Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how the Declaration of Independence owes much of its power to the rhetorical devices Jefferson so carefully included in the document and the rest of its power to the writer himself. It shows how Jefferson was a learned and complicated man and how this document survives as a testament to his great talent.

From the Paper:

"Jefferson wrote the Constitution using several common rhetorical devices, which helped give the document its power and long life. Jefferson uses deductive syllogism throughout the document to introduce the problem, (freedom from Great Britain), logically and rationally list the many reasons the Colonists have for breaking from England, and form a conclusion or solution to the problem. He lists the problems inductively, or in small portions, until they add up to a sum that is too difficult to dispute. The first sentence, "When in the course of human events," opens up the problem succinctly and forcefully, using a strong and valuable verb, "separation." The American people must separate from England. Why? Jefferson goes on to use facts, (the long list of "wrongs" inflicted on America by King George and Great Britain), and lists the value the American people will receive, ("life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness")."

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