Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Analysis

After the discovery of America, many Europeans made it their goal to save up enough money to travel across the Atlantic and start a new life. Long after many colonies had been established, the King of England, King George III, decided that he should heavily tax the colonists because he didn’t like the idea of the colonists becoming independent. The colonists become extremely frustrated but England wasn’t letting up. On March 23, 1775 as several delegates were deciding on how to deal with the situation, a self-taught lawyer, Patrick Henry, delivers a speech trying to persuade the delegates to fight back against England. Patrick Henry argued to the Virgin delegates that they should fight back against Great Britain and his argument ended up being successful.

To begin, Patrick Henry argues that there is no reason that the delegates and colonists should think that England will treat them more justly. To support his claim, he states “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplication have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne” (81-85). He uses repetition effectively to show that the people have already been mistreated. King George heavily taxed the colonists and only temporarily disabled them after constant complaints. In continuation of his argument that the colonists have always been mistreated, Henry states “Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are implements of war” (54-55). Henry claims that the colonists have been derided regarding taxes and have been mistreated from the whole time they have lived in America. Due to evidence, Henry thinks that England will not treat them any better than they have already been treated.

In addition to Henry’s first argument, Henry argues that if they don’t do something soon, they will become persecuted by the King’s tyranny which will disable them from being able to fight back. He declares, “The battle sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave” (115-117). Patrick Henry chastises the delegates at the convention saying that the time to fight is now. He claims that the British will only get stronger and if they don’t go to war, the colonists will have life under tyranny forever. Soon after, Henry announces, “Our chains are forged!… The war is inevitable – and let it come!” (120-122). Henry explains to the delegates that it is convenient to fight now and the longer they wait, the lesser chance they will have to succeed.

To conclude, Henry argues that the colonists have already depleted all methods of diplomacy. Henry states, “Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on” (75-76). Henry is saying that the colonists have done everything to try and stop the king’s tyranny and none of it worked. He’s emphasizing that England isn’t going to give up anything they have done, which is why they need to fight back. Henry continues his argument by stating, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated” (74-76). Henry uses repetition to further emphasize the fact that there is nothing else that the delegates can to against England. It becomes obvious to the delegates that there is nothing they can do to keep the king from controlling them. Later, Henry exclaims, “There is no longer any room for hope” (86-87). England hasn’t shown sign of letting the colonists live how they want. The collnists shouldn’ have faith or hope that it will happen any time soon so fighting back is the best option.

Patrick Henry’s speech was powerful and contained enough evidence to help convince the delegates to fight back. Henry really pushed the delegates to fight back when he argued that England will not treat them more justly, the time is ripe to fight back, and the colonists have already done everything they could. Henry’s speech helped the delegates to decide to fight back and if he hadn’t helped persuade, then the United States may not have been a country with as many freedoms as there are.

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