Rhetorical Choices
Who does Henry refer to as the “snake” in his Biblical allusion?
Britian
How is Henry Appealing to his audience when he says “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.”?
Henry is asserting his credibility, therefore appealing to his audience through experience and knowledge.
What event led to Britians debt, and increased taxation on the colonies?
What is Henry‘s main message?
The colonists have exhausted all peaceful efforts, but Britain has chosen to ignore their cries, so war has become inevitable.
Arduous
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult or tiring
Why is Henry’s slave imagery so effective to his audience?
Majority of the delegates were slave owners.
What fallacy is, “Give me liberty or give me death!”
False dilemma, Henry presents only two options, to display his commitment to achieving freedom.
What had recently increased tensions between the American colonies and the British?
Intolerable acts
What is the main tone throughout Henry’s speech?
passionate and urgent
Subjugation
action of brining someone or something under domination or control
What does the “we have” parallel structure prove to the delegates?
The colonists have exhausted all peaceful attempts for change.
What fallacy is present when Henry says “when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?…..until our enemies shall have bond us hand and foot?”
Slippery slope, Henry quickly jumps to the worst case scenario, if the colonists were to not go to war.
What group was Henry trying to persuade?
Delegates Hesitant about war
How does Henry‘s famous line “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” prove his main message?
Henry is ready to die for freedom
Beseech
ask someone urgently or fervently to do something
How did Henry begin his speech?
Henry began his speech with a polite, “gentleman” tone. Along with a concession that appealed to those on the opposing side of his argument.
What fallacy is present when Henry says, “ 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”?
Bandwagon, Henry refers to the millions of Americans unifying to fight against British tyranny.
What boycott of British goods was led by women?
Nonimportation movement
What is the main purpose of Henry‘s speech?
To call for a militia along with other war efforts to be prepared.
Remonstrated
to complain about something or someone
Why does Henry warn against the sirens?
The sirens represent the British Deceiving the colonists that they are innocently sending troops to the United States. The British do not want the colonists to take action, so they distract the colonists into submission therefore emulating sirens.
What is Henry appealing to when he says, “The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!”
Audience’s fear, by using aggressive diction to display the violence that will come if the colonists continue to be submission.
What major event happened one month after Henry‘s speech?
Start of revolution, Battle of Lexington and Concord
What was Henry’s main argument against delegates that did not want war?
The colonists have exhausted all peaceful efforts, but Britain has only tigtened their control. So in order to create change and be free is war.
Prostrated
lay oneself on the ground face down, especially in submission