Patrick Henry PowerPoint.pdf

PATRICK HENRY
1736-1799
The Shaping of the American Voice

What do you
notice about
how this
artwork depicts
Henry

Who Was Patrick Henry
A young representative who stood up in the Virginia
House of Burgesses in 1766
Delivered a dynamic and thundering speech against
the Stamp Act (the hated British tax on all
newspapers and public documents)
10 years later, he was recognized as one of most
persuasive figures in Virginia politics

How Were his Teenage Years
Lived on frontier in Virginia
Came from a modest home
Often accompanied mother to hear sermons of
traveling preachers
Tried to be a farmer and be a merchant before he
became a lawyer

Why is he Famous
At 29 years old, he was chosen to represent his
region in the VA House of Burgesses
Famous for his speech against the Stamp Act
Also, famous for his “liberty or death” speech in
1775 as the colonies were nearing their breaking
point with England

What Motivated the “Liberty or Death
Speech”
Following the Boston Tea Party in 1773, British
closed port of Boston
They instituted harsh measures referred to as
“Intolerable Acts” by colonists
The First Continental Congress protested these acts
The British relieved the colonies of taxation if:
1. They fully support British rule
2. They support British troops in America

Where did this Speech Take Place
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond
March 20, 1775, a convention was held to decide
how to respond to the British military threat
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were
both there
Several made speeches in favor of compromise
Patrick Henry rose up to share his famous words
At the climax of the speech, he used a letter opener
and plunged it toward his chest!!!

Have you Considered the Power of Language
Henry persuaded the delegation
The Virginia Convention voted to arm its people
against England
April 19, 1775, the Battle of Lexington,
Massachusetts ignited the Revolutionary War