Several phrases, for example, came directly from the prophet Jeremiah. Although these are easily missed now, they would have been familiar to the audience at the Virginia Convention, who grew up in the Bible-soaked culture of colonial America. Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!” With this, Henry raised his arms and bellowed, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”Įven those very familiar with this episode may not recall how much Henry’s speech relied upon religious ideas and biblical texts. Shaming reluctant Virginians into taking defense measures, Henry declared “We must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts, is all that is left us!. Henry’s speech has been famous ever since as the iconic speech of the Revolutionary era, but few people today realize just how deeply embedded it was in evangelical religious culture. Yet some convention delegates continued to push for reconciliation with Britain, a course that to Henry seemed cowardly. With tension between crown and colonists at an all-time high in March 1775, many Americans expected war to begin shortly.
March 23 marks the 241st anniversary of Patrick Henry’s famous “Liberty or Death” speech, delivered before the Virginia Convention at St.
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