Preview

Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And I Have A Dream

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
550 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And I Have A Dream
Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence” and Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” are texts that have a common denominator: the pursuit of liberty. Although both documents do not focus their context in the same historical moment, both have greatly influenced the history of the United States. Specifically, Jefferson’s purpose with the “Declaration of Independence” was to denounce the offenses suffered at the hands of Great Britain and to finally declare their absolute independence, sovereignty and liberty. On the other hand, Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream” exhorts people to end the discrimination towards Negroes and finally, their freedom.
In the “Declaration of Independence”, Jefferson employs a very clear and concise language. He used this powerful language in order to use it as an instrument of social and political change. His wordplay is a very persuasive and strong one. The language of the “Declaration of Independence” is more complicated because it is a document written in 1776 and some of the words written in it are not used so often today. In the speech "I Have a Dream", Martin Luther King also used words of strong connotation. It …show more content…
He uses these to persuade and convince the audience. Also, he repeats phrases such as “He has…” and “For…” to emphasize the facts he is presenting. Basically, the “Declaration of Independence” is a deductive argument, a form which begins with a principle and is followed by details, examples, and reasoning. Finally, “I Have a Dream” is the union of many literary techniques. King’s use of repetition in phrases like "I have a dream ..." and "Let freedom ring ..." emphasize the yearnings of Negroes and present what they mainly seek. It is a work which alludes to the “Declaration of Independence”. It also has lots of metaphors and
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis
    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis

    Jefferson was committing treason, a crime punishable by death, and he was asking his fellow countrymen to do the same. Similarly, King was asking people to follow him in breaking the law, taking the risk of going to jail or tolerating physical and verbal abuse. This, obviously, was not a simple task, but each was profoundly committed to their cause, and they never fell short of giving good reason for their strife. Both Jefferson and King used a significant amount of emotional and logical appeal, not necessarily to make their audience aware of their stance, but to sway them to feel the same and to take action. The style in which the Declaration of Independence was written was very formal and proper, and the emotional appeals are undertone to the logical facts that are stated about the tyrannical King of England. While the statement "He has...sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance" was most likely meant to strike emotion in the colonists, it was stated in a very particular manner, which gave it a more logical appeal when read by one whom was not living in the colonies at that time. All of the statements made about the King placed strong emphasis on the fact that "HE" was the one responsible for these terrible acts on the colonies, and each statement was precisely constructed to appeal to different audiences in a different way. On the other hand, Dr. King is very direct when using emotional appeal. He used his greeting skillfully to disarm the clergymen who were responsible for his presence in jail, and then, to further build his character in their eyes, he says, "I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth." As he progresses through the letter and shifts toward different audiences he uses emotional…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Edwards Contribute To The Enlightenment
    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Edwards Contribute To The Enlightenment

    Thomas Jefferson, a prime example of an original American politician, put many motions into action in regard to the creation of this new land. One of Jefferson’s greatest accomplishments is the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. This single document made way for the American Revolution to set sail and succeed. Within this piece of writing, Jefferson declared that “all men are created equal” (Jefferson 762). Though this statement, Jefferson put the image of equality and freedom in sight. He also writes of the American people as “a people who mean to be free” (Jefferson 343). These statements laid the foundation of the ideas behind the creation of this document and the reasoning behind its…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X
    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Similarities Between Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

    Baptist minister and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of civil rights supporters as a call to end racism in the United States as well as civil and economic rights for all races. In the introduction of the speech, he discussed the day that America’s forefathers signed the Emancipation Proclamation was a beacon of light for enslaved African Americans, as they would one day be free and seen as individuals rather than slaves. King states, “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” Continuing, Dr. King believes that the origin of racial inequality lies solely with America and the refusal to view all races as equal, like the forefathers who wrote the Constitution and the Declaration of…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A comparison of the United States Constitution And The Declaration of Independence
    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A comparison of the United States Constitution And The Declaration of Independence

    In exalted, unforgiving and unforgettable phrases, the Declaration of Independence expresses the convictions under the British rule in the minds and hearts of the American people. The Declaration of Independence is a powerful document that contains signatures from representatives from the 13 colonies. It also contains verbiage that accuses the then present King of Great Britain [George III] of disregarding laws, abusing his power as king and having a blatant disregard for the best interest of the people living in the colonies. The Declaration of Independence refers to the then current state of conditions under British rule of then King George III as being one of oppression.…

    • 712 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis
    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

    Kings speech is based heavily around repetition. He uses this in the lines, One hundred years later, I have a dream and Let freedom ring. All repeated to gain suspense from the audience as well as emphasising his themes of equality and justice. King says them with such authority and power to further drive home the importance of these themes. Using his voice to create a sense of urgency about the issue.…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Declaration Of Independence Speech Analysis
    • 77 Words
    • 1 Page

    Declaration Of Independence Speech Analysis

    The Declaration of Independence was written on July 1776 that was made by our finding fathers, that stated that the u.s wanted to be free over great Britain. The I have a dream speech by Martin Luther King was an important message because it stated that we should all be equal and not judged on our skin but by our personality. They tie together because the speech is for equality and so is the Declaration Of Independence.…

    • 77 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    I Have A Dream Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.
    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I Have A Dream Speech By Martin Luther King Jr.

    In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “ I have a Dream” speech to hundreds of people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C revealing the ideals of the current world and encouraging his audience to envision his dream of a new America where segregation and discrimination were abolished. To do this King intelligently chose words, phrases, references that appealed to his audiences commonalities such as religion, their common struggle, and their desire to make the nation great.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From Birmingham Jail

    In a land that promises life, liberty, and prosperity, the spirit of the African American people had been ridiculed and relentlessly robbed of these freedoms as exposed in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail. Even though our Founding Fathers established these rights to all of the people in 1787 and slavery had been abolished in 1865, a negro’s life did not fall under this covenant of freedom. Hostility and intolerance plagued these times, and someone needed to put an end to the oppression. Too much scarlet red had oozed out of the lives of innocent negro men, women, and children. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those individuals who rose up and fought for justice and freedom. His letter, Letter From Birmingham Jail, paints…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech
    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

    On August 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the prominent speech “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln Memorial to over 250,000 civil rights supporters. King’s speech was compelling and potent; it moved everyone. Furthermore, he helped change the world where there is justice. He believed in the equality between whites and blacks and died believing it. In addition, he strongly believes freedom exists for the blacks. He states, “[The white’s] destiny is tied up with [the black’s] destiny.” This quote emphasizes the problem of injustice in this world, and it makes the audience move into action. King’s speech was widely known, due to the effective tone he creates throughout his speech. His use of literary tropes and syntactical schemes help make this formidable tone. King’s speech influences the whites and blacks to listen by using extensive anaphora, metaphor, and diction to create a tone of necessity in his “I Have a Dream” speech.…

    • 547 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And The Constitution
    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Declaration Of Independence And The Constitution

    The Declaration Of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in Literary Style, and in Descriptive style about the event that he experienced and was trying to end. Thomas Jefferson was an American Colonist preparing for the Revolutionary War, his goals on preparing for that was to raise an Army, getting a military commander, recruiting allies, and stockpiling weapons. When Jefferson…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Distinctive Voices
    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Distinctive Voices

    Dr. Martin Luther King challenges American society in his speech I Have a Dream for the right of his own race. His strong use of anaphora creates a distinctive voice throughout his entire speech. King’s use of anaphora is most likely what led him to name his speech I Have a Dream. He continues to repeat “I have a dream” and “I have a dream today” in a large chunk of his speech. This is emphasising what he truly believes in for America. He is emphasising that a change is needed to be made to placate a population of African-Americans. The change is to also unite everyone as a nation. King’s distinctive voice depicts his determination. Pathos is created with King’s strong priest like tone of voice and appears as if he is preaching to his audience of his message. His preaching of repetitive, memorable words are those that lead his audience to think about the issue he is talking about.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    I Have a Dream and the Gettysburg Address
    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I Have a Dream and the Gettysburg Address

    Today I have chosen two speeches which are critical to the growth and development that our nation has gone through. Two men from different backgrounds and different times with one common goal, equality for all. The Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" both address the oppression of the African-Americans in their cultures. Though one hundred years and three wars divide the two documents, they draw astonishing parallels in they purposes and their techniques.…

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    I Have a Dream Analysis
    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages

    I Have a Dream Analysis

    Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King. The author covers King’s use of support, ornamentation/embellishment, and other rhetorical techniques. Further, the author is quick to contextualize the nature of King’s speech.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Analyse the Text of the Speech, Paying Particular Attention to the Following Features of Its Semantics and Lexical Structure: Use of Metaphor, Semantic Field, Text Type, Register, Intertextuality.
    • 2361 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Analyse the Text of the Speech, Paying Particular Attention to the Following Features of Its Semantics and Lexical Structure: Use of Metaphor, Semantic Field, Text Type, Register, Intertextuality.

    Martin Luther King was one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement, who fought against discrimination, and made a powerful appeal for justice and equality. Looking back to the history, in 1963 the America was divided into black and white population due to racism across countries. Namely, not only institutions such as schools and churches were separated but also public places like restaurants, libraries, cafes and even toilets. Besides, all the Black people, who were also called ‘Negroes’ were even forced to use separate drinking fountains. Martin Luther King delivered his speech known under the title “I have a dream”, moving public’s consciousness and people’s hurts. This particular speech, which took place on the 28th August in 1963 in Washington D.C, made King one of the greatest orators in American history. Through his speech he wanted to pass an important message to all people, highlighting that people should be treated equally and if not at that time, he believed this should have been done for the sake of the future generations. As one of the U.S. Congressman, who also gave a speech that memorable day, John Leens stated: “Dr. King had the power, the ability and capacity to transform those steps on the Lincoln Memorial into a modern day pulpit. By speaking the way he did, he educated, he inspired, and he informed not just the people there, but people throughout America and unborn generations.” Therefore, questions worth considerations are: What made Martin Luther King’s speech so special that it was ranked as the top American Speech of the 20th century? What features of the text, he delivered, touched people’s emotions, hurts and why did he use them?…

    • 2361 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Text Analysis “I Have a Dream”
    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Text Analysis “I Have a Dream”

    By analyzing the speech “I Have a Dream”, it could be divided into two important components: references and discontents, which are closely related and dependent to each other. King firstly proposes a reference as an idea, then, his discontent about reality to make his argument stronger, emotional. For example, MLK mentioned Declaration of Independence to maintain his point of view that every person has unalienable equal right for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (Jefferson et al, 1776). On the contrary King referred to Constitution of Alabama, which segregated Negros and White children according to skin color (“Declaration of Alabama”, 2011). By that King showed his strong discontent about American society (King, 1963).…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics