Benjamin Banneker's Letter To Thomas Jefferson

During the year 1791 a man by the name of Benjamin Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, framer of the Declaration of Independence, addressing slavery. He wants to make his points valid in the overall thought to slavery. How it really is to human kind, as of if it is right, or if it is wrong. The purpose of this essay is to help give an understanding as to the reason Mr. Banneker wrote this letter in the first place, as well as help identify the main techniques used to make the argument.
“Sir”, a much respected name to call someone. Using this adds a sense of respect and credibility to his tone when he addresses Mr. Jefferson. He repeatedly uses this prefix to help his argument. Using the word Sir allows Mr. Jefferson to feel more empowered. It lets his emotions grab ahold of him from the start.
During this letter the Declaration of Independence is brought up. A line is quoted and that line is “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 right, that among these are life,

liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The is brought up to attempt to bring Mr. Jefferson back to the moment he believed that to be true, and for him to question his own judgement about whether or not making slaves seem less of a person was the right thing to do. Mr. Banneker attempts to make Mr. Jefferson understand that he did not follow his own law, to follow his own heart.
It is very easy to make references that mean nothing.

But when you really need to make a point you can use biblical references. Using biblical references bring Mr. Jefferson back to his prized time when he wrote the Declaration. Makes him feel the way he felt when he wrote it. This is a very strong emotional technique to use in this sense because Mr. Jefferson is very religious. Mr. Banneker uses the quote “Put your souls in their souls stead thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards them, and thus shall you need neither the direction of myself or others, in what manner to proceed herein.” This is a wonderful quote to use because it helps everyone understand that it does matter what color you are, or what race you are it shows how you are your own, and the direction you wish to go is the one you will go. That everyone can enlarge their heart with

kindness.
This letter use great techniques to show how someone can think differently if only showed by someone new. The entire time through this letter Mr. Banneker uses pathos as his technique of choice. He uses it very well and understands when to use something different and what to talk about and what not to. He is very respectful and formal towards Mr. Jefferson and that helps his case. It makes Jefferson feel important, more empowered which will make him want to read the entire letter. Overall this is a very good letter and makes a very good, valid, argument.