Today in History

March 23, 1775

Give me Liberty, or give me Death!

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood in front of a crowd gathered at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. Powerful forces in Virginia, where staunch loyalty to the British crown remained, were resisting the call to arms on behalf of the American revolution. Patrick Henry, known for his rhetorical skill, was determined to convince the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops. Many in the crowd were urging peace. However, Patrick Henry's speech ended with the famous words "Give me liberty or give me death" upon which the crowd responded "To arms! To arms!"