Patrick Henry's Mar. 23rd, 1775 speech is a right of passage for many Virginia students. I have the vivid memory of learning the speech in the fourth grade.
"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!"
The words not only inspired Virginians to join the American War for Independence, the same language would be used worldwide as the independence movements spread. Here are just some examples:
Eleftheria i thanatos (Freedom or Death) became the motto of Greece during their war for Independence from the Ottomans in the 1820s.
Independência ou Morte! (Independence or Death) - Official Brazilian independence from Portugal in 1825
Patria o muerte (Homeland or Death) - 1898 Cuban Independence from Spain (after Spanish American War)
Sloboda ili smrt (Liberty or Death) - Macedonian independence from Yugoslavia in 1991
Libertad o Muerte (Liberty or Death) - In 1828, Uruguay won its independence from Spain.
No comments:
Post a Comment