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Patrick Henry Persuasive Speech Analysis

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Imagine having a life or death situation, and all you need to do is convince the public to fight against it? Would you use use logic, ethics or emotions to persuade them to come to a decision? During the time that the colonies were being approached by the British, the colonist were using every way possible to avoid the fight; however, the British kept coming and it was time to fight. Patrick Henry used pathos as his persuasive technique in his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech to convince the Virginia Convention. To Henry, it was important for him to convince the public to fight so they wouldn't back down from the British and risk becoming enslaved. During Patrick Henry's speech, he used a load of pathos when he informs the convention that things will without a doubt end very badly if they don’t take on the …show more content…

Henry also stated in his speech to the Virginia Convention, “armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone,” (Henry 104). Not only was Henry speaking to them to reach their emotions, but he was also reaching to motivate them as well. Henry lets them know that together they are invincible and together they can take down whatever conflict comes their way. The emotion and determination that Henry used was a great way to influence the public to go to war. Pathos was Henry's best form of persuasion in his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech because it helped convince the Convention to go fight against the British in 1776. Speaking to people who love their country about the good and bad incomes and outcomes of the war was their biggest motivation. As I asked before, how effective could it be to emotionally persuade your peers to fight? By the looks of Henry's achievement, it was very

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Lawyer and politician, Patrick Henry in his speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” (March 23, 1775), explains that he give this plea to urge the old dominion to form militias to defend itself against British. He supports his claim by first using a religious reference to express the themes of freedom, equality, and independence. Then uses a selection of other strategies like rhetorical question and allusion to disprove the opposing arguments and clarify the point he is making. Patrick Henry purpose is to fight back and he wants other to fight with him in order for independence. He creates a powerful and commanding tone for the second Virginia convention.

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738 Words | 3 Pages

In Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention,” Henry uses persuasive techniques such as repetition and rhetorical questions to interrogate the motives of the British and to reason why the colonies should declare their independence despite the consequences. In Henry’s speech, he uses repetition to address that war is inevitable to show how they must fight in order to achieve their goals as a nation and to prove that the colonists will not be alone over the course of the battle. In Henry’s speech he includes, “The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!” By this quote, Henry is saying that the colonists have already gone so far and worked so hard to give up now.

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610 Words | 3 Pages

In the essay ‘’Civil Disobedience’’ by Henry David it teaches the very beginning moment of resistance the government for the cause of knowing something for being morally wrong. This is because of the ideas that he formed in his essay of a sharp-witted planned out study introducing the main three methods of persuasion. He included by giving each example of logos, ethos, and pathos. Henry made himself clear what he was advocating for and inspire other to do Civil disobedience movement in the near future.

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766 Words | 4 Pages

He was asking for help to revolt against England. At the time, he sought for freedom of the state. Patrick Henry was trying to convince Virginia that the what they have done to achieve peace had not been working and will not work, or will never work. So, he stokes a stand and was ready to fight against it. This speech is important for our next future generations because it shows them that if they want something done that they have to fight for it, and it also shows them not to give up on what they believe in because they can make a change just like the historical figures I just talked about.

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345 Words | 2 Pages

Patrick Henry’s claim in his speech to the Virginia Convention is war with England is the only way to win freedom and their desires because England makes this the only choice. Before Patrick went up there were other men that had spoken before him, these men were speaking their views on whether or not they should initialize the war. Once Patrick has his chance to say his part he believes that they should fight because England hasn’t been fair. Patrick states this basically by saying “An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us”. This is such a powerful statement because what he’s proposing is extremely dangerous.

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425 Words | 2 Pages

Speech of the Great The Revolutionary War a time of conflict and persuasion, trying to change the outcome Partick Henry writes the “Speech to The Virginia Convention”. Right before the Revolutionary War in the year 1775 Patrick Henry wrote a speech to the president to try and persuade to go to war but to do it in the right way. Henry uses ethos to hit the president’s emotion by talking about how in the past British hasn’t always had their side and they could easily play them, he also uses ethos by using analogies on what the outcome could be. It’s important for Patrick Henry to persuade the colonist to go to war because he wants them to realize that British isn’t always going to be on our side.

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570 Words | 3 Pages

Henry believed the only solution left was to go to war with Britain. So he gives a speech to the Virginia Convention to plead his cause. In his speech he uses many different examples of ethos, pathos, and logos. To begin with, pathos is appealing with the audience’s emotions. An emotional appeal evokes anger, laughter, sadness, fear, joy, pride, and etc.

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800 Words | 4 Pages

His choice of language is effective at evoking emotion. Through rhetorical questions, Henry was able to emphasize his points, and grab the audience’s attention, creating an emotional effect on the listeners. “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” These statements prove the speaker’s argument and stir the audience’s emotions.

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To begin with, Patrick henry uses pathos to appeal to the audience's emotions, and feelings of going to war with Britain. For example, he says "i consider it nothing less than a question of freedom and slavery." He connects with the emotions and thoughts of being a slave. The audience doesn't agree with his decision, even though he does appeal to the

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691 Words | 3 Pages

On March 23, 1775, Mr. Patrick Henry made history when he delivered a speech at the Virginia Convention. Mr. Henry's purpose in his speech was to convince the Virginia patriots attending the convention that the only option with Britain remaining was war. Mr. Henry used many rhetorical devices throughout his speech, and with the use of pathos, ethos, and logos he had an effective advantage that appealed to almost every person at the convention. To begin with, Mr. Henry’s speech contains much use of pathos as he relates to the emotions of the people of Virginia. An example of Mr. Henry's use of pathos is when he states, “I consider it as nothing less than freedom or slavery...”.

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Rhetorical Analysis Convincing people of something or to do something is not an easy task but Patrick Henry's “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” shows how well someone can persuade people when they trust you, appeal to their emotions, or back up what you are saying with facts...ethos, pathos, and logos. The purpose of this speech is to persuade the colonist to fight against the british. Patrick is talking to the members of the virginia convention and what they need to do to become free. Patrick Henry uses ethos to help convince the audience that he knows what he's talking about and how they should trust him.

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689 Words | 3 Pages

He forces the audience to accept what he is saying as the truth. “We must fight!” a short exclamatory sentence which creates a sense of urgency into the audience. As the speech reaches its climax, and the excitement and energy that Henry has placed into the audience, they are now convinced and ready to charge into battle against the British. Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” was a call to arms to the colonist against the British during the 1700’s.

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756 Words | 4 Pages

Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech effectively utilized logic, credibility, and emotion in order to persuade his audience into voting in favor of his suggestions. Henry starts his speech by addressing his

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442 Words | 2 Pages

Henry’s Method for Achieving His Purpose In the speech Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, Patrick Henry uses allusion, symbolism, juxtaposition, and rhetorical questions to achieve his purpose. Henry’s purpose is to convince the Loyalists of his cause, which this speech does effectively. Because he used strong rhetorical devices, his language really clarified his points in why the Loyalists should commit treason and join the war, effectively convincing them to join the revolution.

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1000 Words | 4 Pages

but he has different views than his audience, the Virginia Convention, does. Throughout the speech, Henry uses words like “we” and “ourselves” to show that he is still with the audience, and not against them. Henry continues on in that same paragraph by using pathos. When he said, "Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself guilty of treason towards my own country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. " He is saying that this is what he needs to do for his God.

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