Thomas Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

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On July 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson proposed a document to congress that would forever change the world. Around one year before the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the British and the 13 colonies had began battling, with the 13 colonies fighting for independance. Jefferson’s declaration provides a description of a set of unalienable rights, that must never be broken. He then shows how Britain has broken these rights and treated the colonies poorly. He addresses the right of citizens to abolish and overthrow a corrupt government. The declaration is ended with hope and a strong view of the future for America. In order to gain independence from the British, Thomas Jefferson appeals to his audience by proving credibility and using …show more content…
Jefferson first shows this theme in the second paragraph of the essay by saying that “all men are created equal”. By opening his declaration this way, it allows for Jefferson's later arguments to be more powerful. By planting the seed in the reader's head that everyone is and has been created equal, Jefferson is able to show how Britain has not been treating the people of the 13 colonies equally. Jefferson goes on to later show this inequality in various other places of the declaration. These arguments that provide examples of Britain treating colonists unfairly, allow a comparison between how people in Britain are treated, to how the people of the 13 colonies are treated. The theme of equality is also exceptionally important to the piece as it is not only a declaration of peace, but of a new and greater nation. By Jefferson showing that he believes that everyone is equal and should be treated equally, it shows what this new nation will be like. If the reader believes that Jefferson has intentions for a new fair nation, they are likely to agree and assist in this new idea. Although Jefferson makes the theme of equality subtle, it proves to be effective and create a strong argument. Jefferson uses multiple rhetorical strategies to convince congress, and the people of America why they must free themselves from the British government. Each of Jefferson's strategies work together to create a stronger argument. Jefferson uses a common theme of equality to further prove his logical arguments, while gaining credibility in order to have his writing be trustworthy. Jefferson's declaration was so successful, it sparked the birth of the great nation, The United States of America. Without Jefferson's rhetorical strategies, the world may be a different
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