Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

Words: 682
Pages: 3
Open Document
The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and started the American Revolution that created our great country the United States of America. It was written by one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. Due to the significance of this document to our country it is still being studies today. These is an ongoing debate surrounding the Declaration of Independence whether it is a hypocritical document or not. Furthermore, the same debate can be debated about the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. So what exactly is hypocritical about the Declaration and its’ author Thomas Jefferson? Those who believe in its’ hypocrisy point to the phrase “All men are created equal” as the source for their belief. That means that ALL men and not some are created equal but during the time period of the signing of the Declaration many men owned slaves. The hypocrisy is that the Declaration …show more content…
The problem with the above proofs to its contradictory nature is that we are looking at it from our modern day view while in reality we have to look at it from the time period in which Jefferson lived. Back then there was nothing contradictory about saying “All men are created equal” while allowing for slavery. Since slaves were considered property then and not people they had no reason not to believe they were making all men equal while owning slaves because those slaves weren’t considered men. Now it looks hypocritical but back then it was the just normal standard. Imagine what could be in 200 years from now if it became illegal to eat animals. People would look back at us and call us hypocrites because as we’re passing laws to help create more humane treatments of animals we are also eating meat. It sounds ridiculous to us as that’s our standard but to the future we’ll just be a bunch of evil
Show More

Related Documents: Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence

Adopted on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence established separation from Britain, guaranteeing independence for the 13 colonies of the Unites States of America. Written by Thomas Jefferson, an influential politician and patriot, the document stands as the foundation for American ideals, morality, and religious beliefs. Infused with literary devices and key rhetorical appeals, this literary masterpiece addressed to the people of America and the tyrannical King George of England, produces…

Words 507 - Pages 3

Rhetorical Analysis Of Declaration Of Independence

Declaration of Independence At some point a country will feel neglected when its mother country is so far away. It feels like it has no true representation and will feel the need to finally be independent and rule themselves. In a letter by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, on behalf of the 13 colonies, the authors use rhetorical appeals to declare to King George III about his neglect towards the 13 colonies. In the letter, the authors begin by using the ethos appeal toward the audience, which is…

Words 434 - Pages 2

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, written and signed by the Founding Fathers, is a powerful document which exhibits the rights that all citizens should acquire. These founding fathers spoke for the people and exemplified the inequitable rights and laws the king had placed on the community. The use of rhetoric in the Declaration of Independence, distinguishes the tone of this document as formal and demanding. Primarily, the authors of the document demand that the king give “Decent respect to the opinions…

Words 196 - Pages 1

The Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, was written for those who judge the right and wrongness of the decision the colonies made to dissolve ties with Great Britain. In this passage, Jefferson uses rhetoric devices, such as biblical allusions and hyperbole, to create the foundation of America. Jefferson uses biblical allusions in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Adding the word “Creator” was important to Jefferson because the American…

Words 246 - Pages 1

Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), Thomas Jefferson professes that when the government becomes destructive, it is the obligation of the citizens to change or abolish it, and to put in to place a new government to benefit the well-being of all citizens. Jefferson justifies his claim using logos: effectively stating the numerous injustices that the monarchy of Great Britain has committed against the people of America. The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to declare America’s…

Words 157 - Pages 1

A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was written to express the feelings of the states who were not free. The document talked about how the colonies would be in control of their own government and do what fits to keep everyone happy. This document provided reasonable intentions on why everyone should be free because it talked about how people were not born into slavery so why should they have to be under the rule of someone else. The authors of the Declaration of Independence are arguing that everyone…

Words 247 - Pages 1

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Declaration Of Independence

men are created equal” (Jefferson). In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote these words in “The Declaration of Independence.” He wrote this in response to the violations of human rights by the British king. The importance of this document is that it was one of the first documents to state that all people equal and that people are born with equal rights. Its importance also stems from the fact that it declared independence from the most powerful nation in the world. Nearly 70 years later in 1848, a suffragist…

Words 1573 - Pages 7

Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

(Anderson83). Unlike many others, he is certain that slaves do possess a life. He gathers that with that life, they are able to commit astonishing feats that are just as great as any other man’s. His belief is similar to the writers of the Declaration of Independence“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”(Jefferson 2) They as well…

Words 279 - Pages 2

Rhetorical Analysis of the Declaration of Independence Essay examples

Quang Thai Professor Allison English 101 2 September 2014 Rhetorical Analysis 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…

Words 1190 - Pages 5

Thomas Jefferson's Rhetorical Analysis: The Declaration Of Independence

Mansi Shah Janet Sutton English 102 17th February, 2016 Rhetorical Analysis – The Declaration of Independence By writing “The Declaration of Independence”, on 4th July 1776, Thomas Jefferson successfully called for a right to freedom of the 13 American colonies from the vigorous and dictatorial rule of the Great Britain by usage of logos, ethos and pathos along with a strong persuasive appeal to make his points clear in the declaration. The audience had been targeted extraordinarily by Jefferson…

Words 1051 - Pages 5