Final answer:
Excerpt D from the Declaration of Independence, describing the colonists' humble petitions for redress under oppression, is the strongest appeal to pathos intended to evoke an emotional response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from the Declaration of Independence that best represents an attempt to appeal to pathos to persuade the reader is D. "In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms." This statement aims to evoke an emotional response by highlighting the colonists' humility and perseverance under oppressive conditions. It illustrates the suffering of the people and implores the reader to feel their desperation for change after continuously being subjected to injustices.