Analysis of "The Declaration of Independence"

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which documented that the thirteen colonies of America were no longer a part of the British Empire. This declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson and was written in an argumentative format in which a main idea was introduced and a solution along with support for the solution was given. The main idea of the Declaration of Independence is that all men are created equal and are endowed the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No government shall limit these rights nor threaten them in any way. Their purpose is to serve the people and ensure that their rights are safe. If a government does the opposite, it is up to the people to abolish such a government. Thomas Jefferson intended this document to urge the rights of the people and the responsibility that they have to protect their rights from any threats, including their own government.

In context to the King of Great Britain, Thomas Jefferson states that the history of the King is one of repeated injuries to the people and their rights. He then includes a long list of facts to support his big claim about the King, including his refusal of passing helpful laws to society, imposing unnecessary taxes, deprivation of citizens, interfering with judicial business, etc. With such a strong list of supportive facts to his claim about the clear flaws the King of Britain possesses, Thomas Jefferson presents a traditional example of success in argumentative writing.

The final section of the Declaration of Independence includes the closing statement in which the separation of the American colonies and Great Britain is declared. All political connection is said to be dissolved between the two and the colonies have the power to make their own decisions. The very last sentence of the declaration explains the support for its credibility by the lives, fortunes, and sacred honor of Americans. This was an example of an emotional appeal. Emotion was used to describe the importance of the Declaration of Independence’s credibility by stating that everything that was important to an American would be put on the line to defend this declaration.

Clearly, this document presents multiple elements of argumentative writing. A strong statement was made backed up by logic from the mind of Thomas Jefferson in which the rights of the people were explained and why government cannot interfere with them. The King of Great Britain was criticized through the use of historical facts. Emotional appeal was used to create credibility to the declaration and its meaning. This was a complete argumentative approach to an important issue in history and it was because of that, the Declaration of Independence became a success that still lives on today.