Students were directed to write an essay that analyzes how banneker uses rhetorical. Benjamin bannekers accomplishments extended into other realms as well, including civil rights. Benjamin bannekers letter to jefferson analysis by lamin johnson. Tell students they will read excerpts from this letter and identify the ways in which banneker developed his argument and challenged jefferson to live up to his stated beliefs. In 1793 benjamin banneker, a noted africanamerican inventor and mathematician published letters between himself and thomas jefferson. A rhetorical analysis of benjamin bannekers letter to. Advanced placement language and composition structured tutorial. No body wishes more than i do, to see such proofs as you exhibit, that. What did benjamin banneker implore thomas jefferson to do in a letter he sent today.
He assumes a knowledgeable and matterof fact persona in order to challenge jeffersons loya. Throughout bannekers letter, he asks jefferson to reflect on the past and shows him the. What is a central claim of benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson. One of the most successful free african americans of that time period was benjamin banneker, a surveyor, astronomer, and weather predictor. Thomas jefferson to benjamin banneker, august 30, 1791.
Maryland, baltimore county near ellicotts lower mills, august 19th, 1791 thomas jefferson, secretary of state. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and liberating for instructors. It is hypocritical to state that all men are created equal in a country that permits. He mailed the publication to thomas jefferson and included his famous antislavery letter to thomas jefferson. Benjamin bannekers 1791 letter to thomas jefferson.
Excerpts from a letter from benjamin banneker to thomas jefferson 101515, 8. Well find out what was in his letter, how he brought jeffersons contradictory position on slavery to. In 1996, a number of bannekers personal belongings were auctioned, and some of them were later loaned to the benjamin banneker historical park and museum. He argues that is a pitiable thing that the same man who advocated the equality of man under the father, his god and lord, was same man obstructing the freedom of his fellow man. Students read and analyze excerpts from a letter from scientist benjamin banneker to thomas jefferson challenging jeffersons view of african americans. In 1791, thomas jefferson was secretary of state and banneker considered the respected virginian, though a slaveholder, to also be open. August 19, 1791 today, african american scientist, surveyor and farmer, benjamin banneker november 9, 1731 october 9, 1806 sent a manuscript to thomas jefferson with the goal of getting him to change his stance on slavery. A literary analysis of the rhetorical devices, figurative.
Throughout the letter, banneker addresses jefferson as sir and you which serves the purpose of creating a mocking, condescending tone towards jefferson. Excerpts from a letter from benjamin banneker to thomas. I was unexpectedly and unavoidably led to develop a discourse on race and rights. Banneker uses tone, ethos, logos, pathos, syntax, juxtaposition, and scheme to sympathize with jefferson about. The universal asylum, and columbian magazine also published bannekers letter and jeffersons reply in philadelphia in late 1792. Benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson maryland, baltimore county, august 19 1791 ir, i am fully sensible of the greatness of that freedom, which i take with you on the present occasion. Students will write letters on the subject in their own words. Rhetorical analysis on benjamin bannekers letter 4 april 2017 benjamin banneker wrote this letter to attempt to make the secretary of state, thomas jefferson, aware of the oppressive and horrifying nature of the slave trade that bannekers ancestors had been in for generations. We are a race that has long suffered the abuse and disapproval of the world. What was benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson. Benjamin bannekers letter to jefferson analysis by lamin. View benjamin banneker, letter to thomas jefferson. Founded in 1900, the college board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other.
On august 19, 1791, benjamin banneker wrote a lengthy letter to thomas jefferson, then secretary of state, in which having taken up my pen in order to direct to you as a present, a copy of an almanack. At banneker s suggestion and with the strong agreement of his quaker supporters, the exchange of letters with tj was published in 1792 in a variety of forms for the express purpose of advancing the antislavery cause by demonstrating that black failure to match the intellectual achievements of whites was the result of slavery rather than. Benjamin banneker essay matt gottstines ap lang portfolio. To thomas jefferson from benjamin banneker, 19 august.
Copy of a letter from benjamin banneker to the secretary of state, with his answer. Africans in americapart 2jeffersons reply to banneker. Rhetorical device benjamin banneker letter to thomas jefferson. His purpose is to connect with thomas jefferson in order for him to take part in abolish. Neden ap language 15 december 2014 benjamin banneker uses many rhetorical strategies in his letter to thomas jefferson and george washington to argue against slavery. In benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson he argues that he wants slavery to be discontinued. Sir, i thank you, sincerely, for your letter of the 19th instant, and for the almanac it contained.
Correspondence with thomas jefferson banneker watches. From thomas jefferson to benjamin banneker, 30 august 1791. Years later, in a letter to his friend joel barlow, jefferson speculates that banneker had help in developing the calculations for his almanac, and refers to the long letter from banneker, which. Rhetorical analysis on benjamin bannekers letter essay sample. Rhetorical device benjamin banneker letter to thomas. Thomas jefferson and benjamin banneker primary source letters analysis activity for us history. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. Banneker s repetition of the pronoun you and title sir is a powerful and methodical technique that serves to place direct blame on jefferson and make jefferson take. The only way to end slavery is with criminal acts and violent rebellion. Thomas jefferson and benjamin banneker primary source.
Benjamin banneker, in his letter to thomas jefferson in 1791, argues for an. Banneker leaves no room for dispute that jeffersons actions are hypocritical and that slaves deserve their freedom, too. Vierneisel 20 october, 2011 benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson slavery was a major issue in the growth of our country, and the views of benjamin bannekerson of former slaves, a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and authorare evident in his letter written in 1791 to then secretary of state thomas jefferson. Banneker died in 1806 in baltimore, maryland, known as an abolitionist, astronomer, and successful almanac writer. In the letter, banneker accused jefferson of criminally using fraud and. A vocal antislavery activist, banneker publicly deplored the treatment of negroes in the united states of america, as illustrated in his letter to thomas jefferson penned august of 1791, nearly 10 years before jefferson was elected to the u. Benjamin banneker wrote this letter to attempt to make the secretary of state, thomas jefferson, aware of the oppressive and horrifying nature of the slave trade that bannekers ancestors had been in for generations. While banneker writes a letter to thomas jefferson to give his side of the argument towards slavery, he expresses his thought through repetition, appealing to emotion, blaming him for his actions, and a reference to the bible.
Manuscriptmixed material thomas jefferson to benjamin banneker, august 30, 1791 about this item. Benjamin banneker called out thomas jefferson us 101. That same year, a free africanamerican, benjamin banneker, challenged the way blacks were seen and treated by whites in america in a public letter to thomas jefferson. Shaping of america, 17831815 reference library dictionary. Benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson, written in 1791 when jefferson was secretary of state, argues that jefferson should abandon his proslavery stance and support the abolition of slavery. Benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson, 1791. Rhetorical annalysis of benjamin bannekers letter to. Banneker accuses jefferson of being a hypocrite and false believer in the father. Title thomas jefferson to benjamin banneker, august 30, 1791 created published 17910830 subject headings.
This letter was written in response to a previous letter, from banneker to jefferson in a request to view his almanac and accept it as proof that african americans were capable of. Rhetorical analysis on benjamin bannekers letter to. Click here for the text of this historical document. From thomas jefferson to benjamin bannekerfrom thomas jefferson to benjamin bannekerfrom thomas jefferson to benjamin banneker philadelphia, august 30, 1791. In this letter, banneker pointed to the contradictions between the principles laid out in the declaration of independence and bill of rights, and the continued existence of slavery. Benjamin bannekers letter to thomas jefferson flashcards. Banneker rhetorical essay benjamin banneker, a son of former slaves and an educated scholar, wrote a letter to thomas jefferson arguing about the mistreatment of slaves and the injustice of slavery. Banneker employs repetition to create polite diction, ethos, logos, and an allusion to the bible and passages from the declaration of independence to covey his. Excerpts from a letter from benjamin banneker to thomas jefferson pdf file. To thomas jefferson from benjamin banneker, 19 august 1791 skip navigation. In 1791, benjamin banneker wrote a letter to thomas jefferson, who was then the secretary of state, making a forceful and powerful argument against slavery. What did benjamin banneker implore thomas jefferson to do. Benjamin banneker, the negro mathematician and astronomer.
Banneker, benjamin and jefferson, thomasexcerpt from a letter to thomas jefferson and jeffersons response written august 19 and august 30, 1791 available at university of virginia library web site source for information on banneker, benjamin and jefferson, thomas. In addition, banneker compiled data on astronomical matters. To thomas jefferson from benjamin banneker, 19 august 1791. Some of bannekers personal manuscripts, including the only journal that survived the 1806 fire that destroyed his home, are in the possession of the maryland historical society. Letter from benjamin banneker to thomas jefferson 1791. Banneker begins each paragraph with the greeting sir in respect to thomas jefferson, who is higher than. The magazines editors a society of gentlemen titled the letter as being from the famous selftaught astronomer, benjamin banneker, a black man. Africans in americapart 2bannekers letter to jefferson.
Banneker, alluding to the bible and the declaration of independence, would appeal to jeffersons patriotism, while bringing attention to the issues that he has with slavery. What is a central claim of benjamin bannekers letter to. Prior to the publication of his first almanac, benjamin banneker decided to send a prepublication manuscript to secretary of state thomas jefferson, along with a cover letter. It was thus against this background of careful and intense preparation that banneker wrote the above letter and sent a copy of his ephemeris for 1792 to the. Banneker expresses this by using the rhetorical strategies. Ap english language and composition 2010 freeresponse. Biography of benjamin banneker, author and naturalist. It is logical and fair to grant unalienable rights to individuals who have escaped from slavery. Later, he composed and had printed benjamin bannekers pennsylvania, delaware, maryland and virginia almanac and ephemeris, for the year of our lord, 1792. Banneker, a free africanamerican astronomer, mathematician, scientist and writer, published his letter and jeffersons response in a 1793 almanac. Our flexible, affordable, entirely digital readers help you focus your classroom on primary sources.
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