Analysis: How does the author try to appeal to the emotions of American colonists in his attempt to build an argument and suppor
t for the American revolution? Cite evidence from the text to support your claims.
Men of passive dispositions look somewhat lightly over the offenses of Great Britain, and, still hoping for the best, are likely to call out, "Come, come, we shall be friends again for all this."...But examine the passions and feelings of mankind: bring the idea of reconciliation to the nature of man, and then tell me whether you can hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve the power that has carried fire and sword into your land? If you cannot do all these, then you are only deceiving yourselves….
Your future connection with Britain, whom you can neither love nor honor, will be forced and unnatural, and being formed only on the plan of present convenience, will in a little time fall into a worse condition more wretched than the first. But if you say, you can still pass the violations Great Britain has done the colonies over, then I ask, hath your house been burnt? Hath your property been destroyed before your face? Are your wife and children destitute of a bed to lie on, or bread to live on? Have you lost a parent or a child by their hands, and yourself the ruined and wretched survivor? If you have not, then are you not a judge of those who have. But if you have, and can still shake hands with the murderers, then are you unworthy the name of husband, father, friend or lover, and whatever may be your rank or title in life, you have the heart of a coward…
