Patrick Henry was a statesman from Virginia who led their
delegation to the Continental Congress and was somewhat pivotal in some of the decisions
of the Congress to support revolution and the Declaration of Independence. His famous
speech, or the famous speech attributed to him, ending in "Give me Liberty or give me
death," is often cited as a great expression of his rhetorical prowess as well as his
great patriotism.
It is important to note that later in his
political career he was very much against the way the constitution was written feeling
that it would make it very difficult for individual states to maintain important rights
and powers. Some of this feeling later changed as he grew more favorably inclined to
federalism by the late 1790s. He served as Governor of Virginia twice and was asked by
Washington to be secretary of state but he turned the post down.
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