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Ethos In The Declaration Of Independence

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On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed a committee of five to justify why the American colonies had come the conclusion to separate from the British Empire. This ultimately resulted in the Second Continental Congress adopting what would become one of the world’s most influential documents to date, the Declaration of Independence. Once the decision to secede from Britain had been made, the delegates were in need of someone to write it. Fortunately John Adams had a individual in mind, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson, known for his exceptional writing skills, employs references to popular works from the Revolutionary time period as well as the use of ethos in order to justify the delegates decision to declare independence from England. In an effort …show more content…

Locke argued that people have these natural rights and a governments are put in place in to protect these rights. By analyzing this concept, it becomes evident how Jefferson is able to tie Locke’s concept to serve as a base for the new government. In addition to Locke’s ideas being implemented into the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson also includes Thomas Paine’s basic claim in which he states George the III has a “ history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States” (Jefferson). In order to gain support and to justify independence, Jefferson utilizes the popularity and content of “Common Sense” to target his audience and create a common understanding of the purpose of declaring independence. The last major influence Jefferson uses for the framework of the document is from George Mason. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by Mason declares the inherent rights of men as well as the right to rebel against "inadequate" government. In the same way Mason implicates these ideals, Jefferson incorporates them in the Declaration of …show more content…

Jefferson addresses the appeal to God’s authority by stating that the colonist have a “ firm reliance on the protection of

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