Patrick Henry was dedicated to the cause of independence. He gave many years of his life to serving his fellow man. Patrick Henry was elected to the House of Burgesses, the founding member of the Virginia Committee of Correspondence which formed the First Continental Congress, a member of the Second Continental Congress, and the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in 1774. Henry was a man of great passion and became known for his ability as a great orator on behalf of the common man. Henry was an ardent supporter of the individual rights of the Colonists and later supported States’ rights.
As a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses,1765-1774, Henry opposed the British crown’s intention to place a tax on paper and leather, also known as the Stamp Act, upon the Colonists. Henry argued this tax was unjust as the colonists were descendants of Britain and possessed the same rights. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915347?seq=8.
As the British oppression continued, Patrick Henry made his presence known during the Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church, in 1775. Henry spoke of the need for the Colonists to be prepared to defend themselves in war. This created great tension in the room, as reticence was apparent. Henry then raised his arms and proclaimed, “Give me liberty, or give me death.” It was noted, that this speech moved the hearts of those in attendance at the Church. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?pq-origsite=summon&docID=796100.
Henry's position within the society became well known. This success promoted a vote for Patrick Henry to become the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Henry was part of the process within the Virginia Convention, and Declaration of Rights. It was then apparent economic hardships needed to be reconciled. A tax on the people was being considered to be able to clear up war debts. Henry recognized The Articles of Confederation would not be adequate to handle the tax and war debt at hand. In discussion, Henry noted that there were delinquent states that were not being held accountable and honoring the Articles. This situation gave impetus to the Second Continental Congress to devise a new document that would grant authority to a governing body and make wise governmental decisions including checks and balances.
There were other issues of dispute that Patrick Henry was concerned with. As the West expanded, Henry witnessed a division between the Northern and Southern States, over the issue of the Spanish occupation of the Mississippi River. On this issue, Patrick Henry did not wish to see power placed in the hands of one regional territory. The solution was to create a new government that would unite the states. A meeting was held in Philadelphia’s State House, in 1781. State delegates from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia met behind closed doors and agreed upon a new constitution.
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In the latter years of Henry’s life, positions within in government were offered to him. Henry made a personal decision to stay close to home and care for his family. In an article by Richard R. Beeman, “The Democratic Faith of Patrick Henry,” Beeman said Henry was committed to civic virtue and was concerned with the falling away of some men and, their lose of interest in God. The concern of Henry was would become of their religious liberties. Henry saw God in every aspect of life. Beeman intimated Henry was concerned over the idea of separation of church and state. Henry believed it to be the job of the church and state to promote virtue by giving support to all Protestant faiths. Henry felt there was a decline in virtue and morality that followed the American Revolution.
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