Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots

About this book

Most Americans know Patrick Henry as a fiery speaker whose pronouncement "Give me liberty or give me death!" rallied American defiance to the British Crown. But Henrys skills as an orator -- sharpened in the small towns and courtrooms of colonial Virginia -- are only one part of his vast but largely forgotten legacy. As historian Thomas S. Kidd shows Henry cherished a vision of America as a virtuous republic with a clearly circumscribed central government. These ideals brought him into bitter conflict with other Founders and were crystallized in his vociferous opposition to the U.S. Constitution. In Patrick Henry Kidd pulls back the curtain on one of our most radical passionate Founders showing that until we understand Henry himself we will neglect many of the Revolutions animating values.