonists to stand up for themselves and join the fight for their freedom.

Proving that the liberties of the common people are something worth fighting for, Paine uses relatable figurative language in order to provide a more personal connection to the colonists in hopes of encouraging the proverbial David to stand up and wage war against Goliath. Paine pens an analogy stating that if a “child has thrived upon milk” then the child will never want “meat”. This analogy elicits a critical turning point in Paine’s pamphlet as he transitions from asking rhetorical questions to authoritative and comparative statements. Paine alludes to the overwhelming axiom that the colonies have been a baby drinking milk only satisfied by meeting the needs of Britain, instead of standing up for their individual rights and

From the Crisis No.1 written by Thomas Paine and the Speech at the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry were two major sources during the time of the Revolutionary War. Both speeches were persuasive and moving for the colonist. The common purpose of the revolutionary speeches during that time was to persuade the common people to become fully independent from tyranny. Even though the common purpose for both speeches was to separate from Great Britain, they both used different methods or strategies in their speeches like the tone, and how they appealed to the situation.

During the Revolutionary War, writers and orators publicly revealed their thoughts on how to respond to Britain’s further subjugation of the American colonies. After a futile hope for reconciliation and failed petitions to the British government, several patriots, such as Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, called for the colonists to take up arms against the British. Through Paine’s Common Sense and Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, they displayed an adamant message for the colonies to fight immediately. Both used the rhetorical elements of ethos, pathos, and logos within their respective works, and their various applications to the three elements allowed for their arguments to reach all ears and influence the majority of the population towards the fight for independence.

Henry says, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and the Parliament” (76-80, Henry). Henry, repeats the phrase “we have” in order to reestablish the fact that the colonists have already done everything in their power to avoid war. Another important example of anaphora is discussed in Henry’s passage, “If we wish to be free—if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges which we have been so long contending- if we lean not basely the noble struggle in which we have been so long engage…” (88-92, Henry). This excerpt exemplifies Henry’s point to build tension within his audience which rouses their emotions and aids him in achieving his main point of his speech. The main point of his speech highlights that the Colonists can only gain their freedom via War. Henry’s use of anaphora emphasizes the importance of independence and illustrates the fact that a revolution is

The 1770s proved to be a time of much chaos and debate. The thirteen colonies, which soon gained their independence, were in the midst of a conflict with Great Britain. The colonies were suffering from repeated injuries and usurpations inflicted upon them by the British. As a result of these inflictions, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry addressed these injustices, and proved to be very persuasive through providing reasoning and evidence that moved many colonists to believe that to reach contentment and peace the colonies had to rid themselves of British rule. Henry and Paine were successful in swaying their audience, not only because of the rhetorical strategies used, but also because they were passionate about the cause they were committed

Henry stated, “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights (Henry).” Henry recognizes the evident differences in beliefs that the colonist has. Henry goes on in his speech to say, “The question before House is one of awful moment to this country, and I consider is as nothing less than question of freedom or slavery (Henry).” Henry determines the colonists must make an ultimate decision. By utilizing the words ‘slavery’ and ‘freedom’, he created a hope for the colonist to hold onto and to create fear in the colonies. Henry appeals to the colonist’s religion because it was relevant to the revolutionary cause. Henry stated, “Should I keep back my opinions at a such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and an act of disability toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings (Henry).” Henry denounced the King when he stated Majesty of Heaven. Doing this, he informs the colonists that God was on their side. By associating God with the war, Henry utilized the use of pathos and ethos. Patrick Henry’s speech refutes his opponent’s beliefs that there was no need for battle with the British. Henry stated, “It is natural to man to indulge in the

His ideas and reasoning were highly influential at this time. His pamphlet Common Sense played a large role in the Revolution and in bringing hope and courage to the colonists in, “the times that try men's souls.” Many of the words of Thomas Paine helped the citizens develop a sense of unity and identity. Another example of the use of this new found freedom of speech was Paul Revere’s propaganda of the Boston Massacre showing a depiction of the four coffins of patriots who had died. The use of this propaganda, the product of free speech in the New World, was very popular and very effective.

“In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments and, common sense.” (Common Sense, Thomas Paine) Thomas Paine is seen as one of the most influential and outspoken igniters of the American Revolution. In his pamphlet commonsense he addresses all the ideas of government and constitutional pragmatism. William Hogeland in his article Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary Reckoning. Hogeland describes Paine’s life in great detail as well as showing the conflict between Paine and President George Washington. The connection between Paine and Washington is one that really brings into perspective how much Paine’s writtings meant in defining how America took up arms against England. What is most interesting about Hogelands

“Tyranny is like hell ,is not easily conquered”(Paine 108) in December of 1775 Thomas Paine gave a speech knowing their would be struggles and hardship in the foreseeable future . He knew this independence wasn’t going to be gently handed over to them.They must fight for what they believed.But first he had to motivate. T. Paine ignited a fury, an eagerness, an intensity that couldn’t be smothered with his use of emotionally fueled words.He motivated the masses to revolt and stand up for what they believed in. The British had chains attached to their freedom and Paine knew that they had to break free.Paine inspired through the persuasive technique of pathos; grasping the audience through analogies and metaphors to promote