Question

Read this passage from 'A Defense of the Constitution'' by John Adams.

An excellent writer has said, somewhat incautiously, that "a people will never
oppress themselves, or invade their own rights beginarrayr * 8 · endarray This compliment, if applied to
human nature, or to mankind, or to any nation or people in being or in memory, is
more than has been merited. If it should be admitted that a people will not
unanimously agree to oppress themselves, it is as much as is ever, and more than is
always, true. All kinds of experience show, that great numbers of individuals do
oppress great numbers of other individuals; that parties often, if not always,
oppress other parties, and majorities almost universally minorities. All that this
observation can mean then, consistently with any color of fact, is, that the people
will never unanimousl ,⁹ agree to oppress themselves. But if one party agrees to
oppress another, or the majority the minority, the people still oppress themselves,
for one part of them oppress another.
Which statement best describes Adams use of rhetorical devices in this passage?
a anaphora/repetition with his use of the word "oppress"
b anecdote with his use of the phrase, "An excellent writer has said, somewhat incautiously"
c rhetorical question with this sentence: "All that this observation can mean then, consistently with any color of fact, is, that the people will never unanimously agree to oppress themselves."
d irony with this statement: "This compliment, if applied to human nature, or to mankind, or to any ⁹nation or people in being or in memory, is more than has been merited."

Answer 1

John Adams's use of the term 'oppress' in 'A Defense of the Constitution' exemplifies the rhetorical device of anaphora/repetition (option a), emphasizing his argument against self-oppression within a society.

Step-by-step explanation:

John Adams, in his passage from A Defense of the Constitution, utilizes rhetorical devices to emphasize his point about the nature of oppression within societies. Specifically, the statement that best describes Adams's use of rhetorical devices in this passage is anaphora/repetition with his use of the word 'oppress'.

This word is strategically repeated throughout the passage to highlight the various ways in which oppression can manifest, whether it be individuals oppressing others, parties oppressing opposing parties, or majorities oppressing minorities. By doing so, Adams effectively argues that people can indeed oppress themselves if one part of society imposes its will on another.