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The Rhetorical Analysis Of The Boston Massacre Trial

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John Adams, a well-educated delegate from Massachusetts, faced many roadblocks leading up to the Revolution, most importantly, the Boston Massacre Trial. Adams risked his life by defending the British during the lengthy trial, as most of the colonist’s opinions plummeted when they learned he was defending those who killed their own. At the end of March, reaching a couple weeks since the bloody Boston Massacre, a grand jury brought Captain Preston and his men to plead them guilty for murdering the colonists. After searching for a lawyer, John Adams stepped up and lead them to the conclusion of innocence, all due to Adams’ closing statement. Adams argues that the colonists will not consider them innocent because they are British. He tells the colonists to disregard the uniforms, look past their nationality, and see that they are men too, men who fear death and trial. In order to strengthen his argument and sway the jury, Adams included uses of rhetorical appeals, SOAPS, and various literary elements into his speech to produce the conclusion of innocence towards the British. After a long trial, filled with many arguments, oppositions, and biases, Adams was ready to conclude and bring an end to the decision. Though, even after all the time past, Adams begins with, “I am for the prisoners at the bar,” establishing ethos. He informs the people that he is the trusted, educated lawyer that is representing the British soldiers. By using Axiom, he is basically
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saying,

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