Whenever I get my students to write full essays, the one thing that brings them more pain, consternation and anguish than anything is the conclusion. Why do I have to write a conclusion, I already said what I needed to say? The conclusion allows you to surmise your point and make a larger statement towards the myopic argument you have been proving throughout the essay. I mean most famous speeches are famous because of the end. "I Have a Dream" is not uttered until the final third of the speech. "A government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (Not last line but next to last paragraph). Jefferson clearly knew the importance of a conclusion because I would argue his conclusion is the last three paragraphs. While we obsess over the first two paragraphs in American history, there is tons of important material in this conclusion. So let's break it down, shall we? We just finished the laundry list of complaints the colonists had of England and specifically King George III. After these issues are laid out in bullet points, Jefferson takes another shot at their leader. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people No chill Jefferson, no chill. Every time we humble colonists have expressed our concerns we have been met with even worse treatment. Every time! You would think once England might just be neutral but nope, "repeated INJURY". My liberties must really hurt. Of course, this statement is not fully truthful. England constantly repealed taxes in the 1760s and worked hard before the Boston Tea Party to avoid creating too much tension between the American colonists and Parliament. Still, as Mark Twain said, "don't let facts get in the way of a good story". That word tyrant is also noteworthy because it was thrown around as much as fascist is thrown around today in 2016. Virginia's state flag, Jefferson's home state, has the motto: Sic Semper Tyrannis or "Thus Always to Tyrants". What "always to tyrants" you may ask? Apparently death as the purple togaed man is being stepped upon by the blue togaed man (who is pulling off an epic Captain Morgan before that was a thing) with a crown on the ground. This man is "unfit to be the ruler of a free people". What a simple yet effective sentiment.
You are not worthy of us. It kind of seems like the ultimate "Dear John" letter, it's not me that caused this break, it's you. The Declaration continues... Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. At this moment, Jefferson turns his vitriol from King George III (where it has been for nearly half the Declaration) to the Britons. It reminds me of when Martin Luther King Jr. addresses white moderates with indignation in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail". Loyal citizens, we asked for your help and guidance. We wanted you to be part of this movement. Apparently the colonists tried several argumentative and maybe contradictory points: 1. Remember that we left Britain and for a reason. 2. We have a common ancestry, you are hurting your own people. 3. Don't you believe in justice for all? The British people responded with nothing, or as Jefferson says "deafness". Once again the wording really gets me here at the end. "We must therefore ACQUIESCE" (or give in) to the "necessity" of "separation". In other words, we are finally getting to the point of this document: the ACTUAL declaration of independence. Remember, this line could have been the entire document but they went so much further. Even this line has an extra sentiment where Jefferson calls the people of Britain enemies only at war, in peace time they can reconcile and create amicable relationships. Spoiler Alert: They will. Jefferson spends quite a bit of time explaining the "in-between", how badly America tried to avoid revolution and how those attempts have failed. Considering how radical a separation is, this is a critical step. Jefferson put his amazing writing skills on full effect here and it set a standard in great American rhetoric. If you want to make a point, you better consider your audience. Jefferson has dealt with multiple audiences in this document, the King, American colonists, the world at large and now the people of Britain. While some may call that haphazard, I consider it a solemn acknowledgement of the task and responsibility of this document. Next time we will take on the very last paragraph of this document!
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