Read this passage from the Declaration of Independence. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. Why does Jefferson use the word barbarous alongside the word civilized?
to suggest that King George is the opposite of what he should be
to point out that there have been more barbaric leaders than King George
to shame King George into behaving more like a civilized leader to contrast King George's character with that of foreign mercenaries