why might the members of the continental cogngress have deleted the following passage from the declaration
these facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection and manly spirits bid us to renounce forever these unfeeling bretheren
it provides too much insight into the reason the colonists want to declare independence
it assumers that the british want the colonies to be part of britain
it uses overly emotional language to describe the reason for seperation from britain
it does not connect to the main point of the document
The members of the Continental Congress might have deleted the passage because it uses overly emotional language to describe the reason for separation from Britain. The passage emphasizes strong negative emotions towards the British, referring to them as "unfeeling bretheren." The members of Congress may have believed that such emotionally charged language could undermine the credibility and seriousness of their declaration. They likely wanted to present a rational and logical argument for independence, focusing on the grievances and principles rather than personal emotions. Additionally, the passage does not directly connect to the main point of the document, which is to declare the colonies' independence and provide the reasons for doing so.
The passage was most likely deleted because it provides too much insight into the reason that the colonists wanted to declare independence. By mentioning the "last stab to agonizing affection" and calling the British "unfeeling brethren," the passage uses overly emotional language to describe the reason for separation from Britain. This emotional language could potentially distract from the main point of the document and undermine the logical arguments being made for independence. Additionally, the passage assumes that the British want the colonies to be part of Britain, which may not be universally agreed upon by all members of the Continental Congress. Overall, the passage does not directly connect to the main point of the document, which is to declare and justify the colonies' independence from Britain.
The members of the Continental Congress might have deleted the passage you mentioned from the declaration for several reasons:
1. It provides too much insight into the reason the colonists want to declare independence: The Continental Congress might have felt that explicitly expressing their personal anguish and agony towards their "unfeeling brethren" would detract from the overall message of the declaration. The purpose of the document was to present a persuasive argument for independence based on principles of liberty and self-governance, rather than personal grievances.
2. It assumes that the British want the colonies to be part of Britain: The Continental Congress may have been cautious about making assumptions regarding the British perspective on the colonies. Including this passage might have been seen as speculative or potentially inaccurate, as it implies the intent of the British authorities without concrete evidence.
3. It uses overly emotional language to describe the reason for separation from Britain: The passage you mentioned is described as using "overly emotional language." The Continental Congress may have believed that presenting a more rational and composed argument would be more effective in gaining support for their cause. Emotional language can sometimes be seen as less persuasive, as it may be perceived as biased or lacking in logical reasoning.
4. It does not connect to the main point of the document: The Continental Congress, in crafting the Declaration of Independence, wanted to provide a clear and compelling argument for independence based on the principles of natural rights, freedom, and self-determination. If the passage you mentioned was deemed irrelevant or not directly connected to these main points, the members might have decided to remove it to maintain a concise and focused document.
In summary, the reasons for deleting the passage include avoiding excessive personal grievances, maintaining a rational and composed tone, and staying focused on the main points of the document.