THE CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................
2
2. LITERATURE VIEW .....................................................................
3
2.1 Discourse analysis ...........................................................................
3.............................................................................................................
2.2 Critical discourse analysis (CDA)....................................................
3
2.2.1 Definition of CDA ........................................................................
3
2.2.2 Approaches of CDA .....................................................................
4
2.2.3 The key concepts in CDA .............................................................
4
2.2.3.1 Ideology ....................................................................................
4
2.2.3.2 Power ........................................................................................
5
3. A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA ......................................................................
5
3.1 Socio-political context leading to the birth of The Declaration of
Independence of the United States of America ......................................
5
3.2 A critical discourse analysis of The Declaration of Independence
of the United States of America ............................................................
6
3.2.1 Topic .............................................................................................
6

1
3.2.2 Language ......................................................................................
6
3.2.2.1 Choice of words ........................................................................
6
3.2.2.2 Sentence structures ....................................................................
7
3.2.2.3 Tone ...........................................................................................
8
3.2.3 Layout ..........................................................................................
8
3.2.4 Rhetorical devices ........................................................................
9
3.2.4.1 Imagery and metaphors .............................................................
9
3.2.4.2 Parallelism and repetition ..........................................................
10
4 Conclusions ........................................................................................
11
5. APPENDIX ......................................................................................
12
6. REFERENCES ................................................................................
17

2
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale
The Declaration of Independence known as the Unanimous
Declaration of the thirteen colonies of the United States of America is
the most important document in the history of the United States of
America. Written by Thomas Jefferson, this document outlines the
reasons for the declaration of the independence of the colonies. It
made an impression because it was a new and different way of dealing
with political issues.
In order to find out the relationship between language and
power, critical discourse analysis (CDA) is considered as a very
important tool.
For the above reasons, I conduct the assignment entitled “A
critical discourse analysis of The Declaration of Independence of the
United States of America”.
1.2 Aims
The research aims at presenting an analysis of The Declaration
of Independence of the United States of America under the light of
critical discourse analysis. Accordingly, the study suggests
implications for linguistics strategies which are used by speaker to get
his ideologies and power across. In other word, the study points how
Thomas Jefferson convinced a "candid world" that the American
colonies were justified in seeking to establish themselves as an
independent nation.

3
2. LITERATURE VIEW
2.1 Discourse analysis
Discourse analysis is a term for the study of the ways in which
language is used in texts and contexts, or texts' surrounding and
defining discourse. It was developed in the 1970s as a field of study.
Discourse analysis has been described as an interdisciplinary study of
discourse within linguistics. It relates linguistics, poetics, semiotics,
psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, and communication
research.
The objects of discourse analysis as discourse, writing,
conversation, communicative event are variously defined in terms of
coherent sequences of sentences, propositions, speech, or turns-at-talk.
Contrary to much of traditional linguistics, discourse analysts not only
study language use 'beyond the sentence boundary' but also prefer to
analyze 'naturally occurring' language use.
According to Fasold (1990: 65), the study of discourse is the
study of any aspect of language use. As such, it cannot be restricted to
the description of linguistic forms independent of the purposes or
functions which these forms are designed to serve in human affairs
(Brown & Yule, 1983: 1).
2.2 Critical discourse analysis (CDA)
2.2.1 Definition of CDA
There has been much written in recent years about CDA in its
broadest sense. It seems to be quite difficult to define what exactly is
it. CDA encompasses a number of general tenets and uses a variod
range of techniques. It aims mainly to identify socio-political
inequalities that exist in society.
According to Fairclough (1993), CDA is defined as a branch of
discourse analysis, which is concerned with analyzing opaque as well
as transparent structural relationships of dominance, discrimination,
power and control as manifested in language
In the opinion of Teun van Dijk (1998), one of the current key

4
researchers of CDA: Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is a type of
discourse analytical research that primarily studies the way social
power abuse, dominance, and inequality are enacted, reproduced, and
resisted by text and talk in the social and political context. With such
dissident research, critical discourse analysts take explicit position,
and thus want to understand, expose, and ultimately resist social
inequality. (2001: 352)
From these statements, it can be seen that CDA mainly focuses
on investigating how societal power relations are established and
reinforced through language use.
2.2.2 Approaches of CDA
Discourse analysis is a term that covers a lot of different
approaches. Coulthard (1985) identifies four versions: anthropological
work on the ethnography of speaking; speech act theory;
ethnomethodological conversation analysis. Besides, there are more
another approaches to CDA, such as the dialectical relational
(Fairclough), socio-cognitive (van Dijk), discourse historical (Wodak),
social actors (van Leeuwen), and Foucauldian dispositive analysis
(Jӓger and Maier). Generally, all the approaches to CDA have the
notions of ideology, Critique, and power in common.
2.2.3 Key concepts in CDA
2.2.3.1 Ideology
Ideology is an important concept in CDA. This concept is
considered to establish the link between discourse and society. There
are many definitions of ideology by different linguists.
According to Van Dijk “ideologies are developed by dominant groups
in order to reproduce and legitimate their domination” (1997: 25).
Besides, Fairclough (2003: p.218) defines ideology as
"representations of aspects of the world which contribute to
establishing and maintaining relations of power, domination and
exploitation."

5
 In short, ideologies are both social systems and mental
representations. They are judged in term of their social effects rather
than their truth values. In the end, they make up the basis of discourse.
2.2.3.2 Power
For CDA, language is not powerful on its own – it gains power
by the use of powerful language make of it.
Language is entwined in social power in a numbers of ways: language
indexes power, expresses power, is involved where there is contention
over and a challenge to power.
The relationship between discourse and power rests in the
ability of language to control or affect the behaviors and thoughts of
others. Discourse analysis with respect to power typically focuses on
the role of authorities and their abilities to guide, lead or control others
through speech or conversation.
3. A critical discourse analysis of The Declaration of Independence
of the United States of America
3.1 Socio-political context leading to the birth of The Declaration
of Independence of the United States of America
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America was
born in a very special situation.
By that time, Parliament enacted a series of measures to
increase revenue from the colonies. Parliament believed that these acts
were a legitimate means of having the colonies pay their fair share of
the costs to keep them in the British Empire.
Many colonists, however, were unhappy that they did not have
a say in their government and still had to pay taxes. And they argued
that Parliament had no right to levy taxes upon them. Conflict is
pushed to the top and struggle for freedom is inevitable. Between
April and July 1776, a "complex political war" was waged. Political
maneuvering was setting the stage for an official declaration of
independence. On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed a "Committee of
Five" to draft a declaration. The Declaration became official when

6
Congress voted for it on July 4 as the Unanimous Declaration of the
thirteen colonies of the United States of America.
Thus, the Declaration of Independence was the culmination of
years of dissatisfaction in the American colonies lead to change and
emancipation.
It is a historical document that draws on eloquent aspiration,
willpower; determination of Americans on the right to independence
and freedom, as well as the inevitable consequence of the struggle for
those sacred rights. The most important is that it opened a new era in
the history of America: the era of independence, freedom; demolished
of slavery as well as British colonial rule.
3.2 A critical discourse analysis of the declaration of independence
of the United States of America
3.2.1 Topic
The topics of “The Declaration of Independence” are closely
related to the context of when the Declaration was issued. The legal
document was drafted during the American Revolutionary War, when
thirteen North American colonies decided to proclaim independence
from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Consequently, the text focuses on
themes like freedom, tyranny, equality, legitimacy.
The writer constantly uses the juxtaposition of freedom and
tyranny throughout the Declaration of Independence. It can be seen
that King George and Parliament represent tyranny, while the people
of America represent freedom. The writer compares these two aspects,
sometimes directly, sometimes by implication to illustrate two
problems: the social injustice and the justification of colonies for their
declaration. Meanwhile, the beginning of the speech - which is also its
best-known part - focuses on equality and the legitimacy of
government, explaining both theoretical concepts.
3.2.2 Language
3.2.2.1 Choice of words

7
 The writer uses a specific type of word choice. He uses formal
wording because this is a formal presentation and seriousness of the
situation in which he is describing.
The words such as dissolve, abolish, usurpations, and fatiguing
are used to really enhance the text. This creates a sort of serious mood
for the audience. The writer’s tone is very formal and serious about
what he is talking about. He is very adamant about his argument and
uses these words to help prove his point.
Looking at the choice of words, you will notice that many
words are related to government and policy implementation as the
document is meant to list the reasons why American colonies need to
declare independence: “He has obstructed the Administration of
Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary
powers”. Besides, the writer uses many negative words because a
good part of the Declaration represents a condemnation of the rule of
King George III over the colonies. For example:: “destructive” ,
“abuses and usurpations” , “absolute Despotism” , “patient
sufferance” , “absolute Tyranny” , “unusual"…
The writer has a very scholarly tone to his wording and overall
approach to his writing. He uses descriptive, complicated, and
sophisticated language to help the reader understand the seriousness of
his writing.
3.2.2.2 Sentence structure
The writer constructs his sentences very delicately. He uses
simple, compound, and declarative sentences to prove his point. He
mostly uses compound sentences such as, “He is at this time
transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the
works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with
circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most
barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.”
His use of compound sentences helps cram that mass amount of
important detail into the declaration. They are compound but not

8
wordy or overdone. His sentences are developed in a way that make
sense and move the argument along very smoothly.
3.2.2.3 Tone
The overall tone of the speech is a straight forward legalistic
tone. The writer conveys a serious tone by using impersonal
statements stating general truths: “When in the Course of human
events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands” , “…mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are
sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed.”
More specifically, It starts off very respectful and then turns
into both serious and accusatory with a long list of complaints, all
directed at King George III, who was not personally responsible for
most of the policies they were complaining about. The final tone is
defending the clarity they are not simply in rebellion but by creating
their own independent government.
3.2.3 Layout
The Declaration is divided into five main parts, with an
extremely tight and logical structure from the legal basis and the
practical basis to the declaration of freedom and independence of
American people.
The first one is introduction, the statement of purpose. In this
part Thomas The writer asserts that Natural Law and the God – given
nature of man give him the power to process political independence.
This is a special explanation of why the colonies are breaking ties with
Great Britain, although without giving.
The second one is preamble, the statement of rights of people.
It seems to be the most valuable part, the writer mentions of the rights
that cannot be denied under any circumstance of the people with
relation to their government. The government exists to protect people's
inherent human rights, and the writer presents the accusation that the
British government has become tyrannical and no longer protects the

9
citizens in the colonies. In the event that the government becomes
negative, the people have the power to dissolve it.
Moving on to the third part, after pointing out the rights and
unchanging truths, the author uses the strong arguments to lists down
the myriad injustices that British government, primarily King George
III has subjected the people of America to. These are the factual and
convincing evidences to convict the current government.
The fourth part - Indictment of the British People, is the answer
to the question "Did the colonists take any action to save the
situation?". The writer reminds the readers that the colonists have tried
a number of times to plead their case for better treatment, even they
appealed directly to the British people for support. However, nothing
worked, everything got even worse.
The last part is a statement that the colonies are free and as
such entitled to all the privileges enjoyed by sovereign states. This is
the most meaning and valuable part. It is the declaration of the whole
as well as the indispensable result of the legal basis, the practical basis
that the author has made.
In short, through the tight and logic layout of language we see
the power and the ideology of the declaration.
3.2.4 Rhetorical devices
3.2.4.1 Imagery and metaphors
Because this is a legal document, there are only a few instances
of imagery. Some examples are: “He has plundered our seas, ravaged
our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people” or
"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to
complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already ....".
These imageries help to justify declaring independence.
Meanwhile, Metaphorical language, though not used much, is
very effective in this text. The first is in speaking of “the laws of
Nature and of Nature’s God” in order to justify the actions of the
American revolutionaries. The writer uses “Nature” as a metaphor for

10
fixed moral laws, which can be seen by everyone and need no special
revelation. The second is “They too have been deaf to the voice of
justice and of consanguinity.". The metaphor refers to the attitude of
the British people, particularly members of Parliament.
3.2.4.2 Parallelism and repetition
The Declaration of Independence has many instances of
parallelism and repetition. They are often combined together. For
example:
- The writer uses “that” 7 times in the second part to introduce
every truth; this implies his emphasis on the significance of the
original rights such as “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”
- In addition, the use of “he” 14 times in the beginning of every
complaint shows that the writer is purposefully blaming the British
King for his wrongdoings and injustice towards the colonists. It also
furthers the persuasion for colonists to revolt.
There are still other parallelisms and repetitions in the text. All
of them are used for the most general purpose of creating power for
the language used.

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3. CONCLUSIONS
This article provides an overview of discourse analysis,
especially critical discourse analysis. It can be seen that discourse
analysis is related to analyzing a text in terms of the text and the
context; meanwhile critical discourse analysis is analyzing socio
linguistic features of a text in terms of status, control and power
relations between the interlocutors.
For the particular case of The Declaration of Independence of
the United States of America, CDA is necessary toward identifying
inequality and social injustice. Through some basic critical analytical
aspects, such as Topic, Language, Layout and Rhetorical devices, it is
clear that Thomas Jefferson uses effectively the power of language. He
harnessed the powers of different rhetorical persuasions with a tight
and concise argument system, sharp language, and eloquent tone to
strongly affirmer the national sovereignty before the world as well as
to open up the new era of America on the way of development. In
short, The Declaration of Independence of the United States of
America is both an important legal document and a valuable literary
work.

12
4. APPENDIX
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of
America

W hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for

one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the
earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and
of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of
mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will
dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for
light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown
that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable
than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them
under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off
such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
— Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is
now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems
of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a

13
history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object
the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove
this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary
for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent
should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected
to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of
Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and
formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual,
uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public
Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with
his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with
manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others
to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of
Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise;
the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of
invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that
purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners;
refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and
raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent
to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their
offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

14
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of
Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the
Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to
the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to
our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent
to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any
Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring
Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging
its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument
for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and
altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves
invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his
Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and
destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to
compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun
with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the

15
most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized
nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas
to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of
their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has
endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless
Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished
destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in
the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered
only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by
every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free
people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We
have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to
extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them
of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have
appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have
conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these
usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which
denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of
mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in
General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the
world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by
Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and
declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free
and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to
the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and

16
the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that
as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War,
conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all
other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. —
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the
protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

17
REFERENCES

1. The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America

by Thomas Jefferson - 1776

2. Perspectives on Discourse Analysis: Theory and Practice by Laura

Alba – Juez. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 2009
3. Critical Discourse Analysis by Gunther Kress 2008
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_discourse_analysis
5. An analysis of the Declaration of Independence by Gabrielle
Brannigan. December 2014
6. https://www.studienet.dk/the-declaration-of
independence/perspectives
7.https://www.shmoop.com/historical-texts/declaration-of-
independence

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