declaration of independence

Michelle Velez AP Language & Composition Period 5 Mr. Colon

Essay In The Declaration of Sentiments Elizabeth Cady Stanton uses induction and deduction in order to make her argument effective. Both of these argumentative techniques are used to support her argument that women should be granted all the rights and privileges men have. Stanton satirizes the Declaration of Independence highlighting the holes in Jefferson’s document. Through the use of induction and deduction Stanton makes a valid point on how men create an absolute tyranny over women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton uses deduction as one of her argumentative techniques. First, she starts with her major premise, something general such as “The history of mankind is a history of a repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her”(The language of Composition 124). Immediately after this Stanton herself states “To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world” which is where she jumps into her minor premises. A few examples can be “He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right…” and “He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.” With all the facts she uses, Stanton is giving raw evidence to the public and truly letting them see for themselves the ambiguities in Jefferson’s document. The conclusion is “… in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved… we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them.” With her use of deduction, Stanton addresses a problem by starting with something vague, and slowly builds upon it with specific details and facts. Stanton makes her major premise and her minor premise to be true facts, making her conclusion logically valid. These specifics are what lead to the conclusion that women are oppressed and deserve to have all the rights men do. Along with using deduction, induction is also used in Stanton’s argument. Most of the facts she uses are inductive evidence, in which she is listing particular examples. She states “facts” back to back such as “He has denied her the facilities for obtaining a thorough education — all colleges being closed against her” and “ He has endeavored, in every way that he could to destroy her confidence… and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life”(The Language of Composition 125). These are just a few of the many that help support the generalization of “he” being a dictator, a despot. The examples Stanton uses make her argument effective because Stanton is giving the audience legitimate reasons as to why women’s belittlement should end. In addition, Stanton purposely formats her argument like the Declaration of Independence: a very effective approach to getting their declarations heard. The evidence is exactly what Stanton needs to make her argument legitimate, and to properly carry out that women deserve equality with men. Inductive and deductive reasoning is used in Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s The Declaration of Sentiments in order to properly carry out her opinion on freedom and the meaning behind being a citizen of the United States. Stanton first uses deduction with a broad, general statement and then gets specific leading to her conclusion that women should be granted all the rights men have. Further on in the essay, she then shows induction when she begins the facts with "He has…”. Through the use of both inductive and deductive reasoning, Stanton makes her argument that much more effective and actually come across as powerful to the public.