Revolutionary Speeches
During the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine had composed two very stirring speeches. Patrick Henry had written the Speech to the Virginia Convention and Paine The American Crisis. While Henry had orated his brief yet moving speech to the public, Paine had written The American Crisis into an astonishing sixteen pamphlets. The Speech to the Virginia Convention and The Crisis No.1 contain similar ideas and both revolve around a common concept; freedom. The central purpose of both speeches was to inspire the uninspired to coalesce and combat Great Britain for their freedom.. Henry and Paine were two men who were extremely passionate about the power of persuasion. Paine wanted to persuade the people …show more content…
One common idea that was mentioned in both speeches was submission. In Henry’s speech, he says “I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it?” (Henry, pg. 81). What Henry is asking is simple; why are we going war with Great Britain if their purpose is not to make us submit to them? There is only one correct answer and it is that that is Great Britain’s purpose for going to war. Great Britain wants America to submit to their forces and deem their country superior.With that said, Paine goes on to say “By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils-a ravages country-a depopulated city-habitations without safety, and slavery without hope…(etc.)” (Paine pg.91). Paine argues that if we were to submit, we would suffer from a devastated, hazardous country filled with doubt and hopelessness. While Paine was very straight-forward about the consequences of submission, Henry pulled back his ammunition and left it up to the people to decide whether being a small, unimportant slave country was enough to fuel a spark of revulsion inside of them. Either way, the two men got their point …show more content…
When Henry says, “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?...(etc.)” he is saying that even though all odds are against them, they have to stay strong, keep their focus, and fight. With the same intentions, Paine writes, “I call not upon a few, but upon all; not on this state or that state, but on every state; up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake.” (Paine pg. 89). What great object is Paine referring to you ask? Paine is referring to freedom. America’s freedom is at stake. Like Paine said, freedom is something that should not be taken for granted, but should be highly valued and appreciated. “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; ‘tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.” (Paine pg. 87). Paine and Henry both fought for the same cause and incorporated the same big idea. Both of these wise men knew what was at
During the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine had composed two very stirring speeches. Patrick Henry had written the Speech to the Virginia Convention and Paine The American Crisis. While Henry had orated his brief yet moving speech to the public, Paine had written The American Crisis into an astonishing sixteen pamphlets. The Speech to the Virginia Convention and The Crisis No.1 contain similar ideas and both revolve around a common concept; freedom. The central purpose of both speeches was to inspire the uninspired to coalesce and combat Great Britain for their freedom.. Henry and Paine were two men who were extremely passionate about the power of persuasion. Paine wanted to persuade the people …show more content…
One common idea that was mentioned in both speeches was submission. In Henry’s speech, he says “I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it?” (Henry, pg. 81). What Henry is asking is simple; why are we going war with Great Britain if their purpose is not to make us submit to them? There is only one correct answer and it is that that is Great Britain’s purpose for going to war. Great Britain wants America to submit to their forces and deem their country superior.With that said, Paine goes on to say “By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils-a ravages country-a depopulated city-habitations without safety, and slavery without hope…(etc.)” (Paine pg.91). Paine argues that if we were to submit, we would suffer from a devastated, hazardous country filled with doubt and hopelessness. While Paine was very straight-forward about the consequences of submission, Henry pulled back his ammunition and left it up to the people to decide whether being a small, unimportant slave country was enough to fuel a spark of revulsion inside of them. Either way, the two men got their point …show more content…
When Henry says, “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?...(etc.)” he is saying that even though all odds are against them, they have to stay strong, keep their focus, and fight. With the same intentions, Paine writes, “I call not upon a few, but upon all; not on this state or that state, but on every state; up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake.” (Paine pg. 89). What great object is Paine referring to you ask? Paine is referring to freedom. America’s freedom is at stake. Like Paine said, freedom is something that should not be taken for granted, but should be highly valued and appreciated. “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; ‘tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.” (Paine pg. 87). Paine and Henry both fought for the same cause and incorporated the same big idea. Both of these wise men knew what was at