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It was his agitation for military preparedness that led to the famous [[Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death]] speech to the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond on March 23, 1775. Faced with a reluctance among some convention members to actually sanction armed hostilities, Henry dramatically described the unfolding situation in Massachusetts and the need for the other colonies to come to her aid. The power of his remarks had as much to do with the manner in which he delivered them as the words themselves. At the peroration of his speech,  

It was his agitation for military preparedness that led to the famous [[Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death]] speech to the Second Virginia Convention in Richmond on March 23, 1775. Faced with a reluctance among some convention members to actually sanction armed hostilities, Henry dramatically described the unfolding situation in Massachusetts and the need for the other colonies to come to her aid. The power of his remarks had as much to do with the manner in which he delivered them as the words themselves. At the peroration of his speech,  

<blockquote>Henry got to his knees, in the posture of a manacled slave, intoning in a low but rising voice: 'Is life so dear, our peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!' He then bent to the earth with his hands still crossed, for a few seconds, and suddenly sprang to his feet, shouting, 'Give me liberty!' and flung wide his arms, paused, lowered his arms, clenched his right hand as if holding a dagger at his breast, and said in sepulchral tones: 'Or give me death!' He then beat his breast, with his hand holding the imagined dagger. There was silence, broken by a man listening at the open window, who shouted, 'Let me be buried on this spot!' Henry had made his point.<ref>A History of the American People (1997), Paul Johnson, page 148-49</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>Henry got to his knees, in the posture of a manacled slave, intoning in a low but rising voice: 'Is life so dear, our peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!' He then bent to the earth with his hands still crossed, for a few seconds, and suddenly sprang to his feet, shouting, 'Give me liberty!' and flung wide his arms, paused, lowered his arms, clenched his right hand as if holding a dagger at his breast, and said in sepulchral tones: 'Or give me death!' He then beat his breast, with his hand holding the imagined dagger. There was silence, broken by a man listening at the open window, who shouted, 'Let me be buried on this spot!' Henry had made his point.<ref>A History of the American People (1997), Paul Johnson, page 148-49</ref></blockquote>

Henry's speech was successful in persuading the Convention to adopt a more militant stance, and he was soon elected as a delegate to the [[Second Continental Congress]] in Philadelphia that May. Following the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], he was among those who supported the formation of the [[Continental Army]] under [[George Washington]], and laying the groundwork for total independence.

Henry's speech was successful in persuading the Convention to adopt a more militant stance, and he was soon elected as a delegate to the [[Second Continental Congress]] in Philadelphia that May. Following the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], he led a militia force during the [[Gunpowder Incident]], and was among those who supported the formation of the [[Continental Army]] under [[George Washington]], and laying the groundwork for total independence.

After returning from the Congress, Henry briefly served as commander of the Virginia militia. During this time, he also helped draft Virginia's declaration of an independent government in May 1776, and gave his support to its call for the Congress in Philadelphia to adopt [[Declaration of Independence|a similar document]]. In June, he was elected as the first state governor of Virginia, serving three consecutive one-year terms. As governor, Henry was committed to upholding Virginia's leadership of the war effort, making regular contributions of men and material to the American armies, as well as launching the 1778 expedition under [[George Rogers Clark]] that liberated the western territory north of the Ohio, and Evan Shelby's 1779 expedition against the [[Cherokees]].  

After returning from the Congress, Henry briefly served as commander of the Virginia militia. During this time, he also helped draft Virginia's declaration of an independent government in May 1776, and gave his support to its call for the Congress in Philadelphia to adopt [[Declaration of Independence|a similar document]]. In June, he was elected as the first state governor of Virginia, serving three consecutive one-year terms. As governor, Henry was committed to upholding Virginia's leadership of the war effort, making regular contributions of men and material to the American armies, as well as launching the 1778 expedition under [[George Rogers Clark]] that liberated the western territory north of the Ohio, and Evan Shelby's 1779 expedition against the [[Cherokees]].