Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Thomas Paine

During the middle eighteenth century, the tension between the United States of America and Great Britain was at it's peak. Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, two important men during this time, both believed that war between these two countries was inevitable, thus trying to persuade others in America to participate in claiming their freedom and liberty by partaking in the war. Although both men had similar points in their speeches, Henry's tone and style had a more effective way of persuading the audience than Paine did. Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry are exemplary studies of Divine Providence as the giver of freedom is an important concept for every American to understand.

When Thomas Paine tries to persuade his audience, he makes it seem as though America is somewhat being forced into getting into a war with Britain. He makes it seem like if the states do not join together and unite as one to fight against Britain, that God won't bless them, which occurs when he states, "but 'show your faith by your works,' that God may bless you." Also when he says “ God Almighty will not give up a people to military

From the start, he was treading very lightly in terms of how he presented his ideas, as to not provoke a negative response from those he was addressing: “ [Men] often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs.” This politeness takes away the zest that the speech needs to push Americans to revolution, therefore giving Henry the more persuasive speech. Patrick Henry's address is very aggressive and straightforward in its resolve to bring war to the deceitful British and liberate America from their grasp, and I believe this directness gives Henry's speech more force and makes it more persuasive than The