Thomas Jefferson Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

The product of patriotism and diligent acts, a country truly defined by its individuality and unmistakable glory. These few but finest accomplishments were significantly dependent on the document, the one that transformed the true value of what we have become as an independent country: The Declaration of Independence. Many individuals felt a need for change when being governed by the British. Some of these individuals included our Founding Fathers who created this document to make known that the thirteen colonies would fight independently and eradicate being ruled under Great Britain. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson uses allusions, parallelism as well as anaphora to express the struggle and fight for singularity and

The Declaration of Independence is the most masterfully written document in the history of Western Civilization. The tone and urgency of this work influenced the colonial citizens to take action. Jefferson’s passion and persuasion helped change the course of history for the United States of America as we know it. The opening arguments of the document appeal to the peoples’ God given rights and compels them to separate from the British crown. Historians credit the Declaration of Independence with finalizing the revolutionary revolt and ultimate separation of the colonies from the British. This well written document contains a plethora of rhetorical appeals. Jefferson’s usage of the literary devices, rhetorical appeals known by the names of ethos, pathos, and logos convinced the Colonial people that the American colonies had no choice but to separate from Great Britain.

Many would say that America was built on the principle that “all men are created equal” and that U.S. citizens are all given equal treatment, opportunities, and so on. But, is that really the case? Was Thomas Jefferson’s famous words, forever inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, meant for everyone? Taking a look back into America’s short (at least when compared to other countries) history, the phrase “all men are created equal” doesn’t really seem to correlate with the circumstances of that century. Africans were enslaved and forced to do hard, strenuous labor or else be forced to endure a beating by the slave master. But don’t forget, all men are created equal. It says so in the constitution. Fast forward a couple of hundred years where all men still aren’t equal, but are close to it.

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.

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States, explains to his readers why the colonies chose to abolish Great Britain’s government. His goal is to inform the readers that the government has certain responsibilities to the governed and that the British failed to adhere to its responsibilities to its colonists. His second goal is to justify their actions by explaining why it was not considered treason. By establishing his credibility and appealing to ethos, pathos and logos, Jefferson successfully wrote an informative, impactful, and inspirational document.

You know of the Declaration of Independence, but you have probably not heard of the “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions”. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson first justifies how it is the right of the people to overthrow a government that has failed, then lists how the King of Great Britain is guilty of multiple abuses against the colonies, then explains how the colonies were ignored after trying to reach a compromise, and finally he executes his plan on how the colonies are now a new nation that has no relation with Great Britain whatsoever. In “The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” Elizabeth Cady Stanton highlights the problem of women being oppressed by men by addressing not only the delegates at the particular convention, but men and women all over the United States about the harsh reality of women’s roles dictated by men in the hope of receiving equal rights for both men and women. Both are written in similar manners, but the use of pathos, allusion, and tone allow the two pieces to achieve different purposes.

Thomas Jefferson’s “The Declaration of Independence” shook the world when it was released on July 4, 1776. Jefferson was in charge of draft the document announcing that the colonies have severed ties with Great Britain. Jefferson’s strong use of anaphora, ethos, and diction generates a compelling document.

For Howard Zinn, the Declaration of Independence seemed, abnormal. He is convinced that the Declaration was written for selfish reasons. He observes that the upper-class needs to induce the lower class. “It seemed clear to the educated, upper-class colonists that something needed to be done to persuade the lower class to join the revolutionary cause, to direct anger against England.” Alternatively, Bernard Bailyn has a disparate interpretation. Bailyn is convinced that the Declaration is written for ideological reasons. “The Declaration of Independence represents the colonists’ deepest fears and beliefs.” Quite frankly, they are both correct.

Firstly, the King’s absolute power was a reasonable grievance of the colonists. King George prosecuted the making of laws that were to bind the colonists despite any circumstances. Although, the colonists believed that his power was too unlimited to apply defeat on. This meant that Americans would lose everything if they were to oppose him. Moreover, the Quartering Act portrayed how people’s own homes were resided by militants under the king’s orders. This was a violation to their rights of property. Similarly, the people demanding their laws of nature are in no way for the King’s personal benefit. As a matter of fact, the King should be considered the servant of the people, as his purpose is to serve their injustices. Moreover, the colonists’ rights by nature averse to King George’s beliefs. As expected, his beliefs only respond to the

Jefferson states that he is aware “ The history of the present King of Great Britain has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” (Textbook pg 117) Jefferson states this to show that he understands the colonists have been wronged.Throughout the next paragraph Jefferson uses diction as he uses the phrase, “He has,” to help point his argument towards the King of Britain. With Thomas writing the Declaration of Independence with anaphora throughout the document it shows that with the repetition of “He has” and other small phrases that are towards the King of Britain, were his ways of showing actions of the King against the colonist were wrong. Thomas Jefferson  went on to say that the King of Britain is “Totally unworthy to be the head of a civilized nation”(Textbook pg 117). Jefferson then ended his argument with the ethos appeal. He states that the King of Britain “Has excited domestic insurrections amongst us and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages,sexes and conditions.”( Textbook pg 117) and that King George has to kill

Beginning with his tone, Jefferson took a rebellious approach to his speech. He realizes he must evoke the people of the colonies in order to bring attention to an uprising. To stir up his audience, his tone is harsh; he mixed this with diction such as ‘tyranny’ to bring forth negative thoughts. He employed this by writing, “[t]he history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of…[establishing] an absolute tyranny over these states” (Jefferson 24-26). He listed off what Britain has done to hurt the colonies and their people, and that it is an injustice to them all. With this, he is able to incite a form of nationalism that has not been seen before. It was a fight for independence to break free from a corrupted king who only cared about his own wealth.

The words that he used throughout the whole document for example, “brethren” and “fellow citizen” He even displays to the people how the colonies have wanted to have no violent conflict at all with Great Britain while on the other hand the king wouldn’t compromise with these terms. For instant, they had sent over many petitions to Great Britain with the hope to come to some type of treaty, but the king like always continued to hurt the colonies in many different ways. Jefferson argued that they have tried to compromise in a non-violent way with Great Britain many times, but they continue to send soldiers to kill their people, destroy ships, burn down and vandalize towns, and capture citizens holding them hostage while making them do very immoral things to their own people. Not one nation should be made to sit back and let these terrible things happen to them or any one else, so by asserting these different situations it inspires all of the fellow colonists that it is time to fight and stand up for their rights and the rights of their fellow

The declaration of independence published in july 1776 was a document that declared america freedom and independence from britain so that america could be a new , independent country.

Jefferson loved books and more especially classical ones” (Beran). Journalist and lawyer, Michael Beran, makes a clear reference to Thomas Jefferson, and his love of books. Books are what educated Jefferson and pushed him to become the great educated man the world knows today. Jefferson was born April 13th, 1743, during a time when to be educated, ment a person could comprehend the great classical books of human history. Jefferson understood the knowledge presented to him through classical books, and other documents, which in turn aided to his ability to be a strong political leader in a growing revolution. Jefferson lived through the entirety of the

The quote, “We often create something new out of something that wasn’t working.” relates to the Declaration of Independence. King George III implemented many taxes and rules on the colonists in America. The colonists did not appreciate these and tried to negotiate. However when this did not work, the founding fathers of our country wrote the Declaration of Independence. The writing of the Declaration of Independence was new for our country, and it came as a result of the conditions that King George III set. They were not working for the colonists of America.