preview

The Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech

Decent Essays

March 23, 1775 a group of Virginian delegates gathered in St. John’s Church in Richmond to discuss the ever looming war with the English crown. It was in this Church where Patrick Henry would deliver one of the most influential speeches in the history of America. “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death” (3). He exclaimed to the sound of thunderous applause, he was trying to inspire a nation to rebel against their British oppressors. His speech was given two weeks before the revolution began and is accredited to inspiring the nation to take up arms and rebel. His appeals to emotion and logic make this a powerful and inspiring speech. Henry starts his speech by establishing his purpose and the urgency of the matter, he is speaking on “This is no …show more content…

Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable” (2). He restates his point again for emphasis, and he really drives home the point that the crown doesn’t care about them, no matter what they do or what they have done nothing will change. This is an emotionally charged speech, “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?” (3). He is trying to inspire a group of men to go to war. That is never an easy task. Henry begins to use emotions to incite the delegates. He appeals to their fears of having the British completely controlling their lives and quartering soldiers in every home. One of the biggest grievances early colonial American had with the British was the quartering act, a law that forced colonists to provide barracks for British troops, that all the colonists were angry about. Henry brought up an issue that many Americans were passionate about, and used it to make people listen to his message. Henry constantly poses these questions “When shall we be stronger?” or “ Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?” (3). He asks these questions to get his audience to

Get Access