“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE
ME DEATH”
PATRICK HENRY
By: Alma
Ramirez
3 rd block
4/10/2013
BACKGROUND
 He was born in Hanover Country, Virginia in May 29, 1736.
 He got married to Sarah Shelton and began a career as a farmer .
That didn’t last long because his farm caught on fire
 That’s when he became a lawyer and educated himself for a
year.
 Patrick Henry was a lawyer and a speaker
 He was in the politics for 30 years.
 He was elected to Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765.
 He was elected to the Continental Congress, in 1774.
 He was Virginia Militia Leader in 1774.
 He was governor of Virginia 1776 -78.
 Patrick became famous for the way he spoke to persuade people
to believe in and act upon, his beliefs.
 He died on June 6, 1799
VIDEO
 http://www.history.org/media/audio/Libordth.mp3
SOAPSTONE- SUBJECT
 Subject: Patrick Henry is what is martial array and the
purpose isn’t to force us to submission. Patrick Henry also
wants to become stronger.
 “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give
Me Liberty or Give Me Death !”
SOAPSTONE – OCCASION
 Occasion: The Virginia House of Burgess, Richmond
 March 23, 1775
 “For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am
willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to
provide for it.”
SOAPSTONE – AUDIENCE
 Audience: to the president and everyone at the 3 rd Virginia
Convention.
 “No man, Mr. President, thinks more highly than I do of the
patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very honourable
gentlemen who have just addressed this House .”
SOAPSTONE – PURPOSE
 Purpose: in my opinion the purpose of Patrick Henry giving
this speech is to in a way inform everyone that its time to
take action and be strong, instead of hoping.
 “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 should 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 members of this House”
SOAPSTONE – SPEAKER
 Speaker: Patrick Henry
 “But dif ferent men often see the
same subject in dif ferent lights; and,
therefore, I hope it will not be thought
disrespectful of those worthy gentlemen
if, entertaining as I do opinions of a
character very opposite to theirs, I shall
speak forth my sentiments freely and
without reserve. “
SOAPSTONE - TONE
 Tone: serious, confident, and objective
 “I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without
reserve.”
ANALYSIS
 “For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question
of freedom, or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of
the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in
this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the
great responsibility which we hold to God and our country”
 He is saying that he considers this issue the same as he was
treating freedom or slavery.
 “For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am
willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to
provide for it.”
 He is saying whatever happens he is willing to do provide the
best.
MAJOR PREMISE/THEME/MAIN IDEA
 “Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a
just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who
will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir,
is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the
brave.”
 In my opinion this quote of the speech basically states the
main idea.
PATHOS
 “Mr. President, it is natural to 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 Henry is showing some kind of emotion when he says
“we are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth” basically
meaning that when we feel pain we shut down.
LOGOS
 “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
of fer 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.”
 This quote shows logos, because Patrick Henry says that
getting into an argument doesn’t work anymore, since they
have tried that for the last 10 years.
RHETORICAL DEVICE
 “… I hope it will not be thought disrespectful of those worthy
gentlemen if…”
 “Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions
of hope.”
 “In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of
peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for
hope.”
 “Shall we acquire the means of ef fectual resistance by lying
supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of
hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot ?”
POWERFUL LINES
 “There is no longer any room for hope.”
 Patrick is saying that there is no more room for hope; that it’s
time to take action instead of hoping.
 “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so
formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will
it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are
totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed
in every house?”
 Patrick is saying that it’s time to become strong.
 “Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means
which the God of nature hath placed in our power.”
 He is saying that if they use all the proper tools God has
provided in their power they can become strong.
TO FOLLOW
 After the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” the Royal
Governor of Virginia had order all the gunpowder seized and
stored to keep it away of the hands of patriots forces.
QUESTION!?