"Speech in the Virginia Convention" by Patrick Henry

     "Speech in the Virginia Convention" was a speech said by Patrick Henry, a strong opposer of the British rule on the American colonies. The occasion of this speech occurs during the Virginia Convention in the 1770s. During this time, the colonists in America were being mistreated by their rulers, England. Although some people were in agreement that the British should keep ruling the colonies in the same manner, another group of colonists, called patriots, were in strong favor of a revolution. The Virginia Convention speech by Patrick Henry was to persuade the President and Congress members that by starting a revolution, they would be able to be a free, independent country, and govern themselves. He persuades them to believe that they should no longer subject to merely hoping for change, but to actually stand up and fight or their rights. Henry also inspires the audience to join him in this fight, because the end results would become beneficial for them, since they would not suffer any more. The subject of the speech was freedom and independence. Henry's speech was centered around the idea that the colonies needed to stop surrendering to British invasion, and fight to become an independent country. They had done everything possible, such as petitioning, to gain freedom, but had failed. Henry urged the colonists that now was the time to physically fight, since there was no other option left.