The Declaration of Independence is arguably the most important historical work of the pre-modern era. Because of this document, America was recognized for its brash, albeit just demands for independence from Britain. Aside from the obvious historical significance and precedence of the document, its composition was constructed in such a way that conveyed the determination of a new nation to be one in its own. Historical context and rhetorical strategies, such as appeals and fallacies, are used cohesively throughout the Declaration of Independence to convey American sentiments of independence throughout the American Revolution. Historical Background The beginnings of the American Revolution can be traced back to early 1763. Following the conclusion …show more content…
The most prevalent strategies demonstrated throughout the document are the appeals of logos and ethos. Jefferson and the delegates skillfully intertwined ethical principles into the document to challenge the reader’s sense of right and wrong. This is most evident in the line, “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.” This line provides an ethical dilemma of sorts. As a reader, the use of this appeal incites a connection between the reader and the passage. How can one argue against the morality of this document, when the core principles at hand validate the values that we, as humans, accept and hold …show more content…
In an effort to assess the debt, King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General, which had remained dormant for the past 160 years. After a confrontation between the 1st and 3rd Estates of the people at the Estates-General meeting in May of 1789, a rebellion amongst the common people of the aforementioned 3rd Estate began. Now locked into a state of disarray, the peasants of the Protectorate engaged in conflict with the greedy, power-hungry Bourgeoisie. The “Great Fear” of July, 1789 led to the storming of the armed Bastille royal fortress. One month later, on August 4, 1789, the newly formed National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, denouncing their feudal overlords, and effectively signalizing the beginning of the French Revolution. Conclusion In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence is one of history’s most influential documents, and played an integral role in the formation of not just the America we know, but the world as a whole. The conception of this document altered the course of history, and gave birth to new superpowers, and new nations entirely. Furthermore, the composition of the document allowed for its message to be clearly and effectively conveyed, despite the obvious brashness of such a concept. In utilizing effective and efficient writing techniques, the Declaration of Independence