Question

List two ways the Declaration of Independence was an effective argumentative writing piece.

Answer 1

Answer:

The reason why the Declaration of Independence is so persuasive is that Jefferson uses deductive arguments, which includes examples of Britain’s wrong doings, which gives the person reading the document a chance to see exactly why they are breaking from Great Britain.  One of the strongest deductive arguments in the declaration is, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men”.  This means that any legitimate government is created to protect peoples’ rights such as, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”.  Throughout the declaration Jefferson shows how Great Britain is not protecting their rights, but interfering with them.  For example, he states how the king keeps sending over soldiers and expects the people to house and feed them.  How would you feel if the government just placed a stranger in your home and told you he could eat your hard-earned food?  These soldiers were also allowed to disobey the laws in the colonies and not be punished for them.  This is not what you call protecting peoples’ rights; it is more like invading them.  Another very strong deductive argument in this document is, “deriving their just power from the consent of the governed”.  This means any power or authority that a government has is given to them by the consent of the people, but this right like many others was abused too.  For instants, Jefferson wrote that they have “Petitioned for redress” repeatedly, meaning they sent many petitions to the king about many unfair problems in the colonies, wanting to come to some type of agreement.  Nevertheless, the king does not answer them but continues to hurt them.  This shows that the king did not care about the peoples’ consent; therefore, he is not implicating a just government and they have the right to break free from Great Britain.