Patrick Henry Presentation
Early Life
Born on May 29th 1736 in Studley Virgina
He was the second eldest child of nine
Educated by his Father who had went to college in Scotland
He would run a story for his father at the age of fifteen,
but the store would eventually fail.
After he married Sarah Shelton in 1754, he would attempt to
grow tabacco on the land he received from his wife’s family as her dowery. Yet,
he would fail at this as well.
They would have six children
What follows is his decision to become a lawyer and he would
get his license in 1760.
Lawyer and politician
He would eventually be known for his ability to speak
persuasively as both Lawyer and politician.
was able to take his
political beliefs and easily translate them into a language that everyday
individuals could understand
This was first seen in 1763 when he was able to persuade a
jury to grant the lowest possible back pay wages to a minister in the “Parson's
Cause" case.
won a seat in the House of Burgesses in 1765.
He is known as one of the early opponents to the policies
that parliament would pass for the colonies. He did not support the Stamp act
in 1765 which placed a tax on all paper
documents that was passed by parliament believing “that only the colony itself should be able
to levy taxes on its citizens”
(https://www.biography.com/people/patrick-henry-9335512).
He also opposed the Townshend Acts in 1767 which placed a
specific tax on goods like tea.
He would be governor of Virginia five times after the start
of the American revolution and into the 1780’s
American Revolution
He would be a delegate of the continental congress in
Philadelphia and in March of 1775 at the Virginia convention he would make the
biggest speech of his career, attempting to use his skills as an orator to get
his fellow countrymen to fight back against the British.
Right after the start of the war he would be the commander
in Chief of the Virginia forces, but only for six months. He would still
continue to provide aid in the war by getting troops and various supplies to
George Washington.
Once the war was over he would not support the making of the
Consitution because he believed that such a national federal government would
lead to the same sort of tyranny that the colonies had faced under the British.
He didn’t believe that the document really protected the rights of individuals.
He would continue to speak out against the constitution,
leading to the development of America’s bill of Rights which protected certain
freedom’s and liberty of the people.
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may
cry, Peace, Peace²but 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! Why stand we here idle? What is it
that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 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!” (https://genius.com/Patrick-henry-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death-annotated)
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