Rhetorical Devices In The Declaration Of Independence

Rhetorical Analysis of The Declaration of Independence American Founding Father and former President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, was the main author of the Declaration of Independence, a document in which all of the wrongdoings of the British king towards the colonies are listed. Jefferson’s purpose was to list these wrongdoings in order to give a purpose for the colonies to declare independence from the British government. He used a defiant tone in order to establish the secession between the Unites States and Great Britain. An analysis of The Declaration of Independence reveals that many rhetorical strategies were used, in particular the use of anaphora and appeals to pathos. Jefferson uses anaphora throughout the text to emphasize his thoughts for this separation. In this document, he begins the list of grievances the king has committed …show more content…
He does so by stating, “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” In this sentence, Jefferson claims that the king was not suited to rule the colonies due to his tyranny. This appeals to pathos by causing people to feel angry towards their former ruler for not governing them properly. The author also writes “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny…” This describes how the king is at that very moment shipping armies to destroy more lives of people. This appeals to the emotions of the people by forcing them to think of all the wrong the king has caused them and still he ceases to stop. Lastly, another appeal to pathos is when Jefferson states “He has…endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages…” Implying that the king is attempting to persuade the Indians to go to battle with the