Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention

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Patrick Henry was a successful leader during the American Revolution. Also he was a governor. Henry gave many effective speeches during his lifetime. The speech that was most effective was the Speech in the Virginia Convention given on March 23, 1775. This speech used great examples of literary terms such as ethos, pathos, and logos to help make the speech more effective. Patrick Henry used ethos, which is author 's appeal to credibility. Henry shows many examples of ethos by going back and acclaim the other speakers that have spoke, that he certainly does not agree with. According to Patrick Henry, he states “I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve” …show more content…

In the Speech in the Virginia Convention it states, “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne” (82). He states this because the other speakers that have spoke before him want to keep sending petitions, and Henry says that we the colonist need to fight back and quit sending petitions that do not work. It also changes the mind of many colonist to fight and quit sending petitions. This speech influenced many people to change their minds and got to war. Since this speech was one of the most powerful and well known speeches from the Virginia Convention it is greatly possible that this speech helped set the sparks for the American Revolutionary War. In conclusion the literary devices: ethos, pathos, and logos helped Patrick Henry get his points across to the reader or listener. Without the literary devices Patrick Henry speech will be just boring and not connecting with the people in the