Patrick Henry, an American Revolutionary Patriot

Patrick Henry was more than just a lawyer, patriot, and orator; he was one of the great leaders of the American Revolutionary War who is best known for the quote â€Å"Give me liberty or give me death†, yet this leader never held a national political office. Although Henry was a radical leader in opposition to the British, he refused to accept the new U.S. government and is considered instrumental for the passage of the Bill of Rights. Early Years Patrick Henry was born in  Hanover County, Virginia  on May 29, 1736,  to John and Sarah Winston Henry.  Patrick was born on a plantation which had belonged to his mother’s family for a long time. His father was a Scottish immigrant who attended Kings College at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and whom also educated Patrick at home.  Patrick was the second oldest of nine children. When Patrick was fifteen, he managed a store his father owned, but this business soon failed. As were many of this era, Patrick grew up in a religious setting with an uncle who was an Anglican minister and his mother would take him to Presbyterian services. In 1754, Henry married Sarah Shelton and they had six children before her death in 1775.  Sarah had a dowry which was a 600-acre tobacco farm which also included a house with six slaves.  Henry was unsuccessful as a farmer and in 1757 the house was destroyed by a fire. After selling the slaves, Henry was also unsuccessful as a storekeeper. Henry studied law on his own, as was customary at that time in colonial America. In 1760, he passed his attorney’s examination in Williamsburg, Virginia before a group of the most influential and famous Virginia lawyers including Robert Carter Nicholas, Edmund Pendleton, John and Peyton Randolph, and George Wythe. Legal and Political Career In 1763, Henry’s reputation as not only a lawyer but also who was able to captivate an audience with his oratory skills was secured with the famous case known as â€Å"Parson’s Cause.†Ã‚  Colonial Virginia had passed a law regarding payment for ministers which resulted in decreasing their income.  The ministers complained which caused King George III to overturn it. A minister won a lawsuit against the colony for back pay and it was up to a jury to determine the amount of damages. Henry convinced the jury to only award a single farthing (one penny) by arguing that a king would veto such a law was nothing more than â€Å"a tyrant who forfeits the allegiance of his subjects.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Henry was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765 where he became one the earliest argue against the Crown’s oppressive colonial policies.  Henry gained fame during the debate over the Stamp Act of 1765 which negatively impacted mercantile trade in the North American colonies by requiring almost every paper used by colonists were to be printed on  stamped paper  that was produced in London and contained an embossed  revenue stamp. Henry argued that on Virginia should have the right to levy any taxes on its’ own citizens. Although some believed that Henry’s comments were treasonous, once his arguments were published in other colonies, the displeasure with British rule began to flourish. American Revolutionary War Henry used his words and rhetoric in a way that made him  a driving force behind the revolt against Britain.  Although Henry was very well educated, he was to discuss his political philosophies into words that the common man could easily grasp and make as their own ideology as well. His oratory skills helped to have him selected in 1774 to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia where he not only served as a delegate but is where he met Samuel Adams.  At the Continental Congress, Henry united the colonists stating that The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders, are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American. In March 1775 at the Virginia Convention, Henry made the argument for taking military action against Britain with what is commonly referred to as his most famous speech proclaiming that Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? ... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! Shortly after this speech, the American Revolution  began on April 19, 1775, with the â€Å"shot heard around the world† at Lexington and Concord.  Although Henry was immediately named as commander in chief of Virginias forces, he quickly resigned this post preferring to stay in Virginia where he aided in drafting the states constitution and becoming its’ first governor in 1776. As governor, Henry aided George Washington by supplying troops and much-needed provisions.  Although Henry would resign after serving three terms as governor, he would serve two more terms in that position in the mid-1780s.  In 1787, Henry chose not to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia which resulted in the drafting of a new Constitution. As an  Anti-Federalist, Henry opposed the new Constitution arguing that this document would not only promote a corrupt government but that the three branches would compete with each other for more power leading to a tyrannical federal government.  Henry also objected to the Constitution because it did not contain any freedoms or rights for individuals. At the time, these were commonplace in state constitutions which were based on the Virginia model that Henry helped to write and which explicitly listed the individual rights of citizens that were protected. This was in direct opposition to the British model which did not contain any written protections. Henry argued against Virginia ratifying the Constitution as he believed that it did not protect states rights.  However, in an 89-to-79 vote, Virginia lawmakers ratified the Constitution. The Final Years In 1790 Henry chose to be a lawyer over public service, turning down appointments to the United States Supreme Court, Secretary of State and U.S. Attorney General.  Instead, Henry enjoyed that he had a successful and thriving legal practice as well as spending with his second wife, Dorothea Dandridge, who he had married in 1777. Henry also had seventeen children who were born between his two wives. In 1799, fellow Virginian George Washington persuaded Henry to run for a seat in the Virginia legislature.  Although Henry won the election, he died on June 6, 1799, at his â€Å"Red Hill† estate prior to ever taking office.  Henry is commonly referred to as one of the great revolutionary leaders who lead to the formation of the United States.

Metaphysics Essay - 705 Words

Metaphysics Metaphysics can be defined as an attempt to comprehend the basic characteristics of reality. It is in fact so basic that it is all inclusive, whether something is observable or not. It answers questions of what things must be like in order to exist and how to differentiate from things that seem real but are not. A common thought is that reality is defined as what we can detect from our five senses. This type of philosophy is called empiricism, which is the idea that all knowledge comes from our senses. An empiricist must therefore believe that what we can see, touch, taste, smell, and hear must be real and that if we can not in fact see, touch, taste, smell, or hear something, it is definitely not real. However, this is a†¦show more content†¦Other people do not believe in it. Another important aspect of metaphysics is that reality is separate from our minds. We can not affect or change things just by thinking about them. However, some metaphysicians believe that our feelin gs are more real than what we can sense because our feelings are first-hand and come from our body. They must in fact be real because we are more aware of them. Metaphysics basically describes what people do everyday in their lives. People have a constant need to differentiate between what’s real and what’s not. In our everyday life, we are faced with appearances and materialistic things. Metaphysics can even relate to beauty. What’s beautiful to one person may be repulsive to another and vice versa. Beauty is something that we can see, but it’s not a physical object that can be sensed. Does this mean that it is not real? Empirically, yes. As people get older, they can better distinguish between real and not real. As stated in the textbook, a person must balance reality and their dreams, goals, etc, because both things are important. Fantasy, such as our dreams and goals, are part of being human and for some people, it is a purpose of life. If we only liv ed in â€Å"reality,† there would be nothing to strive for because everyone would live based on what we know from our five senses. As long as people can keep a balance between the two, they can live a â€Å"normal† life in which they know what’s real, but they canShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Metaphysics? The Universal Definition Of Metaphysics1140 Words   |  5 PagesGarrett Recto 11-19-2015 PHL 204 FINAL PAPER WHAT IS METAPHYSICS? What is Metaphysics? The universal definition of metaphysics in philosophy is the aspect that deals with the first principle of things, which include abstract concepts of the being, knowing, cause, identity, time and space. Basically, metaphysics encounters the basic questions in such possible terms; what is there and what is it like? As individuals, we attempt to grasp or comprehend the theories and meaning of every aspect toRead MoreMetaphysics Is The Study Of Reality Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesMeta refers to the Meaning of after or beyond. Metaphysics is the study of reality. On the other hand, Kit Fine describes Metaphysics as follows; â€Å"it s the study of the most general features of reality.† Thus, it is the philosophical study of any widespread characteristics of reality. The study of the nature of the existence of a characteristic will let metaphysician answer and bring about theories for it being there. Some questions Metaphysician think of are as follows: Is there an Evil Demon?Read MoreMetaphysics Of Muhammad Iqbal1474 Words   |  6 PagesIqbals metaphysic thought and its connectivity to all philosophers overall tend to be very broad. 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Key Of Responsibility Speech Free Essays

A lovely evening to all! Tonight I may say, to all of us seniors, let us congratulate ourselves for we all have been doing so great to make this tale of our lives as fulfilling as we want it and as adventurous as we make it. In four years of staying here in this institution, I may conclude that counting the wonderful moments that we shared in our high school days is a mind-boggling thing because even the depressing ones that we lived through contributed in helping us to become what we are today. Yes, even being â€Å"pasaways† in front of our teachers, all are considered factors that made this experience complete and of course, a perfect one. We will write a custom essay sample on Key Of Responsibility Speech or any similar topic only for you Order Now And if we are going to look at it, everything happened in a blast but, much unnoticed. When I made my first footsteps in this school in the early days of my freshman year, one thing I can’t forget is our innocent selves, just like a blind person who seeks the right path, looking for the white light behind the darkness of that innocence. By all means, we looked for the knowledge we need and we craved for the wisdom we must possess before we depart from this home, from this family. We were so curious about all the things that we encountered everyday but we did not know to whom we must hold on and how to distinguish right from wrong. And because of such blindness, receiving only the radiance of the twilight, some succeeded in knowing all the essential things to be remembered and to be understood by the heart but others got lost and failed to know the indispensable truth of life. We have encountered many things as high school students but still, our journey will not stop after this stage. And I’m very proud that we never lose hope when failures and disappointments come our way. We defended what we love, and fought for what we believed in. And as for you, the juniors, in a few more days, your job will be to continue the unfinished tasks we will leave behind as we sail in our respective ships to discover new oceans. In behalf of the seniors, we are thankful because you are our companions and these years will serve as memories that we will cherish forever. After we move on, after we step on another phase of our lives, you must learn and remember the things that have helped us to finish this stage. Some things that we did, might not have worked out well but we trust that after we leave the portals of this institution, you may learn from our mistakes. Expect the worst but always strive for the best. Whenever you fail, don’t lose hope, just stand up. Consider such challenges as a blessing. We must learn from these challenges, particularly the failures so that we will achieve more success. You must also learn how to be humble. Humility is one sign of being educated, of being wise. This will be the start of your time to grow up and make your own; we believe that you can do more than what we have done. You must learn to be contented sometimes but grow most of the time. It is always right to be contented but this will sometimes hinder you from growing, from progressing. You only live once, so live your life to the fullest. It is not yet over so never make this as an excuse for you to be contented; there are many more fishes in the sea, waiting for you to discover them. Just be grateful for all your achievements and be thankful to the One who is the first and the last thing we must think of, God, because His love for us and His will to guide us is everlasting. To all Juniors, Knowledge has taught us the elements of character that facilitate success. With this key of acceptance we pass on to you the skills to learn, the aptitude to succeed, and the creativity to make a difference. We hope to see all your spectacular dreams come true. GOD BLESS US ALL!!! How to cite Key Of Responsibility Speech, Papers

Education as the key to our problems Essay Example For Students

Education as the key to our problems Essay To Our Problems We have progressed economically and technologically but on the human front there is a lot of suffering the exists in our societies . The root cause of these problems are lack of self fulfillment of man . There is an urgent need in our society to bring about a change . The pace of our lives is increasing due to all the technological developments that are taking place . It is becoming difficult to keep pace with it on the emotional front . People have no time . Social media has played an very important role in bringing people closer but the human aspect of physical interaction has become animal . These days both parents are working and the is very little time to bring up children . Children are our future . How can we bring up fulfilled and well balanced adults in this environment is the vital question. It is important to educate adults (parents) that giving the right environment to a child even before it is born is important . The age of a child from O to 6 years are the most crucial years . It is important to focus our attention on children and their growth if we need a healthy society . It is our duty to focus on the child as adults come into being from children . Need to educate our young in order to develop a new generation of fulfilled and well balanced adults . It has to be realized the The child is not an empty vessel . All children are born with an in built potential that has to be nurtured , protected and given the right environment to develop . For this there needs to be an awakening to the need to focus on the child and the role of the adult. For this the adult mu st realize that it is years of hard work patience , care ,study and practice that will give rise too mature and balanced adult. The adult also needs to understand his elation with the child. This is the key to progress in society. It is important to free the child of his dependency on the adult if we want him to develop into a free and independent person . This education is very important for our society and the world as a whole . The Interiors Method is a wonderful way to explain these crucial n delicate aspect of a child . Let helps us to understand how to relate to the child . Help it to develop to its full potential in the right environment that is most beneficial for the child and our society as a whole Education as the key to our problems By Shadow