Rhetorical Use Of Ethos And Logos In Patrick Henry's Speech

Patrick Henry, a Virginian lawyer, made himself known for the speeches supporting American democracy. He is known as the "Orator of Liberty." In 1775, American colonists were still under Great Britain’s power. Many were hoping to be able to work out their disagreements and remain British subjects. Patrick Henry had had enough of cooperating with the British. 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. For example, Henry says "I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery..." The thoughts and emotions connected with the word slavery bring many things to mind. Like do you want to be under "slavery" for Britain forever to never be free or fight to have

Logos is the appeal to the audience’s logic or thinking of constructing a well-reasoned argument. It includes: facts, research, and statistics. For instance, "And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication?" He's making them think about everything they've done in the past that hasn't worked. Another example of logos is "Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance have produced additional violence insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. There is no longer any room for hope." Henry is telling us that the British have been unresponsive to anything but armed resistance. He also said the British had no interest in compromising with us. Henry used logos in his speech so the audience could really think about the consequences in not fighting and staying with