"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775): List 2

Perhaps the ultimate call to arms, Patrick Henry's speech makes a case for the inevitability of the American Revolution. On March 23, 1775 Virginian patriots met at St. John’s Church in Richmond to discuss support for fellow colonists in Massachusetts where Parliament had sent four regiments of troops. Leading the call for Virginian’s to act was Patrick Henry. In proposing that Virginia prepare itself to fight he delivered an emotional speech ending with his immortal words, “Give me liberty or give me death!”
12 words 118 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ministry
    a government department
    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 and the House.
  2. justify
    show to be right by providing proof
    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 and the House.
  3. solace
    give moral or emotional strength to
    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 and the House.
  4. insidious
    beguiling but harmful
    Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
  5. petition
    a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
    Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
  6. snare
    something that catches you unawares
  7. reception
    the manner in which something is greeted
    Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.
  8. comport
    be harmonious or consistent with
    Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.
  9. reconciliation
    the reestablishment of cordial relations
    Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?
  10. implement
    a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
    These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.
  11. subjugation
    the act of conquering
    These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.
  12. resort
    have recourse to
    These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort.
Created on Mon Jun 02 12:19:16 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Jun 02 12:25:20 EDT 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.