Unit 2: Revolutionary Period Study Guide, Revolutionary Writers Test (Sandt)

Patrick Henry's "Speech in the Virginia Convention"

-wants best for the country, credibility
- Patrick Henry was a lawyer - has credibility
- "shakes hands in the audience by complimenting his audience"
- he loves his country
- uses rhetorical devices like repetition, anaphora
Summary: This speech is to Virginia Legislators to convince them that Virginia should join the war of independence. Fight for the freedom in the Revolutionary War against England.

The Declaration of Independence

The Key Components:
1. The reason for the Declaration (opening sentence)
2. The Self-Evident Truths
3. The Purpose of Government
4.Reasons for altering or abolishing a form of government
Middle Section: List of grievances against King George III
5. The Declaration
6. Rights of United "Sovereign" States
7. The Pledges (last Sentence)
uses logos, pathos, and ethos

Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis"

Thomas Paine's pamphlet made to keep the American's spirits up to fight Britain

Benjamen Franklin

lived 1706-1790
Worked as a printer until he retired at age 42
Started as an apprentice for his brother in Boston
By the time he was 16, he was writing part of the paper under a pen name: "Silence Dogood"
He wrote satirical letters and commentary on politics
Moved to Philadelphia at age 17 and opened his own print shop. Here he started annually publishing Poor Richard's Almanack
Offered information, observations, advice, etc.

Franklin's Autobiography

We know he was a pretty amazing guy: writer, witty, smart, political, inventor...
He decided to "arrive at moral perfection."
He focused on 13 moral virtues

Franklin's Virtues

1. Temperance
2. Silence
3. Order
4. Resolution
5. Frugality
6. Industry
7. Sincerity
8. Justice
9. Moderation
10. Cleanliness
11. Tranquility
12. Chasity
13. Humility
He decided to acquire these habits by concentration on one at a time rather than attempting to accomplish all a once

Abigail Adams

Lived 1744-1818
Was the wife of John Adams
One of the most documented first ladies
Remembered for the letters she wrote to her husband while he stayed in Philadelphia during the Continental Congresses; about 1000 letters!
John Adams sought her advice on may matters
Their letters are filled with discussions on government, politics, family, love , etc.
Her letters also serve as an eyewitness account of the American Revolutionary War

"Remember the Ladies"

During the Revolutionary War, women lived under a legal code called "coverture"
Abigail Adams saw the need to abolish coverture laws, and pleaded to John Adams to "remember the ladies" when the founding fathers were composing the Declaration for Independence
This letter has become famous for her plea during the Revolutionary era

The Background on the Enlightenment, the worksheets, and notes provided in class.

look at worksheets given in class and the definitions on the top of the worksheets, especially the Benjamin Franklin worksheets

Coverture Laws

The legal status of a woman, considered to be under her husband's protection and authority

persuasion

A kind of speaking or writing that is intended to influence people's actions.

logos

an appeal based on logic or reason

pathos

Appeal to emotion

ethos

a credibility appeal

parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses to prove a point

Rhetorical questions

Questions phrased to stimulate a mental response rather than an actual spoken response on the part of the audience

Restatement

Expressing the same idea in different words to clarify and stress key points

Aphorism

a general truth or observation about life, usually stated concisely. Often witty and wise, aphorisms appear in many kinds of works. i.e. A penny saved is a penny earned.

Repitition

Repeating a word, phrase, or idea for emphasis or rhythmic effect

Autobiography

a person's written account of his or her own life.

Coverture

women who are married become property to their husbands and the husbands can do anything they want to them

epistolary

work/ info through letters

who wrote "Speech in the Virginia Convention?"

Patrick Henry

Who wrote "The American Crisis?"

Thomas Paine

Who wrote his Autobiography and "Poor Richard's Almanack?"

Benjamin Franklin

Who wrote "Remember the Ladies" and letter to Mercy Ottis Warren?

Abigail Adams