Rhetorical Devices Used In The Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents ever to be written in American history. During the 1700s, the British Parliament passed several laws that limited the freedoms of the English colonies in America. As a result, a group of disgruntled colonists gathered to form the first continental congress. After multiple letters of grievances sent to King George III were ignored, Thomas Jefferson composed the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776. The purpose of the Declaration was to formally announce that the colonies had declared independence from Great Britain. Finally, on July 4, 1776, the delegates met in Independence Hall and approved the Declaration (SparkNotes).

While the Declaration’s intended audience

Many appeals to pathos are demonstrated in the phrasing of the text. One of the largest emotional appeals that Jefferson makes is to the outrage of the colonists. “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States” (“The Declaration”). He uses negative and harsh wording such as “injuries and usurpation” in an effort to incite outrage among the colonists about how they have been treated. The King’s rule of "cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages" (“The Declaration”) compares the King to a barbarian, perhaps intending to rally support from the colonists by offending the King. Finally, in the last paragraph, Jefferson formally declares the independence of the United States of America, appealing to the colonists’ pride and the hope for a better future. “By Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States” (“The Declaration”). The pride and excitement of the written words in this document are very clearly

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (“The Declaration”). Further examples of logos can be found in the numerous grievances listed in the middle of the Declaration. Every one of them is a reason why the colonies are choosing to separate from Britain. After listing all of the infractions of the British, Jefferson reminds the colonists that the King has ignored them. “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury” (“The Declaration”). It demonstrates that they have exhausted any other options of communication leaving them with only one choice: