John Adams Rhetorical Analysis

Prior to becoming President of the United States and a delegate for Massachusetts, John Adams was an American lawyer. During his presidency, he claimed, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence” (Adams). After British soldiers led by Captain Thomas Preston, are accused of murdering five American colonists, they turn to John Adams for defense. During the Revolution, most Americans opposed support of the British; Adams was the only lawyer who would take their case. Adams felt a duty to abide by the facts of the law because they proved the soldiers innocent. Adams hoped to prove to the jury that the Americans had taunted and thrown …show more content…
Adams appeals to ethos to demonstrate that his rational position in the case. He establishes ethos by beginning his speech with, “I am for the prisoners at the bar.” (Adams 1) He personalizes his defense by stating “I,” arguing that he put aside his prejudices to defend the British soldiers, as should the jury. He metonymizes the word “bar,” which is the court. This emphasizes that during the trial the adverse soldiers must be viewed as equal to everyone else “at the bar.” Furthermore, Adams states, “In the words of Marquis of Beccaria, ‘if by supporting the rights of mankind, I shall save from the agonies of death one unfortunate victim of tyranny, or of ignorance equally fatal, his blessings will be sufficient consolation to be for the contempt of all mankind.“(1-4). As an American Adam’s too disfavors the British; however, he argues it is the moral decision to honor them as evidence validates their innocence. Furthermore, he believes saving at least one of these men through his righteous actions, it will be sufficient for all of mankind. Adam’s affirms the logic behind the innocence of the soldiers by referring to Marquis of Beccaria. Beccaria is widely thought to be the most talented jurist. Adams quotation of such an honorable man shows the jury the lucid defense of the British, as it is the side Beccaria would take. Throughout the opening of his speech, Adams aims to establish credibility to the jury to allow his argumentation to be