We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
BACKGROUND:
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, one of the country’s foundational documents, ignited a signal of freedom both to the nation and to the world. This document is significant not only for its historical role, but also for the literary elements of its theme, its purpose, and its rhetoric.
ASSIGNMENT:
Write a response to the following prompt:
- How does the use of rhetorical devices help achieve the purposes of the Preamble to the Constitution?
Make sure to support your points and assertions by using examples from the document.
Hint: Examine The Preamble to the Constitution for the following:
–Purpose – Examples:
– to introduce the Constitution
– to set forth the framers’ altruistic intentions
– to put those at home and abroad on notice of the people’s commitment to unity, freedom and pursuit of peace
–Rhetorical Features – Examples:
– parallel structure
– capitalization
– loaded, emotionally charged words (e.g.: justice, tranquility, blessings)
