Rhetorical Annalysis of Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson

In Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, he uses a number of rhetorical devices to affect the reader. The two devices he uses best are allusion and pathos.

Benjamin Banneker in his letter to Thomas Jefferson offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a series of rhetorical devices. Banneker, who is an exceedingly educated African American man, never refers Jefferson by his name, but by only calling him “sir,” to show his respect. In the late eighteenth century, it is not a black man’s place to condescend a white man. Even though Banneker is a respected man, he is indicating that he must show his respect for Jefferson just because he is white and Banneker is black. Thus, showing Jefferson the “injustice” of the country that he helped develop.

Before the civil war, African Americans endured slavery and oppression as part of their life. Although at first these custom were seemingly unchallenged, fervent abolitionist and anti-slavery sentiments soon became prominent among society. Many of these abolitionist were prominent African Americans who had escaped slavery or earned their freedom, one of them including Benjamin Banneker. In his letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1796, Banneker utilizes a variety of rhetorical devices to employ a poignant argument against slavery. Through his use of allusions, logic, strong diction, and logic, Banneker effectively elaborates an efficient argument to state that slavery is morally incorrect.

Throughout his letter to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Banneker effectively conveys his feelings not only towards slavery, but also towards Thomas Jefferson’s overlooking of the issue. Banneker uses a tone that is respectful, but underlying it is an attitude claiming Thomas Jefferson’s hypocrisy. Banneker also makes several Biblical allusions in order to reveal to Jefferson the severity of the situation. Therefore, the tone, attitude, and allusions made by Banneker aid his efforts to argue against slavery.

Now instead of appealing to Jefferson’s logos Banneker moves right along appealing to Jefferson’s sense of pathos. He talks about how if Jefferson does not give these slaves freedom then his is going against the “mercies” of the lord. Banneker knows that Jefferson is a devout Christian; by making accusations that Jefferson is taking away the peoples’ God-given rights he is appealing to Jefferson’s emotional side. Banneker knows that this is a prime striking point to make Jefferson feel as uncomfortable as he needs to be so that the thought process of abolishing slavery because of God’s will can come into play. Banneker is letting the fire inside of him burn brightly with these accusations.

Playing again to Jefferson’s emotions Banneker questions Jefferson’s morality based on his use of slaves; “how pitiable is it to reflect that… you should at the same time counteract his mercies in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren” (31-37). To persuade someone is in some ways to manipulate their opinions and with the use of questioning his morality Banneker can portray his conviction in the topic of abolishing slavery. Banneker plays to Jefferson’s pathos is not the only strategy he uses; he also uses an indignant tone throughout the

Banneker used religious appeals, referencing the Bible, to argue against slavery, but to also find common ground with Thomas Jefferson, saying Jefferson was “fully convinced of the benevolence of the father” but condoning slavery, “counteracted his mercies.” Banneker was explaining to Jefferson that Jefferson, a religious man like himself, was going against the will of God by condoning slavery, and that the “mercies” of God would not be in a slave owner's favor. These Bible allusions were used to unite the two men under God and create mutual understanding. Banneker also appealed emotionally, to draw sympathy for his cause. Using pathos by emphasizing the “groaning captivity” his brethren and himself had once faced, Banneker

Benjamin Banneker had wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson back in 1791. Mr. Banneker is trying to persuade Jefferson into changing his mind about slavery. Banneker is the son of former slaves, was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. It is quite interesting how a man [Banneker] coming from slavery is now an author, and wrote a letter to the man [Jefferson] who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Banneker uses different rhetorical strategies to get his point across to Jefferson.

“Sir, suffer me to recall” the mistakes, the hypocritical attitude, the forced “state of servitude”, the way Banneker and others were treated and overlooked by the famous line “all men are created equal”. (20, 1) At the start of the essay, Banneker starts to explain to Jefferson that long ago

Banneker's argument appeals to several rhetoric strategies. Through the use of ethos, pathos, logos, allusion, and tone, Banneker shows he is well-educated and formal. To effectively show Jefferson that he is in the wrong, he combines these strategies effectively, and in an easy-to-understand way. Both Jefferson and any other reader are reminded to “wean yourselves from those narrow prejudices”, which is advice that can easily be applied to both present-day and eighteenth-century standards.While it may pertain to entirely different subjects, the idea is still relevant in

He explains to Jefferson that no matter what race someone is, if they are discriminated against they with do whatever it takes to gain freedom. Banneker says that everyone should be given the rights to their human nature no matter what rank or distinction they may be in. Everyone should be given these rights, “...neither could you rest satisfied, short of the order to their promotions from any state of degradation to which the unjustifiable cruelty and barbarism of men have reduced them.” Banneker shared that no one with be satisfied with not having rights because it is not true. Facts helped show that everyone should have equal freedom because they deserve it and if they do not have it they will eventually fight for

He uses long, detailed sentences that build with emotion to capture the attention of his audience and inform them of why enslavement of others is wrong in a country that just fought for liberties. Figures of speech in the passage convey Banneker’s ethos through allusions and gives the emotional appeal of sympathy because of what Britain had put the colonists through. Finally, diction is a very strong rhetorical device in the passage allowing Banneker to show his reverence while portraying the seriousness of the matter to Jefferson through his powerful word choice. The letter of Benjamin Banneker to Jefferson makes a strong argument against the injustice of slavery being brought upon enslaved African Americans in newly formed America. It shows the hypocritical stance of a country that fought so fiercely for freedom while they still have enslavement under their own

In conclusion, Benjamin Banneker used several rhetorical devices, such as ethos, pathos, and just showing Jefferson that he had been contradicting himself all along. With his own words, too. He used these aforementioned strategies to help forge and create a solid and structurally sound argument against Thomas Jefferson supporting anti-slavery movements. Banneker’s strategies proved to be successful in the fact that slavery is no longer commonplace in the United

Benjamin Banneker makes many subtle jabs to Thomas Jefferson while writing his letter. He did very well at hiding these references because he did not want Jefferson to disregard his work. Banneker refers to

Son of former slaves, farmer, astronomer, and author Benjamin Banneker in his letter to Thomas Jefferson in asserts that slavery is erroneous and should be discontinued. During this time period, slaves had no rights or freedom, slaves were property. Banneker was a slavery abolitionist, and wanted to help African Americans. Banneker adopts a respectful yet vexed tone in order to criticize and accuse Thomas Jefferson of being a hypocrite. Thomas Jefferson wrote the lines, “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.”, but he himself owned slaves, so this describes he did not want liberty for African American slaves. Banneker is offended and vexed, judging Jefferson as a hypocrite. Banneker achieves his purpose of judging Jefferson through his prominent use of diction.