Analysis of Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention

In Patrick Henry’s,“ Speech in the Virginia Convention,” he explains to the President as well as the government at the time on how a war with Britain is completely necessary in order to gain full independence for America. Henry uses a proud tone to inspire his audience, simple and complex sentence structure to convey straightforward details, patriotic and passionate diction to bring an uprising of emotion, and ethos to ethically support the main idea.

The colony of Virginia could not agree if they should press for an undisturbed solution with great Britain or to prepare for war. Patrick henry introduced resolutions calling for military preparedness. After politely listening to his fellow colleagues refusal to armed rebellion, he rose to deliver this impassioned speech. His speech was towards the delegates from Virginia, Henrys purpose was to persuade the colony of Virginia to withdraw from great Britain to fight back against them. He alienated Britain by blaming every hardships they faced to Britain. He uses rhetoric to initiate a well- known tone with the audience while the exigency in his words and alarming last line," give me liberty or give me death", left the crowd with a threatening

Patrick Henry uses pathos in order to enact a feeling of pride from the colonists. Consequently, he is able to make colonists surrender their trust towards the British by using pathos in his speech. This is accomplished by him saying, “Trust it not ,sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer

According to Patrick Henry the basic question being debated is a question of freedom or slavery. Throughout the speech Mr. Henry discusses the immensity of the situation.

Patrick Henry once stated “Give me liberty or give me death.” In the 18th century, it was the age of reason, which focused on science and reason rather than religion, however still believed in a god. Progress was an important concept at the time. The American Revolution was just beginning when Patrick Henry gave his remarkable speech. Britain was over commanding, selfish, and ignorant; it was time to change that and fight for liberation and justice! Britain was causing loss of jobs for the colonies because of the harsh taxes put on trade. This caused hundreds of thousands of already poor colonists to now go into poverty. Patrick Henry’s pathos in his speech to the Virginia Convention was persuasive because it made the colonists feel further

It was on March 23, a few centuries back when the man by the name of Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech titled “Give me liberty or give me death!” As interestingly as it sounds, the diction of this man has been very powerful that until today, citizens of the United States nominate it as a great impact. And why wouldn’t they if it’s about a man who is urging the population to desire Patriotism in America. Just before the country entered the Revolutionary War against England, his speech was heard around the colonies and served to persuade the entry to battle. Many liked and agreed with his words, but others disagreed. In this case, there is several ideas in which Henry’s speech can be argued against. Despite the views who agree with him, an argument must be addressed.

According to Patrick Henry, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7). Patrick Henry was able to give an outstanding speech at the Virginia Convention, regarding the actions needing to be taken by the colonists. This speech included the criticizing and denouncing of Great Britain, along with the urging of the colonists to fight for independence. This including that the colonists need to become prepared because the unjust actions of the British were not simply going to go away. Henry urges the colonists to fight for the freedom that they rightfully deserve, and he does it extremely well. In Patrick Henry’s ‘Speech to the Virginia Congress’, he demonstrates passionate pathos appeals and rhetorical questioning to persuade the colonists to stand up for themselves and join the fight for their freedom.

Patrick Henry was an influential leader, from the 18th century, who delivered one of the most famous speeches in the United States. He was also a politician, with a strong sense of patriotism, leading to his support in the opposition of the British government. Before Independence Day, America was under the control of the British, and by 1774, the British Parliament started passing laws to tax colonists. However, Henry was remarkably against to the submission of British government. The patriot transformed the spirits of the colonists, and perhaps bringing America, itself, out of slavery through a speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.” This speech was given at the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. Henry’s speech played an important role for the War of Independence, as well as, finding one of the principals of which America is founded upon, freedom.

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, one of the crucial motivators of the American Revolution, delivers a speech in the Second Virginia Convention regarding gaining independence from Britain. Henry’s diction, allusions and counterarguments aid in his purpose of making the delegates feel the tyrannical rule by the British and believing in going to war with them is the only option in attaining freedom.

The prominent patriot Patrick Henry once said, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7) implying that a life without liberty is not a righteous life. Henry’s quote is included in his popular oratory “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” While discussing with the colonists, Henry lists all of the discrepancies the thirteen colonies had with Great Britain, concluding that there is no other option, but to retaliate instantaneously. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” he utilizes amplifying loaded words and coherent parallelism in order to influence the assembly to unify and reciprocate.

Writing to an audience that still lacks the desire to oppose the British, Patrick Henry in his "Speech to Virginia House of Burgesses" focuses on the rights of man and defying oppressors. Through figurative language, rhetorical questions, and diction, Henry heightens the necessity to rise up and fight against the British ruling power over the colonist population in Northern America.

“Give me liberty, or give me death!” is a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry, which he used to close his speech to Virginia Convention. During this time period, the 1770s, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson all made arguments in favor of separation of the American colonies from Great Britain; many of these appeals were persuasive for different reasons, whether that be logical, emotional, or pertaining to credibility and trust, which is to say logos, pathos, and ethos. First of all, we will examine Henry’s arguments during his speech at the Virginia Convention. Then, we will identify Paine’s appeals in a part of his essay, The Crisis n1. Lastly, we will evaluate Jefferson’s myriad of arguments in a part of his Autobiography.

In 1775, Patrick Henry argues to the president and delegates of the Virginia Convention that the colonists should take up arms against the British. During this speech to the convention, Henry criticizes the leaders for ignoring the reality of the situation that the colonists are in, suggests that the previous methods of diplomacy have been ineffective, begs the convention to fight for their own freedom, and argues that the British did not want to negotiate. Henry is very urgent and confident with his remarks to the convention. Patrick Henry argues to the Virginia Convention that the colonists must fight the British due to many failed attempts at peace by discussing the potential danger they are in.

In his speech to the Second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry with a use of antithesis, talking about the rising tensions between the Colonists and Britain before the American Revolution. He says what is essentially "freedom or death." It shows how willing he is to die fighting for the colonies' freedoms, in an attempt to persuade those listening to take action as well.

In his speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”(1775), Patrick Henry addresses a Virginia colonial convention, arguing that in order to ensure liberty for the colonists and avoid enslavement, Virginia must join its fellow colonies and retaliate against the oppressive and tyrannical British. Henry begins his speech by convincing the colonists of a higher duty to God and to their country; he then transitions to identify the flaws of humanity, after which he vilifies the British, establishing the British as a serious threat, and finally invalidates any alternative actions that may be taken in response to British tyranny. By doing so, Patrick Henry persuades Virginia colonial legislators to take military action against the oppressive British