Wirt drew upon materials collected beginning in 1808, including interviews with those who knew Henry and those who were present when the speech was delivered. This speech was recreated in 1817 by William Wirt of Maryland, who published the first biography of Patrick Henry. Twenty-seven days after this speech was delivered the Battles of Lexington and Concord proved Henry correct. His speech reflected language and actions far more radical that his fellow delegates were willing to go in public, but Henry based his request upon the assumption that even more aggressive military actions by the British would soon follow. On March 23, 1775, he asked the Virginia Convention to take a defensive stance immediately against Great Britain by raising an armed company in every Virginia county - an action considered by many to be open treason. But Henry felt that delay would be a major mistake. The American Colonies were attempting to negotiate with British in 1775, and many of Henry’s fellow delegates wanted to wait until these negotiations were completed before taking action. In order to avoid any interference from British troops, the Second Convention of approximately 120 delegates met in Richmond, Virginia, from March 20 through March 27. Resenting this British interference with local government, the members of the House of Burgesses regrouped as a state convention. Patrick Henry is not speaking in the Virginia House of Burgesses in Williamsburg because it had been dissolved the year before by Royal Governor Dunmore. In this lesson you will explore a famous speech by Patrick Henry (1736–1799), member of the Second Virginia Convention. Britain had severely restricted Massachusetts through the Intolerable Acts towns were voting to boycott British goods, and British soldiers were becoming a common sight in the American Colonies.

In 1775 unrest bubbled through the American Colonies.

Patrick henry speech text