The Declaration of Independence is an amazing document that
that is driven by a flawless argument. Jefferson’s argument begins with an
introduction that sets the general trend of nations throughout the world. When
there is a problem of oppression or malignant rule, they have to trample it
underfoot and move on with new leaders and sometimes a new form of government.
Jefferson’s second paragraph evokes sympathy and an emotional reason for his
cause. He represents the feelings of the people and provides evidence of their
emotional struggle. His train of thought is designed specifically to bring out
the emotions of the reader. And if he successfully accomplishes this goal,
which I think he did, he will have more bearing in passion throughout his
argument. In other words, people will listen. His third paragraph lists the
grievances of the people against the crown of England. They are very thorough
and direct as he does not waste time and space to prove his point. This aspect
of his argument provides logos. The logos is used to provide logical reasoning
for his argument in that the facts and grievances provided are direct logical
evidence for a reaction and change. Jefferson wants people to take action and
he accomplishes this through his logical statements. Logos leads us into the penultimate paragraph
where Jefferson provides ethos, or moral reasoning, for independence. In this
he justifies his reaction to the grievances and states, therefore, that they
should take action about it. This is very pivotal because if Jefferson failed
to make a logical and emotional connection with the leader beforehand, his
moral objectives would add up to those of the reader. And the reader wouldn’t
agree with Jefferson’s call to action. The final paragraph is Jefferson’s
thesis. He states his call to action and recaps the reasons therein.
I really
like the way Jefferson wrote this declaration. His use of the populous opinion
and his authority is quite stunning. He is very bold in listing the grievances
of the king. The document is a treasure of the United States in that it not
only is a reflection of one class and one opinion. It is truly a wholesome account
of what life was like under the English crown in the American colonies. This
document represents the citizen of any class or denomination, regardless of
religious preference or political stance. This is one of the first declarations
in history that actually spoke of the whole and not just of the individual
writing it. The Declaration of Independence is very significant in the birth of
an eighteenth century new world.
I don’t necessarily agree that Jefferson’s argument was flawless, but it was definitely well written and very well organized. The only flaw I can think of though is that he didn’t include the opinions of the British, it was just a one-sided argument written out of anger and spite towards the British. Although I do believe everything he said was true and I agree with his argument, I wouldn’t necessarily say it was flawless. Jefferson’s first paragraph outlines all the unalienable rights that all of mankind deserve, not just the “general trends of nations”, its what everyone deserves. I think that Jefferson uses more ethos than he does pathos. I don’t think his first intention was to appeal to people’s emotions; it was to state the facts of how the colonists were being mistreated in order to get popular support. I do agree that he uses an emotional appeal in some form because maybe the colonists who didn’t realize how unfairly they were being treated would read this document and rally up major support for this cause. I agree with your point that the logos is used to provide logic to his argument, to provide hard evidence for his claim of separation and independence. I feel that the repetition Jefferson used in listing the grievances towards the English King accredited towards his use of ethos. He was discrediting the actions of the English and giving himself ethos by establishing authority and credibility through his writing. I agree and I like the way that Thomas Jefferson wrote his declaration. Jefferson was very bold to go against the King and list all of the grievances towards him, this is what rallied up all his support, when people realized they could relate to all the things that the King was doing wrong, making them want to become independent and rule themselves, not by a King who was only concerned with himself and his homeland of the British. I especially like the point that you made about it spoke of all of the colonies, it was a popular opinion, rather than one’s own selfish declaration for themselves. It was to better both nations. Everyone that read this declaration agreed with him wholeheartedly because it was by something that the majority could benefit from.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that Jefferson designed the second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence to evoke sympathy. I think it presents a logical reason for his cause, not an emotional one at all. For one, he basically describes John Locke's contract theory of government in that people have certain "unalienable rights." Stemming from this he explains how Britain's "long train of abuses" have not only trampled over these rights reserved for the people but also have been in direct conflict to the interests of the people. The second paragraph explains that because the British do all of these bad things, they forfeit the right to govern the people in the colonies. This logical argument is then fleshed out further in the listing of grievances where Jefferson cites what Britain actually did. So, in my opinion, the second paragraph presents a claim and supports it with evidence, and is not an appeal to emotion.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to consider any part of the Declaration as pathos, really, because I see it as less of a "call to action" and instead more of a pronouncement. Also, Jefferson doesn't need to use pathos because he doesn't need to evoke emotion. His main purpose is to present the colonies as a self-reliant, capable, and independent entity that are deserving of fairness from the British. Remember, at the time the British did not take the colonies very seriously, even during the beginning of the war the British thought they were only fighting small pockets of rebellion rather than a full on war. The Declaration was much more about presenting a logical argument that showed the colonies as a legitimate nation, thus establishing ethos, rather than appealing to emotions. Jefferson's exaggeration of some of the grievances in the Declaration might be considered pathos, but I think it's more likely just to give strength to his argument. A more accurate example of Pathos during the revolution would probably be propaganda posters against the stamp act or revolutionary newspaper articles. Jefferson, however, didn't really need to evoke emotion and cause a "call to action" with the Declaration. By that time, the stirring of war had already long begun. (Congress accepted and published the Declaration on July 4th, 1776 while the Revolutionary War began in 1775).