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What Is Benjamin Banneker Letter To Jefferson

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Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, religious condemnation, and historical references. The son of former slaves, Benjamin Banneker, is tired of his people being used as slaves when his country’s core beliefs consist of “all men…[being] created equal…with certain unalienable rights.” Abolishing slavery had not been taken into consideration at the time this letter was written, the United States had just been established, and the founding fathers wanted to test how the country was going to run. But Benjamin Banneker wanted a change in one of the country’s key economic pieces. Could reaching out to a political figure help? We’ll never know if Banneker’s letter to Jefferson swayed the slave advocate one way or the other. But what we do know, is that he maintained a logical and reasonable concept throughout the letter which is sure to persuade a man such as Jefferson. This persuasive letter begins with trying to put Jefferson in the shoes of a slave, and it does so by taking Jefferson down a not-so-distant memory-lane of a “State of Servitude” under the “British Crown.” But the letter quickly positively shifts in diction and reveals Banneker’s main persuasive idea that freedom is a “blessing of Heaven,” …show more content…

Jefferson is known for his crucial role in the birth of the Declaration of Independence, and Banneker uses his own words against him. Jefferson is accused of “clearly seeing the injustices of a state of slavery” and having “apprehensions of the horrors of its condition.” A man of such values and a “valuable doctrine, which is worthy to be recorded and remembered in all succeeding ages,” could surely not be such a hypocrite to his own words,

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Benjamin Banneker earnestly attempts to persuade Thomas Jefferson, former slave owner, the wrongness of slavery by using his sense of morality and reasoning against him. Banneker brings to light Jefferson’s views and to set the foundation to take his argument further. He refers to the Revolutionary War in line 2, "...arms and tyranny of the British Crown..." and explains the British Crown and indirectly refers to their ruling of the colonies. The word he most significantly used was ‘tyranny’ which sums up the rule of the British Crown in the colonists eyes. He uses the Revolutionary War and its impact on the colonies to further deepen the argument on his next point, without this clarification what he said next wouldn't have made any

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780 Words | 4 Pages

His father was an enslaved West African from Guinea and his mother was the child of a female European indentured servant and an enslaved African who gained his freedom before she was born.” Mr. Banneker was a self- educated mathematician, astronomer, ran his family’s farm, and a writer among other things. He is mostly known for creating a wooden clock that ran every hour for over forty years, helping survey our nation’s capital, his widely read almanacs, and his letters to Thomas Jefferson. 4. For what audience was the document written?

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He shows the politeness to allow Jefferson to note that race does not make one inferior and that Banneker thinks of him as an equal. By stroking Jefferson’s ego and showing him respect continually allows Banneker to have a more educated conversation with

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Throughout Banneker’s letter he uses repetition and archaic diction. He repeatedly refers to Jefferson as sir. He starts off, “Sir, suffer me to recall to your mind that time which...” and he then again says, “This sir, was a time in which you clearly saw into the injustice...” By repeating sir it makes it very direct. Also by using sir instead of Jefferson, Banneker makes the letter more formal and respectful.

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Banneker’s decision to utilize pathos so heavily works well because it establishes a connection between his and Jefferson’s experiences. The hardships endured by the men could not be expressed in the most effective manner if Banneker’s argument relied on ethos or logos, as in this instance, a statistic would not be as successful in establishing empathy, and therefore, persuasion. Ultimately, the language used, combined with the emotional phrases and diction, creates an argument in which Jefferson is beckoned and drawn to sympathize with the injustices of slavery. Banneker also utilizes allusion to further influence Jefferson’s opinion. Beginning with a direct quote from the proclamation (21-25), Banneker alludes to the Declaration of Independence to further strengthen his argument against slavery.

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616 Words | 3 Pages

Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, references to history, and the Bible. As a son of former slaves, Banneker is seeking justice for the black population and uses Jefferson’s own words against him as he speaks on behalf of “Black America.” He shares his opinions with Jefferson, who is higher authority, in a respectful manner while still managing to criticize him. Banneker starts off his letter to Jefferson by calling his “Sir.” He refers to Jefferson this way because he wants to be respectful to this man who exists as a higher authority as a politician.

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In 1791, Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state and Banneker considered the respected Virginian, though a slaveholder, to also be open to viewing African Americans as more than slaves. Thus, he wrote Jefferson a letter hoping that he would “readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate that train of absurd and false ideas and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us." To further support his point, Banneker included a handwritten manuscript of an almanac for 1792, containing his astronomical calculations. In his letter, Banneker acknowledged he was “of the African race” and a free man. He recognized that he was taking “a liberty” writing to Jefferson, which would be unacceptable considering “the almost general prejudice and prepossession which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion.”

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Banneker Also uses a bible allusion. Furthermore, he says, “Thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them; and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others, in what manner to proceed herein.” He uses this to make him feel better for calling him a hypocrite earlier in his letter. He says this make Thomas Jefferson feel as if it’s not too late to change. This makes Jefferson feel that it’s not all he fault and just needs to take Banneker’s advice.

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"Therefore, Thomas Jefferson is not a hypocrite because he wants slavery to end and, he believes it 's a awful thing. When he wrote the declaration of independence he did not know african americans were capable of learning, but once he was exposed to it, his opinion changed. Jefferson want nothing more than to end slavery and he would do anything to make that

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Benjamin Banneker in the letter, argues against slavery. Banneker uses biblical allusion, and a melancholic tone in order to argue against slavery to Thomas Jefferson in 1791.     Banneker uses biblical allusion in order to demonstrate that all humans should be treated the same, and have equal rights. For example, “you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that it is the pecular blessing of Heaven” (Banneker 1). Banneker presents his argument by stating that Thomas Jefferson has freedom because of heaven, and he should extend the same right to everyone else.

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651 Words | 3 Pages

Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson explains that he has committed this crime. He has gone back on his morale of everyone having unalienable rights by letting slavery continue to happen, and Banneker believes he is the prime contender in allowing this crime to happen and that he should be the start and make the move to stop slavery. Banneker explains this to Jefferson in such a way that the letter is both respectful and thoughtful while also being rude due to the use of how he phrases his sentences, that his argument can not be questioned because of his use of ‘Sir’ to show his respect, and his ardent choice of words which are all collectively used to explain how Jefferson is being hypocritical and show him why he should fix this.

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470 Words | 2 Pages

“...was a tie in which you clearly saw...” “...blessings to which you were entitled by nature.” Each time Banneker repeats the word “you”, it builds onto the formal tone and draws out Jefferson’s attention. The letter Thomas Jefferson received from Banneker in 1791 is a persuasive letter.

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Writing is one of the most basic means of human expression. In writing, people often try to persuade others by making arguments filled with rhetorical strategies. This is the case with Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson, regarding the issue of slavery. Benjamin Banneker was a son of former slaves, who was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. In his letter, Benjamin Banneker is basically trying to convince Thomas Jefferson that slavery is bad and that he should try and end it.

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“The Constitution and Slavery” pointed this out by stating that “Yet at the time these words were written, more than 500,000 black Americans were slaves. Jefferson himself owned more than 100.” This shows that even though Jefferson insisted on the idea of “all men are created equal,” some can say that he is a hypocrite. “How could somebody make such a statement while they are doing the same devilish act?” must have gone through the minds of those questioning Jefferson’s sincerity. Indeed, he did commit those acts.

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A comparative analysis of selected examples of public persuasion in the U.K. & U.S. Everyone sees what advertising is because it plays a huge role in each of our lives every day. Mass media advertisement has an influential effect on everyone, both inactively as well as actively. It is one of the largest industries in the world. Different companies will continuously try various ways to display their services and products.

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