Why Did Colonists Decide To Fight For American Independence

If life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” Then, a couple other reasons why Patrick Henry is a great leader is since he had also helped draw up the constitution in 1776, he was also elected twice for governor in Virginia. Finally, Patrick Henry had opposed of the U.S. Constitution as a result of, it contained no “Bill of Rights”, and it infringed too much on the rights of the states. Although his advice of rejecting the U.S. Constitution was ignored, as a result of such

Patrick Henry’s Speech may have tipped the scales and started the revolutionary war. The British came into America and had troops stationed all over. The british acted like they were trying to help the British at first but it became clear of their real intentions. Fortunately not all the colonists believed that the british were for them especially after they started taxing the colonist, just to show that the had the power to. The reason that this speech is so important and remembered to this day is because Patrick Henry knows how to persuade people.

As stated by Baylor School, the signers are “men who will risk everything to support the rights of man established by God” (Baylor School). Jefferson wants to inspire the rest of the American colonists to believe in the fight for freedom, even if it meant sacrificing their own lives. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most enduring documents because it reflects the will of the people. The genius of Thomas Jefferson is that he uses the rhetorical devices so effectively in his writing. The audience is moved by his words.

American History, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2015. This Quote by him has many meanings things such as the Americans Fighting the War against Britain and getting to where they are now. He is saying that The people that fought for the cause of freedom and independendence has a piece of it in their blood.

In December of 1776, Thomas Paine rose before the colonists and strove to sway them to form a militia (DeStefano). Paine knew that America needed their independence and he would stop at nothing to convince all others likewise. “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Paine). This quote, from Crisis No. 1 by Thomas Paine, is just one piece of the numerable persuasive techniques he uses throughout his speech.

He begins this conclusion by saying that although they have tried time and time again to resolve the matter peacefully that their attempts have been met with silence from the British government (Jefferson). This shows the reader that revolutionaries had tried to be the good guys but their attempts simply didn’t work, another appeal to ethos. He goes on to state that it is sadly not only the King who falls under blame in this scenario, but the British citizens who stood in silence and cared little for the people of the American colonies. Jefferson uses this line to state that they are at war with not only the king of Britain, but the British nation as a whole. This line is not only a way of convincing the American people that if they stand with him they stand with justice, but to convince another major group that America was just in their fight for freedom; according to David Armitage of Harvard University this convinced British enemies to fight with America, a crucial and needed assistance for the brutal path ahead (Armitage).

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.

It consisted on limiting the American colonists to expand further west. Great Britain passed this act to ease relations with the natives just as the American Promise book on page 149 says “The proclamation offered assurances that Indian territory would be respected”. The colonists took the proclamation of 1763 the wrong way because the colonists thought they had the right to expand. Great Britain never wanted to cause any

Early after the Seven Years’ War Americans felt that they were apart “of a great empire.” However this sense of national pride that the Americans held would soon come to an end. After the war many assumed that the British “troops would be disbanded,” however that was not the plan of King George III. He decided to leave the troops in America, supposedly for the protection and preservation of order in the newly conquered territories. (America Past and Present, P. 108) The British government shortly after passed the Proclamation of 1763 which forbade settlement passed the Appalachian Mountains. (America Past and Present, P. 108) These two decisions irritated the colonist because having British troops in the colonies made the colonist feel that, one they were being controlled, and two being obstructed from legitimate economic development.

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was officially adopted and proclaimed by Congress on July 4. This marked America 's independence from Britain 's tyranny, hence, the famous event of the Fourth of July that is practiced in the United States today. The American Revolution was a bloody, political war that resulted in the colonists’ freedom against Britain 's rein, however, the war was not for independence but for consolidation. Undeniably, the colonists ' thirst for independence sprouted from their disconnection and dispute with Britain. However, their main objective was to unite the colonies by resolving social inequality and developing a common enemy.