Thomas Jeffersons Essay Declaration Of Independence

Name: Xuanchen Zhang
Course: CMP-115-K1
Instructor: Mary Amato
Date: December 2, 2017
Thomas Jefferson’s essay, “Declaration of Independence” demonstrates the call for independence from the Britain’s leader. Thomas Jefferson convinces the American people that all people are equal in any aspects and that it is time to separate from the British effectively through the use of appealing to the natural law, and applying methods of ethos and pathos. Because of those three methods, he established a very strong appeal that convinced the American’s that the declaration is for people of all the gender, race, sexuality and etc. The use of pathos, ethos and logos also justified how the declaration is document that applies to the different aspects of life of the Americans. The declaration served as proof that the United States is already free from being a British Colony.
Thomas Jefferson’s essay appeals to pathos and this statement proves that. “Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Governors”, he explains the anguish of the all Americans, and the torment that all thirteen colonies have experience under the tyranny of Britain. Another aspect of pathos seen was in the last sentence it says “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” It is obvious that Jefferson uses pathos to appeal to the emotions. He mentions anguish and torment which will attack the emotional capacity of the reader. When an American reads that passage, that person will surely agree that the declaration is very much needed for the country to be free from all its torments that affects its people. As it can be observe today, the statements in the Declaration of Freedom really had a big effect on the way Americans think. All these elements illustrate the totality of passion, heart, and devotion in writing this declaration. It is also very obvious that he aims to open the mind of all American as he is writing the declaration. Lastly, the line “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” which brings about the audience’s emotions and, they are connected to their belief that all men are equally entitled to living freely. This last line is in pathos approach because it hits the feeling of being equal, free and happy. All those are emotions that are felt by people and Jefferson made a good approach on that because people can relate.
The another rhetorical device used by Thomas Jefferson is Ethos. Jefferson announce his credibility very skillfully, as initially seen in the first line of the Declaration when he shows to the world that his piece was written for those who have the right to judge the right or wrong of the invaded colonies to break their ties with Britain as seen in this line “A decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel ...