The Plea to Commence War
In order to gain freedom from the despotism of the British monarchy, citizens of the
United States took it into their hands to persuade the loyalists to take action against injustice. In
1775, Patrick Henry powerfully addressed the idea to commence war upon the British to resolve
the issue of oppression at the Virginia Convention. He was able to conjure conflict and fear
within the minds of the audience members by appealing to emotion, and making religious or
authoritative remarks in front of colonists who felt enslaved by the British. Patrick Henry’s
intentions were to provoke the result of the declaration of war in rage against British oppression.
Patrick Henry himself was greatly affected by the …show more content…
Religion and the figure of God are strikingly personal aspects in an individual’s life. By
questioning the British rule, gaps in the colonist’s minds were created, making it easier for
Patrick Henry to fill with his arguments. To stimulate patriotism in the colonists, Henry
reminded the public that the only “way that [they] can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfil the
great responsibility which [they] hold to God and [their] country” was by questioning if the
colonists wanted to continue to stay under British rule and endure enslavement, or be freed.
Henry referenced God to help his campaign for autonomy. Henry’s biblical allusions supported
his motives to promote independence by saying that he has “one lamp by which [his] feet [we]re
guided; and that [was] the lamp of experience”. This metaphorical allusion allowed Henry to
claim his credibility by stating that God was the reason for why he was able to create the path to
project his motives of gaining independence in which God, the authority, is the light in his
In order to gain freedom from the despotism of the British monarchy, citizens of the
United States took it into their hands to persuade the loyalists to take action against injustice. In
1775, Patrick Henry powerfully addressed the idea to commence war upon the British to resolve
the issue of oppression at the Virginia Convention. He was able to conjure conflict and fear
within the minds of the audience members by appealing to emotion, and making religious or
authoritative remarks in front of colonists who felt enslaved by the British. Patrick Henry’s
intentions were to provoke the result of the declaration of war in rage against British oppression.
Patrick Henry himself was greatly affected by the …show more content…
Religion and the figure of God are strikingly personal aspects in an individual’s life. By
questioning the British rule, gaps in the colonist’s minds were created, making it easier for
Patrick Henry to fill with his arguments. To stimulate patriotism in the colonists, Henry
reminded the public that the only “way that [they] can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfil the
great responsibility which [they] hold to God and [their] country” was by questioning if the
colonists wanted to continue to stay under British rule and endure enslavement, or be freed.
Henry referenced God to help his campaign for autonomy. Henry’s biblical allusions supported
his motives to promote independence by saying that he has “one lamp by which [his] feet [we]re
guided; and that [was] the lamp of experience”. This metaphorical allusion allowed Henry to
claim his credibility by stating that God was the reason for why he was able to create the path to
project his motives of gaining independence in which God, the authority, is the light in his