Patrick Henry – “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!”

Primary Source Comprehension • Approx. Lexile 950 • Tabs: Main Idea & Details, Inference, Vocabulary
(reads the excerpt)
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Primary Source Text Virginia Convention • March 23, 1775 (excerpt)

“Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!” (Excerpt)

The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!

The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field!

Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?

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!”

Comprehension Tabs
Questions in each tab refer to the speech excerpt above.
1. What is the main purpose of this excerpt from Patrick Henry’s speech?
Main idea of Henry’s message.
2. When Henry says, “Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace,” what detail is he emphasizing?
Detail about the difference between words and reality.
3. What does Henry mean when he says, “Our brethren are already in the field”?
Detail about what is happening elsewhere in the colonies.
4. What choice does Henry present in his famous final line, “give me liberty, or give me death”?
Detail about the central choice in the speech.
5. What can be inferred about Henry’s opinion of attempts to avoid war with Britain?
Inference from “The war is actually begun!”
6. What does Henry’s question, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” suggest about his values?
Inference about how he ranks freedom, life, and peace.
7. How would you best describe Henry’s tone in this excerpt?
Inference about the emotional style of the speech.
8. Why does Henry call on “Almighty God” in this passage?
Inference about why he connects his argument to religion.
9. In the line “The war is inevitable—and let it come!”, the word “inevitable” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context describing the coming war.
10. In “It is in vain to extenuate the matter,” the phrase “in vain” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context about trying to lessen the truth.
11. The word “extenuate” in “in vain to extenuate the matter” most nearly means
Vocabulary in context: downplaying the situation.
12. In the question “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?”, the phrase “purchased at the price of chains and slavery” suggests
Vocabulary/figurative meaning of “purchased… at the price of chains.”
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