Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

In the years before the war, England continuously gave hostile and angry responses to their enemy, America. There was no other country in this quarter of the world which the British would have wanted war with or had a problem with. Without Henry’s speech, would Americans have voted to fight against the British, and later won their independence from King George III’s terrible

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.

Henry’s diction portrays the British as untrustworthy and dishonorable. In the beginning of his speech, Henry states that he considers the need of independence from the British “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” The words “freedom” and “slavery” are provided as ultimatums in which one can only have one, not both. The negative connotation conveyed through the word “slavery” make the delegates in the convention compare their situation of being ruled by the Britains to that of a slave and slave owner, leading to the consensus of the immorality displayed by the British. Therefore the delegates feel the absolute power the British have over the American colonists which incites a fear over their lack of control. The word “freedom” is most commonly associated with something one must fight to win. Through this word, Henry is able to imply to his audience that the Americans must fight with the Britains in order to gain freedom. In addition, when describing the military preparations the British are taking, Henry expresses that “these war-like preparations … cover American

In the year 1775, the American colonies are at a crossroads. With no ideas on how to move forward, or how to break away from British control, colonists look towards a leading figure to guide the way. This figure comes in the form of Patrick Henry, a well-known American attorney who was willing to be the starting face of the revolution. With colonial tensions rising, many are willing to rebel against the newly implanted taxes imposed by the British. In his “Speech to the Virginia Convention”, Patrick Henry shows that he is willing to do anything to break away from English control. His strong use of persuasion and rhetoric make the Virginia Convention think about the possibility of rebelling against the British. With the revolution starting only ten years later, many argue that Henry’s speech was the spark to start it all. Through pathos, ethos and logos, Patrick Henry is able to make motivate the colonists to unite against the inconsiderate acts of the British government.

In 1775, Patrick Henry gave America one of the most inspiring speeches that will bring soon bring them together with war on the rise. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” has become the battle-cry to the people in the colonies to take a stand against Britain’s rule and make America their own country. Even after the attempted peace between the two countries, it has been exhausted to the breaking point, and it has come to the time where fighting for their own freedom is the only viable option. Henry’s speech spoke volumes to the American people of the truth, the false presence of peace, and the cry for battle against Britain.

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry was able to convince loyalist and colonist to go to war with England, who had the biggest army in the world. In the speech “In the Virginia Convention” he persuades his audience through several rhetorical devices. In his speech he uses imagery, diction, allusion, and rhetorical question. One of the rhetorical devices he uses to convince loyalists to fight England was imagery. Through imagery, Patrick Henry made his audience realize the situation they were in and how no one really cares enough to do something about the British.

In the “Speech at The Virginia Convention” Patrick Henry tries to persuade colonists to fight a war against the English; he does this through several main rhetorical strategies: Rhetorical Questions, Metaphors, and Parallelism. Using these are his best way to convince the colonist that they must go to war to actually be free and become their own nation. Patrick Henry shows rhetorical questions when he states “But when shall we be stronger?... Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?” (Paragraph 4).

Patrick Henry utilizes rhetorical devices throughout his “Speech in the Virginia Convention” to advocate the fact that the thirteen colonies must approach Britain with violence in order to secede successfully from Britain’s absolute power over Americas independency.

Patrick Henry’s used many persuasive techniques to make people question their ideas, want to fight for what they have, and to give him and all those colonists of america liberty against Britain. One of the persuasive devices used to persuade those in the convention room to take action was rhetorical questions. An example of this is, “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?” He uses this to show that peace could not be made with Britain by word of mouth, and stresses the only way peace would be created with Britain would be by force. So, he tried to stress this rhetorical question to convince his audience peace will only come by force.

To do this, he uses loaded words and fear tactics throughout his speech to stimulate intimidation and worry throughout the delegates. A line he delivers that evokes such emotions is, “They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains with which the British ministry have been so long forging, and what have we to oppose to them?” (Henry). Henry is expressing that if they do not act now, British rule will close in around them, making them completely vulnerable. Consequently, this would have created a feeling of distress throughout the Burgesses considering how the establishment of the colonies was intended to give new beginnings and independence to American settlers, all of which could be taken by the British if they are further allowed to pursue the nation. Another way Henry strikes fear in the convention is by making the point that freedom, another one of America’s most precious gifts, could be taken away from all if Britain seizes command. He presents this point by saying, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains of slavery?

    Preceding the American Revolution, the colonists were in a dilemma about whether they should amend relationships with British or declare independence.  One of the patriotic leaders in America, Patrick Henry, shifts the balance of the colonists' decisions towards independence in his speech at the Virginia Convention.  Through parallelism, metaphors, rhetorical questions, and religious appeal, Patrick Henry conveys that the British are treating the colonists poorly and that the Americans should fight for independence.

“Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.” The example shows imagery by painting a picture showing the representatives what Britain's warlike offences against america are like by expressing how dark it is. In another quote, “ Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot,” Patrick Henry expresses the reasons for war, exclaiming how the representatives keep lying to themselves about

Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” performed before the House of the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, argues that the colonies should no longer rely on Great Britain and encourages war against them. He worked to convince the men of the Virginia convention to stop trying to befriend the British, and instead, wage war against them. Patrick Henry employs various rhetorical devices such as hypophora, anaphora, and allusions to religion, along with persuasive appeals effectively work to convince the colonists that they should no longer be dependent on and trusting of the threatening practices of the British.

On May 23, 1775, Patrick Henry deliver his infamous speech to the Second Virginia Convention to implore the American people to join him in the struggle for independence. In it, Henry addresses the conventions president, Peyton Randolph and the American people and calls them to fight and raise arms against the British. He delivers his speech with a fiery passion as he implores the American people to join him in the inevitable battle, while using rhetorical appeals, figurative language, allusions, rhetorical questions, and repetition to persuade the people that there is no other option other than to rise up and fight against the British.