The Fear Appeal

In 11 AP English, we learned to identify three different types of appeals: emotional, rational, and ethical. Thomas Jefferson put these appeals to use in his Declaration of Independence, a masterful, time-enduring document which has shaped man's view of government and freedom for the past two centuries. However, the appeal which is often overlooked is the "Fear Appeal". A fear appeal is a type of persuasion which attempts to arouse fear in order to change behavior through the threat of impending danger or harm. Thomas Jefferson subtly utilizes fear appeal in his declaration as a final statement to the American people to take action against the British suppression, or else they will only fall into their inevitable doom. One of the most profound appeals towards fear is his statement that "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable" under the rule of the British empire. This beseeches to the colonists that staying under the rule of Britain will only cause a continuation of their suffering. First, the risk of suffering is shown to the American people, and then a protective action is presented, in which they should "abolish" the government or sever their ties for their own well being. Fear is a powerful emotion to appeal to, as the state of fear is an extremely unpleasant emotional state which stimulates psychological arousal that prompts responses towards the reduction of threat or danger. By subtly playing towards this fear of colonists, Thomas Jefferson was able to craft his masterpiece, the Declaration of Independence, which would put finality on America's freedom from mother Britain and rally the popular belief of the nation behind their cause.