“Speech to the Virginia Convention” was the famous speech both written and argued by Patrick Henry in March of 1775. This statement managed to catapult the countrymen of the west, and declare war against the British forces and ultimately gain their freedom and independence. Henry’s view about the use of war to maintain freedom often has many ways of being interpreted. Why must Henry hastily look to war as a means of solving their problem with the British? As a matter of fact, in Henry’s speech, he believes that they have exercised all possible options to maintain peace and have been too passive and must take firm action.
One of Patrick Henry's favorite quotes was "I know not what others may choose, but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death” once said by Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry was a leader when it came to bad times and tried to help it be better. In 1779 he retired as governor of Virginia after 3 terms. Then he was elected governor of Virginia again in 1796, but he didn’t accept the offer. In this essay you will learn about the life of Patrick Henry and how he was one of the leading figures of the American Revolutionary period.
Imagine living without representation in the government; a world where people are treated like objects without natural rights. This is how the American colonists lived from the mid-1760’s to the mid-1770’s as taxes and acts were placed upon them without any representation in Parliament. This caused tension between England and the colonies, which consequently, after several failed treaties and negotiations, kicked off the American Revolution. On 23 March 1775, Patrick Henry gave his “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention.”
March 23, 1775. A crowd of Virginia delegates were corralled into a tiny church to attend the second Virginia Convention where history was soon to be changed forever. On the third day of the convention Patrick Henry, a flamboyant rebel, arose from the mass to deliver a speech that would silence his opposition and encourage his supporters. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” was articulated for the purpose of persuading the members of the convention to organize militia units in every county of Virginia and to stand up to Great Britain to gain their independence. Henry’s speech included protests against the ongoing and relentless British tyranny that invaded the colonists’ lives.
Liberty, but at what cost? On March twentieth, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, the Second Virginia Convention met inland in Richmond, Virginia in what today is called Saint John’s Church, as opposed to the Capitol in Williamsburg, in order to avoid interference from Lieutenant-Governor Dunmore and his force of Royal Marines, to bring up ways to resolve the differences between the colonies and the crown of England or to talk about possible independence from Great Britain and it’s king, King George. There, a delegate of the convention, Patrick Henry, proposed the idea to raise a militia and put Virginia on the defensive against the British, but his adversaries urged him and others to be cautious and wait until King George III replied to the Continental Congress’ most recent petition for reconciliation with Great
Patrick Henry was the first governor for the state of Virginia, and also a major figure in the American Revolution. Henry was not very educated, but he had skills that pushed him to leadership in the Revolutionary era. As a member of the House of Burgesses, Henry opposed the 1765 Stamp Act. He helped organize Virginia’s first Committee of Correspondence and served as a representative to the First and Second Continental Congress.
Patrick Henry presented a monumental speech that convinced the Virginia delegates to consider independence from England. Henry’s speech was one of the many catalysts that tilted the once ambivalent and divided mindsets of the colonists about England to a rebellious sentiment. The powerful speech was delivered on March 23, 1775 which called for opposition against the British; the rapid success of the Henry’s speech can be seen by the first military engagements in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 shortly after the speech was made at the Virginia Convention. In his speech, Henry attempts to persuade the members of the Convention that war with Britain is inevitable and waiting will only make the war more difficult to win.
Edward Mitchell 10/22/2016 English 10 Essay Unit 1 Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson played a large role in motivating the fight toward freedom in the weeks leading up to the Revolutionary War and immediately following it. Each believed in the fundamental right to be free from rule. Patrick Henry appealed to the people’s fear of war. Thomas Jefferson was able to convince people that together, they could form a new nation. The writings of each man reveals a very chaotic time in America’s history and the leadership, determination, and boldness of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson ensured that when change came, the people were ready for it.
How Did Henry Many wonder how Patrick Henry was able to convince so many unsupporting colonists. At the third Virginia convention Patrick Henry was outnumbered by people who did not want to fight the British. He needed to use a perfect persuasive technique. Pathos was the most effective technique because the colonists were emotionally excited to fight, they in fact, did not want to fight the British until Henry’s persuasive speech, and the colonists were finally calling themselves American because of the speech.
In 1775, Patrick Henry congregated with commissioners of the second Virginia Convention at St. John’s church in Richmond, in conductive to deliberate the urgency to assemble and organize the national military resources to revolt against the British. Along with 2 other delegates of the Virginia Convention, Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry bolstered to create the Virginia House of Burgesses to dispute the tumultuous state of the colonies. Henry possessed an extremely prominent role in the success of America’s independence from Britain. Patrick Henry, a passionate and valiant orator, delivered a prolific speech, in which he argued that Americans have no choice but to take up arms against the British parliament by reminding
“Give me liberty or give me death,” is a quote from Patrick Henry’s famous speech delivered March 23, 1775 to the members of the Virginia Congress. The passing of the Stamp Act by the British crown in 1765 triggered the start of a major revolution. He urged his fellow Americans living in the thirteen colonies to call to arms against Britain. He respectfully introduces a set of new ideas to the audience, the members of the Virginia Congress, without immediately dismissing their opinions. Henry urged patriots to no longer let the British Monarchy rule over them.
Patrick Henry, former governor of Virginia, bravely spoke on the 23rd of March, 1775, at St. John’s Church, introducing his strategies to end the American Revolution in victory. The speech was so inspiring that it ignited a massive flame of patriotism. Americans began to greatly support his political ideology. Due to his stirring choice of words, the phrase “Give me liberty, or give me death!” impacted the listeners, making his remarkable words yet known to this date.
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry presented the idea of fighting against Great Britain for liberty, which Great Britain had suppressed the American colonists for years. Freedom and liberty were necessary for the colonists of the Thirteen Colonies to feel like individual people. Every person should be able to decide the action they would take and the responsibilities they would have. This speech was remarkable and memorable for the start of the bold actions that changed the world forever. Patrick Henry persuade the colonist to fight the British government by using his strong voice as a weapon.
In 1775 the American Colonies stood at a tipping point. Britain and the Colonies had been embroiled in a continuing struggle over numerous injustices, and the Colonies seemed at long last situated to engage in a revolution against Britain. However, the colonial representatives were still tied up in negotiations with Britain, and many delegates of the Virginia Convention wanted to delay actions until the negotiations had concluded. Patrick Henry disagreed with the delay, so he addressed the Convention, arguing for the need to mobilize troops against the British, a request tantamount to treason. Instead of shying away from the polarizing nature of his argument, Henry adopted a respectful, but urgent, tone, crafting an argument that would inspire his audience into action.
Patrick Henry Argument Analysis Throughout Patrick Henry’s speech, he uses many literary devices to convey his thought and opinions to his audience, and with it, he hopes to alter or sway their views on the subject matter. Starting from the very end of Henry's speech, he states “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”, this now infamous line uses the logical fallacy of false dilemma. This fallacy, also known as either/or, plays to his advantage as it makes the problem seem greater than it actually is by only presenting two extreme options, liberty or death. Another literary device Henry uses in his speech, is ethos, which appeals to the audience's moral or ethical plane.
