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Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

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After many years of animosity between the 13 colonies and the British, the colonist had to make a decision. The famous quote “Give me liberty or give me death”(para. 11). was first said in 1775 by Patrick Henry, a radical that believed that the British should let the Americas go. In 1775 the American revolutionary war began, however; the colonist did not want to fight right away they had to be convinced. In 1775 Patrick Henry spoke to congress to convince them and the people that in order to break away from the British they must fight. With use of ethical, logical and emotional appeal Henry convinces his audience that fighting is the only way to protect their freedom and stay away from slavery. To begin, Henry uses appeals to ethics to show …show more content…

Henry declares, “...to avert the storm which is now coming on” (para.6). This is an appeal to emotion because the colonist feel empowered from his words. The colonist are inspired by the words Henry says and are preparing to weather the imminent storm. The colonist are preparing and are ready to fight for their freedom. Then Henry affirms, “I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve” (para.1). This is emotional appeal because the colonist are shocked with the passion that Henry speaks with. The colonists are impressed that Henry is so passionate, and that passion is shared with the colonist. The colonist match Henry's passion for freedom and answer back with the will to fight. Later Henry claims, “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary” (para.8). This is an appeal to emotion because the colonist are offended and do not want to be underestimated. The callow colonist colinated a new world, survived, and flourished, now it is patent that they must break away to grow. The colonist will fight to show the world they are not a parody of the British. Henry uses emotional appeal to evoke the colonists passion to fight for their

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