...Patrick Henry's Biblically Charged Speech Patrick Henry utilizes advance oratory skills, and various literary devices to illustrate his "Give me Liberty or give me death!" speech to members of the Virginia legislature. Henry possesses an impressive ability to speak to the hearts of men. His fiery passion combined with biblical passages outline a common theme that implies God sanctions his cause. Henry uses metaphors to invoke prevocational images to give his words life, and foreshadowing to allude what is to come if decisive actions are not taken. Henry and many representatives in the Virginia legislative were slave owners. This encourages Henry to utilize slavery to instill fear and anger in these proud men because the mere thought of being considered a slave is unconscionable. In the beginning of his speech, Henry very respectfully presents his argument to the president and the legislature at the second Virginia Convention. His challenge is to present abundantly radical ideas without alienating his audience as Henry states, "...no man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism." Some regarded him as non-patriotic because of his far-reaching ideas with respect to the parliament, King George III, and his position on going to war with England. Henry eloquently continues to address them by utilizing metaphors hoping to invoke logic and emotional responses. This is evident as Henry states, "...different men often see the same subject in different lights." ...
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...“Give me liberty or give me death”. This was a quote by Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry said this because when he was talking to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He told them that because he wanted liberty and if he couldn’t have liberty then he wanted him and his family to have death. He was part of the Sons of liberty. The Sons of Liberty set an example for the rest of the world by defeating the strongest and wealthiest country in the world, they would rather die than be part of England, they wanted liberty for their thirteen colonies.The Sons of Liberty were also our founding fathers. At the time England was the strongest and the most wealthiest country in the world. No one would ever really want to go to war with them because they were the strongest nation and the biggest population...
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...Biblical Themes from Patrick Henry Sarah Lumbard HIUS 221 January 30, 2014 On March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry stood before the House of Burgesses in St. Johns Church in Richmond Virginia. His eloquent speech, now known as the famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, was given to the members of the House, which included Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The audience was a predominately Christian audience, as most men were in colonial days. Having been moved by the Great Awakening to be more involved in the politics and be a Christian influence, Henry appealed to the patriot and the Christian in each member of the audience. Throughout Henry’s speech, biblical themes can be found. Henry was not using the biblical phrases in context per say, but he was using them as catch phrases to appeal to the Christian morals and Biblical knowledge that these men had. One of the many biblical references that jumps out is in relation to the crown not listening to the colonists as they petition for fair treatment as British subjects and respect for their rights, and yet were always denied. Henry says, “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” This vivid imagery reminds us of the kiss from Judas on Jesus’ cheek as he identifies him to the Roman soldiers. Luke 22: 47b-48 says, “And he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” To the colonists, this kiss represents the betrayal of the King of England...
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...“Give me liberty or give me death”. Patrick Henry was one of the founding fathers during the American Revolutionary time period in 1765. Henry was a lawyer, politician, and a public speaker. Henry’s huge roll in during the time period was trying to persuade the American colonies to revolt against england. America wanted to gain back their freedom and justice. The war than took place from 1775-1783 between Great Britain and the original 13 colonies. Patrick Henry uses pathos in his speech to convince the American colonies to fight back against the british. One of the most impactful persuasive technique that Henry used in his speech was using a rhetorical question. He uses this rhetorical question to have the audience feel guilty if they do...
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...Patrick Henry “Give me Liberty or give me death!” Robert C. Ramsey II History 221-D23, Survey of American History I November 5, 2012 While addressing the Second Virginia Convention at the St. Johns Church in Richmond, Virginia Patrick Henry gave his call to arms speech. It was a call to action, the time for talk and half measures was over. “He stated there was no time for ceremony”.1 He wanted colonist to see how England did not see them as equal but as a servant. The Question he raised was it freedom or slavery? Patrick Henry felt so strongly on the subject of liberty just the act of not making this speech would be treason to him. “I should consider myself guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings”1. He wanted his fellow Virginians to see how England was and would still oppress the colonies if they let them continue. He wanted them to see something had to be done about the way England was treating the colonies. He wanted them to know the truth. Patrick Henry justified this by using the past ten years as an example how England had listened to their grievances and complaints only to be met with a false sense that England actually cared about what was happening in the colonies. The British have repeatedly threatened the revocation of its charter. Over the past decade England had taxed the colonies without any representation in the matter and then trying harder...
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...Patrick Henry is not a very well know man today. When you ask people about him no one even knows who he was or what he did for America. In this parer hopefully you will learn more about who Patrick Henry was and see the important that he played in America history. Patrick Henry was born in Hanover Country, Virginia on May 29, 1736. He was born to John and Sarah Winston Henry. He was a figure of American’s struggles for liberty and self-government. Henry was a lawyer, planter, speaker, and willing participant in virtually every aspect of the founding of America. He was married two times to Sarah Shelton, with which he had six kids and Dorothea Dandridge who had eleven kids. Henry served in the Virginia House of Burgesses; he was a member of the Virginia committee of Correspondence, a delegate to the Virginia Convention and a delegated to the Virginia Constitution Ratification Convention. He played a protuberant part in the May 6, 1776, convention and became the first governor of the commonwealth under its new constitution. Patrick Henry served five terms as governor of Virginia from 1776-1779 and then again 1784-1786. Henry was most known for his speech “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” (Henry, P. 1775) which he gave on March 23, 1775. Unfortunately the text of this speech like most of his speech he gave was not documented until years after his death. This speech did not first appear in print until William Wirt published it in 1816 in “Life and Character of Patrick Henry”...
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...Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” Response to Prompt 1 HIUS 221 Patrick Henry was a man of ideals. He was not satisfied with belief alone; he was prone to defend those beliefs if he felt them threatened. He refused to merely pay lip service to his ideals and hope for the best, he would stand and fight if he must. This was the message he wished to relay to his fellow Virginians; a call to action. He implored his fellow patriots not to ignore the threat of war while meagerly wishing for another path, but to embrace the fact that all paths had been trodden and that war for the sake of liberty was unavoidable. In his speech he spoke of, “warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land” and questioned the necessity of such acts if reconciliation was the objective. Henry argued that these were not tools of debate but of subjugation no matter what the disguise. “Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” By the end of his speech he addressed his desire explicitly. He wished to go to war. “We must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!” Henry justified the need for war by appealing to the highest power. He stated clearly that there was only one King he would ultimately answer to. “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through...
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...Patrick Henry One of the most influential founding fathers was Patrick Henry. This Virginian at one time was a surveyor, colonel and justice.This patriot’s famous quote “Give me liberty, or give me death!” was a rallying cry for American independence. Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 at their family farm near Studley in Hanover County,Virginia. His father John Henry ,was a Scottish emigrant from Aberdeenshire, where he attended King’s College. In Hanover, he served as a surveyor, a colonel, a justice at the county court .Patrick was the second born of his parents’ nine children. Although at first he went to a local school, he was mostly taught at home by his father. His uncle, Anglican priest, also provided instructions. Many believe that he inherited his great speaking abilities from him....
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...On March 21st, 1775, Patrick Henry gave a speech that would be quoted for centuries to come, ”Give me liberty, or give me death!” Henry gave this speech to the Second Virginia Convention as a proposal to form a voluntary infantry for each county of Virginia in order to prepare for what Henry saw as the inevitable war. Many men wanted to wait for a reply from the King as Congress had petitioned for peace and reconciliation. Henry, however, did not believe this was a smart move; he said whether they acted now was “a question of freedom or slavery.” Although Henry’s argument was very well structured, he did commit a couple logical fallacies, as many speechwriters do. Such as slippery slope and either/or fallacies which are presented in Patrick...
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...Patrick Henry “The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. [...] The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” (“Avalon Project”) Patrick Henry was a patriot that served the people of Virginia in many ways. He fought against the control of Great Britain with his speeches, as commander of the Virginia forces, and as a respected leader. Patrick Henry’s early years, his cause, and why he is a rebel. Henry was born May 29, 1736 and died June 6, 1799 at Red Hill, in Virginia. His father was John Henry, a well educated man from Scotland, who was a surveyor, a colonel, and a judge....
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...Rhetorical Analysis Congressman Patrick Henry in his speech “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death” proclaims his feelings on what we need to do to get away from the control of Britain. Henry’s purpose is to inspire the people to revolt and appeal to the listeners emotions through a confident tone. Henry begins his speech by respectfully acknowledging the people, and explaining to the listeners that he can't be silent and let Britain control him with fear. He appeals to the curious listener by alluding to the odyssey. “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.” (Henry) He makes this allusion for the effect that the listener will feel similarly to how he feels...
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...Patrick Henry was one of the greatest speakers of all time. He was able to reach his audience in a very effective way. He could move his audience to anger, fear, or laughter very easily. In fact, he was the most powerful orator of the American Revolution. One of his most effective speeches during that time was “Speech in the Virginia Convention” where he stated his famous quote “Give me liberty or give me death”. He was trying to impart a very important message to his audience through that speech. He was seeking a great change to happen that required one to have strength and courage, as well as unity within the colonies; he wanted liberty. Patrick Henry was determined to gain independence and break free from the British. He wanted to change...
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...Give Me Liberty! “Give me liberty or give me death”. Patrick Henry was an inspiring figure in the Revolutionary times. At this moment in history, many higher ups did not want war with the mother country, but Henry on the other hand did. At the Second Virginia Convention, Henry stood up for what he believed in and delivered a speech that would change history. Although he used logos and ethos, Patrick Henry's outstanding use of pathos in his speech allowed him to convince his fellow delegates, because he provoked emotion from his audience. Patrick Henry needs support from his fellow delegates to go to war against the British. He utilizes fear tactics against his audience to draw emotion and personal connection. We see this when he says “But...
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...Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine and Ronald Reagan all share fairly similar styles in their writing, especially through the speeches they gave. While giving their speeches and other pieces of writing they published, they were very successful in persuading their audience to accommodate for the change that needed to be made during the time. Despite them sharing all successful forms of persuasion, they most commonly adapted to the emotional aspect, also known as pathos. In Patrick Henry’s speech most commonly known as “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” he expresses a lot of emotion when trying to persuade the president to agree with his purpose. Henry’s purpose was to gain independence in the colonies by going to war with Great Britain, who had...
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...Adv. Composition 30 August 2011 Arguing for Freedom As a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry strongly supported joining the American Revolution to break away from Great Britain. Henry delivered a speech to his fellow House members at the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, to persuade the voting to favor his decision to fight for freedom. The strong title of Give Me Liberty or Give Me Freedom represents the climax of the speech and Henry’s primary message. Henry utilizes various rhetorical strategies to appeal to the audience and support the purpose of the argument. Numerous schemes and tropes, such as hyperboles, metaphors, erotema, antithesis, and repetition draw attention to the purpose of the speech and demand focus from the audience. Appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos strategically employed throughout the speech enhance the overall effect of the argument. By properly exhausting rhetorical strategies, Henry creates a demanding yet respectful tone that is strong, honorable, and persuasive. Henry identifies his great respect for the audience and opposing opinions in the first lines of the speech with the statement, “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.” Such a bold yet respectful tone illustrates Henry’s purpose accurately and delivers the controversial message without offending...
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