Use the passages to answer the question, select passage, 1 and passage 2. What strategies do both documents use to persuade their audience?

Question

Passage 1:

“Wilberforce 1789 Abolition Speech” by William Wilberforce: When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House - a subject, in which the interests, not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of posterity, are involved: and when I think, at the same time, on the weakness of the advocate who has undertaken this great cause - when these reflections press upon my mind, it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned at my own inadequacy to such a task. But when I reflect, however, on the encouragement which I have had, through the whole course of a long and laborious examination of this question, and how much candour I have experienced, and how conviction has increased within my own mind, in proportion as I have advanced in my labours; - when i reflect, especially, that however averse any gentleman may now be, yet we shall all be of one opinion in the end; - when I turn myself to these thoughts, I take courage - I determine to forget all my other fears, and I march forward with a firmer step in the full assurance that my cause will bear me out, and that I shall be able to justify upon the clearest principles, every resolution in my hand, the avowed end of which is , the total abolition of the slave trade. I wish exceedingly, in the outset, to guard both myself and the House from entering into the subject with any sort of passion. It is not their passions I shall appeal to - I ask only for their cool and impartial reason; and I wish not to take them by surprise, but to deliberate, point by point, upon every part of this question. I mean not accuse any one, but to take the shame upon myself, in common, indeed, with the whole parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty - we ought all to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others; and I therefore deprecate every kind of reflection against the various descriptions of people who are more immediately involved in this wretched business.

Passage 2:

“The English Bill of Rights” An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown


Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors, judges and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom;

By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws and the execution of laws without consent of Parliament;

By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates for humbly petitioning to be excused from concurring to the said assumed power;

By issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the great seal for erecting a court called the Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes;

By levying money for and to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative for other time and in other manner than the same was granted by Parliament;

By raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of peace without consent of Parliament, and quartering soldiers contrary to law;

By causing several good subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when papists were both armed and employed contrary to law;

By violating the freedom of election of members to serve in Parliament;

By prosecutions in the Court of King's Bench for matters and causes cognizable only in Parliament, and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses;

And whereas of late years partial corrupt and unqualified persons have been returned and served on juries in trials, and particularly divers jurors in trials for high treason which were not freeholders;

And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects;

And excessive fines have been imposed;

And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted;

And several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures before any conviction or judgment against the persons upon whom the same were to be levied;

All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes and freedom of this realm;

And whereas the said late King James the Second having abdicated the government and the throne being thereby vacant, his Highness the prince of Orange (whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the glorious instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power) did (by the advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and divers principal persons of the Commons) cause letters to be written to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants, and other letters to the several counties, cities, universities, boroughs and cinque ports, for the choosing of such persons to represent them as were of right to be sent to Parliament, to meet and sit at Westminster upon the two and twentieth day of January in this year one thousand six hundred eighty and eight [old style date], in order to such an establishment as that their religion, laws and liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted, upon which letters elections having been accordingly made;

And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, pursuant to their respective letters and elections, being now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation, taking into their most serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid, do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties declare

That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal;

That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal;

That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and pernicious;

That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal;

That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal;

That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law;

That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law;

That election of members of Parliament ought to be free;

That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament;

That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders;

That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void;

And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.

(1 point)
Responses

Both documents appeal to the audience's emotions.
Both documents appeal to the audience's emotions.

Both documents list a series of wrongs committed by members of the government.
Both documents list a series of wrongs committed by members of the government.

Both documents outline why things are not currently working and give direction on how to make positive change.
Both documents outline why things are not currently working and give direction on how to make positive change.

Both documents use personal pronouns to convey opinions
Both documents use personal pronouns to convey opinions
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Answer 1

Both passages use persuasive strategies to effectively engage their audiences, albeit in different contexts.

1. Emotional Appeal: Passage 1 employs a personal and emotional tone, as William Wilberforce articulates his feelings of inadequacy and collective guilt regarding the slave trade. This emotional vulnerability can resonate with the audience, making them more receptive to his message. In contrast, Passage 2 lists a series of grievances against King James II, appealing to the audience's sense of justice and rights, thereby invoking emotions related to injustice and the need for change.

2. Listing Wrongs: Passage 2 explicitly enumerates the wrongs committed by the government, which serves to inform the audience of the specific abuses of power and rally them towards the cause of reform. Passage 1, while not formatted as a list, discusses the moral culpability of the parliament, calling them all guilty, thereby highlighting the larger moral failings associated with the slave trade.

3. Call for Rational Deliberation: Wilberforce's approach in Passage 1 encourages rational, cool-headed discussion rather than passionate debate, suggesting a methodical engagement with the issue of slavery. This strategy aims to appeal to the logical reasoning of the parliament members. In contrast, Passage 2 emphasizes the illegality and abuses of power by the Crown, appealing to the audience's understanding of legal rights and the necessity of changing unjust laws.

4. Use of Personal Pronouns: Both passages use personal pronouns to establish a connection with their audiences. Wilberforce reflects a shared responsibility with statements that include "we" and "our," fostering unity in the cause against slavery, while Passage 2 uses "the subjects" and "the king" to assert the rights of the people against the monarchy.

In summary, both documents utilize emotional appeals, listing grievances, and rational argumentation, along with personal connections, to persuade their respective audiences towards political or social change.