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Patrick Henry's Speech At The Virginia Convention

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The common purpose of Revolutionary speeches is to inspire uprisings, and instill

courage and strength. For the American Revolution, the speeches were used to inspire the

colonists’ rebellion of the crown. Two major methods used by Revolutionary activists in

reaching towards their audiences were through logic and emotion. Thomas Paine’s pamphlet,

“The Crisis No. 1”, along with Patrick Henry’s ‘Liberty or Death’ speech at the Virginia

Convention, are both examples of Revolutionary speeches that use the methods of logic and

emotion to persuade their listeners.

Mentioning the wrath of Great Britain, part of “The Crisis No. 1” uses the method of

logic to reach its audience. Paine states how “Britain [is] with an army to enforce her tyranny...

”. The …show more content…

Patrick Henry’s use of logic during his speech at the Virginia Convention

was to help everyone realize that this matter between Great Britain was not something that could

Escalante 2

be solved peacefully. “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace!

Peace!”—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!”

Thomas Paine views the injustice that had been dealt onto the British colonies to be as

inhumane as being enslaved. To create an emotional appeal, Paine claimed that “If being bound

in that matter, is not slavery, then there is not such.” Patrick Henry chose the method of emotion

to appeal during his speech at the Virginia Convention with purpose of giving courage to fight

for freedom. Combining emotion along with logic, Henry exclaimed “Is life so dear, or peace so

sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not

what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” Another appeal

Henry chose to make using the method of emotion was that they would not be alone in fighting

this war. “Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides

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During this time, religion was very important so it was very crucial for Patrick Henry to mention this in his speech, because it was a main appeal everyone had in common. Finally, Patrick Henry uses the rhetorical appeal of logos, logic appeal. Mr. Henry uses logos when he says, “...what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?”. This is a logical analysis, because he points out that there is no other reason for the warlike products, but for the Americans. Another logical point Mr. Henry makes is when he says “...we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on...petitioned...remonstrated...supplicated...and implored its interposition...

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In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” given by Patrick Henry to the President in 1775, asserts that the colonists should not be trying to negotiate with the British. His purpose was to convince the audience that they should not be trying to befriend the people of Great Britain rather that they should make Great Britain their foe. Henry uses his speech to appeal to both the President and the colonist through the use of figurative language, tone, and syntax. Patrick Henry’s use of diction, a persuasive and forceful tone, appeal to ethos and pathos, as well as various syntactical elements in his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” shows that the colonists should be fighting to break away from the British monarchy rather than negotiate terms to try and stay under their clutches.

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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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