Patrick HenryWorksheets

Patrick Henry Facts

Patrick Henry was an American attorney and politician who is famous for being one the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Henry was a gifted speaker and his most famous speech was in opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765 when he roused the troops with his “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech.

★ Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736, in the American colony of Virginia. His father, John Henry, was an immigrant from Scotland who arrived in Virginia in the 1720s. He attended local schools. Henry was also tutored by his father at home and included learning Latin.

★ At 16, Henry opened a store with his brother, William. The business was not successful and they had to close down the store shortly after.

Early Life and Interests

Patrick Henry Facts★ In 1754, he married Sarah Shelton. The marriage took place in the

parlor of her family house, Rural Plains, which later became known as Shelton House. They had six children together. Sarah’s father gave the couple six slaves and a farm. Henry worked with the slaves on the farm but it was exhausted from tobacco cultivation and no profitable crops could be grown. Their farmhouse burned down in a fire. For a short time, Patrick, Sarah and their two children moved in with her parents.

★ Sarah died of dementia in 1775 at the Scotchtown Plantation in Hanover County, where the family lived together. On October 25, 1777, Patrick Henry married his second wife. At age 41, he married 22-year-old Dorothea Dandridge, a cousin of Martha Washington, and they went on to have 11 children together.

★ In 1760, Henry qualified as a lawyer. After his failure on the farm and the fire, he turned to the law and found that he enjoyed to talk about and argue politics and law. He would become a very successful lawyer, handling hundreds of cases in his career.

★ His most famous case as a lawyer was the Parsons Cause. It was a very big case in which he went head-to-head with the British Parliament. The case dealt with the price of tobacco paid to the clergy for their services and whether the price should be set by the colonial government or the Crown. British Parliament overruled Virginia’s Two Penny Act, which limited clergy salaries, and the king of England agreed. Patrick Henry delivered a passionate speech in the courtroom and said that a king who annulled good laws, like the Two Penny Act, was a “tyrant” who “forfeits all right to his subject’s obedience.” The jury took just five minutes to rule in his favor and he won the case – making a name for himself in the process.

Patrick Henry Facts

★ Patrick Henry opposed the Stamp Act in 1765. He was elected from Louisa County for the Virginia House of Burgesses and, just 9 days later, he helped introduce the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions in response to the Stamp Act of 1765.

★ In 1774, he was selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia. Henry specifically urged the colonists to unite as one against British rule.

★ In August 1775, Henry served as colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment. Henry led militia against the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore. Dunmore had tried to take some gunpowder from Williamsburg, which later became known as the Gunpowder Incident.

★ He became the first governor of the state of Virginia, in 1776. He served for one term and was re-elected twice more, until 1779. He later became the 6th governor of Virginia when he was one again elected from 1784 to 1786.

★ Henry argued against the original version of the U.S. Constitution. His argument was that it should not pass without the Bill of Rights. He was instrumental in having the Bill of Rights adopted to amend the new Constitution and protect individual rights.

Rise in Politics

“T V , P , N Y , N E , . I V , A .”

-P H

Patrick Henry Facts

★ In 1794, Patrick Henry and his wife Dorothea retired to his 520-acre plantation of Red Hill. President Washington offered Henry several top positions in government but he refused them all.

★ President John Adams nominated Henry to be a special emissary to France in 1798. Due to poor health, however, he had to decline the offer.

★ Early in 1799, Henry was persuaded by George Washington to run for a seat in the Virginia legislature. He won but did not live long enough to hold office.

★ On June 6, 1799, Patrick Henry died of stomach cancer at his home in Red Hill. He gave away his slaves to his relatives and gave his wife the power to free some of them if she chose to.

★ Patrick Henry became known as one of the most remembered revolutionary leaders. He was nicknamed “The Trumpet” and “Liberty’s Voice” of the revolution because of his powerful speeches and proposals.

Later Life and Death

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The TrumpetAmong the Founding Fathers of the United States, Patrick Henry was one of the most recognized speakers. He became famous for his strong and rousing speeches, thus earning him the title “The Trumpet or “Liberty’s Voice.” Can you write a short biographical narrative about him?

Name: ____________________

Personal and Early Life

Political Career

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Founding FathersPatrick Henry was among the great Founding Fathers of America. Ironically, Henry disapproved of slavery yet he owned over sixty slaves at his plantation. Now, tell us more about the other Founding Fathers of the United States. You may access KidsKonnect’s premium worksheets to help you.

Name: ____________________

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Aside from being the Founding Fathers, what are their similarities?

Truth About HenryAt least three ships have been named in Henry's honor: the Civil War Confederate Navy steamboat CSS Patrick Henry, World War II Liberty ship SS Patrick Henry and the ballistic missile submarine USS Patrick Henry. Now, carefully read each statement. Put a ✔� mark if correct, otherwise change the underlined word/s.

Name: ____________________

In 1754 Henry married a woman named Dorothea Dandridge and had six

daughters.

The Parsons Cause case dealt with the price of sugar cane paid to clergy for

their services.

He was elected from Louisa County for the Virginia House of Lords.

Patrick Henry became the first governor of the state of Virginia in 1776

until 1779.

President John Adams nominated Henry to be a special emissary to England

in 1798.

He died of stomach cancer in his home at Red Hill in 1799.

Free The SlavesLike most Founding Fathers who owned slaves, Patrick Henry saw the injustice of slavery. On January 18, 1773, he wrote a letter and expressed his thoughts to Robert Pleasants about slave trading. Read Henry’s letter online and list some points you wish to highlight.

Name: ____________________

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, f , f .”-E f P ’ R P , 1773

Access this link: https://almostchosenpeople.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/patrick-henry-and-slavery/

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!He was elected to the First Continental Congress in 1774. On March 23, 1775, he gave his famous speech to Congress where he argued that they should mobilize an army against the British troops. He ended his speech with words that have since become immortalized. Can you interpret this famous line?

Name: ____________________

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Give

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or G

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Your interpretation

Henry in LettersPatrick Henry called the King of England a “tyrant” during the Parsons’ Cause Case, which he later won, making a name for himself. Complete the crossword about this celebrated lawyer and statesman.

Name: ____________________

8. 7.

3. 5.

6.

1..

2.

4.

1. His profession prior to being a politician.2. He attended the Continental Congress as Virginia’s ____3. He was a gifted _____ for his speeches.4. An act he personally and politically opposed.5. He served as a _____ of Virginia.6. Henry’s first wife with whom he had 6 children.7. “Give me ____ or give me death!”8. In 1798, _______ nominated Henry as a foreign emissary.

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Henry SaysPrior to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr., Patrick Henry was known in American history as an eloquent speaker. Browse some of Henry’s famous speeches to fill in the rhetorical devices card below.

Name: ____________________

Can you look for rhetorical devices in Patrick Henry’s speeches?

APHORISMA brief statement expressing a general truth or an opinion.

Answer:

ALLUSIONA reference made to a well-known person, event, place, or literary work.

ANALOGYA comparison of two things in order to draw conclusions.

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Answer:

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Answer:

Answer:

VERDICT

DETAILS

The CourtroomPatrick Henry was a famous lawyer. The Parsons Cause case was his first major case, which marked his name in law and politics. Do some research to complete the important facts about the case.

Name: ____________________

Parsons’ Cause Case, 1763

Plaintiff: _____________Defendants: __________Plaintiff Claim: _____________________Chief Defense Lawyer: _____________________Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: _____________________Judge: _____________________Place: _____________________Date of Hearing: _____________________

CASE BACKGROUND

Picture Analysis

Patrick Henry’s “Treason” speech before the House of Burgesses

On May 30, 1765, new representative Patrick Henry delivered strong words criticizing Parliament in the House of Burgesses. Critically look at the painting and share your thoughts using the guide questions below.

Name: ____________________

“C B , C F C G T …”

-P HWhat do you see in the painting?__________________________________________________________________________________________

Can you describe the House of Burgesses?____________________________________________________________

Based on his words and actions, how would you characterize Henry as a politician?____________________________________________________________

How did this event change the course of American history?____________________________________________________________

If you were one of the representatives listening to Henry, what would your thoughts be?____________________________________________________________

Like Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams also disagreed with the Constitution.

The ConstitutionIn 1787, he turned down an opportunity to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. When it came time for Virginia to ratify the Constitution, Henry spoke out against the document, calling its principles "dangerous.” Why do you think Henry held an anti-federalist view?

Name: ____________________

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