Primary Source Analysis: Patrick Henry Speaks!

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered a speech urging his fellow delegates in the Virginia Convention to see "the whole truth" about Britain's intentions for the American colonies. Introduce your learners to some key excerpts from this historic speech with this two-page social studies worksheet. After reading a brief paragraph for context, young historians will be asked to read and analyze short excerpts from Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty" speech. After each excerpt, students will answer comprehension and analysis questions to assess their understanding. Geared toward middle school learners, this engaging exercise provides guided exploration of the reasons American colonists were willing to go to war to gain independence from Great Britain, while also supporting students as they learn how to analyze primary source documents.