March 23
Patrick Henry Delivers Liberty or Death Speech
At the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, Patrick Henry delivered a stirring call for military preparedness that shifted colonial leaders toward armed resistance.
Summary
Tensions between the American colonies and Britain escalated over issues of taxation and governance without representation. At the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond, delegates debated responses to British policies including the Intolerable Acts. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry rose to argue passionately against reconciliation, delivering his famous address concluding with the words 'give me liberty or give me death.' The speech rallied support for armed resistance among Virginia leaders. It helped shift colonial opinion toward independence, contributing to the momentum that led to the Revolutionary War later that year.
Context
By the mid-1770s, relations between the American colonies and Britain had deteriorated sharply over questions of taxation and legislative authority. Parliament’s earlier efforts to raise revenue, such as the Stamp Act of 1765, had sparked widespread protests under the slogan of “no taxation without representation,” leading to its repeal the following year. Subsequent measures, including the Tea Act of 1773, prompted direct action like the Boston Tea Party and provoked Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts, known in the colonies as the Intolerable Acts, which closed Boston harbor, imposed military governance in Massachusetts, and required the quartering of troops.
What Happened
The First Continental Congress had convened in 1774 to coordinate resistance, but many colonies still debated the proper response. Virginia’s Second Convention assembled at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond from March 20 to 27, 1775, to consider the colony’s position. On March 23, Patrick Henry, a delegate from Hanover County, introduced resolutions calling for the colony to be placed in a posture of defense through the raising of independent militia companies.
Aftermath
Henry’s resolutions passed by a narrow margin. The convention appointed a committee, including Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, to prepare a plan for arming and disciplining militia forces. Virginia began organizing local companies, though implementation remained uneven in the short term.
Legacy
The address became one of the most enduring expressions of revolutionary resolve, shaping American political language around liberty and self-defense. Henry later served as Virginia’s first post-independence governor, and the speech has continued to symbolize the colonies’ turn from petition to armed resistance.
Why It Matters
Henry's oration crystallized colonial grievances and galvanized Virginia's elite toward supporting military preparations. It became an iconic expression of revolutionary sentiment that echoed in later independence declarations and shaped American political rhetoric on liberty and self-governance.
Related Questions
Where did Patrick Henry deliver the speech?
At St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, during the Second Virginia Convention.
What was the main argument of the address?
That past British actions showed reconciliation was impossible and that the colonies must prepare for defense.
Did the convention immediately declare independence?
No; it passed resolutions for organizing militia but stopped short of a full break with Britain.
Who else attended the convention?
Notable delegates included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
How did the speech influence events?
It helped secure approval for Virginia’s defensive preparations, contributing to the momentum toward war later that spring.
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Sources
- Patrick Henry voices American opposition to British policy, HISTORY.com. Accessed 2026-07-09.