PATRICK HENRY’S SPEECH TO THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
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H E T O R I C A L T E R M S :
ad hominem argument-a fallacy of argument in which a writer’s claim is answered by irrelevant attacks on his or her character.
either/or fallacy -a fallacy of argument in which a complicated issue is represented as offering only two possible coursed of action, one of which is made to seem vastly preferable to the
other. Either-or choices generally misrepresent complicated arguments by oversimplifying them.
ethos-the self-image a writer creates to define a relationship with readers. In arguments, most writers try to establish an ethos that suggests honesty and credibility.
logos OR logical appeal-a strategy in which a writer uses facts, evidence, and reason to make audience members accept a claim.
pathos OR emotional appeal-a strategy in which a writer tries to generate specific emotions(such as fear, envy, anger, or pity) in an audience to dispose it to accept a claim.
rhetorical fragment-a non-grammatical sentence that is purposely short that is used to emphasize the point being made by being very brief: Stop.
rhetorical questions-questions posed to raise an issue or create an effect rather than to get a response: Do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn,
and upon my signature? [Danforth in Act III of The Crucible]
syllogism-in formal logic, a structure of deductive logic in which correctly formed major and minor premises lead to a necessary conclusion:
Major premise
All human beings are mortal.
Minor premise
Socrates is a human being.
Conclusion
Socrates is mortal.
PATRICK HENRY spoke to the Virginia Convention that was assembled to consider how their colony and others might react to King George III
behavior towards them on March 23, 1775 – about a month before the “shot heard ‘round the world” at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.
Read his speech carefully and analyze Henry’s purpose and the methods that he uses to persuade his audience.
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Mr. President1: No man thinks more highly than I do of
the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy
gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different
men often see the same subject in different lights; and,
therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those
gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very
opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely
and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The
questing before the House is one of awful moment to this
country. 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. Should I keep back my opinions at such
a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider
myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act
of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere
above all earthly kings.
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. Is this the part of wise men,
engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we
disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see
not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly
concern their temporal salvation? 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.
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 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 House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition
has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare
to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.
Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition
comports with those warlike preparations which cover our
waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary
to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown
ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be
called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves,
sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last
arguments to which kings resort.
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p a r a g r a p h 1 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
In the very beginning of his speech, Patrick Henry uses ethos in an attempt to get his listeners to accept his
argument. When does this happen?
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Henry uses logic to explain his argument. The way he explains his logic is an either/or fallacy because he
believes that there are only two ways of understanding the current situation. When does he do this?
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Henry begins using metaphors that he will use many times in the course of his speech. What strong
metaphor does he use to explain his argument? What emotional associations does this metaphor have?
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Henry uses ethos again in the opening paragraph to suggest to his listeners that he is a moral, ethical person
in the decision he has made about the question the convention is considering. What does he say?
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p a r a g r a p h 2 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
Henry begins the paragraph by explaining how he views his opponents’ ideas and will end up repeating the
same or similar ideas throughout the speech. What phrase does he use to describe these views in the first
sentence of this paragraph?
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Henry uses several allusions in this paragraph. What allusion to mythology does Henry use, and what is the
effect of this allusion?
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What Biblical allusion does Henry use in paragraph two and what is the effect of using this?
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Henry asks several questions in this paragraph? What answers does he hope will form in the minds of his
listeners?
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p a r a g r a p h 3 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
In the previous paragraph, Henry characterized his opponents’ arguments as “illusions of hope.” What
word does he use in the first sentence of this paragraph as a contrast to those “illusions” to explain the
foundation of his argument?
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What Biblical allusion does Henry use in the first sentence of this paragraph? What is the effect of this
allusion?
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In this paragraph, Henry introduces his syllogistic logic about what he believes is the likely future for the
colonies. If the following are his major and minor premises, what is conclusion does he want his audience
to draw?
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Major Premise: The likely future can be discerned from the trends of the past.
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Minor Premise: In Henry’s opinion, for the past ten years, the British government’s
conduct has been poor towards the American colonies.
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Conclusion: ______________________________________________________
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Henry uses another Biblical allusion in this paragraph: “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.”
Who is he suggesting might be figuratively receiving a kiss of betrayal? Who has betrayed them?
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Henry asks several questions in this paragraph. How does he hope his listeners will answer in their minds?
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What sort of language does Henry use in the last sentence of this paragraph that is very closely related to
the metaphor he began using in the first paragraph? What sort of emotion is tied to this sort of language?
When Patrick Henry refers to “Mr. President” or “sir” he is being courteous as the rules of parliamentary procedure require. Rather than speaking directly to the entire
group of listeners, he must formally address the president of their group who has called on him to speak, but the entire group is listening to him.
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I ask gentlemen, sir, 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? No, sir, she has none.
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 offer 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. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication?
What terms shall we find which have not been already
exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the
storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have
remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated
ourselves before the throne, and have implored its
interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and
Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our
remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult;
our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been
spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain,
after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and
reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we
wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those
inestimable privileges for which we have been so long
contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble
struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which
we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the
glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must
fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to
the God of hosts is all that is left us!
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? Shall we gather strength by
irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of
effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and
hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies
shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if
we make a proper use of those means which the God of
nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people,
armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as
that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our
enemy can send against us. 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. Besides, sir, we have no
election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late
to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in
submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their
clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is
inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may
cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually
begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to
our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are
already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that
gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or
peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course
others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me
death!
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p a r a g r a p h 4 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
What word does Henry use in the first sentence of this paragraph that connects to earlier claims he has
made about the British? (yeah! word glue!!)
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What extended metaphor does Henry begin using again in this paragraph to describe the British armies and
navies?
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Henry uses a rhetorical fragment in this paragraph. When does he use it and why?
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Henry introduces a new metaphor in this paragraph that he will continue using that describes the likely war
that he believes will shortly begin. What is this metaphor?
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Henry nearly repeats the idea/phrase that he originally used to describe the position of his opponents. How
does he describe it here?
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At the end of this paragraph, how does Henry remind his audience of his ethos as a man of moral
convictions?
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p a r a g r a p h 5 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
In this paragraph, Henry begins by discussing one of the main arguments of his adversaries. What
argument are they making?
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What rhetorical device does Henry rely upon heavily in this paragraph?
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Near the end of this paragraph, Henry says that the colonies “have no election.” In this context, he means
that they have no choice. To what is he referring when he suggests that they have no choice?
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Near the end of this paragraph, Henry uses the word “base.” In this context he means: lacking morals or
being of low quality. Who or what does he suggest might be base?
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How does Henry reconnect with one of his main metaphors towards the end of this paragraph?
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p a r a g r a p h 6 , l o o k f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g :
In this paragraph, Henry repeats the word “vain” that he used in paragraph 4 to describe “indulg[ing in]…
the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.” This words means that a person is being excessively proud or
that something is lacking in substance or is pointless. How might this choice of words be a type of ad
hominem argument?
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Henry reiterates his use of both of the main metaphors from his earlier arguments? What are these
metaphors, and how does he use them? What emotions are associated with these analogies?
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Henry employs a famous either/or argument in this last paragraph. What does he propose, and why is it an
either/or logic fallacy?