Benjamin Banneker had ancestors that were slaves, so he felt he needed to show how cruel slavery is. Banneker wrote this letter to convey his message to Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state. Banneker utilizes rhetorical devices and rhetorical appeals to argue against slavery. Banneker presents repetition when saying, "Sir” to show respect toward Jefferson, despite disagreeing with the secretary of state’s views. "You" is repeated to keep the matters personal. By using this word throughout, Jefferson is showed that he needs to act and help put an end to slavery. The letter contains allusions to the Declaration of Independence and to the Bible. First, Banneker alludes to the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident,
Throughout Banneker’s letter he uses repetition and archaic diction. He repeatedly refers to Jefferson as sir. He starts off, “Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind that time which...” and he then again says, “This sir, was a time in which you clearly saw into the injustice...” By repeating sir it makes it very direct. Also by using sir instead of Jefferson, Banneker makes the letter more formal and respectful.
The quote also appeals to Jefferson’s emotions because Banneker makes him feel guilty about slavery. Jefferson
Benjamin Banneker’s letter is filled with a litany of examples to argue against slavery. Banneker was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and the son of former slaves. Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, the framer of the Declaration of Independence and secretary of state. In this letter Banneker uses rhetorical strategies to argue against slavery such as being a hypocrite, using the word “sir” referring to Jefferson, and using examples of the declaration of independence of how it’s wrong with “all men created equal.” Banneker is a flat out hypocrite.
In the letter by Benjamin Banneker,Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson on how slavery is horrible. Banneker wants Jefferson to free his people. Banneker uses rhetorical devices, pathos logos and paradox to persuade Jefferson to get rid of slavery. Banneker uses pathos to get Jefferson to feel how he feels about slavery. Banneker says “brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of…. ”
He is using flattery to potentially get Jefferson on his side. Banneker uses positive diction throughout the first paragraph.
Within Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, he employs pathos in order to persuade Jefferson to use his political platform to end the injustices of slavery. Through this, Banneker is pointing out the hypocrisy of Jefferson’s actions by comparing the situation of slaves to the oppression the colonists faced under tyrannical British rule. He employs pathos with the use of diction and allusions. His poignant and critical diction reflects his caustic attitude of Thomas Jefferson. Banneker alludes to the Declaration of Independence to appeal to Jefferson’s ideas of inalienable rights for all men protected through liberty from British power.
In paragraph 2, he alludes to the Declaration of Independence, which Jefferson helped form. The Declaration states “that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” By alluding to the Declaration Banneker shows how Jefferson, along with others who formed the Constitution, are hypocrites. Jefferson wrote that all men were created equal, and they all had unalienable rights, yet they owned slaves that were not treated equal, and not given any rights. These colonists also fought against oppression, yet they now partake in the oppression of blacks.
In 1791, Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state and Banneker considered the respected Virginian, though a slaveholder, to also be open to viewing African Americans as more than slaves. Thus, he wrote Jefferson a letter hoping that he would “readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us." To further support his point, Banneker included a handwritten manuscript of an almanac for 1792, containing his astronomical calculations. In his letter, Banneker acknowledged he was “of the African race” and a free man. He recognized that he was taking “a liberty” writing to Jefferson, which would be unacceptable considering “the almost general prejudice and prepossession which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion.”
Banneker appeals to ethos to help his arguments. He uses great vocabulary and makes no mistakes in his letter. Furthermore, Banneker says the words, “Tranquility, benevolence, and entreat.” Banneker is using high vocabulary to make Thomas Jefferson acknowledge his argument no full of foul
Banneker Writes to thomas jefferson about the wrongs of slavery. HIs purpose is to argue against slavery. Banneker does this by using an appeal to logic to prove how slavery is illogical, diction to show the cruelty of slavery, and parallelism to show that they are like the white men who wanted their freedom as well. Banneker shows how illogical slavery is to help create an argument against it. He pulls in the Declaration of INdependence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote, it says “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal…” (lines 21-25).
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Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, references to history, and the Bible. As a son of former slaves, Banneker is seeking justice for the black population and uses Jefferson’s own words against him as he speaks on behalf of “Black America.” He shares his opinions with Jefferson, who is higher authority, in a respectful manner while still managing to criticize him. Banneker starts off his letter to Jefferson by calling his “Sir.” He refers to Jefferson this way because he wants to be respectful to this man who exists as a higher authority as a politician.
The intended audience for this document was Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was a prominent figure during this time in American History and Benjamin Banneker felt he was the best person to respectfully address his concerns to. 5. What three things does the author say that you think is important?
The letter was understandably harsh and severe, but Banneker does this in such a humble manner, that his opinion on slavery can not be argued by Jefferson. Jefferson absolutely has to accept what Banneker is saying because of how he portrayed, and wrote his letter. Banneker starts the letter off with referring to Jefferson as ‘Sir’, and does this in every paragraph to solidify and ensure that he is being polite while still getting his point across. This was to make Jefferson believe what Banneker was saying, to show Jefferson that he does have respect towards him and that he is taking this letter seriously so Jefferson should too. Banneker does this to help Jefferson believe that Banneker knows what he is talking about, that he is credible, so he can fix his moral dilemma, and help him make the choice toward ending
By doing so, Banneker aligns with Jefferson’s own struggles to be free. Banneker also alludes to the Declaration of Independence. “…That all men are created equal…among