...For my Benjamin Banneker rhetorical analysis essay, I would give myself a score of eight. I believe that I would have scored an eight because I have effectively explained the purpose of several logical rhetorical strategies using evidence. In my thesis, “Banneker’s unexpected eloquence combined with his political and historical allusions work to produce undeniable evidence that supports an argument Jefferson cannot refute,” I have incorporated the specific rhetoric strategies that I discuss in further detail in the following paragraphs. For instance, in discussing the logos of Banneker’s political allusions, I incorporated quotes that demonstrate the legitimacy of the Declaration of Independence, and explain that Banneker includes this reference...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...This letter, written from Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson, is framed in a logic that reveals Banneker’s opinion that Slavery is wrong. Banneker believes that Thomas Jefferson knows this but is failing to correct it. Even though he is too affable to come right out and say it, it is found by Banneker to be hypocritical of Jefferson to have been the face for the US’s fight for freedom against Britain, yet to keep a slave under his control. Jefferson is not acknowledging the situation for what it is and Banneker has realized this and wanted to politely attempt to make his opinion known. Benjamin Banneker uses Thomas Jefferson’s words written in the Declaration of Independence to turn the tables back on him. Mentioned in Banneker’s letter...
Words: 407 - Pages: 2
...Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote these words to one man, Benjamin Banneker, who challenged the Secretary about the freeing of slaves and for equality to people of color. Though this was not Banneker´s only achievement, for 1791 was the year of Banneker. Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9th, 1731 to a freed African slave and a biracial mother. With his parents’ status of freedom, Banneker escaped slavery. The area where Banneker lived, Baltimore County, was a ¨color-blind area¨. This meant that color was not an issue in this area of Maryland and people were not judged upon their race. This was not uncommon in the state seeing as it was the first...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...Banneker Revision Essay Begin essay here. In 1791, Benjamin Banneker, a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, author, and son of former slaves wrote to the secretary of state to George Washington and framer of the declaration of independence, Thomas Jefferson. In the letter, Banneker uses forms of ethos to appeal to Jefferson on the immorality of slavery. As the framer of the declaration, Jefferson has had a first hand look at the injustices that the British were holding the American’s to. Banneker uses this as a way to appeal to the reader by showing signs of hypocrisy. In the declaration of independence it states that all men are created equal; and to contradict Jefferson, Banneker states, “we hold these truths to be self evident,...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...A tobacco farmer, and amateur astronomer, Benjamin Banneker was an inspiration for his mathematical achievements. He is frequently described as the first African American man of math. Banneker was born free in Baltimore County, Maryland, on 9 November 1731. He was the son of a freed slave from Guinea named Robert and of Mary Banneky, daughter of a formerly English servant named Molly Welsh and her husband, Bannka, a slave whom she freed. Banneker’s early years were spent with his family, including three sisters, growing tobacco on his parents’ 100-acre farm near the banks of the Patapsco River. In his early years he had been trained to read and write by his grandmother by means of a Bible she had purchased from England, but his only formal schooling was attendance for a week or two in a nearby Quaker one-room schoolhouse. Benjamin became an excellent reader, borrowing books from wherever he could, and developed considerable skill...
Words: 527 - Pages: 3
...falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” -Abraham Lincoln. In Benjamin Banneker’s critical letter to Thomas Jefferson, Banneker supports his point by contradicting Jefferson's beliefs regarding slavery. Banneker uses two main rhetorical strategies to support his claim. The first strategy focuses on an appeal to patriotism while the second focuses on an appeal to religion. Banneker focuses on using religious ideals that reflect many people's ideas, values, and morals. He persuades Jefferson further by referencing direct quotes from some of our nation's most important founding documents. By combining these ideas and contradicting Jefferson, Banneker creates a powerful and convincing argument. As exemplified in the first half of his essay, Banneker uses strong political arguments and primary sources to support his main idea. He challenges Jefferson's own beliefs when he states, “You cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom and tranquility which you enjoy you have mercifully received and that is the peculiar blessing of heaven” (Banneker 11). Banneker uses founding ideals of the United States to...
Words: 519 - Pages: 3
...The audience is the most important part of SOA that impacts the content of Benjamin Banneker's letter. Banneker's audience at this time was influential leaders, specifically Thomas Jefferson, who held anti-slavery sentiments. Annekers wrote this letter to convince Jefferson to commit to his anti-slavery statements and make a change. However, because Bzanneker doesn't completely know his audience, he most likely fails to achieve his purpose. For example, Banneker requests that Jefferson think about his past oppression under British rule and his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence, Banneker then calls Jefferson's attention to his hypocrisy. He remarks to Jefferson that it is “pitiable” to learn the fact that Jefferson owns hundreds...
Words: 263 - Pages: 2
...Benjamin Banneker, a son of former slaves, lived his life as an astronomer, farmer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. In 1791 Banneker wrote to Thomas Jefferson, the framer of the Declaration of Independence, about the hypocrisy of slavery in America. To address this issue, Banneker uses comparison, emotional diction, and biblical allusions in attempts of persuading Jefferson to change his views of slavery in American society. Banneker begins his letter with a respectful and empathetic tone towards the oppression that colonists experienced under British control, recalling the “variety of dangers to which you [colonists] were exposed” under the “tyranny of the British Crown”. Banneker’s tone establishes that he respects Jefferson as an individual, but also wants to draw on the shared oppression that colonists and African slaves have experienced. The purpose...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...Banneker’s letter to Jefferson Benjamin Banner decided to write Thomas Jefferson a letter replying to his opinions about African Americans expressed in a written article from Notes on Virginia (1788). Therefore, Banner argues the virtue of liberty should terminate slavery and that God created all men equally. In viewing this material, the first fact that he addresses is the termination of slavery stating that African American have endured years of infliction, disapproval, and disrespect. Although, Banner is a free man which there is no doubt he encounters several of these issues. Along with experiences and dealing with the mental prejudice of the culture of that time. Meanwhile Banner continues the argument questioning American liberty and...
Words: 339 - Pages: 2
...Benjamin Banneker, an extremely accomplished man with a wide range of positions (i.e. farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor and author), built his reputation among these posts. While Thomas Jefferson was a notable government counterpart in the writing of the Declaration of Independence as well as Secretary of State under George Washington, it was also known that Jefferson was a slave owner. In a letter from Banneker to Jefferson, Banneker argues for his slavery bound “brethren” in a way that can be deemed politely combative with an accusatory tone. Religion in the colonial time was something that everyone and anyone had in common, sure no one had the same beliefs but they knew that there was something otherworldly. Banneker’s use of religion points out a sense of dissimilarity White America has with being blessed to the harshness that is Black America. Although as Banneker stated that even with the “benevolence of the Father” the equal distribution of “rights and privileges” his “brethren” are being held under “captivity...
Words: 514 - Pages: 3
...Benjamin Banneker In the time of 1791, America was on the brink of war. Though the cause of this war was rooted on many incidents adding up and festering, they all revolved around one particular topic- slavery. Slavery is ingrained as a rather large portion of American history and eliminating it from practice was a battle all on its own. As a plea to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Banneker wrote an emotionally charged letter as an attempt to sway him against this practice. In this letter, Banneker utilizes many important rhetorical devices that are crucial to his message. Through parallelism, repetition, and emotional appeal, Banneker effectively displays his beliefs towards the topic. Banneker begins his letter by discussing the “tyranny of...
Words: 431 - Pages: 2
...Thomas Jefferson was the man who drafted the Declaration of Independence and was the third president of the United States. Jefferson was the third United states president. Coming from a very well educated family, Jefferson had the opportunity to have an interesting political career that would allow him to have great authority over the newly made country. From becoming a lawyer, to eventually become the third United States president, Thomas Jefferson would be one of the most important United States historical figures. Benjamin Bannekar who was a freed African American was a scientist and surveyor who wrote many works about his enslaved people. Bannekar’s viewpoints about slavery contradict those of Jefferson’s making a clash between two great minds. Analyzing these two men’s viewpoints about the controversial issue of slavery, examining the beliefs about these individuals, and determining what side has a more balance approach to these issues are discussed in this paper. Determining Jefferson view on slavery is a complex issue to many historians. He did not engage in the activity of buying slaves but did own some of his own in his plantation. Although, he owned 200 slaves on his Virginia plantation, he treated the slaves with dignity and respect. He considered them to be economic property in which they deserved the same kind of treatment any other individual would receive. Jefferson called slavery a “abominable crime” which, he personally believed would be the greatest threat...
Words: 894 - Pages: 4
...Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration of Independence, “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). Thomas Jefferson was a big advocate for human rights, but he did not think that these rights applied to African Americans, so he allowed slavery to exist. Banneker was angry at Jefferson because of this, so he wrote a letter calling him out for it. Benjamin Banneker uses repetition, archaic diction, and allusions in his letter to emphasize his purpose of trying to persuade Thomas Jefferson to change his mind about slavery; because he argued that all people had unalienable rights but that Africans did not deserve those rights. First, Banneker uses repetition to emphasize his purpose of trying to persuade Thomas Jefferson to change his mind about slavery. Banneker uses the word “sir” repeatedly throughout the text in order to emphasize his purpose. The word “sir” is a respectful word used to address a person of power....
Words: 686 - Pages: 3
