1. “Speech to the Virginia Convention”
Patrick Henry

2. Persuasion Uses logic and reason to appeal to the thinking side of man
Persuasive Speaking & Writing
Uses logic and reason to appeal to the thinking side of man
Uses emotions and values to appeal to the feeling side of man

3. Improvisation
This is the skill of speaking without reading word-for-word from a written text. This was especially important because orators never knew what previous speakers would say; they would have to be prepared to address issues they might not have thought of

4. Trouble in the colonies…
Following the Boston Tea Party in Dec , British instituted “the Intolerable Acts”
When protested, the British relieved colonists of taxation IF they fully supported British rule and contributed towards maintenance of British troops in America. Elements of Literature p. 80

6. March 20-23, 1775 Virginia House of Burgess
Convention held to decide how to respond to increasing military threat.
Several speeches (and days) later, Patrick Henry stood and gave his speech
There is no manuscript of Henry’s speech. Henry’s biographer pieced together notes from those who were there. This is the traditionally accepted text.