Declaration Of Independence Critical Lens Analysis

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” In other words, life should not be lived waiting for things to fall into place. Do not be passive. Seek your rights, as it will lead you towards your goal. Although you may believe your opinion is what is right, it will not change someone’s mind on its own. I agree with this quote because freedom is a natural right and people must fight to keep what they deserve. “The Speech at the Virginia Convention” and “The Declaration of Independence” by authors Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson respectively, encourage the Americans to fight for what they desire; in this case, freedom. Both authors used several literary…show more content…
It declares the oppressed (the American colonies) freeing themselves from their oppressor (England, the King, etc). Because Jefferson is against Britain’s tyrannous, demeaning ways, he writes with a purpose to influence the colonists to join him in his battle for freedom. In it, he says the King “has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” This imagery puts an idea/image into the minds of the people that the intentions of the King and Britain are wrong. By invading areas, blocking coasts, and tearing communities apart, he believed they did nothing but cause destruction. For example: during the Revolution, British troops burned down towns in the colonies because they believed all were in an open rebellion against their mother country. This quotation was meant to remind the people of the unacceptable things the British did to them. Therefore, the Declaration encouraged the people to think like it’s writers in order to preserve their freedom. Jefferson instills a feeling of desire for the new Americans to ‘right’ Britain’s
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