The time had come for the colonists to decide whether they would be loyal to the crown or whether they would fight for independence to become an independent nation. The Boston Tea Party had stirred up unrest against the laws imposed by England and the support of other colonies to demonstrate resistance against the Crown. Boston still opposed British regulations and fighting would soon take over the country. The First Continental Congress had met and decided to ban the purchase of British goods, proclaiming it a punishable offense for violation of the declaration. Now it was Virginia's turn to decide whether to join the other colonies and take up arms against the British or take a passive approach. The Second Virginia Convention was convened to discuss the matter. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry took the stage to deliver the greatest speech delivered during the American Revolution. Patrick Henry was a powerful orator and became known as the voice of the revolution. Patrick Henry addressed his audience, after others opposed Virginia's joining the fight for independence. The others believed that peaceful negotiations were the way forward and that the hope of avoiding war was their motivation. Henry believed it was time to oppose British rule and wanted his fellow Virginians to join him in opposing British rule. Henry was a patriot but felt that the British were taking advantage of the colonies and did not have their best interests at heart. He became a patriot for America and American liberation from England. The control that the British exercised over the colonies was unjust: the colonists had no representation in the British Parliament and no voice in their own government. The people wanted their vote to count and be represented by... middle of paper... the independence of all who heard it, read it, and felt it. Patrick Henry called on the Virginia colonist to stand for justice, fight for freedom, and become the united front needed to defeat the British army.BibliographyMann, Douglas. "Patrick Henry" (Video). Conference, Red Hill Farm, Brookneal, VA, 2011. http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_12227_1. (accessed April 2, 2014). Henry, Patrick. “Give me freedom or give me death!” » Chambers' classic speeches. 2006. http://literati.credoreference.com/content/entry/chambspeeches/give_me_liberty_or_give_me_death/0. (accessed April 5, 2014). Brands, HW: Breen, TH: Williams, R. Hal. : Gross, Ariela J. American Stories A History of the United States. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.. , 2012.