Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an American founding father and orator, best remembered for the phrase "Give me liberty, or give me death!" delivered in 1775 urging colonial resistance to British rule.
He served as the first and sixth governor of Virginia and opposed ratification of the Constitution, fearing centralized power.
His name evokes Revolutionary-era patriotism and fiery rhetoric.
Colonial-era Virginia city
- RichmondVirginia's seat of government
- Thomas JeffersonThird American president
- founding eraTime of original establishment
- American RevolutionColonial separation from Britain
George Washington · James Madison · George Mason · Continental Congress · Old Dominion
Absence of constraint
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- independenceFreedom from external control
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
oppression · British rule · revolution · Declaration of Independence · natural rights · consent of the governed · free speech · civil liberties
Initial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- states' rightsProvincial governmental autonomy
- limited governmentOfficially bounded political authority
- federal powerNational government's jurisdiction
- individual rightsFreedoms held by persons
centralized authority · checks and balances · republic · democratic principles · constitutional amendments
Persuasive verbal grace
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
- public speakingAddressing a live audience
debate · articulation · elocution · exhortation · rallying cry · impassioned · spellbinding · declamation
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- founding fatherMale institutional originator
- American independenceSelf-governance from Britain
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
loyalty · service · valor · hero · rebellion · minutemen · anti-British · Revolutionary War
Williamsburg
Colonial-era Virginia city
- RichmondVirginia's seat of government
- Thomas JeffersonThird American president
- founding eraTime of original establishment
George Washington · James Madison · George Mason · American Revolution · Continental Congress · Old Dominion
freedom
Absence of constraint
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- independenceFreedom from external control
self-governance · oppression · British rule · revolution · Declaration of Independence · natural rights · consent of the governed · free speech · civil liberties · dissent
Bill of Rights
Initial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- states' rightsProvincial governmental autonomy
- limited governmentOfficially bounded political authority
- federal powerNational government's jurisdiction
individual rights · centralized authority · checks and balances · republic · democratic principles · constitutional amendments
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
- rhetoricArt of persuasive language
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
public speaking · debate · articulation · elocution · exhortation · rallying cry · impassioned · spellbinding · declamation · forensics
revolutionary
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- founding fatherMale institutional originator
- American independenceSelf-governance from Britain
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
allegiance · loyalty · service · valor · hero · rebellion · minutemen · anti-British · Revolutionary War · Continental Army
- RichmondRichmond, James River, Chesterfield, Forest Hill, Main Street
- American RevolutionDeclaration of Independence, Boston Tea Party, Continental Congress, founding fathers, Stamp Act
- 1700sMozart, Voltaire, colonial period, French Revolution, William III
- Famous AmericansAbraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Thomas Edison, Rosa Parks
- foundersfounders, founder, co-founders, cofounders, co-founder
- VirginiaJamestown, Monticello, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Colonial Williamsburg
Patrick HenryBenedict Arnold
American defector to Britain
Patrick HenryAlexander Hamilton
Founding father, financial architect
James Madison · Federalist · John Jay · John Adams · nationalist
Patrick HenryThomas Hobbes
English political philosopher
authoritarian · absolutist · statist · John Adams · George Washington