Copy of RI.CS.6: Speech to the Virginia Convention (9/2/2025)

Last updated 3 months ago

11 questions

Passage 1: Excerpt from Speech to the Virginia Convention
Patrick Henry delivered this speech to the delegates to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, as they debated whether Virginia should prepare to fight for independence from the British. Henry’s bold speech convinced many delegates that a war for independence from Great Britain was necessary and inevitable.
 
 1                 They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual1 resistance, by lying supinely2 on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election.3 If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace, peace”—but 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!
 ____________________________________________________________________
 1. effectual: producing the desired effect
 2. supinely: face up
 3. election: choice

1 point

Question 1

How does the series of questions at the beginning of the speech advance Patrick Henry's purpose in writing and delivering his speech?

Henry wants war with Britain, so he asks questions that no one but he can answer.

He uses rhetorical questions to bring together the pros and cons of going to war.

By making his audience answer the questions in their own mind, he engages and motivates theme to act now against the British.

He uses rhetorical devices to bring together contradictory ideas that will emphasize the validity of his argument.

1 point

Question 2

Which sentence gives the most effective evidence to support Henry's argument that the listeners should prepare for war?

"They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary." (paragraph 1)

"Three million of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us"(paragraph 1)

"Gentlemen may cry, 'Peace, peace'- but there is no peace."(paragraph 2)

"The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms !" (paragraph 2)

1 point

Question 3

How might Henry's bold statement "[G]ive me liberty or give me death!" have helped in making this speech one of the most important documents in U.S. history?

The statement influenced the delegates to deliver Virginian troops for the American Revolution.

The statement was burned into the minds of the delegates and became their rallying cry for peace with honor.

The statement persuaded the delegates and the colonists that war with the British was necessary, making the speech a persuasive primary source for fighting a war of independence.

The statement summarized the freedom-loving spirit of the American colonist.

1 point

Question 4

Why did Henry use the metaphors of being "bound...hand and foot" and of wearing "chains" that have already been "forged" to evoke images of hostile planation owners and enslaved colonists?

He wanted to use language that was familiar to his audience.

He wanted the delegates to understand that everyone was capable of enslaving another person.

He wanted the British plantation owners to understand the horrors of slavery.

He wanted to get the Virginians to see the British as oppressive  owners and overseers.

Passage 2: from Speech to Parliament on Reconciliation with the American Colonies, 
March 22, 1775

On March 22, 1775, the day before Patrick Henry made his speech to the Second Virginia Convention, Edmund Burke, an Irish-born British politician, stood up before Parliament in Britain and made a speech on the same topic: the possibility of war with the American colonies. Although the topic was the same, their speeches presented opposing points of view about the need to engage in a war.
 
               The proposition1 is peace. Not peace through the medium of war, not peace to be hunted through the labyrinth of intricate and endless negotiations, not peace to arise out of universal discord.. . . It is simple peace, sought in its natural course and in its ordinary haunts. It is peace sought in the spirit of peace, and laid in principles purely pacific. I propose, by removing the ground of the difference [between Britain and America] and by restoring the former unsuspecting confidence of the colonies in the mother country, to give permanent satisfaction to your people — and (far from a scheme of ruling by discord) to reconcile them to each other in the same act and by the bond of the very same interest which reconciles them to British government. 
 
               Let me add that I do not choose wholly to break the American spirit, because it is the spirit that has made the country.. . . In this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole; 
 
               If anything were wanting [lacking] to this necessary operation of the form of government, religion would have given it a complete effect. Religion, always a principle of energy, in this new people is no way worn out or impaired; and their mode of professing it is also one main cause of this free spirit.. . .
 
               In no country, perhaps, in the world is the law so general a study. The profession itself is numerous and powerful, and in most provinces it takes the lead. The greater number of the deputies sent to the Congress were lawyers. But all who read, and most do read, endeavor to obtain some smattering in that science.. . . 
 
               The last cause of this disobedient spirit in the colonies is hardly less powerful than the rest, as it is not merely moral, but laid deep in the natural constitution of things. Three thousand miles of ocean lie between you and them.

               Sir, I shall open the whole plan to you together, with such observations on the motions as may tend to illustrate them, where they may want explanation.

               The first is a resolution:2 “That the colonies and plantations of Great Britain in North America, consisting of fourteen separate governments, and containing two millions and upwards of free inhabitants, have not had the liberty and privilege of electing and sending any knights and burgesses, or others, to represent them in the high court of Parliament.”   
 
             This is a plain matter of fact.. . .

             The second is like unto the first: “That the said colonies and plantations have been made liable to, and bounden by, several subsidies, payments, rates, and taxes, given and granted by Parliament, though the said colonies and plantations have not their knights and burgesses in the said high court of Parliament, of their own election, to represent the condition of their country; by lack whereof they have been oftentimes touched and grieved by subsidies, given, granted, and assented to, in the said court, in a manner prejudicial to the common wealth, quietness, rest, and peace of the subjects inhabiting within the same.”

             The next proposition is: “That, from the distance of the said colonies, and from other circumstances, no method hath hitherto been devised for procuring a representation in Parliament for the said colonies.. . ,”   
 
             The fourth resolution is: “That each of the said colonies hath within itself a body, . . . commonly called the General Assembly or General Court, with powers legally to raise, levy, and assess, according to the several usages of such colonies, duties and taxes towards defraying all sorts of public services.”   
 
             This competence in the colony assemblies is certain. It is proved by the whole tenor of their acts of supply [for taxation] in all the assemblies, in which the constant style of granting is “An aid to his Majesty”; and acts granting to the crown have regularly, for near a century, passed the public offices without dispute.. . .  
 
             The fifth resolution is also a resolution of fact: “That the said general assemblies, general courts, or other bodies legally qualified as aforesaid, have at sundry [several/various] times freely granted several large subsidies and public aids for his Majesty’s service, according to their abilities, when required.. . .”   
 
       . . . The people heard, indeed, from the beginning of these disputes [with Britain in 1763], one thing continually dinned in their ears that reason and justice demanded that the Americans, who paid no taxes, should be compelled to contribute. How did that fact, of their paying nothing, stand, when the taxing system began? . . .On this state, those untaxed people were actually subject to the payment of taxes to the amount of six hundred and fifty thousand a year.. . .
 
             You have heard me with goodness. May you decide with wisdom! For my part, I feel my mind greatly disburdened by what I have done today. I have been the less fearful of trying your patience because on this subject I mean to spare it altogether in future. I have this comfort, that in every stage of the American affairs I have steadily opposed the measures that have produced the confusion and may bring on the destruction of this  Empire.. . .”
 __________________________________________________________________________
proposition:  plan of action; a statement that suggests a judgment or opinion
resolution:  formal statement to do or not to do something that is adopted by a group such as Parliament 
 
 “Speech to Parliament on Reconciliation with the American Colonies, March 22, 1775.” In the public domain.
 
 Now answer the questions. Base your answers on the passages “from Speech to the Virginia Convention” and “from Speech to Parliament on Reconciliation with the American Colonies, March 22, 1775.”

1 point

Question 5

According to Passage 2, which specific claims of grievances made by the Americans does Edmund Burke support as being reasonable?

The colonial governments were not recognized by Britain, and the colonist were being taxed without having representation in Parliament.

Religion was an energizing principle for Americans and caused their free- spirited nature.

The American spirit would not  tolerated tyranny because they were naturally  disobedient.

The Americans claimed that the colonies were too far away from Britain to be ruled by the crown.

1 point

Question 6

Part A: In Passage 2, paragraph 11, which is the most logical inference that can be drawn from the text?

America has become too large to be governed by Britain.

Americans will never pay taxes to the British because they have never has to pay them before.

Any tax imposed by Parliament-even with American representation- would be unacceptable to the free- spirited colonists.

Americans are willing to pay taxes to Britain, but they would like to be able to elect representatives to Parliament.

1 point

Question 7

Which text from paragraph 11 best supports the answer in Part A?

made liable to, and bounden by, several subsidies payments, rates, and taxes

though the said colonies and plantations have not their knights and burgesses

have been oftentimes touched and grieved by subsidies

in a manner prejudicial to  the common wealth, quietness, rest, and peace of the subjects

1 point

Question 8

In Passage 2, paragraph 9-16, Burke lists and explains his propositions and resolutions. Why does he structure this part of his speech in this way?

He wants to use a style of speech common to speech writers in the eighteenth century.

He wants to list grievances, one at a time, to analyze if each is reasonable to address.

He wants to impress members of Parliament with his knowledge of American law.

He wants to rank the order of importance of each grievance.

1 point

Question 9

Which statement from paragraph 6 best expresses Burke's strongest argument that the word law has a nuanced meaning in American life and culture?

"In no country, perhaps, in the world is the law so general a study."

"The profession itself is numerous and powerful, and in most provinces it takes the lead."

" The greater number of the deputies sent to the Congress were lawyers."

"But all who read, and most do read, endeavor to obtain some smattering in that science..."

1 point

Question 10

10.

How do the two passages highlight the differences between each speaker's point of view about the possibility of fighting a war of independence?

The passage presents two different sides of an argument, first giving Henry's reasons, then giving Burke's.

The passage contrast Henry's point of view- that a war with the British must be fought to keep the colonists free and Burke's- that peace must be maintained for the benefit of both the colonies and Britain.

The passage highlights two opposing points of view- one promoting war , the other favoring peace.

Together, the passage contrast and highlight the Henry's subjective point of view with Burke's objective point of view

1 point

Question 11

11.

How do Passage 1 and 2 address related themes and ideas?

Both speeches are historical documents that address the claim that a war between the colonists and the British is inevitable.

Both Henry and Burke address the theme of American free spirit and that a love of freedom is the distinguishing characteristic of Americans.

Both speeches put forth  and support the argument that war still could be avoided in 1775.

Henry's speech is supporting the arguments that Burke makes about maintaining peace if the British act immediately to resolve the colonists' grievances.