Patrick Henry's 'Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death !'
"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!"
To avoid interference from Lieutenant-Governor Dunmore and his Royal Marines, the Second Virginia Convention met March 20, 1775 inland at Richmond--in what is now called St. John 's Church--instead of the Capitol in Williamsburg. Delegate Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense. Henry 's opponents urged caution and patience until the crown replied to Congress ' latest petition for reconciliation.
On the 23rd, Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company of cavalry or infantry in every Virginia county. By custom, Henry addressed himself to the Convention 's president, Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg. Henry 's words were not transcribed, …show more content…
but no one who heard them forgot their eloquence, or Henry 's closing words: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
Works Cited
“‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!’” The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. n.p. history.org
n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm
Excerpt from Opening Paragraph Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
St. John 's Church, Richmond, Virginia
March 23, 1775.
MR. PRESIDENT: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country… 1. Who is Patrick Henry addressing?
2. Why is it important that he acknowledges the audience’s patriotism?
3. Why does Patrick Henry tell his audience that he is going to be direct and speak freely?
4. What is the awful moment that he refers to?
Paragraph 3 Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
(Paragraph 4 Removed) 5. What does the first line of the paragraph reveal about Patrick Henry’s method of rhetorical appeal?
6. What does this method of rhetorical appeal reveal about his philosophical beliefs?
7.
Patrick Henry uses a series of rhetorical questions in order to reveal what to his audience about the behavior of the British? How is Britain responding to the colonists peaceful petitions?
8. What does this reveal about
Britain’s agenda?
9. What does Patrick Henry claim that the British are trying to do to the colonists by sending in war ships?
10. List the 5 things that the colonists have already done in order to peacefully negotiate with Britain.
11. List have Britain responded to each of the 5 peaceful actions.
12. Patrick Henry uses parallel structure when listing what the colonists have done to negotiate peacefully with Britain and when detailing Britain’s response. What is the effect of parallel structure upon his tone? How does this further his purpose?
13. Patrick Henry primarily uses which rhetorical appeal to show his audience that there is no hope? Why might this strategy be effective? (Hint: Consider the time period and philosophical beliefs of the era.)
14. Patrick Henry ends this paragraph by appealing to pathos and using imperatives. Identify 3 key words/phrases that evoke strong emotion. Explain what emotion each word/phrases creates and what Patrick Henry hopes these feelings will inspire his audience to
do?
15. What is the purpose behind Patrick Henry’s extensive use of rhetorical questions? What does he hope this will allow the audience to do?
Paragraph 5 Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is 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! 16. Why is there no peace according to Patrick Henry?
17. What does Patrick Henry claim the colonists must do in order to achieve freedom?
18. What effect does the series of imperatives and rhetorical questions have upon Patrick Henry’s call to action?
19. Why is “give me liberty or give me death!” a paradox? What effect does he hope that this will have upon his audience?
Works Cited
Henry, Patrick. “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. n.p. history.org
n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm
To avoid interference from Lieutenant-Governor Dunmore and his Royal Marines, the Second Virginia Convention met March 20, 1775 inland at Richmond--in what is now called St. John 's Church--instead of the Capitol in Williamsburg. Delegate Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense. Henry 's opponents urged caution and patience until the crown replied to Congress ' latest petition for reconciliation.
On the 23rd, Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company of cavalry or infantry in every Virginia county. By custom, Henry addressed himself to the Convention 's president, Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg. Henry 's words were not transcribed, …show more content…
but no one who heard them forgot their eloquence, or Henry 's closing words: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
Works Cited
“‘Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!’” The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. n.p. history.org
n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm
Excerpt from Opening Paragraph Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
St. John 's Church, Richmond, Virginia
March 23, 1775.
MR. PRESIDENT: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country… 1. Who is Patrick Henry addressing?
2. Why is it important that he acknowledges the audience’s patriotism?
3. Why does Patrick Henry tell his audience that he is going to be direct and speak freely?
4. What is the awful moment that he refers to?
Paragraph 3 Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
(Paragraph 4 Removed) 5. What does the first line of the paragraph reveal about Patrick Henry’s method of rhetorical appeal?
6. What does this method of rhetorical appeal reveal about his philosophical beliefs?
7.
Patrick Henry uses a series of rhetorical questions in order to reveal what to his audience about the behavior of the British? How is Britain responding to the colonists peaceful petitions?
8. What does this reveal about
Britain’s agenda?
9. What does Patrick Henry claim that the British are trying to do to the colonists by sending in war ships?
10. List the 5 things that the colonists have already done in order to peacefully negotiate with Britain.
11. List have Britain responded to each of the 5 peaceful actions.
12. Patrick Henry uses parallel structure when listing what the colonists have done to negotiate peacefully with Britain and when detailing Britain’s response. What is the effect of parallel structure upon his tone? How does this further his purpose?
13. Patrick Henry primarily uses which rhetorical appeal to show his audience that there is no hope? Why might this strategy be effective? (Hint: Consider the time period and philosophical beliefs of the era.)
14. Patrick Henry ends this paragraph by appealing to pathos and using imperatives. Identify 3 key words/phrases that evoke strong emotion. Explain what emotion each word/phrases creates and what Patrick Henry hopes these feelings will inspire his audience to
do?
15. What is the purpose behind Patrick Henry’s extensive use of rhetorical questions? What does he hope this will allow the audience to do?
Paragraph 5 Questions to Assist with Paraphrasing and Analysis
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is 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! 16. Why is there no peace according to Patrick Henry?
17. What does Patrick Henry claim the colonists must do in order to achieve freedom?
18. What effect does the series of imperatives and rhetorical questions have upon Patrick Henry’s call to action?
19. Why is “give me liberty or give me death!” a paradox? What effect does he hope that this will have upon his audience?
Works Cited
Henry, Patrick. “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. n.p. history.org
n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm