Patrick Henry: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==="Liberty or Death" (1775)===

[[File:Patrick Henry speaking before the Virginia Assembly.tiff|thumb|right|[[Currier & Ives]] depiction of Henry giving his famous speech]]

Hanover County elected Henry as a delegate to the [[Second Virginia Convention]], which convened at [[St. John's Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia)|St. John's Episcopal Church]] in the town of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] on March 20, 1775. Richmond was selected as better protected from royal authority. ThereThe wasconvention debate ondebated whether toVirginia should adopt a petition by the planters of the [[Colony of Jamaica]],. complainingThis ofdocument contained complaints about British actions, but admittingadmitted the King could veto colonial legislation, and urgingit urged reconciliation. Henry offered amendments to raise a militia in terms that recognized that conflict with Britain was inevitable, sparking the opposition of moderates. He defended his amendments, concluding with the statement he is best known for:

{{quote|If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.