Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!
Patrick Henry's Speech Electrifies Virginia's Patriots March 23 1775
Jan 29, 2008
Patrick Henry had recently returned to Virginia from Philadelphia where he was a delegate to the First Continental Congress. He had made fast friends with Samuel Adams and garnered the respect of John Adams and the rest of the delegation from Massachusetts. These New Englanders were only too glad to have Henry as a mouthpiece for the independence movement as they would have been readily cast aside as radicals if they were to espouse their own views too resolutely at this point. Henry, who had gained fame and accusations of treason ten years earlier with his fiery protest against the Stamp Act, earned his stripes in Congress when he vividly denounced factionalism between states. He said that, "Government is no more ... We are in a state of nature ... Distinctions between [colonies] are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American!"
Congress Petitions the King
During that historic First Continental Congress a declaration had been drawn up and sent to King George, parliament and the people of Great Britain. It had outlined the reasond for the Congress as well as the grievances that Americans had with thier government. It was their hope that King George would be their champion and right the worngs done by his ministry. This was not to be the case. In an address to Parliament, King George denounced the colonial actions, while blatantly refusing to even read their plea. When the Congressmen returned home they began to form ad hoc revolutionary committees to prepare for war.
Virginias Revolutionary Committee Meets in Richmond
By March 20, 1775, the Virginia committee had been meeting at St. Johns Church in Richmond for three days. There were still many who held out hope that the King would change his mind and reverse the policies of Parliament. There were several more who did not see this occurring. Patrick Henry was one. He along wth several other of the younger Burgesses proposed that new levies of militia be called up to begin training for the inevitable war. Even conservatives like George Washington hesitated to go this far. There was a considerable amount of opposition to this radical move. It was on this very lovely spring day that Patrick Henry waited resolutely in the third row of the sanctuary for the chance to defend his proposal.
Liberty or Death
One hundred twenty delegates swelled the church to near capacity. The heat generated on this warm day was dissipated by opening all of the windows. A great crowd gathered outside, eager to hear the debate. Finally, Henry was recognized by the Chairman, Peyton Randolph. He stood and began in a hushed voice that caused the listeners to lean forward to catch his words. As he warmed to the subject his voice crescendoed with the words, "The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the resounding clash of arms!" Subdued again, he pressed for the finish. Kneeling, he crossed his arms as if in chains and in a passionate voice just louder than a whisper asked, "Is life so sweet and peace so dear as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" He raised to his feet and symbolically broke the chains with a wide sweep of his outstreched arms and with his best baritone preachers voice cried out, "Forbid it Almighty God!" He raised an imaginary dagger, fisted above his head and eloquently with the spirit of the prophet Joshua intoned, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty ...". He paused, plunging the imaginary dagger into his breast. He then fell softly into the pew and finished, "... or give me death!"
Sources
Patriots, The Men Who Started The American Revolution by A.J. Langguth, 1988, Simon and Schuster
George Washington, A Life by Willard Stern Randall, 1997, Owl Books
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