Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Copywork
The closing lines of Patrick Henry's 1775 speech to the Virginia Convention
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About this printable
Patrick Henry's thunderous finish at St. John's Church, Richmond, on the eve of revolution. This sheet covers just the peroration, the passage students are most often asked to memorize, so the writing stays focused instead of overwhelming. Ideal for American Revolution units, oratory studies, and recitation prep. 12 pages, 3/8-inch letters in manuscript print on dashed manuscript lines. Sheets included: Copywork (Step 1), First Letter Hints (Step 2), Memory Lines (Step 3), Source Text, First Letters Only. Patrick Henry, 1775. Public domain text.
ON THIS SHEET: It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! — Patrick Henry, 1775. LETTER SIZE: 3/8-inch. HANDWRITING: manuscript print. SHEETS: Copywork (Step 1), First Letter Hints (Step 2), Memory Lines (Step 3), Source Text, First Letters Only.
- Category Speeches
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Inside the PDF
3 pages from the 12-page PDF, as they print.
A plan for this set
A longer text: give Steps 1, 2 and 3 about two weeks, one sheet a day.
- Days 1–4 Copywork (Step 1). Read the whole text, then copy it exactly.
- Days 5–8 First Letter Hints (Step 2). Write it again with only the first letter of each word as a prompt.
- Days 9–10 Memory Lines (Step 3). Write it from memory on lines sized to each word.
Paste any speech and print it as copywork, first-letter hints and memory lines until it can be delivered from memory. Free for 20 pages a month, no card.
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