benjamin banneker letter to thomas jefferson analysis essay

Benjamin Banneker’s Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis

This essay will provide a rhetorical analysis of Benjamin Banneker’s letter to Thomas Jefferson. It will examine how Banneker uses ethos, pathos, and logos to argue against slavery and appeal for racial equality. The piece will discuss the historical context of the letter and its significance in the discourse on slavery and human rights. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Declaration Of Independence.

How it works

1 Benjamin Banneker’s Plea for Justice
2 Thomas Jefferson: A Contradictory Figure
3 The Power of Rhetorical Analysis
4 Appealing to Morality and Logic
5 References:

Benjamin Banneker’s Plea for Justice

In 1791, Benjamin Banneker, who has a son of former slaves parents had written a letter to Thomas Jefferson in a nice but efficient way; the letter written challenged the author of the Declaration of Independence and even the united states secretary of State at the time; Thomas Jefferson” on the main topics regarding class, freedom, and race at the time. In the letter written, he impressively touched on all the topics of how African Americans, blacks, were being treated badly and discriminated against as white privileged citizen who was seen as people who were above us African Americans during such time.

Banneker saw this as injustice and addressed it in his letter; Banneker showed how he felt toward such a crisis using heartfelt words so he and Jefferson could reach a point of common ground.

Thomas Jefferson: A Contradictory Figure

By 1791, Jefferson had already authored the Declaration of Independence, serving as the United States Secretary of State. I would completely bash Jefferson; he did try, in his political career, to make somewhat attempt to deliberately end slavery in the United States. In 1778, he composed a law in Virginia that forbade any importation of oppressed African Americas, and even in 1784, he moved a law that would ban slavery in the developing territories in the north. But even despite Jefferson’s doubts about the slave trade, he continued to still believe in the main basic moral of social supremacy “whites over blacks.” There’s even evidence that Jefferson privately owned and had even auctioned up to 500 slaves.

The Power of Rhetorical Analysis

Even after reading the letter, we could acknowledge that Jefferson was a modern politician during such a time; Banneker cunningly used the U.S. Constitution to petition Jefferson’s ideas for the future. We see that because Banneker even states in the letter written; ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are designed equal.’ Banneker wants to show how the constitution has been broken, the documentation of which the Country was basically established. Banneker even explains that if the constitution states that ‘all men are created equal,’ then surely the system of slavery should not subsist. That little existence of slavery contradicts everything the Country stood for, like; freedom, for example.

Banneker uses references to the Declaration of Independence and the Bible to fight the movements of slavery. First, Banneker’s regards to the Declaration of Independence to justify slavery is unconstitutional. This allusion we see is strong because Jefferson supported writing the document and were his intentions. Moreover, Banneker notes that for Jefferson to truly believe his ideas, he must support them for everyone, despite race. Similar to this, Banneker alludes to the Bible. This is powerful because Jefferson and Washington are spiritual men, and Banneker identifies their transgressions through the eyes of God. Banneker politely challenges the morality of both men by including an implication that brings him level with the power of God.

Appealing to Morality and Logic

Conclusively, I support Banneker’s arguments. Benjamin Banneker uses rhetorical devices like ethos and logos, as well as his use of repeated formal diction, which gives persuasion towards his argument against slavery, which is why I believe his arguments are thorough. Throughout, Banneker uses repetition to keep a formal tone and logically present his argument. Equally powerful, his references to the Bible and the Declaration of Independence form a strong case against slavery.

References:

Letter to Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Banneker, August 19, 1791. (n.d.). The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Monticello. (n.d.). Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

American Sphinx: The Contradictions of Thomas Jefferson. (n.d.). National Endowment for the Humanities.

Cite this page

Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis. (2023, Aug 09). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/benjamin-bannekers-letter-to-thomas-jefferson-rhetorical-analysis/

"Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis." PapersOwl.com , 9 Aug 2023, https://papersowl.com/examples/benjamin-bannekers-letter-to-thomas-jefferson-rhetorical-analysis/

PapersOwl.com. (2023). Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/benjamin-bannekers-letter-to-thomas-jefferson-rhetorical-analysis/ [Accessed: 13 Nov. 2024]

"Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis." PapersOwl.com, Aug 09, 2023. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/benjamin-bannekers-letter-to-thomas-jefferson-rhetorical-analysis/

"Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson Rhetorical Analysis," PapersOwl.com , 09-Aug-2023. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/benjamin-bannekers-letter-to-thomas-jefferson-rhetorical-analysis/. [Accessed: 13-Nov-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

benjamin banneker letter to thomas jefferson analysis essay

History Classics
Your Profile
Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)
Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)
Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)
This Day In History
History Podcasts
History Vault

This Day In History : August 19

Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows

Benjamin Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson, urging justice for African Americans

On August 19, 1791, the accomplished American mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker pens a letter to then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson . Jefferson corresponds prolifically with luminaries from around the world, but Banneker is unique among them: the son of a free Black American woman and a formerly enslaved African man from Guinea, Banneker criticizes Jefferson’s hypocritical stance on slavery in respectful but unambiguous terms, using Jefferson’s own words to make his case for the abolition of slavery .

Banneker himself was born free in what is now Ellicott City, Maryland, and was encouraged in his studies of astronomy and mathematics by the Ellicotts, a Quaker family who owned a mill and much of the land in the area. Predicting a solar eclipse and constructing a functioning clock that struck on the hour were among his early achievements. His prowess caught the eye of Jefferson after Major Andrew Ellicott chose Banneker to assist him in surveying the original boundaries of what would become the District of Columbia . Banneker also compiled several ephemerides (a type of astronomical chart) and almanacs.

In August of 1791, Banneker sent Jefferson, who was known both as a Founding Father and a devoted scientist, a draft of an almanac he was readying for publication. He felt compelled to include a personal note. In this letter, Banneker quoted the famous preamble to the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”) and said plainly that he was disappointed in the hypocrisy of Jefferson, a slaveowner:

"…but Sir how pitiable is it to reflect, that altho you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution of those rights and privileges which he had conferred upon them, that you should at the same time counteract his mercies, in detaining by fraud and violence so numerous a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and cruel oppression, that you should at the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act, which you professedly detested in others, with respect to yourselves."

Jefferson’s response, eleven days later, was cordial and complimentary but also condescending and racist. Jefferson praised the almanac and informed Banneker that he was sending it along to the Marquis de Condorcet, a French philosopher, mathematician, and abolitionist. The future president praised Banneker as a credit to the Black race, essentially telling him that he considered the almanac evidence that African American’s inferiority was owed “merely to the degraded condition of their existence both in Africa and America” and not to their innate inferiority, a paternalistic sentiment that was a frequent topic of debate among whites.

After Banneker’s death, Jefferson expressed doubt that a Black man could have written the almanac. He continued to own enslaved workers, despite decrying slavery in some of his writings, until his own death in 1826. Shortly after they were written, a Philadelphia publisher circulated a pamphlet containing Banneker’s eloquent argument for abolition and Jefferson’s non-committal response, which made the rounds among the nascent abolitionist movement. Contrary to the myth that slavery was universally accepted among educated and elite circles in the early United States, Banneker’s letter stands as proof that one of the nation’s founders received first-hand criticism of his hypocritical and contradictory stance on slavery in his lifetime.

HISTORY Vault: America the Story of Us

America The Story of Us is an epic 12-hour television event that tells the extraordinary story of how America was invented.

Also on This Day in History August | 19

This Day in History Video: What Happened on August 19

“West Memphis Three” released from prison after 18 years

Bill clinton is born, old ironsides earns its name, captured u.s. spy pilot sentenced in russia, first race is held at the indianapolis motor speedway.

Wake Up to This Day in History

Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. Get all of today's events in just one email featuring a range of topics.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details : Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

President Wilson appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

John wesley hardin killed in texas, the beatles kick off first u.s. tour at san francisco’s cow palace, kim basinger and alec baldwin marry, a jewish youth is killed by a mob in crown heights, brooklyn, cia‑assisted coup overthrows government of iran, adolf hitler cements his position of supreme power.