The Shaping of the American Voice 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

What Were his Teenage Years Like? 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

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!!!

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