Question

And that is something else at the center of the American Dream which is one of the distinguishing points, one of the things that distinguishes it from other forms of government, particularly totalitarian systems. It says that each individual has certain basic rights that are neither derived from nor conferred by the state. They are gifts from the hands of the Almighty God. Very seldom if ever in the history of the world has a socio-political document expressed in such profound eloquent and unequivocal language the dignity and the worth of human personality.

—"The American Dream,"
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1964

Which idea from this passage appeals to ethos?

the idea that his dream is different than democracy
the statement that each individual has certain basic rights
the language of the declaration is carefully chosen and eloquent
the suggestion that every American deserves to be remembered

Answer 1

the statement that each individual has certain basic rights

Explanation: invoking “basic rights” as “gifts from the hands of the Almighty God” appeals to moral authority and shared values, which is an ethos (ethical/authority) appeal.