Benjamin Banneker uses many rhetorical strategies in his letter to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington to argue against slavery. Banneker employs repetition to create polite diction, ethos, logos, and an allusion to the Bible and passages from the Declaration of Independence to convey his ideas that slavery is at its roots against the idea that all men are created equal, opposing the ideas in the Declaration of Independence.Banneker uses repetition to keep a respectful tone throughout his letter. In repeating “sir” before each addition to his argument, Banneker has a formal and polite tone. This helps argue against slavery because he is not blaming the reader, but respectfully presenting the facts. He does this in order to make it more likely
Benjamin Banneker in the letter, argues against slavery. Banneker uses biblical allusion, and a melancholic tone in order to argue against slavery to Thomas Jefferson in 1791. Banneker uses biblical allusion in order to demonstrate that all humans should be treated the same, and have equal rights. For example, “you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that it is the pecular blessing of Heaven” (Banneker 1). Banneker presents his argument by stating that Thomas Jefferson has freedom because of heaven, and he should extend the same right to everyone else.
Benjamin Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson, the purpose of the letter was to argue against slavery. Banneker relies on the use of rhetorical devices to supply back up for his side of the argument. In addition, Banneker is a well-educated man (see farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author) so he can use his education to impress Jefferson with his smarts and logicalness. Throughout the letter to Jefferson, Banneker addresses Jefferson in the highest regard.
In his letter to Thomas Jefferson Banneker, a son of a former slave, uses multiple rhetorical devices to drive his point on why slavery should be abolished. Banneker politely informs Jefferson that he is a hypocrite. Banneker begins each paragraph with sir, he does this because he is writing to a very important white man and does not want to offend him. Banneker wants Jefferson to side with him so he is doing everything in his power to come off as a respectful person.
In 1791, a son of former slaves by the name of Benjamin Banneker, wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson about his belief and standpoint on slavery with major rhetorical responses backing his standpoint up. Banneker starts off his letter and continues throughout it by stating “sir.” He does this knowingly as it is a sign of respect and the fact Jefferson has more authority than him, as Jefferson was the Secretary of State at the time under President George Washington, and hoping to have Jefferson and other high and powerful men consider his point of view. Predating back to the early 1700’s, slaves were merely legal property in the United States, meaning the slaves had no rights. Free black men and women had no rights either.
Banneker recites a line from the Declaration Of Independence which Thomas Jefferson framed himself. The line goes “we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal”. The purpose of Banneker incorporating this line is to expose the fact that Jefferson does indeed believe that “all men are created equal”. So for Jefferson to own slaves and not help abolish slavery knowing that all are created equal makes him a hypocrite. What’s also included in the 4th paragraph is Banneker’s understanding of the circumstances that caused for Jefferson and others to write the Declaration Of Independence in the first place.
In a prompt by Benjamin Banneker, the writer reveals his anger over the injustice of a state of slavery. He would like the reader to know about the unfair treatment of these individuals and the injustices that they regularly face. The writer of this essay creates a strong impression about the unequal distribution of rights in his environment. To try and explain his thoughts on the subject, Banneker uses a variety of rhetorical strategies in his letter to Jefferson and Washington. First of all, Banneker uses antithesis in his letter to Jefferson and Washington.
Benjamin Bannecker in this excerpt eloquently uses a fine-tuned balance of Pathos, Logos and Ethos to mould a thought-provoking argument to Thomas Jefferson against slavery. Banneker uses Pathos and emotional appeal consistently throughout his writing by attempting to draw parallels between the subjugation of Jefferson under the British Crown (lines 1-5) and the oppression of slaves by their masters (lines 45-47) to communicate the feelings of his persecuted brothers which Jefferson might sympathize with having experienced oppression by an outsider himself. Moreover, he strives to establish a sentiment of love and empathy towards one another and for Jefferson’s heart to be “enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them”, referring to
Benjamin Bannecker, a son of former slaves and educated scholar, angered about the mistreatment of slaves wrote a letter to the author of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson. He assumes a knowledgeable and matter-of fact persona in order to challenge Jefferson’s loyalty Christian faith and urge him to abolish/ condemn slavery. Bannecker organizes his speech in a cause and effect manner by demonstrating Jefferson hypocrisy towards slavery; he emphasizes his purpose by utilizing negative diction, historical allusions, and juxtaposition in order to illustrate the injustice of slavery and justify why it should be abolished. Bannecker begins his letter by comparing British rule to slavery and establishes that Jefferson was once a strong
He does not start off discussing the issue of slavery. Instead, Banneker is very polite, using formal language and referring to him as “Sir.” The letter appeals to Jefferson’s pride by telling of how Jefferson is “a man far less inflexible in Sentiments of this nature [...] that [is] measurably friendly and well disposed toward us, and that [is] willing and ready to Lend [his] aid and assistance to our relief” (Banneker). Whether Banneker is being honest or not, this quote may lead Jefferson to believe that Banneker feels Jefferson is better than many of the other important men in American society, something that might make Jefferson feel good about himself, and more likely to be supportive. At the closing of the letter, Banneker ends with the very polite phrase “your most obedient and humble servant” (Banneker).
Slavery has sadly been in America from the start. Many have different opinions about slavery whether it should stay or be abandoned and forgotten. Although one person has written to Thomas Jefferson about one of history’s most important subject. Banneker starts it off by writing his strong views on how wrong slavery is not just listing all the problems, but in a letter that he uses strategies to make his view convincing. Benjamin Banneker uses rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, and various style elements to argue against slavery.
In Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson, he develops his argument against slavery through historical allusions and emotional appeals in order to persuade Thomas Jefferson about the injustice of slavery. Firstly, Benjamin Banneker uses historical and biblical appeals to help convey his purpose of the injustice of slavery to Thomas Jefferson. Banneker makes an allusion to the invasion of the British colonies in America to offer a comparison to slavery. Banneker asks Jefferson to recall the time and reflect on that time “in which every human aid appeared unavailable”. In hopes he was able to involve guilt in Jefferson as while slavery was happening he enjoyed the “freedom and tranquility” that received a “peculiar bussing of Heaven”.
Benjamin Banneker, in his letter to Thomas Jefferson, offers a series of arguments against the institution of slavery through a respectful tone, references to history, and the Bible. As a son of former slaves, Banneker is seeking justice for the black population and uses Jefferson’s own words against him as he speaks on behalf of “Black America.” He shares his opinions with Jefferson, who is higher authority, in a respectful manner while still managing to criticize him. Banneker starts off his letter to Jefferson by calling his “Sir.” He refers to Jefferson this way because he wants to be respectful to this man who exists as a higher authority as a politician.
“Words can inspire, and words can destroy. Choose yours well.” - Robin Sharma. In 1787, a convention was held to determine the efficiency of a debatable Constitution discussed by the delegates. Benjamin Franklin, having represented Pennsylvania, then presented a speech regarding his position on the topic, declaring his agreement to it in spite of his uncertainty on whether or not it will result in negative consequences in the future.
Hypocrisy is one of the worst moral crimes someone can commit. Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson explains that he has committed this crime. He has gone back on his morale of everyone having unalienable rights by letting slavery continue to happen, and Banneker believes he is the prime contender in allowing this crime to happen and that he should be the start and make the move to stop slavery. Banneker explains this to Jefferson in such a way that the letter is both respectful and thoughtful while also being rude due to the use of how he phrases his sentences, that his argument can not be questioned because of his use of ‘Sir’ to show his respect, and his ardent choice of words which are all collectively used to explain how Jefferson is being hypocritical and show him why he should fix this.
Banneker wrote a letter that argues against slavery from a former slave’s son point of view. He has argued against slavery by demonstrating his knowledge through word choices and repetition, and showed respect through his tone. By doing so, Banneker was able to argue against slavery and provoke Jefferson’s emotions on