Liberty or Death The American Revolution is one of the greatest things The United States of America can take pride for. One American, Patrick Henry, had a strong voice of protest and spoke up about unfair treatment from British Parliament during his "Speech in the Virginia Convention" in 1775. Henry daringly urged and persuaded the citizens of the United States to show armed resistance to England. He sparked a feeling of revolutionary spirit to his audience by using many different methods of persuasion, which eventually led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In his speech, Henry used metaphors to show credibility, imagery to provoke emotions of rage and fear, and rhetorical questions to catch the attention of his audience. …show more content…
Pathos promotes either a positive or negative emotion or feeling, and in this case, Henry used pathos to evoke negative emotions. His audience could feel a sense of betrayal when he said that the colonists' petition had been received with "that insidious smile." Insidious means treacherous and crafty, and that's what Henry wanted the British to seem like in his speech. He was trying to show the citizens at the convention that Parliament was deceiving them into believing that they would accept the petitions in a positive manner, while he knew that the British were really just trying to keep the colonists under their rule. This angered his audience, and made them resent and fear the British when they realized how much power they had over …show more content…
His use of metaphors to establish credibility, imagery to provoke fear and rage, and rhetorical questions to catch the audiences attention are just a few of the different persuasive techniques Henry used in his speech. In the end, Henry was successful and did manage to get the colonists to go against Great Britain, and made many rethink what they had previously thought or believed in. He was straightforward and daring in his speech, ending it strongly and without any doubt or hesitation: "...give me liberty or give me
One of the earliest well-known opponents of Great Britain was Patrick Henry. Throughout his life he gave many speeches supporting the American Government, ultimately making a name for himself. During a time of uncertainty for the colonists in 1775, Henry still supported his opinions on American Democracy. In his opinion, the only choice left was to go to war with Great Britain. In order to gain the colonist's approval, he issued a marvelous speech persuading the colonists to go to war.
I would imagine that the idea of an independent American was not an easy idea for many to stand by. Many would have probably thought that it was an effort that was not worth the risks, that fighting the kingdom of Britain would bring too heavy a cost. But of course, there were those with enough courage to speak openly about their feelings on their country 's situation. Patrick Henry seemed like a man that was willing to do whatever it took to gain independence. Henry’s letter made me proud to be an American, and to know that these men and women were coming together to fight for a better future.
Lawyer and politician, Patrick Henry in his speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” (March 23, 1775), explains that he give this plea to urge the old dominion to form militias to defend itself against British. He supports his claim by first using a religious reference to express the themes of freedom, equality, and independence. Then uses a selection of other strategies like rhetorical question and allusion to disprove the opposing arguments and clarify the point he is making. Patrick Henry purpose is to fight back and he wants other to fight with him in order for independence. He creates a powerful and commanding tone for the second Virginia convention.
In 1775, America was under the control of Great Britain. Many people were oblivious to the fact that we were under control, while other people thought it was time to break free and gain independence. Among these people was Patrick Henry, who was a huge advocate for colonial independence. In his speech at the Virginia convention, Patrick Henry argues to forcefully persuade the audience to go to war with Great Britain and pushes for the use of military action by using figurative language, rhetorical devices, and organization, and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British invasion.
To begin with, Patrick henry uses pathos to appeal to the audience's emotions, and feelings of going to war with Britain. For example, he says "i consider it nothing less than a question of freedom and slavery." He connects with the emotions and thoughts of being a slave. The audience doesn't agree with his decision, even though he does appeal to the
In 1775 the American Colonies stood at a tipping point. Britain and the Colonies had been embroiled in a continuing struggle over numerous injustices, and the Colonies seemed at long last situated to engage in a revolution against Britain. However, the colonial representatives were still tied up in negotiations with Britain, and many delegates of the Virginia Convention wanted to delay actions until the negotiations had concluded. Patrick Henry disagreed with the delay, so he addressed the Convention, arguing for the need to mobilize troops against the British, a request tantamount to treason. Instead of shying away from the polarizing nature of his argument, Henry adopted a respectful, but urgent, tone, crafting an argument that would inspire his audience into action.
“It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to god and our country” (Henry) during the time the speech was written, the colonist were trying to be separate from Britain. People wanted out of British laws, but had fear of fighting war. The colonist struggled with no money for an army nor the support to create one. In Patrick Henry’s, “Speech to Virginia convention ” he primarily used pathos to persuade the audience to stand up and fight.
Henry believed the only solution left was to go to war with Britain. So he gives a speech to the Virginia Convention to plead his cause. In his speech he uses many different examples of ethos, pathos, and logos. To begin with, pathos is appealing with the audience’s emotions. An emotional appeal evokes anger, laughter, sadness, fear, joy, pride, and etc.
Henry's way of using pathos convinced all the people listening to him, that they felt the same way he did about the arising situation. When Henry used ethos, he continued to show the urgent actions that needed to be done. As Henry's last sentence to the Virginia Convention,“Give me liberty or give me death!” showed that he was willing to die if that was what needed to be done, for the colonists to be free. Patrick Henry was a wonderful speaker and really knew how to capture
Henry’s Method for Achieving His Purpose In the speech Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death, Patrick Henry uses allusion, symbolism, juxtaposition, and rhetorical questions to achieve his purpose. Henry’s purpose is to convince the Loyalists of his cause, which this speech does effectively. Because he used strong rhetorical devices, his language really clarified his points in why the Loyalists should commit treason and join the war, effectively convincing them to join the revolution.
March of 1775 was a day of persuasion for steps towards freedom. A former governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry wrote the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” in response to British conflict and wanting to peacefully approach it with a reasonable effort. The British were enforcing more soldiers into the colonies and the Americans wanted their liberty. Henry advocated for the colonist to fight if their circumstances were not met with the British. Being a former governor, Henry had the knowledge of how the government system worked and was a figure who was looked up to in the state of Virginia.
His choice of language is effective at evoking emotion. Through rhetorical questions, Henry was able to emphasize his points, and grab the audience’s attention, creating an emotional effect on the listeners. “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” These statements prove the speaker’s argument and stir the audience’s emotions.
Patrick Henry's speech was to connect to the audience and show then exactly how serious this issue is and he did that by using a lot of emotion. The most effective persuasive technique that Patrick Henry used in his famous “ Speech to the Virginia Convention” is pathos because it was used sufficiency throughout his speech. It was important for Patrick Henry to persuade the colonist because he felt like their freedom was at stake and there was not much being done about it. The persuasive technique was used when asking whether staying peaceful and not fighting is worth getting our freedom taken away. “ Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Patrick Henry used these rhetorical strategies to make the colonists revolt against the British. In the end, his attempts worked and the people took up arms and fought for their freedom. Henry’s effective and skilled manipulation of persuasive techniques empowered the colonists, resulting in a fight for independence and eventually
In the years leading up to the American Revolution, there was a tense relationship between the colonists and their British rulers. Large gatherings in the colonies to discuss the grievances caused by the actions of the British were common. Patrick Henry applies the rhetorical strategies of allusions and repetition in his “Speech in the Virginia Convention” to assert that the colonists should believe fighting for their freedom and rights is necessary and that they must fight as soon as possible. Although Henry has rather radical beliefs in comparison to the other members of the Convention, he connects with them through religious and literary allusions that are able to convince them of his assertions. In his speech, Henry alludes to