“The Declaration of Independence” was created to state the
reasons for the American Revolution and separation from Great Britain. In this document, Thomas Jefferson says that
people have the right to separate from tyranny in government but they should in
doing so state the reasons for which they are separating. It is this which Jefferson is trying to do
throughout the document. While many of
the statements made are reasons for the separation between America and Great
Britain, they can also be regarded as propaganda due to the persuasiveness in
Jefferson’s writing style.
Jefferson tells the reader the story of why the colonies in
America chose to break away from England.
While he does give reasons to back up his argument, he is giving a clear
depiction of a “good” America and a “bad” England. In one remark, Jefferson states that they
have appealed to the people of England for justice, but they have been deaf to
their voices. To be sure, there were
some in England who cared about the wellbeing of the colonies, although perhaps
not many. I have read in history books
how a couple members of Parliament presented their beliefs that America should
be treated fairly otherwise there will be conflict. Jefferson also was sure to make use of
several extreme, for lack of a better word, language. Barbarous, plundered, ravaged, destroyed, tyranny,
imposing, and deprived are only some of the words he thoughtfully chose to use
to evoke an emotion in the reader parallel to his cause for independence (Jefferson). Jefferson also uses description to make his
statements appeal to the reader. He
stated, “…the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of wartime is an undistinguished
destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions” (Jefferson). By saying “destruction of all ages, sexes,
and conditions” instead of merely saying “destruction”, Jefferson is creating a
sense of empathy towards the colonists, whether the reader is young or old,
male or female, and rich or poor (Jefferson).
Finally, by stating that America has a “firm reliance on the protection
of Divine Providence” (Jefferson), Jefferson even further so makes his statements
for separation more honorable.
“The Declaration of Independence” was a great document which
the Founding Fathers chose to base their claims for separation from the mother
country of England. Through the use of
deep description, choices of words, appeal to all people, and justification in
the sight of God, Jefferson provided a convincing argument for his cause in
which many people could understandably be swayed to his way of thinking.
Works Cited
Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of
Independence." American Literature. Colombus: Colombus: McGraw-Hill
Companies, 2009. 122-24. Print.
