Benjamin Banneker‚ a well educated man‚ wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1791 arguing against slavery. Banneker uses several rhetorical techniques including tone‚ allusion‚ diction‚ ethos‚ pathos‚ and counterargument to make his position of the given subject clear and to make Mr. Jefferson change his own opinion about slavery. Banneker uses formal style diction and uses abstract words and ideas to show the vastness of freedom‚ slavery‚ and emotion; like in the phrases‚ “...tranquility which
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happiness” This excerpt shows that in the Declaration of Independence all men were created equal. However‚ Benjamin Banneker being the son of former slaves has seen the effects of slavery all around him. In his letter to Thomas Jefferson he uses allusion to the bible to portray the life of the slaves‚ adjectives to emphasize the inequality‚ and parallel structure to highlight his concerns. Benjamin Banneker uses allusion to the bible to emphasize the things slaves had to endure. “Those narrow prejudices
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Teddy Park Mr. Valassidis Period 1‚ AP English Language & Composition September 29‚ 2012 Banneker Rewrite In 1791‚ Benjamin Banneker‚ the lowly son of former slaves‚ wrote to Thomas Jefferson‚ the great framer of the Declaration of Independence and advocate for equality‚ urging Jefferson to see the hypocrisy and injustices of slavery in the colonies. During this post-Revolutionary time‚ slavery was still prevalent in the colonies which bewildered many as America embedded its roots in the
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Benjamin Banneker’s Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis In a letter to Thomas Jefferson an advocate for slavery and framer of “The Declaration of Independence”; author‚ astronomer‚ mathematician‚ farmer‚ and the son of former slaves‚ Benjamin Banneker addresses the oppressive and horrifying nature of the slave trade that Banneker’s ancestors had been in for generations. In this letter‚ Banneker exposes the cruelty slaves endeavored while expanding on the rights that were taken from his
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Lang. – A2 15 January 2016 Rhetorical Analysis – Banneker Slavery is infamously known in American history as “America’s greatest shame”. Accompanied by the concept of slavery was vast opposition due to it being unconstitutional and contradicting the basis of American government. Benjamin Banneker writes a simple letter to Thomas Jefferson that effectively argues against the institution of slavery utilizing political appeals‚ irony‚ repetition‚ and a snarky tone. Banneker argues against slavery by
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Benjamin Banneker‚ a man of many talents and son of former slaves‚ took it upon himself to address the tyranny that is slavery‚ in his letter to former secretary of state‚ Thomas Jefferson. He expresses his negative viewpoint through ethos‚ logos and pathos which help him appeal to his audience; as do his constant use of biblical references‚ repetition and emotional diction. Banneker continually addresses Jefferson as “Sir” in attempts to maintain a polite disposition throughout his letter. He opens
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Man‚" the Motown marvel sings of Benjamin Banneker: "first clock to be made in America was created by a black man." Though the song is a fitting salute to a great inventor (and African Americans in general)‚ it only touches on the genius of Benjamin Banneker and the many hats he wore – as a farmer‚ mathematician‚ astronomer‚ author and land surveyor. Like a lot of early inventors‚ Benjamin Banneker was primarily self-taught. The son of former slaves‚ Benjamin worked on the family tobacco farm
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pursuit of happiness. The concept of owning African Americans‚ as slaves‚ contradicts the ideology present in the Declaration‚ in addition to the moral of slave owners. Benjamin Banneker‚ a free African American discussed the concepts of race and rights‚ in his letter addressed to Thomas Jefferson‚ the Secretary of State. Banneker explains that many of his ‘brethren’ were
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someone lets you out with a key. This was what life of slavery was like in 1791‚ and Benjamin Banneker truly expresses that in his letter of persuasion to secretary of state Thomas Jefferson. “We hold these truths to be self evident‚ that all men are created equal‚ and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights‚ that among these are life‚ liberty‚ and the pursuit of happiness‚” Banneker quotes the Declaration of Independence. Using this reference is only one of his many
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In Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson‚ he uses several rhetorical devices to get his message across that the institution of slavery is also a one of hypocrisy. He criticizes Thomas Jefferson for endorsing slavery but does so in a very respectful and formal manner. “Sir” This is was starts every paragraph in the letter he writes. He does this to come across in a respectful manner while also giving the reader of the letter‚ Thomas Jefferson‚ a sense that the issue at hand is urgent. In
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