The Declaration Of Independence Rhetorical Analysis

The American Revolution produced drastic changes within the culture and norms of the American people to shape what is now known as the modern United States. The Rationalists were a group of writers, speakers, and philosophers of the mid to late 18th century and had a huge impact on this era because suading the American people to stand up to the overpowering rule of the British. Rationalists such as Patrick Henry the speaker of the “Speech to Virginia Convention”, Thomas Paine the author of “The Crisis No.1”, and Thomas Jefferson author of “The Declaration of Independence,” were Rationalists who had a large influence in the division of the United States from Great Britain. They achieved this through the use of language that evoked emotion, …show more content…
Rationalist Thomas Jefferson quotes “We might have been free and a great people together; but a communication of grandeur and of freedom, it seems, is below their dignity.. The road to happiness and to glory is open to us too” ( Jefferson 117 paragraph 22). Thomas Jefferson uses ethos as he addresses both sides of the situation by explaining that in the past they had freedom and now they are at limitations for happiness. He uses his character to provide suggestions towards the common people by explaining how it is their right to be happy, however these hopes and aspiration are diminished because of the British King. “He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither” (Jefferson 117). This quote is an example of pathos as it is displaying the King as a horrible man, and uses strong words within this quote such as “miserable” and “cruel” to present the harsh ways he treats his people and in order to continue to stay powerful. The language within this quote is strong and speaks of the pain people go through under his command. Lastly logos is shown in the quote, “To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world for the truth of which we pledge a faith yet unsullied by falsehood” (Jefferson 117). Jefferson uses logos to compare the injuries of the past that will not play a role in the present. Inspiring the minds of Americans and instilling a new hope was a very powerful use of logos as facts from the past backed up hope for the future.