Mr. Cadenhead - 7th Grade Social Studiesp. 1 of 3
Patrick Henry – Liberty or Death?
Name: ______Date: ______Class #: ______
Document #3 (non-fiction): Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty or give me death!”
(Adapted by Mr. Cadenhead from “Patrick Henry: Voice of Freedom”, by
- Petition: a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something
- Intolerable: impossible to stand
- Parliament: the group of people who are responsible for making the laws in England
- Brink: the edge of something
- Imposed: something that is forced onto someone
- Representation: a person or group that speaks or acts for or in support of another person or group
- Revolution: the violent attempt to end the rule of one government and start a new one
- Taxation: forcing someone to pay taxes
- Inevitable: something that is sure to happen
- Passionate: caring deeply about something
- Patriot: a person who loves and fights for his or her country
Patrick Henry was born in Virginia in 1736. When he was 28 years old, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses (The House of Burgesses were the first democratically-elected representatives in the American colonies). He became well known for complaining loudly and often about the high taxes imposed by the British Parliament. When Parliament passed the “Stamp Act” (a tax on all paper goods) in 1765,Henry convinced his fellow Virginiansto send an angry messageto the King of England, letting him know that the American colonists were sick and tired of "taxation without representation."
After the Boston Tea Party, England introduced a series of laws to punish the Massachusetts colony. These laws, called the “Intolerable Acts” pushed America and Britain to the brink of war. That year, Henry became a member of the Continental Congress, a committee of representatives from all 13 colonies (except Georgia). Patrick Henry became one of the loudest voices in the Congress to argue in favor of war with England.
On March 23rdof 1775 Henry made a passionate speech that helped launch the American Revolution. It happened on the same day that the British marched on Concord and Lexington Massachusetts (remember Paul Revere’s famous “midnight ride?”). Today the Battle of Lexington is considered the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Document #4 (non-fiction): Adaptation of Patrick Henry’s speech to the second Virginia Convention, St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1775. (Adapted by Mr. Cadenhead from )
“The question before us today is one of terrible importance for this country. I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery. I have no way of knowing what will happen in the future except by looking at the past. For the last 10 years, England has taxes us relentlessly and ignored our complaints. What have they done to give us hope that they will ever listen to us? Let us not deceive ourselves, the only reason England is sending her armies to Massachusetts if because they intend to crush us and make us their slaves!
Some of you will say, ‘let’s try again to convince them…Let’s write another letter to the King of England and ask him to listen to us’. I say to you ‘sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years!’ Shall we crawl to the king on hour hands and knees and beg him for his mercy? No! We have done everything that could be done, to avoid the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have pleaded; we have begged to the king and to Parliament. Our petitions have been ignored and our pleas have produced additional violence and insults. There is no longer any room for hope. If we want to be freewe must fight! I repeat it, we must fight!
Some of you say that we are weak; that we will never be able to defeat an Army as mighty as England’s. But what choice do we have? Will we be stronger next week, or next year? We are three million people! We are fighting for cause of liberty! And we shall not fight our battles alone - God will fight on our side! What are we waiting for? Our brothers in Massachusetts are already dying in the field! Are we so afraid of death that we will choose live as cowards and slaves? I don’t know what course others may take; but as for me, I say give me liberty or give me death!”
1 / Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of lines 22-26 / 2 / Which line from Patrick Henry’s speech best supports the argument that war with Britain is inevitable? / Patrick Henry is opposed to slavery for African Americans / / What have they done to give us hope that they will ever listen to us?
/ The Continental Congress has done everything it can to avoid war / / We have done everything that could be done, to avoid the storm which is now coming on
/ England has no intention of giving Americans their freedom / / Shall we crawl to the king on hour hands and knees and beg him for his mercy
/ The future cannot be predicted by looking at the past / / . I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.
Three Views of Patrick Henry’s Famous Speech (1776, 1997 and 2009)
Short Response Question: Consider today’s QOD: What would you be willing to die for?” Now consider the three images on the previous page. How do these images suggest that people’s attitudes toward this question have changed over time? Use (at least) two examples from multiple documents to support your answer.
5 Point
Grading Rubric / ______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Claim: 1 Points:
Claim is clearly stated
(author answers the question)
Evidence #1:
1 Point:
Author provides first relevant detail from the article in his/her own words (not copied from the text)
Evidence #2:
1 Point:
Author provides second relevant detail
____ Flopsie Test (1-3 Points):
- 3 pts: Flopsie Gets it
- 2 pts: Flopsie’s a little confused
- 1 point: Flopsie’s lost