...There have been various occasions where history has been altered dramatically. Of all the state of affairs, Patrick Henry’s speech to the Virginia Convention stands as the greatest alteration. This great change was to win the liberty for him and the representatives. Within the speech to the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry had accomplished the desire to persuade the colonist in making a stand against Britain through a series of rhetorical techniques. These techniques consisted of many allusions, rhetorical questions, use of repetition and imagery. Patrick Henry utilized allusion during his speech to connect with the representatives. An example of this technique would be when he refers to the story of the Odyssey. “...listen to the song...
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...colonies in 1775. British soldiers were sailing across the sea by the boatload, and taking away everything the colonists knew and loved. Patrick Henry, however, was one man who stood above the rest, and was not willing to accept the tyranny of the British. Henry addressed what was known as the Virginia Convention, and gave what ended up being one of the greatest speeches of all time. Using rhetorical questions, repetition, symbolism, personification, allusion, and parallelism, Patrick Henry urged the members of the Virginia Convention and the citizens of every county in Virginia to fight back against the British and regain their freedom and hometown. One of the strongest and most often used rhetorical devices that Henry used was rhetorical question. Many of these questions were asked so the members of the Virginia Convention would better understand that they needed to go to war. Henry asked “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?” Up until this point in time, the citizens of the colonies had been nothing but cooperative to the British. Even though the members of the Virginia Convention knew that British weren’t invading out of love, Henry asks this question to prove that they had done nothing wrong. Patrick Henry also states “Are we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new...
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...Patrick Henry’s Speech It is no secret that Patrick Henry was one of the most persuasive men of his time. In fact, his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” was not only his most famous, but also his most persuasive speech. Throughout this speech, there are many persuasive techniques, however, pathos is the most frequently used. Patrick Henry is attempting to persuade these men to stand up and fight against the British, and in order to do so, he had to use a very strong emotion to move these men. During his speech, Henry asks many rhetorical questions to really get his audience thinking. In one, he asks, “Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?” (Henry, 9). Before, in the leading...
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...How Patrick Henry Moved People with His Speech What is one major factor of a speech that conveys their message to the audience? Most of the time, it is logic that really gets into the people’s minds. Logos is a major part of Patrick Henry’s influential speech, “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” In 1775 Patrick Henry attended the second Virginia Convention and had proposed a way to raise militia to put Virginia in a state of defense. Other delegates insisted otherwise, Henry’s impromptu speech really turned their ideas around. Patrick Henry best demonstrated logos to inform his audience of what America was coming to under the rule of Britain and how we needed to declare independence. Patrick Henry decides to use facts to wake up the people of America that were willing to continue to subject themselves to Britain’s rule. During his speech, he talks about preparations Britain is making to take the newly founded United States to war. “Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land” (Henry qtd. In “Give Me”). The colonist have risked their whole lives for a new beginning- war would ruin it all. The logic behind war and the aftermath of...
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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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...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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...A. Dao English 3P, Period 1 Ms. Alba 2nd November, 2015 Early American Ideas: Patrick Henry It is how people treat their peers, human nature. The human nature that can be found in Americans is like no other. The American is a strong, proud, and passionate man. Mr. Patrick Henry seems to have proved the previous statement quite accurately with his logical and emotional appeal. For example, Henry states “Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three 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.”( ¶ 3 Page 2). This quote explains Henry’s definition of human nature, where he thinks that all American’s have the ability to come up and fight together against any enemy in their path....
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...The effectiveness of a speech depends on how the orator uses persuasive techniques. In The Speech in the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry uses persuasive techniques of emotion and logic to urge colonists to fight for their independence from Britain. Emotion or pathos is a powerful technique that can enrage or calm the audience. Patrick Henry uses this idea effectively by trying to invoke the audience’s sense of fear and desire when he says “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!” The fear of being enslaved by the British makes the audience wary of all the cruel actions that have been done to the colonists by the British. The sense of desire for a life without chains...
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...On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, the former governor of Virginia, proposed an idea of his to the Virginia Convention, regarding the American colonies’ conflict between them and the British tyranny. Henry persuaded these people and informed them at they needed to go to war to solve their problems if Britain did not meet their demands, by respectfully introducing his views on the situation. At the time, everyone else wanted to peacefully end their conflict, but Henry thought that the only answer, is to go to war and take their demands by force. Henry portrays his views through the use of repetition and allusion. Patrick Henry was not afraid to express his love for his religion, especially throughout his speech. Henry uses a substantial amount...
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...Patrick Henry Henry grew up on a farm that belonged to his mothers side of the family on May 29, 1736 in Studly Virginia. While growing up being a musical child playing the fiddle and flute . When he got a little bit older he realized his new passion would be speeches. While growing up being the only son with nine children he sometimes wished that he were a girl. During Henrys school days he would always get sent home or be Punished for starting a fuss or not paying attention. Henry then quit school and received much of his schooling from his father who studied at the University in Scotland. In his free time Henry loved to spend...
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...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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...In the speech, “Speech in the Virginia Convention” created in March 23, 1775; Patrick Henry had the difficult task of convincing loyalist colonists to fight against the throne in order to gain their freedom and independence. Henry uses several rhetorical strategies in his speech to convince the colonists such as rhetorical questions, metaphors, and imagery throughout his speech which made him successful in persuading his fellow colonists to fight for their freedom. Patrick Henry uses rhetorical questions throughout his speech to get the Virginia Convention to think of the obvious and wrong doings that England has done to them in order to get the loyalists on his side. “Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be...
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...Patrick Henry was one of the most persuasive Rationalist speakers during the Revolutionary war he used a lot of parallel structure talking about his experience. Patrick wrote “The speech of the virginia convention” about getting people on to his side so they can break away from Great Britain. In his speak he talks with emotion and ethics about his experience and what they can do to get away from Great Britain. In this essay it will explain more about how he was one of the most persuasive speakers. Patrick Henry was one of the most persuasive speakers by using lots of emotion and parallel structure to pull people in. Patrick talks about what he thinks and knows about his experience. He uses a lot of i have… i know.. I wish.. In his speech “speech to the virginia convention” he states “ i have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.” (par 3) This quote is saying his feet are guided by his experience in the past. Patrick doesn’t know how to judge the future but by the past...
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...Persuasion is a technique that aims to move an audience and grab their attention. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention are influential arguments about independence that gain America’s attention. The two pieces compare and contrast in persuasive techniques. Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson both provide the colonists with reasons to declare their independence. At the same time, Henry urges his audience to unite and join the war against Britain while Jefferson encourages more peaceful tactics to gain independence. Patrick Henry wants the colonists to stand up and fight for what they believe in in order to win their independence. Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, does not believe it matters what...
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...Patrick Henry was a great man and some people say that he was the voice of the Revolution. At the Second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry gave a speech to his fellow Virginia’s for a call to action. This action was for the Virginia leaders to agree to send men to help form the colonist militias. Patrick’s speech cover all aspect of why they should revolute against English rule and laws on the American colonist. Even as some of his fellow countryman favor to try to reason peace with England. Patrick knew that peace was long gone. In his speech, he asked, “Why does Great Britain, in this quarter of the world, call for all this accumulation of navies and armies” because he knew that what every England decided and the American colonist didn’t agree with would be forced upon them by rule of the crown. Patrick Henry was so strong in his patriotism that, at the beginning of his speech, he asked that the men before him not get offend by what he was going to say.That his view of the ideas that wht to do were going to be total different from what he was about to speack about. That he asks the house “This is a question do we want freedom or slavery.” Patrick believed that if they didn’t band together that they would be enslaved by England. Asking his countryman if they are to sit by idly and let the English lords and governs do as they please. We should stand up for what we have worked so hard to build; only be taken away by the crown when it wish. This same crown that taxes everything...
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