Patrick Henry Tells His Story of Fighting for the Freedom and Liberty of the Colonies

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I’m Patrick Henry, and I reckon most of you have heard of my famous words: "Give me liberty, or give me death!" But before I get to that moment, let me take you back a bit so you understand the man behind the speech. I was born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1736. Life wasn’t always easy for me. My family wasn’t wealthy, and I wasn’t exactly a model student. But I had a gift, one I discovered early: I could speak. I had a way with words that allowed me to connect with people and stir up their passions.

I tried my hand at various things—farming, business—but I found my true calling when I became a lawyer. I didn't study law in any formal way, but I taught myself. After passing the bar exam, I quickly gained a reputation in the courtroom for my powerful oratory. It wasn’t long before I turned those talents to something much larger: the growing tension between Britain and the American colonies.

By the mid-1760s, the British were tightening their grip on us. I couldn't stand it. Their taxes, like the infamous Stamp Act of 1765, were choking the lifeblood out of our economy and infringing upon our rights as free people. That was when I gave my first real shot at politics. I was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, and in my very first session, I introduced resolutions against the Stamp Act. In my mind, this wasn’t just about money—it was about liberty. During my speech, I boldly declared that anyone who assumed the right to impose taxes on us without our consent was an enemy to the colonies.

Then came 1774, when tensions with Britain reached a boiling point. I was chosen as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It was here that representatives from the colonies gathered to discuss how to respond to British oppression. I stood with fellow Virginians like George Washington and Richard Henry Lee, and I made my stance clear from the very beginning: the colonies must unite as one or face certain ruin. I reminded my fellow delegates that we were not individual colonies, but one people. I said, “I am not a Virginian, but an American.” We needed to act together if we were going to stand a chance against Britain. In the end, the Congress agreed on a united front and called for a boycott of British goods.

The following year, in 1775, I gave the speech that would become the defining moment of my life. By this time, the colonies were on the brink of war. The British had pushed us too far, and it seemed like more and more people were ready to fight for their freedom. We gathered in March of that year at the Second Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church in Richmond. It was there that I stood before the assembly, and I’ll tell you, the words came from the very core of my soul. I wasn’t just speaking; I was pleading with my fellow Virginians to stand up, to take arms, and to fight for liberty. I knew what was at stake, and I wasn’t afraid to say it. “Give me liberty, or give me death!” I cried, and with those words, I made it clear that there was no turning back. The choice was simple—freedom or submission.

I continued to serve Virginia during the revolution, working as its first post-colonial governor and leading with the belief that personal liberty was the cornerstone of everything we were fighting for. I never sought fame or fortune from my role in the revolution; all I wanted was for our people to be free, to be able to govern themselves without a distant king imposing his will.

In time, others took over the fight, but I’m proud to have played my part. And as I look back on those turbulent years, I hope you—young men and women—understand that freedom isn’t something you’re given; it’s something you must stand for, even if it costs you everything.

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