Ida B. Wells's Muckraking In The United States

In the Progressive Era, there were many problems that the American people faced. America was broken, unjust, and cruel during that era. The people became acocomuomed to the corruption, horrible living conditions,and terrible working and safety conditions. The vast number of problems; however, were solved by what we call-- muckrakers, who then with the help of others came to bring about a new laws.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the greatest revolutionary thinkers that ever existed, believed in the power of rebellion. He reasoned that conflict between government and the people occurred naturally. Jefferson “ hold[s] it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing” because he believes it to be “as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” This deep quote relates to the theme of conflict since conflicts between governments and their people lead to rebellions. Furthermore, this quote indicates that conflict plays an important role in society even at the national level. While many people do not consider the positive side of conflict, a wise Jefferson realized its power to prevent oppressive rulers from rising.

Benjamin Banneker in the letter, argues against slavery. Banneker uses biblical allusion, and a melancholic tone in order to argue against slavery to Thomas Jefferson in 1791.

Quote 1: “The public defender, trying to get him off, called him a dumb animal,” I told her. “He said it would be like tying a hog down in that chair and executing him-an animal that didn’t know what any of it was all about. The jury, twelve white men good and true still sentenced him to death.” (26)

Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson explains that he has committed this crime. He has gone back on his morale of everyone having unalienable rights by letting slavery continue to happen, and Banneker believes he is the prime contender in allowing this crime to happen and that he should be the start and make the move to stop slavery. Banneker explains this to Jefferson in such a way that the letter is both respectful and thoughtful while also being rude due to the use of how he phrases his sentences, that his argument can not be questioned because of his use of ‘Sir’ to show his respect, and his ardent choice of words which are all collectively used to explain how Jefferson is being hypocritical and show him why he should fix this.

In the time between the 1890s and 1920s, America experienced a massive amount of growth. People in poverty-stricken, overcrowded cities suffered greatly. In big cities, politicians kept power using several political machines. Companies created monopolies and controlled the nation’s economy. Many Americans were concerned about this, and believed that great change was needed in society to protect everyday people. As a result, these people, generally journalists, were called “reformers”. This reformative era was known as the Progressive Movement. However, through all the changes that were shaping America, one major group that was left untouched were the African Americans. African Americans suffered through many issues involving continual racism and segregation. To fight back against the racial immorality and crimes of lynching, lack of decent healthcare health care, education and housing and deprival of the political process, African-American women reformist, Ida B Wells proceeded to fight for equal rights for African Americans in the United States. Wells had an overarching effect on the progressive era as a whole by writing articles bringing lynching to light, protecting the rights of

The art of persuasion, rhetoric, has allowed speakers and writers to influence others with their words, and Benjamin Banneker uses various compositional techniques in an attempt to liberate his people. He challenges Thomas Jefferson’s pro slavery views by criticizing his racist, and hypocritical, views of blatant human persecution. The vile institution of slavery was an issue that Americans during Banneker’s time blindly accepted. By using allusions to American history, Banneker attempted to prove that Jefferson was a hypocrite of his own American beliefs. Banneker makes a plethora of references to Jefferson’s hypocrisy, such as the line “you cannot acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that it is the peculiar blessing of Heaven”.

In Ida B. Wells’ works Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases and A Red Record, Ida B. Wells argues against the lynching of African Americans of the time. Wells’ uses many strategies and techniques to make her arguments as convincing as possible throughout her works. She also uses clear language and well-structured sentences to make it clear what she is arguing. Ida B. Wells makes sure to use statistics and offers rebuttals to the opposing side’s point of view to strengthen her argument. Wells presents these arguments by isolating and clearly stating the problem, giving descriptive and specific examples, using statistics, and offering rebuttals.

Thomas Jefferson is commonly known to be a contradiction. Whether it is on the idea of slavery or on the idea of Indians, Jefferson seems not to just pick one view. This contradiction may be due to the different identities of Southerners, Virginians, and Americans. Southern identities can be part of where Jefferson describes the nature. The same goes for Virginia. American identity is definitely seen throughout his book Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson primarily focused on a unity of these multiple identities based upon race, nature, and properly organized society.

Writing is one of the most basic means of human expression. In writing, people often try to persuade others by making arguments filled with rhetorical strategies. This is the case with Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, regarding the issue of slavery. Benjamin Banneker was a son of former slaves, who was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. In his letter, Benjamin Banneker is basically trying to convince Thomas Jefferson that slavery is bad and that he should try and end it. He employs three main rhetorical strategies to make his argument persuasive. Banneker makes Jefferson recall a personal experience, uses allusions, and keeps his tone very respectful throughout the letter, in order to make him understand and want to end slavery.

Thurgood Marshall is mainly known for his work in Brown vs Board of Education and as the first African American Supreme Court Justice. Brown vs Broad of Education took place in 1953, and is a landmark trial in American history. Thurgood Marshall was the NAACP executive director of the Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Thurgood Marshall is part of the civil rights movement and the Brown vs Board of Education case is critical to establishing the philosophy that separate is not equal. The impact of Thurgood Marshall’s argument in Brown vs Board of Education has a continuous impact on American society and philosophy, and is still impacting the social and political movements today.

The negative diction and details clearly show that Banneker is dismayed concerning the issue of slavery, while the positive diction show that Banneker is tenacious concerning the need to end slavery. Banneker uses negative diction to let Jefferson know why slavery needed to end; Banneker uses such words as suffer, injustice, and slavery. Banneker uses the words to remind Jefferson about the treatment of slaves was injustice and how the United States once used to be in the same predicament. Banneker also appeals to Jefferson’s Christianity by using these words to show that all people did not have freedom. Banneker uses negative details by using quotes from the Declaration of Independence and the Bible to use against Jefferson. Banneker uses

Within Benjamin Banneker’s letter, he implements pathos in order to illustrate the unjust and hypocritical actions of Thomas Jefferson, in order to exhibit that Jefferson, of all people, should be understanding and ashamed of the fear and injustice which he is imposing. Banneker inflicts these emotions through allusions and flashbacks. The United States was once under the British control, leaving the United States feeling helpless, fearful, and impotent. During this time period, Thomas Jefferson, took part in writing the Declaration of Independence, a document which states the equality of men and the justification of freedom. Banneker alludes to the Declaration in the seventh paragraph to exhibit the hypocrisy which Jefferson demonstrates. “We hold these truths

Benjamin Banneker employs techniques of imagery and irony, as well as tools of diction to enhance his idea of slavery needing to be stopped by pointing out Thomas Jefferson’s hypocrisy without attacking.

Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis both reflected their views about US-Indian relations and Indian society. Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Marquis de Chastellux in 1785 describing about the relations between Indians of North America and whites. A journal entry written by Meriwether Lewis in 1805 portrays the true picture of diplomatic relations between the Indians of North America and the United States. The letter written by Thomas Jefferson gives the impression that Jefferson described the US-Indian relations based on intuitions and rational thinking. The journal entry composed by Lewis is based on ground realities and facts. It can be argued that both Jefferson and Lewis were advocates of strong and healthy relationships between Indians tribes and United States. But at the same time there was a huge difference between their thinking and decision making approach.