The Speech That Helped Ignite a Revolution

On May 29, 1765 a fiery young attorney and legislator named Patrick Henry stood before Virginia’s House of Burgesses and delivered a speech that shocked the American colonies and helped ignite the spirit of the American Revolution.  
 
At the time, Great Britain had imposed the unpopular Stamp Act on the colonies, requiring taxes on newspapers, legal documents, licenses, pamphlets, and many other printed materials.  Colonists were outraged, because they were being taxed by a British Parliament in which they had NO representation.  
 
During a heated debate, Patrick Henry boldly challenged the authority of the British Crown and warned against tyranny.  As he compared King George III to rulers who had abused their power throughout history, member of the assembly reportedly shouted:  
“Treason, Treason!”  But Henry did not back down.     
 
Instead, he answered with one of the most famous lines in early American History:  
“If this be treason, make the most of it.”  His words electrified the colonies.  Many historians believe that Patrick Henry’s passionate stand against the Stamp Act helped awaken revolutionary thought in American years before the Revolutionary War actually officially began. 
 
Patrick Henry would later become even more famous for another powerful declaration:  
“Give me liberty, or give me death.”  

Long before America became a nation, voices like Patrick Henry’s were already boldly speaking out for liberty, self-government and freedom!