Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
by Patrick Henry (excerpt)

One of the most famous speeches given in American history took place in a small church in Richmond, Virginia. In March 1775, the Second Virginia Convention met to discuss how Virginia was to deal with the growing threat from the British. In the audience were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Thanks to Henry's rousing words, the delegates agreed to prepare for war.

1) This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery, and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country....

2) Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

3) I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves.

4) Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned, we have remonstrated, we have supplicated, we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded, and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

5) They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?

Select the correct answer.
Which of these statements is an example of the fallacy of false equivalence?

A. "For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery..." (paragraph 1)
B. "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience." (paragraph 3)
C. "Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on." (paragraph 4)
D. "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope...." (paragraph 4)

Question

30-07-2024
History

Answered

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
by Patrick Henry (excerpt)

One of the most famous speeches given in American history took place in a small church in Richmond, Virginia. In March 1775, the Second Virginia Convention met to discuss how Virginia was to deal with the growing threat from the British. In the audience were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Thanks to Henry's rousing words, the delegates agreed to prepare for war.

1) This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery, and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country....

2) Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

3) I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves.

4) Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned, we have remonstrated, we have supplicated, we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded, and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

5) They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?

Select the correct answer.
Which of these statements is an example of the fallacy of false equivalence?

A. "For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery..." (paragraph 1)
B. "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience." (paragraph 3)
C. "Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on." (paragraph 4)
D. "In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope...." (paragraph 4)

Answer :

Final answer:

Statement A in Patrick Henry's speech exemplifies the fallacy of false equivalence by oversimplifying the choices to just freedom or slavery.

Explanation:

The fallacy of false equivalence is exemplified in statement A from paragraph 1 of Patrick Henry's speech, where he compares the question at hand to being solely about freedom or slavery without considering other nuanced options or perspectives.

In this statement, Henry oversimplifies the complexity of the situation, creating a false equivalence between only two extreme outcomes.

By using this rhetorical technique, he emphasizes the drastic choice between liberty and slavery, potentially influencing the audience with emotional appeal rather than a balanced argument.

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Answer :

Final answer:

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