Treaty of Paris: Analysis

Treaty of Paris: Analysis

Symbols, Motifs, and Rhetorical Devices

Rhetoric

PathosThe Treaty of Paris is, in a sense, an argument about why the two nations shouldn't be at war. The intro includes this gem, imploring both sides:[…] to forget all past misunderstandings and...

Structure

Your Standard TreatyStructurally, there's nothing at all unusual about the Treaty of Paris. It's just your standard treaty—almost as if the drafters Googled "how to write treaty" and copied off t...

Tone

Being Nice, 18th-Century StyleWhile the people negotiating the treaty didn't hate each other—Ben Franklin and David Hartley actually had a good bromance going on—there was a good deal of bad bl...

Writing Style

Treaties and How to Write ThemThe writing style is more or less exactly what you'd expect from a treaty at the time: a little bit stuffy, a little bit florid, and a lot bit written with a quill. Th...

What's Up With the Title?

Treaties often get nicknamed, but not in a fun, sassy way. (There is no Lil' Monster Treaty.) They usually just get tagged with the location where they're signed. That's why a treaty between Great...

What's Up With the Opening Lines?

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity. (Intro.1) Politics was more of a religious matter back in the 18th century, and the idea of "separation of church and state" wasn't really a thin...

What's Up With the Closing Lines?

The solemn ratifications of the present treaty expedited in good and due form shall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of six months or sooner, if possible, to be computed fr...

Tough-o-Meter

(8) Snow LineNobody likes reading official language from the 18th century. Nobody. Not even 18th-century lawyers…and those are the people who drafted this dang thing. But as far as documents from...

Shout-Outs

In-Text ReferencesHistorical and Political ReferencesThe Titles of King George III: An explanationKing of...Great Britain: This one should be pretty clear. The King of Great Britain is the King of...

Trivia

Ben Franklin invented swim fins. Seriously. Picture him wearing a pair. You're welcome. (Source)Ben Franklin coined the sayings "A penny saved is a penny earned," and "An ounce of prevention is wor...