One of the most famous quotes from American history is Patrick Henry’s “give me liberty or give me death!” This quote has been repeated countless times in American culture, even now, almost two hundred and fifty years later. This poignant quote is part of a remarkably well-written speech, given at the Virginia Convention in 1775. The purpose of this meeting was to decide whether or not America should declare war on the British, which we ultimately did. Patrick Henry’s goal was to convince the convention that America could only prosper through separation by means of war. Henry used powerful imagery, careful diction, personal credibility, and keen logic to strongly deliver his message, that without war the American people would never truly be
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This builds his argument’s reliability, showing that he is an educated and knowledgeable in the subject at hand. Henry goes on the explain the behavior of the British. He says they 've made “war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.” He logically explains that there is no reason for their conduct, if not to bring war to America and force the Americans into submission. He claims that these are clearly signs of oncoming war. Henry then compares the blindness of some towards the tyranny of the British to sailors blindly following the call of a siren. He implies that they choose not to see the the threat the British place over the …show more content…
He effectively made a powerful argument through eloquent diction, carefully constructed sentences, and compelling imagery. In some places his points were backed by logic and common sense. In others he was able to invoke both feelings of fear and resentment towards the British, and feelings of patriotism and power. He also, through his multiple mentions of God, was able to gain the favor of the council, making himself relatable and worthy of their trust. Patrick Henry’s speech doubtlessly influenced the conclusion reached at the Virginia Convention, which was certainly a decision that shaped the world we live in
This builds his argument’s reliability, showing that he is an educated and knowledgeable in the subject at hand. Henry goes on the explain the behavior of the British. He says they 've made “war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.” He logically explains that there is no reason for their conduct, if not to bring war to America and force the Americans into submission. He claims that these are clearly signs of oncoming war. Henry then compares the blindness of some towards the tyranny of the British to sailors blindly following the call of a siren. He implies that they choose not to see the the threat the British place over the …show more content…
He effectively made a powerful argument through eloquent diction, carefully constructed sentences, and compelling imagery. In some places his points were backed by logic and common sense. In others he was able to invoke both feelings of fear and resentment towards the British, and feelings of patriotism and power. He also, through his multiple mentions of God, was able to gain the favor of the council, making himself relatable and worthy of their trust. Patrick Henry’s speech doubtlessly influenced the conclusion reached at the Virginia Convention, which was certainly a decision that shaped the world we live in