Patrick Henry Speech To The Virginia Convention Rhetorical Analysis

Symbolism is a literary element commonly used by several authors to help represent a bigger picture. It can help the reader relate what the author is talking about to something more well known. In Patrick Henry’s speech, “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, Henry uses symbolism to help the listeners realize the negative actions and effects of Great Britain, and also to make them want to go to war. During the time Henry gave his speech, King George had just recently passed the Stamp Act. While giving the speech, Henry “stood in the vanguard of those calling for united action by all the colonies against British "tyranny"” (Foner & Garraty, 1991, n.p.).

In Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention, the most effective mode was logos. Henry wants to convince the delegates from each colonie why they should fight for their freedom against the British. In his speech, he uses ethos, logos, and pathos, but to try and convince the audience, the delegates, he uses logos for all the reasonings that is happening in front of their faces, which seems like the people try to avoid the situation. As Henry reads his speech respectfully, he appeals to the audience with what is actually happening around them. He puts the British ministry on the spotlight to make the delegates open their eyes and do something to stop them.

The speech’s main purpose is to persuade people to fight for their freedom. Patrick Henry’s speech is truly meant to persuade the Virginia Convention to prepare for war if the British government fails to comply to the needs of the convention. He uses an urgent and inspirational tone to deliver a thought provoking speech. This is essential to getting his point across, and that the need for assertiveness is significant. The convention was practically split in half, some wanting peace no matter what, and others who wanted immediate action toward the Britains.

At the Virginia convention in 1774, the delegates such as Patrick Henry, gather to decide their course of action, in a time where their primary goal was to rid themselves of their oppressor, Great Britain. Patrick Henry addresses the other delegates and discloses his opinion on what course of action the people should take. In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry forcefully influences the audience to go to war with Great Britain through diction, figurative language and rhetorical devices and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British Invasion. Patrick Henry emphasizes his opinion of the necessary war by using diction such as ethos and logos, through appeals to their senses that make connections for the audience. Through Henry’s repetitive utilization of ethos

The Speech in the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry and the Speech in the Convention by Benjamin Franklin both have similarities and differences but they are both about the views on compromise and when to stand firm. Patrick Henry had a better standpoint then Benjamin Franklin did in their speeches. Patrick Henry’s speech had a stronger point of view than Benjamin Franklin The difference between these speeches is that Patrick Henry implores his countrymen to declare war against the British he wanted to fire up the representatives at the convection in VA. He did point out that he was tired of trying to get the England to understand. Patrick Henry was and anti-federalist.

Imagine having a life or death situation, and all you need to do is convince the public to fight against it? Would you use use logic, ethics or emotions to persuade them to come to a decision? During the time that the colonies were being approached by the British, the colonist were using every way possible to avoid the fight; however, the British kept coming and it was time to fight. Patrick Henry used pathos as his persuasive technique in his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech to convince the Virginia Convention. To Henry, it was important for him to convince the public to fight so they wouldn't back down from the British and risk becoming enslaved.

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.

Henry wants the audience to know that if we don't act now and go to war against Britain that we won't have freedom for much longer. That is why he used the rhetorical appeals in his speech because he wants the audience to know how he feels and how they should feel toward the colonists as much as

“No less than the people of Varennes and Sainte-Menehould, they suspected that the flight had been coordinated with a planned foreign invasion to end the Revolution by force. Thus the Assembly took steps to prepare the nation for war.” (p. 128) According to Tackett there were different opinions among the Assembly’s members on decision of the future of the King. “In their first reactions of shock and betrayal, a surprising number of deputies had been prepared to eject Louis from the government altogether and replace him with a regency or even a republic.” (P.131) in other hand aristocratic and conservatives asked to let the King be rehired based on a parliamentary decision. At the same time, there was a group who asked for trailing the King. Most importantly, the people’s deep feeling attachment for the King now was changed into the feeling of being betrayed by their “father”.

In Patrick Henry’s speech in the Virginia Convention he talked about how the people of Virginia needed to fight the British. In Benjamin Franklin’s speech in the Convention he talked on how he thought the Constitution had some problems and how he thought it could be different to help all the people of the country. In both of the speeches there are a few similarities as well as some differences. Both Patrick Henry and Ben Franklin they talked about what the people should do and how they can do it using by using their ability to move the people to action. They both showed how they felt about the problem they were dealing with.

Patrick Henry an American colonist who opposed of British rule spoke out on March 23, 1775 to explain his disagreement on the British having control over the American colonies. In "Speech in the Virginia Convention," Patrick Henry uses the rhetorical appeals ethos, pathos, and logos. Patrick Henry uses the rhetorical appeals to persuade Virginian patriots to go to war seeing no other option and believing there was no more working out disagreements. First Patrick Henry uses the rhetorical appeal ethos by appealing to the audience trust and credibility. For instance, “...An act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."

After the British offensive included northern ports, some New England Federalists talked about seceding from the Union. In an attempt to block secessionist sentiment, moderate Federalists called a convention in Hartford, Connecticut, to propose a series of constitutional amendments protecting sectional rights. The convention leaders brought their proposals to Washington just as news broke of the Battle of New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent. To most of the nation, the participants of the Hartford Convention looked like traitors, or at least unpatriotic troublemakers. Their antiwar criticism and regional concerns helped to doom the weakened Federalist Party as a national entity on the

My service to the army at Valley Forge is soon ending.I have decided to re-enlist for three reasons which are: Hope, the army needs me, and for my family and the hope of surviving. The event that caused this whole war to occur were the protesting and the Boston Tea party that happened in 1773. I felt that the Boston Tea Party was a right and wrong decision when it happened because we should not use violence to cooperate with our “enemies”, we should use reason. Even though the British kind of deserved that protest. Also the Declaration of Independence caused the war by angering the British in 1776.