It is widely believed that if Patrick Henry had not given the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” which influenced the start of the Revolutionary War, then America might still be under the rule of the British Monarchy. The Revolutionary War was the war when America regained their freedom from the British Monarchy in 1783. Henry is considered by many to be the best orator of his time. Patrick Henry was an attorney and politician; his most important characteristic was being one of America’s most renowned patriots. The effects of his speech were enriching and brought new hope to the American people. People present in the Church could only truly tell the atmosphere that remained at St. John’s Church after Henry concluded his speech. William …show more content…
Many American citizens trusted Henry because ten years prior to presenting his oration, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” he led the opposition of the Stamp Act by giving a speech to the House of Burgesses nearly creating a “mockery” of King George III by stating, “Caesar had his Brutus — Charles the First, His Cromwell — And George the Third" — ("Treason!" cried the Speaker — "Treason, treason!" echoed from every part of the house).” Henry recognized this as treason, hence he said, “If this be treason, make the most of it.” Naturally, at the time people did not understand why he dare give such a radical speech, it was not until ten years later that people started to understand the significance of his speech because they had rebelled from the wish of being under the rule of the British Government. By the time Henry gave his oration, he had earned the respect of his audience from his previous speech. Another contributing factor to why the audience should trust him is that he alluded to the Bible multiple times and he was a man of God. The education that Henry received was basic, having been mostly taught by his father, John Henry; His education did not affect him, he was a self-taught lawyer, which helped give him noble speaking techniques that could persuade people. Henry’s distinguished oratory skills and respect from the American …show more content…
Allusion is, “the act of making an indirect reference to something.” Given the fact that Henry is a religious man he frequently alludes to the Bible throughout his speech. Due to the fact the speech was given at a church, it gives the audience an impression that he is a man of wisdom, thus they know the need for the revolutionary war. One allusion that Henry makes is, “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” At this time in history, most people in society would understand this quote in context to the situation that America was in, given the fact that most people were religious. Through this Biblical allusion, Henry shows how Judas kissed Jesus as a friend when actually he was betraying Him. Likewise the British have been trying to persuade American by becoming friends with them, while really, they were going to betray America and gain power. Henry’s allusion shows to the American people that they will have to work for independence, because it is not easily obtained. Another allusion comes from Homer’s Odyssey, “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth - and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.” Henry shows to the American people the consequences of listening to the British Government. Within the allusion, Henry alludes to Circe who, after charming men with her delightful singing, transforms them into swine. Henry
Henry’s speech to Virginia uses several tactics to get your attention; the stress at the time was overwhelming as the pressure from Britain to dissemble and succumb intensified. “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.” His intention behind involving God and religion
The first piece of evidence that I found is, “Let us not deceive ourselves, sir…They are meant for us; they can ne meant for no other” (lines 41-47). This explaining why are there extra troops and military? It makes them think why use all extra? Not on us? Another piece of evidence is whenever the text said, “And what have we to oppose to them? ... Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplications?” (lines 50-54). This here is explaining they need to think about the past and that nothing has changed. That is two ways how Henry used the logic appeal,
He uses words like “chains” as symbols of America's ties with Great Britain in order to show the slave-like hold that Britain claims over America, which creates a sense of fear in the hearts of the members of the Congress. By saying “For my own part… a question of freedom or slavery” Patrick Henry frames the only outcome of their decision as either freedom, which would be the product by going to war against the British, or slavery and subjugation, which would be the result of reconciliation and obedience. He implores the Congress to not ignore the gravity of the situation at hand of how “war and subjugation” are Great Britain's true intentions.
He addressed the cruel taxes and policies that have been placed upon the American people. He also, speaks of the tiring efforts of the colonies to overcome the impossible British policies. Henry begins his statement with the numerous actions taken by people in response to the British approach to limit their freedom. Writing in the statement, Henry complains that many actions have been taken in an effort to achieve freedom but have failed. Henry himself writes, “In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation?”. In making this comment Henry urges the British to be prepared for them. After overcoming the stamp act , Henry urges the British to be ready for revolution if freedom is not given. This exactly, Henry points out, if basic privileges are not given to men and women, there will be a war. Henry himself writes. “give me liberty, or give me death!”. Basically, Henry is warning that if freedom is not given, he is willing to fight until it is. Patrick Henry’s statement is crucial to the American cause in the War for Independence. He led the fight against the stamp act, after being elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765. Also, he proposed his argument for going to war was in an effort to live as free men and fight. His speech inspired men to join the cause and fight for
In a time full of chaos, desperation, and dissenting opinions, two definitive authors, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, led the way toward the American Revolution. Both men demanded action of their separate audiences. Paine wrote to inspire the commoners to fight while Henry spoke extemporaneously to compel the states’ delegates to create an army. Despite the differences between the two, both had very similar arguments which relied heavily upon God, abstract language, and ethos. In the end, both men were able to inspire their audiences and capture the approval and support of the masses. If not for these two highly influential and demanding men, the America that we know today might not exist.
Also, Henry refused to support the Constitution because it was lacking a bill of rights. He called it, "the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people." In other words he thought that without a bill of rights, we (the people) would be enslaving ourselves. Henry thought that the Constitution didn't protect the basic freedom of the people. Henry believed that people wouldn't be safe from a powerful government without the bill of rights.
One of the greatest conflicts in the history of the United State of America, the Revolutionary War, was started when the colonies of North America declared themselves independent from British rule. A group of men known as the Founding Fathers, which included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John and Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and others, formed the Continental Congress to rule their new nation. They chose Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence, which they would send to King George III to make their independence official. Jefferson knew that he needed to use strong language to make a solid agrument against British rule in the colonies and to convince the colonists that independence was the only choice to maintain their freedom as human beings. The powerful use of parallelism, ethos, pathos, and logos helpd Thomas Jefferson to convey his idea that all men are created equal with unalienable rights and that it is the duty of the government to protect those rights.
Henry's intention is to influence Congress to lead the way to war and he is trying to motivate the Congressmen to feel the same way as he does about fighting for freedom. The audience, after listening to Henry's speech, is compelled to feel an obliga...
First, men played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold was also appointed military captain of Philadelphia by George Washington. Patrick Henry had the remarkable ability to translate his political ideology into the language of the common man. He greatly supported independence from England famously saying,”Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?.... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” Patrick Henry also said,”The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders, are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.” He was selected to serve as a delegate to the
Henry spoke these words to try and get the people to stop letting themselves be pushed around and go to fight for what they want. The British were being bullies to us and he wasn't just gonna let them stand there to be picked on. He wanted us to fight for our country to have liberty just like Brantley Gilbert sang in his song “One Hell of An Amen”, he sang about two people that both have something they need to fight for. Deep down we all have something we need to fight for, we never give up on, and we all dream about.
“Give me liberty or give me death” were the famous words spoken by Patrick Henry in the struggle for independence (Burnett 62). He addressed the first continental congress in 1774 and started the process of American political revolt. This revolt eventually climaxed in the rebelling of Britain's American colonies and the establishment of what would become the United States of America. The Second Continental Congress accomplished independence through organization, rebellion, and finally declaring independence. This was the beginning of the American Revolution.
Henry, Patrick. 23 Mar. 1775. Give me Liberty or Give me Death. St. John's Church. Richmond, VA. 7 Dec 2013.
However, the author 's interpretations of Jefferson 's decisions and their connection to modern politics are intriguing, to say the least. In 1774, Jefferson penned A Summary View of the Rights of British America and, later, in 1775, drafted the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (Ellis 32-44). According to Ellis, the documents act as proof that Jefferson was insensitive to the constitutional complexities a Revolution held as his interpretation of otherwise important matters revolved around his “pattern of juvenile romanticism” (38). Evidently, the American colonies’ desire for independence from the mother country was a momentous decision that affected all thirteen colonies. However, in Ellis’ arguments, Thomas Jefferson’s writing at the time showed either his failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation or his disregard of the same. Accordingly, as written in the American Sphinx, Jefferson’s mannerisms in the first Continental Congress and Virginia evokes the picture of an adolescent instead of the thirty-year-old man he was at the time (Ellis 38). It is no wonder Ellis observes Thomas Jefferson as a founding father who was not only “wildly idealistic” but also possessed “extraordinary naivete” while advocating the notions of a Jeffersonian utopia that unrestrained
The Inevitable War World war I was a war of tragic loss between the dead, the wounded, and the missing. The war was between the allied forces, (France, Britain, United States, Russia) and the central powers, (Ottoman empire, Austria-Hungary, and Germany). Many people when learning about World War I in class or in books don’t see or understand the conglomeration of events that attributed to the start of this war. There was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Increase in imperialism, nationalism, the arms race, and many more factors from years before 1914 that led to the break out of WWI. In many cases the world was growing and countries were becoming greedy and power hungry, There were no “main reasons for the war.
In Book III Henry says (175): ”I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, sacrifice and the expres...