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Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

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Benjamin Banneker’s letter is filled with a litany of examples to argue against slavery. Banneker was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and the son of former slaves. Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, the framer of the Declaration of Independence and secretary of state. In this letter Banneker uses rhetorical strategies to argue against slavery such as being a hypocrite, using the word “sir” referring to Jefferson, and using examples of the declaration of independence of how it’s wrong with “all men created equal.”

Banneker is a flat out hypocrite. He wrote a letter to Jefferson discussing his opinion on slavery that said he didn’t like it. But then again he owned slaves and used them. It doesn’t really make

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