Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death

Henry’s speech is an example of persuasive rhetoric Justifying Revolution, and as such, it leans heavily on two of the three traditional modes of persuasion: pathos and ethos. Pathos is an appeal to emotion, which Henry uses throughout his speech to stir up strong feelings in his listeners and motivate them to action. Henry’s frequent references to the “chains” that the British government has imposed or will impose on the colonies are an example. The word evokes imprisonment or slavery—a particularly potent image in colonies that engaged in literal enslavement. Such associations would have made Henry’s message about Freedom Versus Tyranny and the necessity of resisting British rule more effective.

Henry also appeals to ethos, or his credibility and authority as a speaker. References to classical mythology and the Bible establish Henry as both knowledgeable and devout. With regard to the particular situation, he emphasizes his demonstrated commitment to freedom, saying, “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past” (83).