Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death: Speech Analysis

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“Give me liberty or give me death” These are the wise word from Patrick Henry from his speech given at the Virginia convention in 1775. When we think about the phrase “ give me liberty or give me death” it shows a great deal of willingness that most of the people had about gaining their independence from Great Britain; either you give us freedom or might as well be dead. In theory, if we look back at the previous events that lead to the rebellion and later towards a war against Great Britain events such as the Boston massacre, the tea act, the stamp act, and many other it makes perfect sense as to why the colonist decided to take control of the situation and rebel. However, was the American Revolution truly revolutionary or was it simply…show more content…
With the new government merchant, farmers, and other member of society took more part in the state legislative It led to demands that the vote be extended to a larger proportion of the population and that public offices be elected by the people. “It led to demands that the vote be extended to a larger proportion of the population and that public offices be elected by the people,” However, as more people freely got the right to vote also it called to expand the suffrage.Women, poor white citizens, freed slaves, and enslave citizens were not given the right to vote. In reality the right to elect its representative were given to only at few, whereas before it was only the English gentlemen; this was still a major improvement however, this so called freedom to choose your own representative was given to few. Another article further argues this point ”Of course, this political extension of freedom only applied to certain portions of the population and excluded all women, enslaved Africans, freed African Americans,and a large portion of poor white men from participating in politics…” In this circumstance there is a flaw on this revolutionary idea of a government for it people, because if you argue that all men are to have their basic rights and have equality then it must be given to one hundred…show more content…
After the revolution, with new radical ideas of equality, liberty, and a republican government for its people it also brought on a new challenge for society. Equal rights for women, slavery, and religion where question after the new United States was form. Women, at the time of war ran while their husbands ran the family’s businesses, small farms, and some even helped with the war efforts. Women at the time demanded to be treated with equal respect from men to not be only be seen as submissive to them but also as equal inside and outside of their homes. In a letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams it’s clearly seen and it’s a perfect example the desire of women to have equal rights at the time “I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could… we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” It would take another hundred years for women to be granted the right to vote and be seen equal to the law as a person instead of a property own by men. Slavery was another question in hand at the time, should or should not be slavery abolished was the big

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