The time had come for the colonists to decide whether they would be loyal to the crown or fight for independence to become an independent nation. The Boston Tea Party had sparked unrest against the laws imposed by England and the support of the other colonies for the demonstration of resistance against the Crown. Boston was still resisting British regulations, and fighting would soon take over the nation. The First Continental Congress met and decided to outlaw the purchase of British goods, proclaiming it an offense punishable for violating the declaration. It was now up to Virginia to decide to join the other colonies and take up arms against the English or take a passive approach. The Second Virginia Convention was convened to discuss the issue. On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry took the stage to deliver the greatest speech delivered during the American Revolution. Patrick Henry was a powerful public speaker and became known as the voice of the revolution. Patrick Henry addressed his audience, after others had opposed Virginia's joining the fight for independence. The others thought that peaceful negotiations were the way to go and the hope of avoiding war was their motivation. Henry believed that the time had come to oppose British rule and wanted his fellow Virginians to join him in opposing British rule. Henry was a patriot, but felt that the English took 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 the British had over the colonies was unfair, the colonists had no representation in the British parliament and no voice in their own government. People wanted their vote to count and be represented by… middle of paper… independence in everything they heard, read and felt. Patrick Henry called the Virginia colonist to stand for justice, fight for freedom, and become the united front needed to defeat the British Army. Bibliography Mann, Douglas. “Patrick Henry” (video). Conference, Red Hill Farm, Brookneal, Virginia, 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 5 April 2014). Brands, H. W.: Breen, TH: Williams, R. Hal.: Gross, Ariela J. American Stories A History of the United States. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. , 2012.