Patrick Henry's Call for Colonial Resistance

1171 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethos pathos logos rhetorical strategies

In the spring of 1775 Patrick Henry, a congressional delegate of Virginia, delivered a now renowned speech at the Second Virginia Conference. In his speech, Henry called into question the American colonies’ passive behavior towards Britain’s control over them. Henry had the audience of Virginians and other Virginian delegates, which included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He was speaking on behalf of all colonists who were tired of Britain’s tyranny over them. Britain had control over the colonies in many aspects, including taxation. Henry called for war against the motherland. Patrick Henry persuaded his audience to support a war of independence against Britain by the use of pathos, rhetorical questions, repetition, and logos. Henry “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?” He asks the audience this to make them realize that enough is enough and they cannot sit by and watch Britain take more and more of their personal freedoms. Henry states that if they continue to do nothing then they will eventually have nothing as long as Britain keeps taking more and He repeats certain phrases to emphasize its importance and draw attention to what needs to be done. Henry knows that the colonies must take on Britain to obtain their own independence but he must get the audience to be on board with his plan and he does so by repeating cries for war. “…we must fight! repeat it, sir, we must fight!” is used to fire up the crowd and make them see no other solution than to go to war with Britain. By exclaiming “we must fight” twice, Henry really drives home the fact that if they want to be free of Britain’s oppression, then they have to fight

Show More
Related

  • Comparison of Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry: Revolutionary Tract

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1770s proved to be a time of much chaos and debate. The thirteen colonies, which soon gained their independence, were in the midst of a conflict with Great Britain. The colonies were suffering from repeated injuries and usurpations inflicted upon them by the British. As a result of these inflictions, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry addressed these injustices, and proved to be very persuasive through providing reasoning and evidence that moved many colonists to believe that to reach contentment and peace the colonies had to rid themselves of British rule. Henry and Paine were successful in swaying their audience, not only because of the rhetorical strategies used, but also because they were passionate about the cause they were committed to.

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry's Speech To Virginia

    330 Words  | 1 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

    442 Words  | 1 Pages

    The first appeal that Henry uses in his speech is ethos which appeals to ethics. Evidence from the text is, “fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country” (lines 13-14). This shoes that God has credibility. It also shows that you need to respect God over Britain. The next piece of evidence that I found in the speech is whenever the text said, “…and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings” (lines 16-17). This is saying that you should respect God above man. That is two ways how Henry used the ethical appeal, ethos.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    No, sir, she had none.” This clearly indicates that the British have sent armies across the sea in order to do battle with America, that there is no other outcome but one of war. Patrick Henry delivers more parallelism throughout his speech as it escalates to draw out emotions such as anger. For example, he repeats the words ‘petitioned’, ‘remonstrated’, ‘supplicated’, and ‘prostrated’, to convey the frustration of seceding from Great Britain. By using the symploce and epimone in, “If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve… we must fight!

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Patomas Paine

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry during the 1770s

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Henry's statement struck his audience right at the core. Through the accompaniment of rhetorical devices and pathos, one can strengthen his or her argument to the point where others see no other option. When spoken at the right occasions and with enough of supporting evidence, an argument will enrapture the audience and make people find your argument logical and appealing. Patrick Henry made his speech less than a month before the American Revolution took place.

    Read More

  • Paine and Henry´s Influence on the American Revolution

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    The eighteenth century, a time of turmoil and chaos in the colonies, brought many opinionated writers to the forefront in support or refutation of the coming American Revolution. This highly controversial war that would ultimately separate the future United States of America from Great Britain became the center of debate. Two writers, both of whom supported the Revolution, now stand to fully illuminate one side of the debate. Thomas Paine, a radical propagandist, wrote many pieces during this time including “The Crisis Number 1” (1776). Through writing, he appealed to the “common man” in order to convince them to gather their arms and fight for their freedom. In this document, he utilizes many of the same rhetorical skills and propaganda techniques as Patrick Henry, a convincing orator, did in his famous speech delivered to the state’s delegates in 1775. Among these techniques are transfer, abstract language, and pathos. In both works, these were used to call the audiences to war. These influential pieces both contained a call to action which, through the use of strong and decisive language, aided the beginning of the American Revolution.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Speech To Virginia Convention And The Declaration Of Independence

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    Such as parallelism he states, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostated” in this quote henry is trying to really emphasize that they have tried everything to which no avail. He wants to silence the people’s speculation and by repeating “we have” and using the same verb tense his point only comes across stronger. Another rhetorical device he uses is logical appeal saying, “And judging by the past I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years.” Here he is explaining that the British have done nothing for them in such a long time so what would they have to gain by staying loyal. He is stating the facts to which no one can argue and this is what makes his speech strong. Lastly he is most famously known for the line “I know not what course others may take but as for me give me liberty or give me death.” The emotion he uses at the end of his speech only heightens to the climax and leaves people to think long after he is

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    Patrick Henry, also known as "the Orator of Liberty" , wrote speeches supporting the American democracy. During the British rule in the American colonies, Henry was one of the first opponents. Great Britain and the American colonies were divided in 1775. Henry felt the only choice was hoping to work out the disagreements. In his speech "Speech in the Virginia Convention" , Henry was hoping to persuade his fellow Virginian Patriots to go to war. Although some did not want to go to war, Henry used ethos, pathos, and logos throughout his speech to convince the Virginia Convention to go to war with Britain.

    Read More

  • Patriotism In 'The Red Badge Of Courage'

    391 Words  | 1 Pages

    Rather than a sense of patriotism, it is clear to the reader that Henry's goals seem a little different, he wants praise and adulation. "On the way to Washington, the regiment was fed and caressed for station after station until the youth beloved that he must be a hero."

    Read More

  • Persuasive Techniques Used by Henry in Act Four Scene Three in Shakespeare's Henry V

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    Persuasive Techniques Used by Henry in Act Four Scene Three in Shakespeare's Henry V Henry's speech is well prepared; he uses various key features in a persuasive leader. Before Henry starts of he is able to turn weakness into strengths. He immediately identifies what is wrong with his soldiers, the larger French army. King Henry commences by giving his soldiers confident advice, he says 'if we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country's loss.' Essentially this means that the fewer who die the better for our country, because the less loss of lives.

    Read More

  • "The Red Badge of Courage"

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    This idea Henry has gotten in his mind about war being so exciting and making heroes makes a lot of sense. War has always been something that is glamorized in the world. Whether it be a book about it or a movie, war always seems like something fascinating. They make it seem war is this fascinating adventure that changes you for the better and you are seen as a hero afterwards. Henry takes a lot from the Greek gods where a lot of them are war heroes. What people don't realize is that these stories and movies are not realistic. They show war in a prettier way. They romanticize it and make it something better than it really is.

    Read More

  • Red Badge of Courage Essay

    532 Words  | 2 Pages

    Henry is determined throughout the story. One example of his determination is when he first enlists to join the Union army. He puts his mind to it, enlisting against his mother's wishes. Another example is when he is hit in the head by the stock of a gun from another soldier, who is trying to get away from Henry. Although he is hurt very badly, he is determined to make it out of the way of harm and back to his regiment's encampment. Later in the story,...

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Strategies Used In Patrick Henry's Speech At The Virginia Convention

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the “Speech at the Virginia Convention” Patrick Henry tries to persuade colonists to fight a war against the English; he uses several main rhetorical strategies such as; parallelism, metaphor, and rhetorical questions.

    Read More

  • Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage

    1606 Words  | 4 Pages

    Henry begins to question his courage at the time he finds out that his regiment will commence with the drills and move in to attack the enemy. Ho...

    Read More

More about Patrick Henry's Call for Colonial Resistance

Open Document