American+Rhetoric


 * Patrick Henry's Speech:**

1. Patrick Henry's purpose in his speech is to convince the Virginia colony to join the revolutionaries so that they may be able to protect their rights. 2. Henry's audience was the members of the Virginia Convention. His words were appropriate for his audience because most of the representatives were skilled readers and speakers that could understand his cause and complex rhetoric. 3. A rhetorical question used by Henry is. "Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?" Rhetorical questions such as this allow listeners to fell as if they are a participant in the speech. The questions posed to them force them to relate to the issues Henry brings up. which is, in this case, the necessity of British soldiers in times of peace. 4. Henry hoped that by bringing up God, the Virginians would be swayed by their emotions and join the revolutionary cause in order to gain favor with God. 5. Precis:

**CATEGORY ** : Speech **PRECIS ** : Patrick Henry, a politician and leader during the revolutionary era, in his speech to the Virginia Convention claims that Virginian representatives should support a revolution because it is necessary for the survival of the American colonies. Henry's speech was successful because it was moving and swayed the mood of the delegates through emotional appeals and rhetorical questions. His purpose in delivering the speech is to plead for revolutionary support from the large, powerful state of Virginia. The article is targeted towards the representatives of the Virginia Convention.
 * CITATION: **Patrick, Henry. "Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention." Virginia Convention. Virginia Convention. St. Johns Church, Richmond, Virginia. 23 Mar. 1775. Speech.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY **: This speech played a key role in garnering support for a fight for colonial liberty. The quote "Give me liberty or give me death!" is one of the defining quotes in the United States' identity.


 * Common Sense by Thomas Paine:**

1. Thomas Paine's purpose was to speak out against the unfair treatment of the American Colonists by the british Government and encourage them to unite against the British Rule. 2. Paine uses deductive reasoning to explain how a revolution would be thae only possible way to perserve their liberties without completely submitting to the Crown. 3. Paine uses long, complex sentance structures, and short, blunt sentances that are meant to quickly list out the various injustices committed by the British. 4. Paine hoped that by alluding to passages in the Bible, the representatives would be swayed by their emotions and join the revolutionary cause in order to gain favor with God. 5. Precis:

**CATEGORY ** : Reading **PRECIS ** : Thomas Paine, an author and British citizen, in his essay, "Common Sense" claims that the treatment of the American Colonies by the British government is unfair. Relies on deductive reasoning to explain how a revolution is the only possible way to preserve their liberties without following all of the unjust laws imposed by the British government. His purpose for writing is to sway the public opinion in favor of the revolution. The essay is targeted towards American colonists who are neutral to the idea of a revolution or who are still loyal to the British Crown.
 * CITATION: **Paine, Thomas, and Thomas Paine. //Common sense//. Charlottesville, Va.: University of Virginia Library ;, 1993. Print.
 * PERSONAL COMMENTARY **: I think that Common Sense was an important factor in bringing more people in favor of the Revolution. It is certainly an important piece of American history.


 * The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson:**

1. Thomas Jefferson's purpose in his declaration is to totally dissolve all political ties with Britain in order to protect the safety and liberties of the colonists. 2. Jefferson uses inductive reasoning to demonstrate that there is no chance of Britain and the Colonies coming to peaceful terms. 3. A rhetorical question used by Jefferson is. "Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?" Rhetorical questions such as this allow listeners to fell as if they are a participant in the speech. The questions posed to them force them to relate to the issues Henry brings up. which is, in this case, the necessity of British soldiers in times of peace. 4. Americans sometimes believe that the Declaration of Indeppendence set up a government for the American colonies. This misconception might exist because people confuse the Declaration of Independence with the United States Constitution. 5. Precis:

**CATEGORY ** : Reading **<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PRECIS ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: Thomas Jefferson, a gifted author and politician, in the Declaration of Independence expresses the desire of the US delegates to completely dissolve all political ties with Great Britain. Jefferson reasons that it is a government's duty to protect the liberties of the people it governs and then lists out a series of grievances enacted by the royal crown. His purpose in writing the article is to urge school districts to allow kids to have time for recess each day in order to improve education in the United States. The Declaration is targeted towards Americans who are unsatisfied with British rule, foreign countries who would be willing to assist the new country (in order to weaken Britain), and King George.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CITATION: **Jefferson, Thomas. __The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America__. Philadelphia: The Continental Congress, 1776.
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PERSONAL COMMENTARY **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">: I think that Jefferson was an incredibly talented writer. His belief that a government should be revised or even abolished if it fails to protect its citizens is a key idea in the identity of the United States.