Thomas Paine: The Crisis

The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, and Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry compare in many different ways. Regardless of the fact that Patrick Henry’s piece was a speech and Thomas Jefferson’s was a legal document they both used rhetorical devices effectively to convey their message and persuade their audience. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was writing it so that it would stand the test of history. He made it a concrete document by using repetition and parallelism. In Henry’s speech, he was aiming to convince the delegates at the Virginia Convention to begin preparation for war With Britain.

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Before Thomas Paine proposed to fight against the British, the colonists were already under stressful situations such as; taxes, unjust acts/laws, and the British army seeming more intimidating due to the sheer numbers. For Thomas Paines Crisis No. 1 speech, he primarily resorts to ethos, logos, and pathos as ways to appeal the colonists from his own personal experience and to attract the feelings about America from the colonists which evidently urges the colonists to fight for it. Thomas Paine utilizes both ethos and logos for the more ethical (personal experience) and logical (rhetoric) approach towards a waning situation suchlike the American Revolution. As an colonist/American, Thomas Paine knows that the upcoming war will be inevitable, therefore he tries his best to persuade the other colonists to fight by logically appealing to their senses.

The writings of each man reveals a very chaotic time in America’s history and the leadership, determination, and boldness of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson ensured that when change came, the people were ready for it. Patrick Henry was born in 1736 and believed that the people should be free from the rule of the English Parliament. For example in the Speech in the Virginia Convention he says, “I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?” His words make it clear that the purpose of the martial law is to force people into submission. He then asks the audience, “Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it?” Both quotes are great examples of his skills in voice because he brings up the problem and then challenges them to find any other meaning behind the words. The implication is that the people are being ruled.

“We must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!” (Henry 103). This speech by Patrick Henry was delivered before the Revolutionary War in an effort to persuade the colonists to go to war immediately against Britain. Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” used logos as the most effective persuasive technique because it appealed to the reasoning of the colonists and questioned the British intentions. Henry used logic and common sense to persuade the colonists in his pre-Revolutionary War speech.

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.

Modified Rhetorical Précis of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Thomas Paine, a British-American political writer, intellectual, and strong advocate of the American Revolution, published several compelling pamphlets in the mid-late 18th century inspiring colonists to rebel against the British government. One of his most influential works, Common Sense (1776), would eventually become the most widely-read political non-fiction of its time. Samuel Adams would later declare that “without the pen of [Thomas Paine], the sword of Washington would be raised in vain.” In Common Sense, Paine powerfully argues that colonists must declare independence from Britain in order to establish a representative democracy founded upon their religious and political beliefs.

During the Revolutionary War, the unity of the colonists was strong, as they had to fight against the British, despite the British having larger militia forces. In Document C, Richard Henry Lee stated that “all N. America is now most firmly united and as firmly resolved to defend their liberties ad infinitum against every power on Earth that may attempt to take them away.” This was said while the war was happening, and how British wouldn’t stop fighting the colonists until they got their money from taxes. The British were determined to fight until they won, despite how much it hurt both sides. Lee states how despite the size of the conflict, Americans will continue to fight together to win their freedom. Document E is a part of the Continental Congress in 1775 that discusses how Americans needed to bear arms.

In Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention,” Henry uses persuasive techniques such as repetition and rhetorical questions to interrogate the motives of the British and to reason why the colonies should declare their independence despite the consequences. In Henry’s speech, he uses repetition to address that war is inevitable to show how they must fight in order to achieve their goals as a nation and to prove that the colonists will not be alone over the course of the battle. In Henry’s speech he includes, “The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!” By this quote, Henry is saying that the colonists have already gone so far and worked so hard to give up now. Also, he is saying that if they give up, they

Henry’s Persuasive Etiquette What technique sent unhappy colonists into battle ready patriots? After the French-Indian War Britain needed a way to restore their lost funds. One bad financial plan after another led to the brink of revolution, Patrick Henry convinced Virginia to go to war through a certain method. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention”, ethos was the most effective persuasive technique because it made the unfair British occupation something everyone can relate to and promoted the character of the American people. By using ethos, Henry makes what he urged more personal.

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.

Hieu, I completely agree with your views on the two main struggles the Founding Fathers encountered while developing the foundation for this great nation. Your views on both taxation and the Shays ' Rebellion are very similar to mine. It 's crazy that a society in that time frame didn 't adopt the Europeans way of taxation, which evolved around the king and his government. Another good point you have is how it was up to the individual states to fend for themselves for protection. Where the thirteen colonies just finished working together to defeat Great Britain in the Revolutionary War.

This summary is about the battle of Cowpens and its great victory. Nathanael Greene commander of the american army and Daniel Morgan were sent to command the american army to fight the british. This war was called the Battle of Cowpens and its great american victory. The british had got attacked by them from Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia. They were sent to threaten the british post but yet it turned out to be a great battle that we learn about today.