Morgan Valeri

Ms. Michko

AP Language & Composition

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In his argument to Thomas Jefferson (1791), Benjamin Banneker believes that slavery

should be abolished in America, and that now is the time to take into account all of the damage it

has now brought to our nation. Banneker supports his claim about slavery by challenging

Thomas Jefferson into understanding his own point of view, as he discusses his ideal concepts of

liberty and freedom. His use of confirming the Declaration of Independence, making

assumptions that Thomas Jefferson has already prior knowledge, and illustrates the dangers of

slavery can benefit our country in order to fight against these norms for African Americans, and

eventually can slavery be officially abolished. He appeals to a knowledgeable and authoritative

figure by employing an urgent and serious tone in hopes for change to be made to our country,

and for his audience to consider his own opinion in times of trouble.

As Banneker’s intention for slavery is for it to become abolished, he is able to trace back

to the Declaration of Independence. This specific rhetorical choice can have Thomas Jefferson

connect back to what he stands for. Benneker recites “We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all men are created equal--- pursuit of happiness” (21-25). When Benneker recites this

certain part of the Declaration of Independence, this gives Thomas Jefferson a chance to reflect

that this statement was most definitely not true for our nation at this point in time. He then dives

in further into Thomas Jefferson having the ability to recognize the major harm slavery was

doing for America and carried extreme hopes for it to be abolished as a result.
 In addition to Benneker presenting the Declaration of Independence, he as well illustrates

the dangers and harm slavery has done for our nation and even discusses the concepts of

prejudices to Jefferson. For example, he preaches “put your souls into their souls instead”

(47-50). By stating this, Benneker is having Jefferson go into a different perspective and allows

him to put himself into the shoes of a slave. This can now develop a new point of view and a

shift for Jefferson and the rest of America to recognize how cruel and harmful slavery truly was

for these individuals. As well, he brings up “which you clearly saw into the injustice of a state of

slavery” (15-16) to have Jefferson connect back and reflect what he saw our nation turn into. By

Benneker creating the ability for Jefferson to step into the shoes of the life of a slave can

seriously impact his thinking for change that clearly has to be made, and for him to get a true

glimpse of the destruction that has been done.

Apart from recognizing the injustice and confirming the Declaration of Independence to

Jefferson, Benneker makes the assumption that Jefferson has much prior knowledge in terms of

slavery and what it has done to our nation. For instance, he states “I suppose that your

knowledge of the situation- recital here” (42-43). By mentioning this, this connects the both of

them that they are already well educated on what is going on in our nation and for Benneker to

get his message out and straight to the point. By making assumptions of Jefferson, this can allow

the both of them to discuss their opinions to one another and to discuss the changes that need to

be made for liberty and freedom.

As Benneker makes the specific choices of confirming the DOI, assuming Jefferson has

prior knowledge, and discusses putting himself “into their souls”, this can form the ability for

Jefferson to reflect upon the damage that has been done to our country, and for urgent change to

happen. These choices made by Benneker can all resemble a call to action for our nation as a
whole, and as a major wake up call for what we as US citizens can change and improve for the

future in hopes to prevent any future destruction.