Patrick Henry as the Key Figure of the American Revolution

Our governor of Virginia Patrick Henry uses one of his famous speeches which he declared give me liberty or give me death! these words were uttered by the great famous Patrick Henry. As a conclusion, Patrick Henry addressed these words to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Within his speech Patrick Henry uses 3 devices that affect the speech for example, like ethos logos and pathos he uses these 3 devices to convince and persuade his audience. Patrick Henry wanted to convey a sense of imperativeness towards the changes happening in policy within the americans implemented by the british government the purpose of this speech he gave is to gain the support for a freedom movement from the red coats known as the british. As you can see this essay is effective in convincing the american colonists to fight the great red coats that stand in their path towards freedom and independence.

Patrick Henry was known as the founding father of the United States and the first governor of Virginia. Patrick Henry was a great patriot back in the old decades. He was not a violent person because he never used his fists or guns to fight his obstacles. For his country he used a way more powerful weapon than using his fists or guns to fight. He held a great skill in this powerful weapon he had that no one else possessed. Patrick Henry had this powerful speech he had in him the speech is known as Give me Liberty or give me death. This speech was meant to fire up the american colonies fight for independence to beat the british that took away independence for the 13 colonies. The colonists wanted the right to make there own laws and form the US.

Patrick Henry mainly believed that the great war between the american colonists and the redcoats was inevitable. He respectfully tells his audience ask yourself how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations between the colonists and british tend to cover our blue waters and darken the land in which us humans live in. Patrick Henry is referring this to the quartered british troops. '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?' Patrick Henry has a point saying that the british redcoats would not have had a military build up that was present in the american colonies unless it was planning an attack. Henry is appealing logic to his audience and his listeners he knows very well that there is no other speculations to give account for great britain's show of force. Great Britain has no other enemy in the american colonies and the american colonies themselves have no other enemies meaning they would need to get protected by the great British.

Patrick Henry begins his speech by addressing it to the Virginia Convention. This is what he said “Mr president no man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism as well as the abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have addressed the house… I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if… I shall speak forth my sentiments clearly”(“Patrick”). Patrick Henry opened his speech with a tone of respect to his oppositions. He announces to his fellow citizens that he has a different opinion than what the audiences have. Patrick Henry wanted to engage his conversation with a respectful tone because engaging with a respectful tone could be a better chance of his audience listening to what he has to say then refusing to listen to what he has to say. Furthermore, Patrick Henry is defending his position as a patriot just as those who are holding the opposing view call themselves patriots. This is regarded as a concession to the opposing view knowing that patriotism is important. Be aware that his audience is not standing halfway with him but he shows respect to his opposing viewers. His opposing viewers are standing against him than standing with him.

Patrick Henry continues to begin his talk with a concession this is meaning he is talking to his opposition and refutation. He has a concession and that is it is natural that man hopes for freedom without having to fight. He gets this refutation from the use of the world illusion. He is refuting to his audience that the freedom without fighting is an illusion it cannot be made a reality.

The quote to introduce this is “Mr president, it is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope… We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.” (Patrick) An illusion is a distortion of senses which reveals how the human brain functions but it cannot be the world or the state of things as they actually exist. Patrick Henry wanted us to know that you cannot gain freedom or independence unless you go out and fight for it. Patrick Henry's speech is saying those who cannot see me and cannot listen to hear the truth about the great god in heaven will lose their spiritual salvation. Patrick is comparing this between the colonists and the red coats. The colonists cannot seem to see or hear the truth about what the british are doing to the people in the bible that suddenly lose their spiritual salvation they lost their spiritual salvation because they can not hear or see what is going on around them. Patrick Henry changes spiritual salvation to temporal salvation instead which means that the colonists will not be set free in which he equates it with death. My quote for this is “I have put one lamp by which my feet are guided and that is the lamp of experience. I know of one way of judging of the future but by the past and judging by the past.” (Patrick) Again Patrick is making a comparison between the truth of God and the fight for freedom against the redcoats.

According to Patrick Henry he means that the redcoats have an army and navy thats continues to increase. The redcoats are not frightened and will use there army and navy against the colonists if there is a revolt and the continuation to take them over. There is no one else in this world that is more powerful and well built then the red coats. Patrick Henry tells his delegates not to be fooled or naived by this. His quote says “Why do the british have navies and armies that are growing?” (Patrick) this is important because Patrick Henry wanted to persuade his fellow delegate members with to lose no time and fight against the mighty british because the longer the wait to fight against the british the bigger and better the british army grows as the colonists continue to hold back against the british. There is not a doubt on what the red coats plan to do they have their army and navy for no other reason then to wait and fight the colonists.

Henry simplifies men that are human beings see the same subject but in a different way, meaning they will develop different and unique options over the same subject matter. Patrick Henry tries introducing the idea that the light that is shining before us is a representation of the truth and the spiritual illumination in which Patrick Henry continues to keep developing more and more in his speech he is clearly telling to his audience. In doing this Patrick Henry is aligning his view of the need to fight against the redcoats with the meaning of God has a purpose. “Different men often see the same subject in different lights.'(Patrick) All men are made differently and they sometimes see things in a way that is different.

Patrick Henry talks about how they have tried every option possible besides having to go to war. They have tried so many things like sending petitions, requests, olive branches and it turns out as many things they tried it was still brushed aside every single time they try something planning it would work but instead of it working it does not seem to work. Patrick Henry talks about a storm and that storm means the civil war that is occuring. “Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on.'(Patrick) This is known as an effective metaphor because this war that is happening is as chaotic it can be and unavoidable as a storm. There is no longer any room for hope that anything will work because it is proven that everything done does not work.

In conclusion, yet remembering Patrick Henry the forgotten founding father was super popular during the American Revolution. No matter what the outcome is Patrick Henry is known as the man who addressed a powerful speech give me liberty or give me death. He will always be more than a guy who said the words liberty or death. Patrick Henry was the man who took no setbacks and called for independence and the freedom of this country. If Patrick Henry had not stepped up and called for independence and freedom this country today would be completely different than it is today thanks to Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry could teach us things like do not be afraid to speak up for what you believe is right it is known as a little thing that makes a human being big.