REDO of "The First Charter of Virginia" Rhetorical Analysis

The author of this primary document is not specified. However, from my understanding, I think that the authors are King James and his Successors because it says in the document that these people, as part of the council, were his "subjects" and they were to be "humble suitors." The audience of this piece are the people who are colonizing to the New Land. The Europeans, who King James addressed to colonize on this land, settled on there to make it prosper and establish a new society.

Throughout this document the tone was very authoritative and informative. It really stresses the laws and restrictions within this new colony, and when you are trying to establish a new government, being authoritative is important. Also, with this document being so authoritative and strict, it gave it a dull voice throughout the piece.

The main idea of this document was establishing colonization in Virginia. The people who established these colonies (the First and Second Colonies) claimed this land, assigning land by latitude and longitude as the dimensions for their rightful properties. Councils were also established, it was their own government which made laws, currency, military and trade. The appeal to authority was this ethos in this document because it seemed as though King James and his “Subjects” wanted this land more for a personal gain. With this in effect, the hierarchies obtain (by their restrictions) amounts of the settler’s findings, almost like a tax. I think the “Successors” are the pathos since the ruler(s) will give the impression to the people that they are credible and their decisions are worthy. I also believe that the Successors are the logos because they would have had to use logical persuasion to persuade other people to collaborate into the new colonies. As a leader you have to be trustworthy, persuasive and credible which is obviously what the settler’s thought King James and his "Subjects" were.