Paine And Jefferson Declaration Of Independence Analysis

Who is the audience for each writer? Why does Jefferson not discuss slavery in the Declaration? How does Paine use the word “slave”? What do Paine and Jefferson say about the monarchy in their respective documents? Why does Jefferson focus more on the king than on parliament?

Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of Independence seems to be mainly directed towards both the British crown, as well as members of American government. The colonists themselves may be the audience but this is secondary to the governing bodies in Great Britain and the colonies. However, it does not discuss the issue of slavery. In fact, the word slave is absent from the Declaration. (Nor does Jefferson’s document describe the role of women in American society …show more content…
In this document, Paine illustrates how the colonies have not received protection or support from the British government. The colonies have grown too big in geographical isolation from British rule to maintain that rule as adequate. Thus the colonies would have more to gain on their own, forming their own alliances with other nations (supported by the British, or not) and through forming their own military and through trade with other nations, unobstructed by British rule. It would therefore be for the better if the colonies to sue for independence than remain subordinate to British …show more content…
Whereas Jefferson is more focused on the king, Paine is more focused on British Parliament. Whereas Jefferson concentrates on the problems of the colonies, when made dependent on monarchic authority, highlighting the abuses or negligence of the king in their governance of the colonies, Paine adopts a similar but different approach towards Parliament. In the latter, Paine seems to focus on Parliament (as well as the British monarchy from time to time), as a way of highlighting some of the constitutional deficiencies of the British government. The most important of which is the fact that in the British Parliament, the American colonists have no real representation. The relationship of the colonies to the British government is only very indirect, and one in which the former is ultimately subordinated to the will of the latter. Therefore the issues, the needs and interests of the colonists are given little to no consideration by a government which Paine sees as not even representing their constituents in the colonies; if constituents is even what they are considered in the British Parliament. Whereas Paine highlights the inadequacies of colonial representation, through Parliament, Jefferson highlights the bogus premise of subordinating civil and political life in the colonies, to the rule of a singular, unelected, self-interested