The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson
1. How many examples of wrongdoings done by the Crown to the colonies are offered here? What is
the effect of the list?
"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public goodHe has
excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our
frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction
of all ages, sexes and conditions."
- This serves as evidence as to why the United States should break free from Britain and also
emphasizes the helplessness of the colonists in their current plight if they don't separate from Britain.
2. Refer to the section that begins with, He has refused his Assent to Laws . . .
How does Jeffersons use of parallel construction help support his argument?
"For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from
punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:"
- This parallel construction shows people the similar nature of the grievances the colonists have against
the king, which in turn makes the king look incompetent for not being able to fix a problem and
instead making it worse.
3. Identify three rhetorical strategies employed by Jefferson and explain how they affect the document.
"To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." - Periodic Sentence
"Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury." - Parallelism
Repeated mentions of tyranny and a totalitarian state - Victimizing diction
The periodic sentence lends itself to creating a better flow for the narration of the sequence of events
which led up to the Declaration. Parallelism has a similar effect, but also has the added result of adding
an intensity of emotion to the text. The victimizing diction provokes sympathy from the audience.
4. Identify the tone of the final paragraph and explain how the use of diction conveys his attitude?
"and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract
Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of
right do."
The diction here utilizes words that are associated with power and authority over and over again,
creating a sense of hope and inevitable success for the fledgling nation for the audience.
5. Think about America today. From your personal experience and observations, discuss how it meets
the promise of the opening of the Declarations second paragraph and how it does not.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness."
Overall, Americans today enjoy the rights in this sentence. All people are allowed a chance at life,
although this might be incorrect to some people because of abortions. Americans also enjoy a great
amount of freedom in their lives - perhaps the most in any contemporary country. Everyone is allowed
a fighting chance at success - however, the functional word in the phrase is a "fighting" chance. As for
the amount of fighting one must do in order to attain his happiness, it is varied from person to person.
Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths and others in a cardboard box, starving and
cold. And the government isn't always the most effective at helping the poor child get to the point in
life when his children will be born rich. Many politicians are easily swayed by well-to-do lobbyists.
loopholes in the law are constantly exploited, and somehow the upper crust always gets away with it.
Still, there are many people who would rather lead a low-class life in America than a high-class life in
their home countries, which goes to show that despite its flaws, America's appeal as a a place where
dreams come true has never vanished.