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Is Patrick Henry's Allusion In Speech To The Second Virginia Convention

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Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” is the most persuasive historical document because of his use of allusions, sense of urgency, and his choice of extremes. Henry wrote his speech and gave it in 1775 in support of fighting the British with the Virginia militia. Henry began his speech with a series of allusions which related closely with what the men at the convention would know best. One of his most influential allusions he made was to the story of Judas in the Bible, telling those listening to not “be betrayed with a kiss” by the King of England (Henry 1). His allusion emphasized the thought that colonists were betrayed by the King while the King tried to show the colonists just how great he felt he was. Comparing the King …show more content…

His urgency to join came from his feeling that the country “no longer [had] any room for hope” and could only find peace by fighting (Henry 2). The sense of no hope creates a want among those at the convention to join the war to try and take back what they came to America to find. Many found this to be a very strong point as to why they needed to fight for their freedom. Henry’s speech is generally seen as the most persuasive, however, some may argue that Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence is the most persuasive because of his emphasis on having tried everything to gain the freedoms they wanted under the King’s ruling, but have failed. Jefferson mentioned how the colonists “Petitioned for Redress in the repeated Injury” against England (Jefferson 3). Jefferson was trying to prove the colonists needed to break away because the King of England wasn't giving them the freedom they were fighting for. While emphasising all of the times the colonists did petition but were constantly ignored does draw people towards the issue, it is not a strong enough argument to gain the votes from thirteen states to declare

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