Verb Choice and the Declaration of Independence

"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."

 Reading the preamble to the Declaration of Independence brought to mind the ideas of Williams' Style.   Part of the Declaration was used as an example in the book, but I thought that looking at the rest of the Declaration was a good analysis of the document as an argument.   The first verb is "created,"  and the phrase, "all men are created equal"  implies that men do not make themselves equal, it is a quality inherrent at birth.  This idea of fate dictating the ways of man is continued with "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."  By putting the agency in the power of God in a largely Christian world, it sets up the argument by making the removal of such rights an act against not only people, but of God's agency.  The passive voice continues in this manner.  The phrase, "Governments are instituted among Men"  implies that the governments themselves do not have as much agency, but rather are subject to the Men over whom they govern, implying a sense of responsibility.  A certain ambiguity is implied within the phrase, "organizing its powers in such form...Safety and Happiness," giving indication of the hope for autonomy in the creation of a new government.  The phrase,"mankind are more disposed to suffer...accustomed"  gives a dignity to the coming claims, showing the colonists to be strong in their enduring of "sufferings" under Great Britain.  Ultimately, Williams' tips for good writing in order to persuade can be seen directly within this historical document.  By manipulating verbs to cast blame and power upon certain agents within the framework of the argument, the Declaration of Independence was able to better serve its purpose: to allow for the beginning of a new nation.