The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson - Term Paper Example

The Declaration of Independence- Thomas Jefferson (YOUR (THE Introduction The Declaration of Independence portrays literal power in the usage of rhetoric devices that clearly stand out throughout the document. The writer had such proficiency beyond doubt that he was a very learned and skilled person. To attest to this proposition, this document analyses some of the rhetoric devices used and the intellectual achievement that Thomas Jefferson had. The rhetoric devices used point at the possibility of a good education and literal skills well developed throughout the writer’s experiences. As the studies of the Declaration of Independence find attest, the document is perhaps one of the most creatively designed state documents. Distinctively enumerated into exceptional divisions, the writer demonstrated some rare writing skills that make it one of the best literal state papers. The Declaration of Independence can be divided into an introduction, a clearly developed preamble, a section describing the indictment of the Crown, denunciation of the American oppressors (the British) and a good conclusion. Any paper passing the test of good writing must at least show such organization. Throughout the document, artistic or literary devices (rhetoric devices) can be pointed out to prove the fact that the writer must have had tremendous proficiency with the topic of artistic discourse. With the topic of the Declaration of Independence at hand, this paper will tackle Thomas Jefferson’s rhetoric and the play of words he had used in the formation of this historical document. With the basis of textual analyses of the Declaration of Independence, historical interpretations will be conducted in order to explain the American context under the British colonial government. This paper will also explain the educational background of Thomas Jefferson – one that honed him as an eloquent writer of the mentioned document. The Making of Thomas Jefferson Before going into the analyses of the Declaration’s text, it is important to give light to its author Thomas Jefferson. Although history has had laughable doubts of according Jefferson the credit of the text authorship, controversies of such nature are interesting to tackle. One good example of a weak school of thought that the authorship of the Declaration of Independence could be not of Thomas Jefferson is the belated publication of Mecklenburg Declaration. Mecklenburg Declaration which was allegedly duplicated by Jefferson. But as the proponents of this thought steadfastly argued, the controversy was later found out to be a “hoax”. It was disproven by Jefferson himself. Scholars have even widely considered the other way around – the possibility of the Mecklenburg Declaration being the attempted duplication of the original copy written by Jefferson. It has also been accepted that the suspicious authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration was used against the controversy’s weak school of thought that doubts Jefferson as the author.1 The excellent flow of the Declaration can be attributed to the education of Thomas Jefferson. The academic exposure that he had was undoubtedly enough to support for the artistic piece that the Declaration of Independence is. Jefferson was lucky to have obtained the best education likely to promote his development into a successful writer that the Declaration could possibly have had. He went to a good school and was able to learn foreign languages namely Greek, French and Latin at a very tender age.2 Learned personalities such as prominent ministers, James Maury for example, are said to have undergone learning at the same institution as Thomas Jefferson did.3 His higher education can especially attest to the level of development that he had gained at school and could have caused the formation of great ideas included in the Declaration. Some of the studies that Thomas Jefferson specialized were in the fields of law, mathematics, philosophy and quantum physics. It is at school4 that Jefferson had developed a rare connection with great writings by the British. This opened and honed his skills and liking for eloquent writing. His growth as a profound student enabled him to enhance his proficiency in French, Greek and music - a rare combination for average students. Indeed, he was growing as a complete scholar with a rare linguistic taste which could have enabled him to prepare the Declaration of Independence. As a young intellectual, Thomas Jefferson started to practice law in 1776 and later graduated to a higher level of law making. Thereafter, Jefferson ended up in a more defined role of preparing state texts. Some of his published works demonstrating his discourse skills include “A Summary of the Rights of British America”, which he wrote during the time he was representing the County of Albemarle, Virginia, to the House of Burgesses. Other notable works which Thomas Jefferson wrote were congressional papers namely, “The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms” and “The Report on Lord North’s Conciliatory Proposal”. It was known that only a few changes and revisions were necessary to make Jefferson’s scripts adoptable to any occasion. His writings for the lower engagements he had with the Congress earned him respect amongst the politicians.5 Aside from his competency in document writing, his contributions to the educational system justify his deep rooted liking for literacy. This goes further down in history, separate from his achievements concerning national issues. In fact, Jefferson’s primary legacy in educational development includes the inception of the University of Virginia.6 Given Thomas Jefferson’s exceptional literary background, his skills were actually put into use in 1775. It was in this year that the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee which would prepare the Declaration. This Declaration was planned to accompany a resolution of independence for America. Jefferson was already a renowned writer by that time and was eventually elected to write the Declaration. Together with Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee, the state’s initial representative to the Committee of Five that prepared the Declaration document, both made a remarkable history that had shaped the fate of America. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence With Thomas Jefferson at the lead in the textual formulation of the Declaration of Independence, it now appropriate to analyze the essence of the document through the style and the play of words that the author used. From the introduction, the writer used a lengthy periodic sentence that requires a specific interpretation for the reader to bring out the real meaning of the Declaration. A philosophical approach was used to outline the introduction as a plain statement that does not clearly bring out the oppression that the Declaration purports to demonize. It acts an interest seeking statement where the reader must invest attention to grasp the developing body. An explanation for the cause is brought out as a natural occurrence which anyone would identify with. Usage of such words as “necessary” creates an impression of strong need for the Americans to take the proposed action, which is well connected to their human nature. The line, “One people” can be translated to send a strong message that the Americans and the British were different people brought together politically and breaking the “political bands” which was a necessity for the survival of the Americans. The words chosen for the Declaration’s first paragraph were correctly chosen for the link needed to make the document’s flow to the second paragraph cohesive. This choice of words was intended to capture the attention of America’s friends. The rhetorical conventions applied broadened the audience covering the entire world where the liberal mind got served. The generalization of the audience made the Declaration a universal document which proved the genuineness of the intended cause. Adherents of American independence would support the resolve to have the Declaration in effect and oppression eliminated. Towards the end of the introduction to the Declaration, the words “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” were used to show the inherent rights possessed by the Americans just like any nation should possess. Nature’s rule of freedom, independence and equality among all the nations is undisputed as the rhetorical device states. The use of “Nature’s God” stresses the divinity pegged upon the independence sought by the Declaration. It is clear from the textual analyses created in the above paragraphs that the Declaration was created in order to hone the unity of the American people. Jefferson formulated the introduction in a way that the primary words of the whole document itself would create a sense of realization for the American people. The author was firm in is assertion that being “One people” is the initial way to achieve the desires of becoming free from the bondages of their colonial masters. From what the history of the American people narrate, it was only in this moment that the people of would be unified against those who brought them the establishment they needed for being a civilized nation. What establishment is this? It is clear that from the annals of America’s history, the American people owe much of their breeding and their accustomed manner to the British people. This was brought about by the migration of the puritans to the American soil in the 16th century7. This transfer of Englishmen was catapulted by the Puritan persecution in England under King Charles I. The migration was brought into completion by the establishment of the New England colony which eventually flourished as one of the biggest English settlements outside the English soil.8 What entailed this migration and the utter breeding of the American natives? The prospect and inevitable fact of colonization followed after this Great Migration. Indeed, the Declaration of Independence is a testament to the colonization and the hardships that the American people experienced in the clutches of the British rule. Going back to the Declaration’s text, Jefferson is justified in his statement in the introductory sentences of the document when he mentioned that unity is gravely important for the American’s quest to be independent. True in every sense, the notion of nationalism is brought about in these early parts of the Declaration. To add to this, Jefferson solidifies his testament to the notion of unity by stating that it is “Nature’s God” that the American people naturally possessed their rights. As what can be extracted from this dual partnership between the unity and the people’s inherent rights, Jefferson wishes to make the Americans realize that they can stand against the foreigners. He deliberately implies that it is God’s will that they use their rights and unite in order to shun their oppressors. It is interesting to note that Jefferson relies on Divine Intervention so that the people can be encouraged by the treason that they are about to make in the American Revolution. He deliberately tells in the introduction that the Americans have every right to be free and that God allows it and will help them in their quest of doing so. Further analyses of the text of the Declaration, the notion of American nationalism can be seen. Contained in the next section is the preamble. The preamble presents the philosophy and the justification for an American Revolution. Precision and the economics of wording which denotes classical rhetorical texts are finely exhibited in this part which contains a mere 202 words. The smooth flow of ideas makes the entire preamble section as simple as the statement of its nature ought to be. Simplicity and sublimity were the styles synonymous to Thomas Jefferson’s language usage. For this, he blatantly credits Thomas Paine. Among the best works that Jefferson chose to highlight and mention as influence to this part of the Declaration included those of Bolingbroke which possessed unmatched class in quality. Jefferson portrays conversance with the best oratory and rhetorical prowess of the eighteenth century in the preamble. His works prior to the Declaration were the ones that particularly demonstrated the fact of eloquence - in the manner that rhythm, timing as well as cadence in discourse richly stand out. This was brought out in his essay “Thoughts on English Prosody” written in 1786. The mentioned poetic piece brings out connection between rhythm and language contained in the preamble that Jefferson had well mastered by the said year. The usage of the line, “…all men are created equal…” poses an intention that could have well been deeply thought to bring a diverse interpretation by the Americans, the British and possible allies who could assist the Americans in their quest for independence. The preamble consists of a group of five principles of human rights that are naturally and rhetorically read and interpreted together. The five rights’ principles brought out include: of equity; inalienability of the rights; examples of the rights; necessity of governments to secure the rights; and the right of the people to abolish abusive governments. It is also in this section that the rhetoric device known as sorites is well developed: “…God is omnipotent…” “…an omnipotent…possible…” “…possible…not a contradiction…” “…not a contradiction…” 9 Sorites are artistic devises commonly used in Thomas Jefferson’s age where several propositions are formulated such that the idea in one line preceding the other is developed in a pattern until all the propositions are highlighted. The subject of the earlier proposition is not lost in the string. In the above excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson developed the idea of God’s omnipresence and ability which He possesses without contradiction. Again, as what the textual analyses narrates, the main point in the introduction of the Declaration is stressed in the preamble. Jefferson smartly used a play of words in order to convince the readers of the inherent will of the American people to be free from the chains of slavery. It is in this part that the author states the five rights’ principles which testify to the full circle of rights which the American people have in order to justify their clash against their colonial masters. With the statement of these five principles, Jefferson gives reference to Divine Intervention once more. He boldly states that God is omnipotent and ever powerful. With such statements in the preamble, the author gives complete proof to the fact that, indeed, their decision in the treason created through the American Revolution cannot be countered by any human force. For the second time around, but in a different portion in the Declaration, Jefferson is firm in his assertion that the American people should revolt and destroy the colonial government in their native soil. It is with such that, according to Jefferson, the people have the backing of God and that they will succeed for their objectives are sincere. With the introduction and the preamble given textual analyses and historical interpretation, the structure and the technical characteristics of the Declaration of Independence can be given light in the following paragraphs of this paper. The structure of the Declaration portrays a clear design with three basic areas tackled namely: a minor premise, a major premise, and a conclusion. The major premise is that the people have a right to denounce and demolish a government that subjects them to suffering which they are initially formed to eliminate. The minor premise is the position that the Crown government was in by deliberately trouncing on the Americans rights. The conclusion of the Declaration is that the American people had to take their duty to abolish the British government and form their own promising future securing America for themselves. Simple and minimalistic – this is what best describes the structural components of the document. The three basic areas where the points of the Declaration dwell are well-defined and clear. The major premise which includes the body of the Declaration solely states the inherent rights of the people to reject the British colonial government. The circumstances of being subjected under slavery brought out the American spirit within the each of the colonized. With the introduction and the preamble functioning as precursors to the major point of the Declaration’s body, it can be said that Jefferson wrote an exceptional piece of document that attests to the earliest formation of the American nationalism. Following this major premise is the beautifully constructed conclusion where the author creates a visionary of the fulfillment of the American’s duties as an independent people and their task to be free from their oppressors. In line with this is the mindset of Jefferson about the free New World. He establishes the notion of a “Free and Independent” nation that not only him but the entire American people desire. The textual analyses of the concluding part of the Declaration will be further discussed in the latter portion of this paper. Lastly, a significant area of interest in the general structure of the Declaration is the minor premise of the document. It is in this part that Jefferson describes the state of the British Crown in the eyes and the context of the American people and the American soil respectively. This portion showcases the true feeling of the author towards the royalty who ignited the slavery of the American people. In a way, Jefferson functions, in this particular portion of the Declaration, as the representative and the voice of the American people when it came to their sentiments towards the difficult situation they were subjected into under the British clutches. This minor premise can be referred to as the indictment of the king. The indictment of the king dispelled the old maxim that absolved the king from any wrong doing. King George III had appeared to have had a hard stance against the Americans and the possibility of independence to be forthcoming was almost inexistent. Strong words had to be used against the King to send signals of an irritated people. Allegiance to the king was the remaining tie that the Americans had with the British and the rhetorical approach to use in the Declaration was intended to hit the highest possible signal. The conflict between the two parties was well brought out in the indictment of the British Monarch. Accurate and dignified tone is maintained in the critique of the Monarch’s contempt of the American people. Relating well with the previous words of the preamble, the writer brought in the flow of the idea of the American’s rights, which the Monarch had trounced. This indictment uses the word “tyranny” to point at the gravity of the matter. Rhetorically, accusing the Monarch to be a tyrant was the most serious statement which pertained to the Kingdom. Since the indictment of the King required proof in that age, the section details in the manner in which the King had “…repeated Injuries and usurpations…,” keeping in touch with classical Englishmen rhetorical conventions. Twenty eight grievances raised against the King are contained in the document, these of which are clearly developed in the indictment of the King. Phrases such as “…candid world…” have been used to rhetorically prove the American case against the Crown by showing the unbiased audience who is likely to understand the Declaration. Since the indictment could only be legal to sustain a rhetorical hearing at the time, words such as “facts” acted to serve the purpose very well. “Fact” had another rhetorical meaning denoting a crime which augured well in the indictment statement in rhetorical terms. Thomas Jefferson, having been a lawyer well versed in law usages of the word, was the ideal candidate to draft a document to attain that effect. Throughout the indictment, it is clearly demonstrated that the King had led the British government to deny justice to the American people yet the rights are inalienable. The developed discourse therefore points at the justification of the rights that the American’s had to resolve in order to find a way out of the oppression. Denunciation of the American oppressors involves the inclusion of “others” in the grievances, which is ideally intended to indict the British parliament in the process. The British administration is therefore dragged into the cause of the American agony. The cause of declaring independence is clearly developed with enough evidence from legal and rhetorical grounds to sufficiently present it as a strong case. Alliteration is demonstrated in the summoning of the Crown and the British parliament with such wording as “connections and correspondence”, “British brethren” and assonance depicted by such style usages as “…them from time to time.” The usage of one to two syllable words makes a high proportion of the entire document. This illustrates the prowess of the writer in the writing of such documents.10 As what is seen in the textual analyses of the indictment of the king, Jefferson does a balanced treatment to the critique that he observes in this part of the Declaration. The use of the word, “British brethren” was a fair approach by the author in order to state that, amidst all of the travesties that had occurred between the British and the Americans, the English were still considered as their brothers in the eyes of the Almighty. However, this fair approach took its toll when Jefferson describes the English king as a tyrant. In the American sense, tyrant is what best describes the Monarch due to the imposition of slavery and hardships that the colonizers brought upon the American soil. Jefferson’s description of the king implies much gravity to what the state of the American people is subjected into. The indictment of the king is also a medium where the author strengthens the idea of hatred and rage against the unjust British colonizers. Although it was not the intention of the author to directly cause a “hate campaign” against the British (as attested by his consideration that the English in fact remained their brethren), it can still be deduced that Jefferson antagonized the king through his rhetoric and play of words in order to push the American feeling further. In the major premise, the author laid the foundations and the pieces of evidence that could justify the reasons for an American Revolution. As what was discussed earlier, the portions of the five right’s principles and the notion of Divine Intervention served as an impetus to the awakening of American nationalism. The indictment of the king simply pushes the line further. With the appropriate reasons at hand, the fury of the American people to the subjugation they were into can set their hearts on fire and stagger for an immediate revolt against their oppressors. The decision of Jefferson to use this kind of tone in this particular portion of the Declaration justifies the desire of the author and the American people as a whole to end the British regime in the American soil. Thomas Jefferson’s imagery of a “Free and Independent” America can be clearly seen in the final area of the Declaration of independence. In the textual point of view with regards to the concluding part of the Declaration, this portion was designed in such a way that it ensured that the document ended in a more artistic style as compared to its beginning. A fine trilogy is attached at the end of the conclusion with artistic rhetoric phrases such as “our sacred Honor”, “our Lives” as well as “our Fortunes” and captures the rare sense of patriotism that the audience needs to feel with the words of the document. Rhetorical discourse could not be captured well than by the use of unification and instillation of pride in the ears of the revolutionaries as well as the general American citizenry. In the conclusion, heightening of the conflict between the two countries has been achieved by the usage of the words such as “he” “us” our” “them” we” and “they”. The purpose of the Declaration is not lost at the excitement of this conclusion which consistently maintains its artistic touch.11 With the mere words and the rhetoric that Jefferson uses in the concluding part, he establishes a notion of a separate people from the British race. The Declaration of Independence is indeed a testament and concrete evidence to the first movements of the Americans to fight for their rights, unify their sense of nationalism and mold the history that would create one of the most powerful nations in the world. Conclusion Capturing these rhetoric and artistic devices throughout the text could not have been done without a brain that only the linguistic, legal and academic elite like Jefferson possessed at his time. The legal profession as well as the academic ambition he had always possessed placed him in such a position as would have enabled such a writer to achieve. Besides being the learned individual that he was, his political ambitions supplemented the credentials that a possible writer of the Declaration must have had. In partnership with Thomas Jefferson’s eloquent play of words, the author unconsciously cites the historical basis behind the formation of each paragraph in the Declaration. His and the American people’s ambitions of a free and independent nation attest to the creative and artistic flow that forms the historical document. With this much said about his rhetoric and the historical implications of his works, it can be said that were it not for Thomas Jefferson’s presence among the political class mandated to draft and present within the document to the Congress, his artistic prowess could never have found its way to the law makers. Bibliography Benson, Thomas W. American Rhetoric: Context and Criticism. Chicago, IL: SIU Press, 1989. Cogliano, Francis D. Thomas Jefferson: Reputation and Legacy. George Square, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006. Condit, Celeste Michelle, John Louis Lucaites, Sally Caudill. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory: A Reader. Spring Street, NY: Guilford Press, 1999. Golden, Alan L. & James L. Golden. Thomas Jefferson and the Rhetoric of Virtue. Lanham, ML: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002. Kochin, Michael Shalom. Five Chapters on Rhetoric: Character, Action, Things, Nothing, and Art. University Park, PA: Penn State Press, 2009. Lucas, Stephen E. “The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence.” http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_style.html Moore, James H. Defense of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence: An Exhaustive Review of and Answer to All Attacks on the Declaration. Raleigh, North Carolina: Edwards & Broughton, 1908. Wedgewood, Cicely Veronica. The Stuarts: A Study in English Kingship. New York: Wiley, 1958. Read More