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Declaration Of Independence Ethos Pathos Logos

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The word “American” is often associated with words such as freedom, liberty, and equality. Using our mother document, the Declaration of Independence, the premise “all men are created equal” defined inalienable rights as a principle under which we stood. However, when the fight between slavery and freedom started to become more controversial, Americans referred back to the Declaration for guidance. Finding support for both sides in the writing of our fathers the debate blazed to life for all to see. With a large range of authors and speakers publicizing their arguments, the literature surrounding slavery is one of the most well-known in history. The mid-19th century was considered one of the most contentious pieces of history …show more content…

Like a support beam for a building, ethos, logos, and pathos allow an author to capture the attention of an audience and effectively argue without large amounts of fallacy. As mentioned above Bledsoe uses emotion attached to the words duty and natural right to persuade his audience to support slavery. However, Douglass introduced the claim that America was built upon the premise of freedom. With freedom being a natural right to mankind, the United States society is hypocritical in demanding religious freedom for all but denying basic freedom to black Americans. Both authors targeted their audience’s basic beliefs of government and religion to explain the reasoning behind their arguments. However, the use of credibility and emotion is not the only thing that makes an argument effective, logic plays an important role in convincing an audience that an author’s reasoning is sound and factually correct. Bledsoe's argument of the natural right logically persuades the audience to believe that without rules and regulations of society, then society would be left to crumble under incompetent leadership. His use of metaphors and stories allows the audience to envision the society he speaks about and the effect on their lives and the county’s future. Douglass’s focus is rather on the rules and regulations the American people hold themselves to and their pride in their country. By insulting them and their actions …show more content…

In opposition, Stewart took a different approach. Stewart uses a blend of all rhetorical appeals, devices, and strategies to create the vision of the present. By explaining the horror behind slavery, Stewart can present an argument that focuses on the treatment of slaves, and the current events that affect the nation as a whole. She calls out not only white people but free blacks as well and demands action. Her use of imagery directly evokes a sense of horror and sadness that shocks her audience and forces their attention toward her. Her speech aims to force the audience to use their voice for good by using her own experience to provide credibility. Then Stewart explains how the treatment of slaves compared to the treatment and rights of other Americans contradicts the beliefs of the American people. In conclusion, Stewart’s writings changed the way Americans perceived the slave trade and the slavery argument. The structure of her argument, logical, emotional, and credibility factors make her the most persuasive and effective compared to any other

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This metaphorical language contributes to the author’s argument that slavery is immoral and should be rid of because it emphasizes freedom of speech as an “organ.” This “organ” is necessary for survival since it will allow blacks to speak their mind and others to hear their complaints.

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Slavery has sadly been in America from the start. Many have different opinions about slavery whether it should stay or be abandoned and forgotten. Although one person has written to Thomas Jefferson about one of history’s most important subject. Banneker starts it off by writing his strong views on how wrong slavery is not just listing all the problems, but in a letter that he uses strategies to make his view convincing. Benjamin Banneker uses rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, and various style elements to argue against slavery.

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By appealing to the emotions of the reader, Frederick Douglass can build his argument of how awful slavery was and how the slave owners used Christianity to justify what they did. In the book, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, the author uses his language to bring meaning to what he is writing. He creates an emotional connection to the reader using pathos, and builds his argument using the credibility of others, using ethos. In his book he uses his words to prove his argument to the reader of how the slave owners would use Christianity to justify slavery and violence, and how slavery affected everyone who was

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To begin, he uses emotional appeal to create powerful imagery to persuade the reader that celebrating freedom is wrong when slavery still exists. He announces, “fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant shouts that reach them” (para. 4). By creating a picture in the audience’s mind of other people’s cries of freedom deriding slaves, they begin to feel ashamed for being so cheerful while African Americans have no liberty. The readers have recognized that they are being hypocrites by supporting slavery while boasting about their freedom as a country, which leads them to begin wanting to

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1876 Words | 8 Pages

Douglass also used verbal irony to denounce the contradictory and abusive behavior of his masters, which emotionally appealed to anger and ethically to shame; he achieved the same thing through situational irony which logically appealed to an audience well acclimated to sympathizing with a black man. Douglass’ use of irony appeals on multiple levels as he continues to protest slavery and move towards advanced devices, the latter of which will conclude when he recounts

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2974 Words | 12 Pages

The truth—the unpleasant, horrible truth—must be known because it is so significant. This has been one of the most impactful readings in school because it doesn't hold back. Although learning about slavery is neither joyful or simple, it reveals the truth that slavery still has a bearing on Black Americans' lives and experiences. Despite the need of educating about slavery, it appears that classroom discussions regarding the subject are doomed to failure in some classrooms. There are petitions to remove slavery from textbooks all around America.

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On July 5th 1852 Fredrick Douglass gave a speech to the anti-slavery society to show that all men and woman are equal no matter what. Douglass uses ethos, pathos, and logos in his speech to make look reasonable. Douglass demonstrates ethos by speaking in first person that of which he had experience slavery: "I was born amid such sights and scenes"(Douglass 4). When Douglass spoke these words to the society, they knew of his personal knowledge and was able to depend on him has a reliable source of information. The anti-slavery society listening to his every word, considering that Douglass spoke with integrity, knowledge and emotions.

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This will get the listeners thinking about what sincerely is happening with the issue of slavery and stimulate interest in the abolitionist mindset. Additionally, the author laconically questions, “What to the American Slave is your Fourth

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A man born into slavery, Frederick Douglass, gives a speech which is based upon the ideals of the Founding Fathers. In Douglass’ speech of What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, he talks about what the Fourth of July means for America's black population and gives us many examples in his speech of what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country. He says the Fourth of July, “is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom.” His speech quickly shows how black slaves were treated unequally by the white American society. Douglass spoke on behalf of other slaves for their rights, which challenged American social policies regarding the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights within his speech.

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1110 Words | 5 Pages

One of the strategies Douglass uses to convince his audience slavery should be abolished is by “calling out American hypocrisy in his Fourth of July oration” (Mercieca 1). He shames them with no remorse. He speaks on the opposite treatments that enable whites to live in a state of freedom and liberty, while the blacks are living in a state of bondage. As the audience listens, he reminds them, there are men, women and children still held hostages to the chains of

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498 Words | 2 Pages

Through his story, Douglass proves that slavery has negative effects on slaveholders. He uses imagery, flashbacks, and characterization to persuade the reader of the true nature of slavery. His deep thoughts and insights of slavery and the unbalanced power between a slaveholder and his slave are unprompted for a social establishment. Douglass insists that slaveholding fills the soul with sadness and bitter anguish. In addressing effects of slavery on masters cause one man to rethink his moral character and better understand the laws of humanity.

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2333 Words | 10 Pages

He also uses vivid imagery to create a powerful emotional appeal. For example, Douglass states, 'There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.' This statement evokes strong feelings of shock and sorrow in the audience. To strengthen his argument, Douglass uses logos. Douglass states, “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

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636 Words | 3 Pages

he uses bold words and biting criticism to call attention to the gross injustices and hypocrisy of slavery in the United States. In the opening remarks of his speech, Douglas provides heart-wrenching descriptions to pull his audience into the lives of their fellow

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1636 Words | 7 Pages

Just Versus Unjust Violence: A Rhetorical Analysis of Violence in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe present slavery in vastly distinct ways. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, author Frederick Douglass dives into a grisly world filled with bloodshed and in the middle of it a man willing to do what it takes to be educated and in control of his own person, narrated with the voice of reason. In Uncle Tom’s Cabin, author Harriet Beecher Stowe depicts a variety of characters, their struggle with slavery and religion, their personal relationships, and their deep inner feelings, with no small degree of emotion and sentimentality. Douglass and Stowe’s use of

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1642 Words | 7 Pages

From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped.

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