The Rhetorical Analysis Of Thomas Paine's The American Crisis

Thomas Paine’s objective in “The American Crisis” is to persuade Americans to untie and take action in ridding America of British control; his writings effectiveness is due primarily to his employment of religious diction, vivid imagery, a sentimental anecdote, an urgent tone, as well as his consistent exploitation of his audiences’ emotions.

In an effort to convince his audience to support Americas goal of getting rid of British control, Paine utilizes a great deal of holy diction, granting him the ability to relate to his fellow Americans. As a result of relating to his Audience through diction, Paine is capable of persuading the rest of America into agreeing with his call to action. He writes: “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered,

He says: “…and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth.” By associating Americas relationship to Britain as one of a master and a slave, Paine consequently conjures up an image of enslavement and subjugation into the minds of his audience. This in turn aggravates Americas into pining for separation from Britain — for freedom; which is what Paine exactly is boring for. He then begins to accuse those of not agreeing with him as people whose “heart[s]… [are] is dead”; he says that “they shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy.” Because of this vivid description, Paine manages to compel his audience, especially the men, to be brave and rise to the moment; no man wanted to be told that they are “shrink[ing] back.” Similar to his use of religious diction, the usage of vivid imagery assists Paine in gathering Americans to join the effort in dispensing Britain rule over

The anecdote he provides tells of an instance in where he interacted with a tory, an American that supported the British. He describes meeting him with a fragile young girls, the mans daughter, and discussing the war effort. He was shocked to hear him say, "Well! give me peace in my day.” The man seemed to argue that he wouldn’t want bloodshed during his lifetime, he would rather “peace.” Many of Paine’s audience were men — who most likely have children, who would also live a life with peace instead of war, and by making the statement that men with this mindset are “unfatherly,” Paine is able to penetrate the men’s ego and make them feel ashamed of thinking that way. Thereby getting closer to convince them to join him and break off Britains control over America. Paine then progresses to describe what an ideal father should have thought in that situation. He claims that an ideal father should have thought: “ 'If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” The mention of this ideal father makes the men, men who would rather have “peace in [their] my day,” feel ashamed for not wanting their own children to live in “peace”; a product of them aiding in freeing America. This narration of a father and his unwillingness to