Benjamin Banneker's Rhetorical Analysis

As Banneker addresses Thomas Jefferson, he compels him to realize the effect slavery had on slaves. He is concerned slaves are promised “inalienable rights” that are being stripped away from them. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and stated these rights diligently.

Adams gave speeches to Americans influencing them to separate from Britain. He spoke of the wrongdoings of Britain one being the trial of Captain Preston. They felt they were wrong “for protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit”. Samuel Adams’ speeches allowed the Americans to become certain on their feelings towards Britain. Not only did the trial of Captain Preston affect the relationship between the Americans and British, but also the Coercive Acts.

The first similarity between “The American Crisis” and “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, is the use of extended metaphors. Thomas Paine states in his essay, “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she had a right (not only to) TAX but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth.” Here, Paine is comparing how Britain treated the colonies to that of a slave and slave owner. Britain has used its power to take full control of the colonies, placing them under laws and rules they have not agreed to.

With his inclusion of himself as an irreplaceable character, his analysis of the hypocrisy of Christian slavers, and his analysis of the economic benefits of well-treated slaves, Equiano crafts his autobiography as a work of rhetoric that rivals any proponent of the slave trade.

Patrick Henry's most powerful speech “The speech to the Virginia Convention”, is one of the most revolutionizing speeches in America. This speech is saying that people should not let Great Britain taunt us and we should rise in rebellion. Patrick Henry continues to say he would die for his country. Patrick Henry’s use of logos greatly defines his passion to make America Independent as it once was.

Moving Toward Independence “The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART” (Thomas Paine, 1776). This quote from Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, “Common Sense,” urged Americans to claim their independence from the mother country. Prior to that, Samuel Adams emerged as the leader for angry American colonists whose loyalty to England had dwindled. In addition to these revolutionists, a very effective boycott of British goods was organized by members of the Virginia assembly acting independently after the assembly had dissolved. Thomas Paine’s writings, Samuel Adams’ leadership, and boycotting British goods greatly altered Americans’ perception of Britain and brought about the Revolutionary War.

Lawyer and politician, Patrick Henry in his speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” (March 23, 1775), explains that he give this plea to urge the old dominion to form militias to defend itself against British. He supports his claim by first using a religious reference to express the themes of freedom, equality, and independence. Then uses a selection of other strategies like rhetorical question and allusion to disprove the opposing arguments and clarify the point he is making. Patrick Henry purpose is to fight back and he wants other to fight with him in order for independence. He creates a powerful and commanding tone for the second Virginia convention.

In the beginning of the speech, Douglas questions how “your national independence” is “extended to us?” considering even “the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice” expel the black slaves. He sets forth this statement in order to call for the audience’s awareness of the prohibition of the many African American from the very freedom and justice that the citizens are celebrating for. By using the pronoun “you” referring to the free citizens and “we” to the black slaves, Douglas aggregates his sarcasm to the to the contradiction and even alienation between the unfortunate black slaves and the delighted American citizens. Later in his speech, Douglas furthers his attack to the ironic circumstances between white and black by bringing up their common nature as mankind and that men should be treated equally in paragraph 7, 8 and 9 (e.g., Douglas mentions that “Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty?

Foley argues that if rhetoric is persuasive, it also contains elements of violence in her scholarly paper “Of Violence And Rhetoric: An Ethical Aporia.” She believes that rhetoric plays a crucial role in persuasion. For example, she explains that persuasion is like an involuntary force that can compel people against their desires, which acts same as violence in the field of ethical action. In King’s speech, he tried to give his audiences a sense that all African American who are oppressed are victims of American imperial society. “ One hundred years later; the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land,” King tells his audiences that African Americans are not treated equally in the land they are currently living.

The Declaration of Independence (1776) was written to state the grievances of the American colonists and to declare their movement for independence from Great Britain. By doing so , Jefferson informs the public of their intentions, in hope to find some support for their independence by striking a chord in issues that other nations may also have. In his historical essay, The Declaration of Independence, in order to demonstrate Thomas Jefferson uses negative connotations, syllogisms, and anaphora in order to demonstrate the discontent of the American colonists with British sovereignty, and the events that led to their desire for a new government run by the people for the people in order to justify colonial independence. Thomas Jefferson’s implements negative connotations in order to appeal to the logic present throughout human history, that people are born free and have the right to do what makes them happy. In the second paragraph of the document, Jefferson argues, “To prove this, let facts be submitted...”

Relations between the British and colonial Americans during the French and Indian War were hostile to say the least, and in this essay I will be arguing how economic, ideological, and political struggles defined the hostility between the two nations. It’s widely known that the Intolerable Acts, and a number of other factors led to hostile relations between the British and Americans, however there were definitely other factors including discrimination, taxation, and of course, wars. In this case, the French and Indian war will be solely discussed. In a 1763 British Council Order, an economic trial was discussed. In the document, it is cited that the regulation of American trade with the British was “of immediate necessity”.

Abraham Lincoln’s approach to ending slavery involved the use of coercion and his political platform. Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was a mere political tactic to preserve the Union by coercing the cooperation of confederate states. To end slavery, Lincoln believed that there must be an intersection in meeting the needs of the rich and black slaves (Zinn 170). Ultimately, his intentions were to use ending slavery as a chess pawn in the hopes of seeking compliance from the southern

The founding fathers felt enslaved by the crown of England and took the necessary measures to end their oppression, and that fight was a roadmap for the fight against slavery. This argument that, in certain circumstances, resisting injustice is more important than obeying the law, is expressed in the text “Colonial Latin America” by S. K. Bryant. He discusses the various forms of resistance pursued

Arising from the smoke of the French Revolution was a wave of Jacobin ideologies arriving on the shores of the American continent. During this diffusion of ideas, there were two primary political parties trying to gain power in America: the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. With the Democratic-Republicans adopting French Jacobin ideologies and Federalists leaning towards anti-Jacobin views, tension between the two parties erupted into a bitter political conflict resulting in each side doing what they had to in order to gain power. Subsequently, Federalist politicians used anti-French Revolution propaganda in order to shape American political views and ultimately gain power in government. Adopting the name “Jacobins”(416)1, Democratic-Republicans

American Revolutions: Chapter 3 Distillation In Chapter 3 of American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750 – 1804, entitled “Slaves”, Alan Taylor describes an America dependent upon British rule while struggling with its own identity and concepts of freedom. The Colonists, angered by burdensome British taxation, initially bristle at the thought of independence from the Crown; it is only after continued subjugation to their oppressive Tax Acts that they grow despondent and rebellious and envision the possibility of self-governance. Britain mocks the irony of the Sons of Liberty decrying their enslavement while enslaving others, further highlighting the incongruity of their plight. The divide deepens between rulers and ruled.