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Patrick Henry Speech To The Virginia Convention Rhetorical Analysis

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Rhetorical strategies are a necessity for persuasion. Patrick Henry demonstrates this notion in his speech to the Virginia Convention. Henry’s rhetorical strategies of rhetorical questioning and refuting opposing arguments supports his argument that America must go to war with Britain. One of Henry’s main assertions is that the British are already preparing for war with the colonies. By asking the delegates of the Virginia Convention if “fleets and armies” are “necessary to a work of love and reconciliation,” Henry questions the British’s motives (Henry). Henry’s rhetorical question prompts the audience to believe that the British have no intentions for peace. By pointing out their hostile actions, Henry’s question causes the delegates to rethink their own opinions. In addition to rhetorical questioning, Henry refutes the argument that Great Britain has other enemies in “this quarter of the world” (Henry). By stating that the “accumulation of navies and armies” can only be meant for America, Henry reinstates the …show more content…

By asking if America should “try argument,” Henry offers a useless alternative to war (Henry). Henry’s question makes the audience feel foolish because the delegates have been trying to argue with Britain “for the last ten years” (Henry). By making his opposition feel foolish, Henry successfully puts doubt in the delegates’ minds that the British will try to keep peace. In addition to questioning an alternative to war. Henry asks the delegates if they want to “resort to entreaty and humble supplication” (Henry). By asking if the delegates want to submit to the British, Henry appeals to the audience’s sense of pride. This rhetorical question makes the audience feel angry because it questions their willpower and bravery. Therefore, Henry successfully convinces his audience that war with Britain is

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He tells the colonists that the British Parliament usually responds to the “gracious reception of [their] petition comforts with [] war-like preparations.” Henry contrasts the colonists’ petition to the British’s warmongering. Henry’s antithesis makes the colonists recognize the difference between their polite approach and the British's aggressive response. Therefore, he gives the colonists more reasons to question the negative actions being enacted by the British. He highlights Britain’s inability to compromise since they respond to any threats with violence.

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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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In doing this Henry forms a connection between the need to have a war and religion. This connection helps attach the reader to Henry's opinions and make them more open to the war. All in all, Henry confronts the delegates of the Virginia Convention with the inevitable British invasions and changes the opinions of the delegates through diction, figurative language and rhetorical

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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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“ Give me liberty or give me death”,( Patrick Henry). The most well known speech given by the prestigious Patrick Henry on March 23, 1775 expressing his thoughts and feelings about fighting back against Britain and protecting their beloved country. At this time the British was defeating America terribly which had made Patrick Henry feel as though his freedom was being jeopardized. Patrick Henry’s speech was an attempt to persuade the american citizens not to just sit and do nothing, he wanted to fight back against Britain. Patrick Henry felt as though many of the citizens were not aware of the seriousness of what was happening and that the needed to have a wake up call.

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.“No man thinks more highly than I do of patriotism” (Henry). Patrick Henry lived from 1736-1799 and was a tall, lank, somber-looking man that dressed like a preacher. He was a lawyer at age 29 and had a speech against the Stamp Act. He wrote his Speech to Virginia Convention to get the people to vote for him for presidency.

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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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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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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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Patrick henry uses rhetorical appeals by using God to persuade memebers of the virginia convention to go to war with Britian. He uses pathos, logos, and ethos because he appeasl to peoples emotions and how they feel about going to war with Britain. Henry is a person who fights to get what he wants. He's a man that believes fighting is the only way of getting freedom. Henry is a credible speaker because of this he gets some to agree with him on going to war with Britain, and some still disagree becasue some say they are not ready, they are weak.

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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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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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I believe in the speech Patrick Henry reached ehis goal from the help use of his rhetorical techniques he uses throughout his speech. Authors that use many different kinds of rhetorical techniques often have a better speeches and prove their point with more evidence and well written thought out information. Patrick henry uses metaphor, logos, ethos, to persuade the Virginia lawmakers and citizens to go to war. Throughout his speech henry uses metaphors into his reading to convince his audience.

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