Summarizing/Paraphrasing

Directions: Research for a relevant speech delivered by a well-known person. Summarize or

paraphrase the points of the speaker. See Rubric in the classwork. Use the space below for
your writing.

___Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death___

Title of the Speech
______Patrick Henry_______
Name of the Speaker
___March 23, 1775___
Date of Publication

He recognized that the other delegates before him have spoken of their appeal for
diplomacy. They were honorable patriots also, yet they lack the substance. Henry sees them
having different ideas of the issue and he barely agree with it, and as someone given the
opportunity to speak, he wanted to share his thoughts without being characterized as
disrespectful.
He states that their country is facing a terrible situation and they had to fight back. He
tried giving emphasis on the idea of freedom and slavery. If in the end, they turn out as slave,
they will be deprived of their rights, which obviously will not be beneficial on their side. Although
he feels direct for telling such truth, he wouldn’t want to accuse himself as guilty of treason to
God and his nation for not sharing what he sees. He also added that he owes his loyalty only to
the creator and not to earthly kings, whom he referred to as the British King George III. In his
speech, he characterized himself as a humble man that expresses the principles of liberty and
freedom of expression, and for this reason, his audience should pay attention in listening to
him. 
Struggling for aiming liberty would require you to open your ears and hear the weep of
people, your eyes that see behind false truth, and willingness to know the whole truth and
finding better solutions to address the problem. Henry believed that it is not hope that would
bring both parties to diplomacy, as what the opponent’s argument stands for. If they will
continue with their illusions of hope and give in to this, then they are walking off the path to
reality. He compared them to the mythical Greek sirens who sang beautifully which gradually
makes sailors or listeners crash their minds. He reminded his listeners that they should not
indulge themselves in their own trap because if they do, they might lose their rights and
freedom.
Rooting learning from past experiences would contribute a big help in aligning present
plans in order to succeed. In trying to look back in the past, he would want to know the future
outcomes. In this matter, he continues to criticize the British actions, which he referred to have
an insidious smile or having hideous plans. They are only putting a show to entrap colonists.
Just recently, Henry discovered that the British were occupying American land with the reason
for guiding and protecting them which contradicts his belief. He continues to give emphasis on
the British Crown’s warlike actions by providing critical questions to his audience. He warns the
delegates that they should stop fooling themselves and try to look behind the curtain. He tries to
inculcate that the suspicious acts of the British are ways to gradually do their plans. So, he
moves on to the idea that seems to be an appropriate response to the issue. They’ve been
trying to be heard for so long, and the British Crown’s response is not clear to them, they are
intolerable of colonists which concludes that there is no hope in trying to deal with them to avoid
war. To end his main point on this, he urges his audience to fight back for their liberty. It would
be useless if they give it without trying to fight back. It is their only hope, the army, and the Lord
in this battle.
 Fighting back, he addresses one of the main problem, Britain is known to have a major
military power and that they’re nothing compared to them. But, he explained that if they will keep
on waiting to be ready, then the British might take the opportunity to use their weakness against
them. To uplift them, he claims that the colonies are not as weak as they think they are. They
are already powerful for having the courage to stand up for their liberty, for fighting back, and
those who try to win their liberty will have the guidance of God. But, if they retreat out of fear,
then it’s like their giving the freedom they have, they are accepting to be destined as a slave.
Henry ends his concluding paragraph in a manner that persuades his audience. He
states that there is no point in discussing this matter for no one hears their plea. The war has
already started and Massachusetts patriots were already in the battle, how come the people
he’s trying to persuade have nothing to do with it. Many want life and peace compared to war
and death, but if this would end them up in slavery then they would be so coward for fear of
fighting. Lastly, he leaves a remarkable line with everyone that if he cannot have his liberty, then
he is willing to die fighting for it as his final message.