Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Patrick Henry

What does it mean to be “free”? Freedom is where you have the ability to do whatever you want without the restraint of others. Achieving freedom was the desire and goal that colonists and revolutionaries pursued throughout the Revolutionary War and many believed was a god given right to man. But the desire for freedom came with its and struggles and freedom did not come easy. In fact, many were not willing to fight for freedom due their fear of British government and their rule over the colonies. It was not until Patrick Henry, an orator and lawyer from Virginia, convinced them to do otherwise in his Speech at the Virginia Convention. Since this during the Age of Reason, logic was commonly used and helped persuade the masses by using rational thinking and deductive reasoning. Patrick Henry used logos to win over the colonists and change their overall opinions on the British.

Henry uses logos to provide a counterpoint to the British’s rule over the colonies. He stated,“They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other” (Henry 104). In that statement, Henry is using his logic to infer that British ships that they docked on our harbors are meant to take over and control us. This statement alerts the people know the British are not allies of ours and that they are really are enemies in disguise. Patrick Henry also uses logos to state that our past efforts to make peace have not worked. “Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years...nothing” (Henry 104). His statement made people come to their senses and realize that fighting is the only other option. Therefore, logos influenced them the most because it forced them to see that they are the enemies and fighting back was the best