The colonial & early national period (beginnings 1830)

Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 in Studley, Virginia. His mother was from Virginia as well, but his father was from Scotland. Patrick was educated by his father and his uncle. By 1760, after marrying Sarah Shelton, Henry had received his license to practice law. Just five years later, Patrick Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses. He became famous for his power to persuade and his opposition to compromise with Great Britain. Patrick Henry had a way of speaking that captivated his audience. He used repetition and exclamation to get his points across. Patrick Henry’s thesis in “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” was that it is “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” He needed the listeners to realize that freedom was a cause worth fighting for. Patrick was honest when he stated “it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.” By this he meant that it would be ideal for freedom to come without a fight, but they must come to the realization that freedom will not come easily, they must go to war. Although the colonists had petitioned for freedom from Britain before, Henry reminds his audience they were met with an “insidious smile” from England. The illustration of the smile was meant to show that Britain would never willingly give up control of it’s colonies. It is through illustrations such as this that we see Patrick Henry’s brilliant oratory skill of compelling and persuading.

• Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 in Studley, Virginia. His mother was from Virginia as well, but his father was from Scotland. Patrick was educated by his father and his uncle. By 1760, after marrying Sarah Shelton, Henry had received his license to practice law. Just five years later, Patrick Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses. He became famous for his power to persuade and his opposition to compromise with Great Britain. Patrick Henry had a way of speaking that captivated his audience. He used repetition and exclamation to get his points across. Patrick Henry’s thesis in “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” was that it is “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” He needed the listeners to realize that freedom was a cause worth fighting for. Patrick was honest when he stated “it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.” By this he meant that it would be ideal for freedom to come without a fight, but they must come to the realization that freedom will not come easily, they must go to war. Although the colonists had petitioned for freedom from Britain before, Henry reminds his audience they were met with an “insidious smile” from England. The illustration of the smile was meant to show that Britain would never willingly give up control of it’s colonies. It is through illustrations such as this that we see Patrick Henry’s brilliant oratory skill of compelling and persuading.