Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry Speech

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Former Governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry, in his speech in the Virginia Convention, addresses the question before a group of delegates at the Second Virginia Convention. Henry’s purpose is to convince the House that a volunteer organized militia should be placed in every county in Virginia due to their alliance with Britain. Henry believes this alliance is toxic and the king of England should have less power; in comparison to their heavenly Father. By using rhetorical devices, Henry makes his speech memorable and convincing.
Henry uses Ethos in the first paragraph to influence the audience to respect and value his opinion by showing that he respects the opinion of others. He says, “but different men often see the same subject in different

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