Speaking for Freedom On March 23, 1775, in a church in Richmond, Virginia, Patrick Henry speaks at the political event of the Virginia Convention and says his famous quote: “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death” (6). Passionate and willing, Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” speech persuades the attendees of the Virginia Convention and urges them to declare war on the British. Patrick Henry effectively persuades the audience at the Virginia Convention through his tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools. Patrick Henry’s strong and persuasive tone prompts the Virginia Convention to consider war. Henry creates a passionate tone that is shared with the audience. Patrick Henry shows his passion by showing
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He tells his audience that the occasion should be serious and there is no time for celebrations. There is no reason to be celebrating when the colonies are in such grave danger under the control of Britain. He communicates to his audience that although the occasion is grave, they can accomplish their task because he knows the country is strong enough: “Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty . . . are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us” (5). Henry implies the colonies have the power to fix the situation they are in because they feel so strongly about their fight for independence. The most famous quote from Patrick Henry’s speech, “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” (6) is extremely effective because Henry’s passion for his country is so strong that he is willing to lose his life for this cause. Henry also uses a persuasive tone to help accomplish his purpose. Patrick Henry’s tone is persuasive because he tells the attendees of the convention that they have done all that they can without having to fight to fix it: “Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on” (4). He also uses a persuasive tone when he …show more content…
Patrick Henry uses many rhetorical questions in his speech to make his audience ponder about the quality of their lives. He asks the question of what else they can do to make the situation with Britain better that they have not “already exhausted” (4). He asks the attendees of the convention if waiting for the situation to get better is just like “hugging the delusive phantom of hope . . . bound us hand and foot? (5). He questions the strong men in his audience: “Why stand we here idle?” (6). Henry makes them ponder if the situation will ever get better if they just sit around, unwilling to fight. Patrick Henry also uses pronouns to include his audience, persuading them that the colonies as a whole can unite to fight the force of Great Britain. Patrick Henry argues for war because he claims that the colonies have worked together and “we have been trying,” (4) but it has not worked. Henry repeatedly uses the phrase “we have,” to get his point across that the colonies have done everything they can do peacefully: “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we prostrated” (4). He motivates his peers by telling them that they are together and “we are not weak” (5). Henry’s rhetorical tools include the audience and make them personally connect with him and each other, uniting them for the cause of
He tells his audience that the occasion should be serious and there is no time for celebrations. There is no reason to be celebrating when the colonies are in such grave danger under the control of Britain. He communicates to his audience that although the occasion is grave, they can accomplish their task because he knows the country is strong enough: “Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty . . . are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us” (5). Henry implies the colonies have the power to fix the situation they are in because they feel so strongly about their fight for independence. The most famous quote from Patrick Henry’s speech, “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” (6) is extremely effective because Henry’s passion for his country is so strong that he is willing to lose his life for this cause. Henry also uses a persuasive tone to help accomplish his purpose. Patrick Henry’s tone is persuasive because he tells the attendees of the convention that they have done all that they can without having to fight to fix it: “Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on” (4). He also uses a persuasive tone when he …show more content…
Patrick Henry uses many rhetorical questions in his speech to make his audience ponder about the quality of their lives. He asks the question of what else they can do to make the situation with Britain better that they have not “already exhausted” (4). He asks the attendees of the convention if waiting for the situation to get better is just like “hugging the delusive phantom of hope . . . bound us hand and foot? (5). He questions the strong men in his audience: “Why stand we here idle?” (6). Henry makes them ponder if the situation will ever get better if they just sit around, unwilling to fight. Patrick Henry also uses pronouns to include his audience, persuading them that the colonies as a whole can unite to fight the force of Great Britain. Patrick Henry argues for war because he claims that the colonies have worked together and “we have been trying,” (4) but it has not worked. Henry repeatedly uses the phrase “we have,” to get his point across that the colonies have done everything they can do peacefully: “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we prostrated” (4). He motivates his peers by telling them that they are together and “we are not weak” (5). Henry’s rhetorical tools include the audience and make them personally connect with him and each other, uniting them for the cause of