Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker - 821 Words

In 1791 Benjamin Banneker, the son of a former slave, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, framer of the Declaration of Independence and secretary of state to President George Washington, arguing against slavery. Banneker constructs an argument in his letter to persuade Jefferson of the cruelty and inhumanity that slavery entails. Motivated by the desire to convince Jefferson to abolish slavery, Banneker appeals to pathos by comparing slavery to the American Revolution, appeals to logos by referencing the Declaration of Independence, and establishes ethos by making a biblical allusion. Throughout Banneker’s letter to Jefferson he alludes to the American Revolution. Banneker uses that American Revolution to call to mind the â€Å"state of†¦show more content†¦In addition to using pathos Banneker establishes ethos in his letter to argue against slavery. Banneker appeals to Jefferson by presenting Jefferson’s own work, The Declaration of Independence, to help stre ngthen his argument. Banneker emphasizes Jefferson’s famous line that â€Å"all men are created equal†. He points to the fact that Jefferson wrote that all men are equal, yet he is a hypocrite because he considers slaves inferior, not deserving of the freedom that he and the rest of America have. Using Jefferson’s own work Banneker not only appeals to Jefferson’s sense of authority but also strengthens his argument against slavery. Banneker continues to use Jefferson’s piece by referring Jefferson’s words that, the rights which all humans have are bestowed on them by God. Banker argues that slavery counteracts God’s mercies â€Å"in detaining my brethren under groaning captivity†. He goes on to say that Jefferson â€Å"should cut the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act which you professedly detested in others with respect to yourselves†. These lines reiterate the fact that Jefferson is once agin employing hypocrisy. He writes that God has bestowed rights upon all humans which cannot be taken away but Jefferson attempt to take them away through the act of slavery. Banneker states that the the base upon which america is built upon is the thing they are found guilty of disregarding.Show MoreRelatedBenjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis1326 Words   |  6 PagesBanneker Analysis After the Revolutionary War, and while America was still trying to establish itself, it faced many problems in society, including the issue of race and slavery. There were many Americans who viewed blacks as inferior beings who should be confined to a life of slavery. Thomas Jefferson, the father of The Declaration of Independence, was one of those people. In 1791, Benjamin Banneker, a free and educated black man, responded to Jefferson’s work,c Notes on the State of Virginia, whichRead MoreBenjamin Banneker Rhetorical Analysis791 Words   |  4 Pageshe had experienced first hand. Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, writes to the framer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson in 1791. He speaks for â€Å"his brethren† and asks Jefferson to â€Å"wean yourself from those narrow prejudices which you have imbibed with respect to them [slaves].† This recommendation is supported by emotional appeals describing the extent of slavery, reflections of Jefferson’s hypocrisy, and countless repetition. Banneker appeals extensively to Jefferson’sRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker928 Words   |  4 PagesBenjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, writes to Thomas Jefferson in 1791 in an effort to denounce slavery in the United States. His letter was written in an era during a time which slavery was commonly practiced in the United States. In his appeals, Benjamin touches on topics of the cruel way blacks were treated and attempts to persuade Thomas Jefferson to reconsider his tolerance of such a heartless system. In his letter, Banneker utilizes ethos, pathos, logos, textual citation, and textualRead MoreThomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis1011 Words   |  5 PagesMy rhetorical analysis is about a free African-American almanac writer, naturalist, and farmer who fought against slavery and who earned the recognition of many high officials of the time, including Thomas Jefferson. As D.L. Chandler pointed out, Benjamin Banneker, wrote to Thomas Jefferson, on A ugust 19, 1791, to condemn the practice of slavery in the United States. Banneker attempted to persuade Thomas Jefferson of his forbearance of slave practices and the fact that he owned slaves yet pronounced