25 Questions
What was the outcome of Patrick Henry's impassioned statement at the Second Virginia Convention?
The delegates committed troops to the War of Independence
Patrick Henry was born in 1749 in Hanover County, Virginia.
False
What was the title of the proposed bill introduced by Patrick Henry in 1784?
Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion
Patrick Henry's mother joined ______________________ church during the First Great Awakening.
Samuel Davies' Presbyterian
What was Patrick Henry's occupation?
Orator
Patrick Henry was a strong advocate of religious liberty.
True
Match the following individuals with their respective churches:
Patrick Henry = Church of England Samuel Davies = Presbyterian Father = Catholic
What was the famous concluding phrase of Patrick Henry's speech at the Second Virginia Convention?
Give me liberty or give me death!
What was the purpose of the general assessment bill proposed by Henry?
To distribute tax payments to seminaries of learning
Patrick Henry supported the ratification of the Constitution.
False
What was the name of the bill proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1786?
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
Patrick Henry suspected that some participants in the Constitutional Convention intended to _________ the power of the national government.
consolidate
Match the following individuals with their respective roles:
Patrick Henry = Governor of Virginia Thomas Jefferson = Author of the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
What was the outcome of Patrick Henry's vigorous opposition to ratification?
He was instrumental in arguing for amending the Constitution with the Bill of Rights
Patrick Henry freed all his slaves in his will.
False
What was the name of the county where Patrick Henry retired to his plantation?
Charlotte County
What was the outcome of the 'Parson's Cause' case?
The parson was awarded a mere penny
Patrick Henry was a lifelong Quaker.
False
What was the primary purpose of Henry's proposed bill in 1784?
To support Christianity and provide public funds to various denominations.
In 1769, Henry served on a committee that drafted a bill 'exempting his Majesty's _______________________ from the Penalties of certain Laws.'
Protestant Dissenters
Which of the following groups did Henry help author laws to protect?
Quakers and Mennonites
Henry's proposed bill in 1784 was aimed at supporting only the Church of England.
False
What was the significance of Article XVI in the Virginia Declaration of Rights?
It ensured the free exercise of religion and prohibited the government from forcing people to practice a particular religion.
Match the following denominations with their respective characteristics:
Quakers = Pacifist Mennonites = Pacifist Baptists = Protestant Anglicans = Established Church
In 1776, the Virginia Convention adopted a declaration of rights, which was an important predecessor to the _______________________.
Constitution's Bill of Rights
Study Notes
Patrick Henry's Life and Advocacy
- Born in 1739 in Hanover County, Virginia, and baptized in the Church of England.
- His mother joined Samuel Davies' Presbyterian church during the First Great Awakening, exposing Henry to evangelical sermons that influenced his oratory skills.
Famous Speech and Career
- In 1775, Henry delivered an impassioned speech to the Second Virginia Convention, convincing delegates to commit troops to the War of Independence.
- His speech was influenced by his exposure to evangelical sermons and lifted lines nearly verbatim from the King James Bible.
Advocacy for Religious Liberty
- As a member of the House of Burgesses, Henry helped author laws protecting pacifist Quakers and Mennonites from being compelled to serve in the militia.
- He defended dissenting ministers in court proceedings and paid fines levied against them on at least one occasion.
- Henry supported Baptist ministers preaching to Baptist soldiers during the War of Independence.
Declaration of Rights
- In 1776, the Virginia Convention adopted a declaration of rights, with Henry likely involved in crafting Article XVI, which states that all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion.
Proposed Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers of the Christian Religion (1784)
- Henry proposed a bill to revive a wide array of churches, taxing Virginians to support Christianity, but allowing them to specify which denomination would receive their taxes.
- Quakers and Mennonites could allocate the tax to their churches' general fund, while non-directed tax payments would be distributed to "seminaries of learning."
Later Life and Legacy
- Henry served as Virginia's Governor for three more years and was invited to attend the Constitutional Convention in 1787, but declined, suspecting threats to revolutionary principles and freedoms.
- He championed the Anti-Federalist cause and argued for amending the Constitution with the Bill of Rights.
- Henry retired from public life in 1794 and passed away in 1799, leaving behind a legacy as a promoter of religious liberty and equality.
This quiz is about the famous speech given by Patrick Henry in 1775 during the Second Virginia Convention, which led to the commitment of troops to the American Revolution.
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