Patrick Henry - "Give me liberty, or give me Death!"

An excerpt from Patrick Henry's Give me liberty speech.
"... If we wish to be free... 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 but 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...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...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! ... 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!"

Reflection: In famous speeches throughout history the speaker has held a masterful control over ethos, pathos, and logos; all of which give the speaker an amount of validity and also encourage the audience to listen and embrace the issue that the speaker is referring to. These three factors of the speech are used to capture the audience's attention and persuade them to agree with the message being presented. This speech is no exception. Patrick Henry skillfully uses logic, emotion, and his position in order to help persuade his nation to go to war for independence from a form of tyrannical government. For example when Henry mentions what will happen if we do nothing against Britain but hope for the best and says, "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!" He is trying to get the audience to feel fear for themselves and their families in order to push them to move for independence and freedom, instead of oppression. By connecting with the audience's fear of oppression and their want for freedom Henry is able to persuade them to fight for their independence. Henry then connects to their sense of reasoning with true if unwanted truth stating, "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." Here he is stating an irrefutable truth which bolsters his argument for war and independence. By applying pathos, ethos, and logos Patrick Henry presented a logical argument that captured the hearts of his audience providing an effective number of people to rally for independence and freedom.

Dear Diary,
News is traveling quickly through the colonies of a revolution. Last week a man from Boston informed us about a Mr. Patrick Henry, who spoke out for independence from Great Britain. They said that his words were inspiring and seemed to grip your heart. He managed to control the hearts and minds of those who listened and soon everyone at his protest was also rallying for independence. They say that soon he will go to our representatives and try to convince them to also vote for independence and freedom from our tyrannical king.
I have heard some of the arguments he has made and I stand firm beside them. Our oppression has gone on for too long. I will not stand by and let British soldiers enslave me and my family so that Great Britain may make a pretty penny selling cheap goods for expensive prices. We are entitled to the same rights as them overseas and I will fight to make sure we recieve them. Already I plan to go with friends to watch Patrick Henry make his thoughts be known among the leaders of our colonies and rally followers for a revolution. These certainly are exciting times.
God's peace be with you,
Matthew