An Analysis of "THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE"

The Declaration of Independence By Thomas Jefferson


An Analysis:

The essay entitled “The Declaration of Independence” written by Thomas Jefferson states that thirteen states of the United States declare their independence from the king of Great Britain. This declaration is based on the Laws of Nature so Jefferson appeals to the supreme court of divine to judge the case. He also argues, “all men are created equal, that all are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.” So his method of reasoning is deductive one. Besides this, he has also used powerful device like balance and parallelism to make it perfect from the side of mind as well as heart.
Jefferson begins the essay by stating the above-mentioned argument. The deductive nature of it becomes apparent from that very argument. It is something like “All men are created equal. We are men. Therefore we have to be treated equally.” He also argues that government is formed to secure unalienable rights and equality among people. And if it fails to do so then people can overthrow it. But the king of Great Britain is failed to do so. Therefore, they can destroy the government; this is how Jefferson argues deductively. In other words, Jefferson reaches to the conclusion from the argument.
In the essay ahead, Jefferson lists out twenty-seven causes that include the abuses and usurpations imposed by the king of Great Britain. Jefferson has included wrong acts done by the government. He argues that even if the people requested to reform the government about its policies but it remained indifferent. Some of the causes that he mentions are:
· The king has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
· He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance.
· He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
· He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
In this way, he gives a long list of wrong deeds done by the king of Great Britain. All the causes that he cities serve as evidence of the argumentation and they are also so serious that they contribute to move the audience. This is how Jefferson appeals the mind as well as heart to make the argument more effective and powerful.
In the early part of the essay, Jefferson raises the possible objection and refutes it. He argues that it is not good to dissolve long established government. He immediately refutes it by arguing that, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them (people) under despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
Jefferson also appeals to authority that can be seen as right appealing. While talking about laws, he appeals to Laws of Nature and Nature’s God. Besides this, he begins the essay by referring to God and ends with the same. Similarly, periodic sentences where balanced and parallel constructions are also the notable rhetoric from the part of the techniques used by Thomas Jefferson. His deductive reasoning also sounds very relevant if we examine it from the viewpoint of its context.