...Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “ A man dies when he refuses to stand up for which is right.” His words, and beliefs impacted the entire world as he took a stand against racism. This encouraged thousands of people to take a stand in their own communities. This shows it is appropriate to take a stand when the rules have an adverse impact on your life. The people or community make up a large part of everyday life. When the community is negatively affected by the laws placed on them it calls for action. In Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Second Virginia Convention, he acknowledges that his people were threatened with war and slavery by the British. He stands against the British to save his country saying, “Should I keep back my opinions of such time...I should consider myself guilty of treason towards my country.” (Henry) In other words, If she...
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...colonies cannot win. But Patrick Henry feels otherwise. He argues that despite being massively outnumbered, the colonies have a force that will tip the scales in their favor. The power of God. In his “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” Henry pushes the delegates to support war by weaving in biblical references and declaring that America has holy backing, in an attempt to portray the revolution as holy struggle for liberty. One way he reveals the holiness of the American cause is by comparing the colonies to Jesus and the early christians. Henry warns the delegates against being people who “having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not” when it comes to British oppression (3). In Jeremiah 5:21 this phrase was used to refer to non-christians — those who despite having eyes and ears, were blind to glory of God. This masterfully implies that those against war are like those non-believers, blind to the holy miracle that is occurring in front of them. It also compares the revolutionaries to the original followers of Jesus, because they are the minority that sees what is actually happening, and are fighting for a righteous cause. Building on this comparison, he warns the delegates that Britain will “[betray] them with a kiss,” referencing the kiss that Judas gave to Jesus immediately before betraying him (5). By comparing the British to the Judas, he warns the delegates...
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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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...Patrick Henry's, speech is to individuals in the Virginia Convention in Richmond. The speech distinguishes the explanations behind the Revolutionary War, on March 23, 1775. The reason for his speech was to persuade audience at the convention to go to war with the expectation that they will acquire their independence from Britain and ultimately demonstrate that the US isn’t an easy target to constrain. All throughout Patrick's entire speech, he utilizes an exacting influential tone by utilizing numerous rhetorical devices to convey his point. Patrick Henry starts out his speech with logos by giving motivation behind why colonists of contrasting judgment ought to meet up as one. He expresses, “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism,...
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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: Champion of Freedom According to George Mason, Patrick Henry was the Founding Father most responsible for “the preservation of our rights and liberties” (Unger 3). Growing up on the frontier of Virginia, being educated by his family, experiencing early failures as a young man and coming from a long line of gifted orators, shaped his convictions and actions. These impacted his life, both as a lawyer and a statesman, causing him to work tirelessly for the freedom of all people. Patrick Henry’s early life had a huge impact on the man he became and his mission. On May 24, 1736, America’s best orator was born. He came from a family of public speakers (Unger 5). Patrick Henry, the second oldest of nine children, two boys and seven...
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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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...An event in American history that I would like to witness is Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech. The Speech took place on March 23, 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. Henry gave the speech to the Second Virginia Convention, among the people that were there were Peyton Randolph, Sampson Mathews, and future U.S. Presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. After Henry gave the speech of a lifetime. He, along with his militia troops, made the British Government give back the gunpowder that was the rightful property of the Commonwealth of Virginia Citizens. The gunpowder was ordered to be taken from Williamsburg, Virginia and put on a Royal Navy ship by Lord Dunmore. The actions that the people of the...
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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 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 1. According to Patrick Henry, what is the basic question being debated at the Virginia Convention? Patrick Henry says it is “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” 2. What reasons does Henry offer to suggest that the British were not worthy of trust at that time? His main reason was that the British were building a military that he believed was to be used against America. 3. What argument does Henry provide against the notion that the colonies are too weak to fight the British? He says that God has given America what it needs to fight and that America will win if they use what they have been given. He says that America wants to believe that everything is fine. 4. What is Henry implying when he says that he is loyal to "the majesty of heaven...above all earthly kings"? What tone (manner in which an author expresses his attitude) does this statement hold? This means that he is loyal to God over anyone else. His tone is humble and respectful. 5. Why are Henry's final words so effective and memorable? Those words have been used several times over the years and have become a symbol of our country. To die instead of having freedom is a very powerful notion. 6. A rhetorical question is a question posed to emphasize a point, not for the purpose of getting an answer. Henry uses this device extensively throughout his speech. Find one example in the speech, quote it and explain what point he is emphasizing with those particular...
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...“Give me Liberty or Give Me Death”, these famous words were exerted by a Patrick Henry himself to bring out the Second Virginia Convention members to realize that there is a major reason to go to war with the British. On March 23, 1775 he began the speech to change the overwhelming tide of are whole country’s new life. He uses the powerful impact of fear tactics to change the emotional tide of the representatives by foretelling the army the British has against them and how the future would be if they do nothing. He had to gain the advantage of an overall majority vote to fight and change their country for the better. P. Henry begins to proclaim the situation between the British army that they have and how the future would turn out after the...
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...Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 in Hanover County, Virginia. He was the second of nine children. He didn't go to school, but he was thoroughly taught by his father and uncle. His father was John Winston Henry; an immigrant from Scotland. Henry’s parents worshiped at different churches. This had a strong impact on his character and political views. Since his parents practiced different religions, he fused both together more modern views with old fashioned views, to create his own neutral perspectives. Patrick Henry was a lawyer, patriot, and politician. He participated in almost every aspect of founding America. Henry married Sarah Shelton in 1754, and then Dorothea Dandridge in 1777, following Sarah’s Death. He had seventeen children...
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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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...George Washington Shaped America into Greatness Amanda Villeso American History Mr. David 4-24-17 “Give me liberty or give me death”(“Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” Speech.”). George Washington definitely applied this saying when fighting in the Revolutionary War. Washington being called the Father of His Country has done many wonderful things for everyone. Being the leader of the Patriots, he had lived a successful and long life. Thomas Jefferson said “On the whole, his character was, in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in a few points indifferent; and it may truly be said that never did a nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great…” (“Revolutionary-War.net.” “Greatest Stories Ever Told”) To think it all started here and in the end people like Jefferson would be saying things like this about him. George Washington’s family, education, and military career has helped America become a better country for all....
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