In 1775 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The purpose of the Declaration was to declare and explain why the thirteen colonies were breaking away from Great Britain's control. In this essay I will explain how Jefferson uses rhetorical strategies to make his document persuasive.
Jefferson starts off the Declaration of Independence by explaining why he is writing this manifesto. He starts to tell what is wanted by the colonies. He talks about the rights and powers they are deserved and should have. Jefferson says, " , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (591). He then goes into tell how it's also the right of the colonies to break away form Great Britain if Great Britain is not treating the colonies well. Jefferson says, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness" (592). Jefferson tries to appeal to the reader by telling what the thirteen colonies should have. He talks as if it is their Gods given right to be free. .
The middle of the Declaration of Independence is where I think he makes his biggest point. Jefferson tells about all the things that Great Britain does wrong. He uses a very repetitive style to kind of bang it into your head. Every fact he states he starts off the sentence with "He has" or "For". When writing the Declaration of Independence.
Jefferson uses a third of this document just to list all the hardships the colonies go through. It seems he really wanted to get the point through that the colonies are not being treated correctly. He tells about such things as, "For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world", "For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent", and "He has refused his Assent to Laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" (593).