Teacher Resources
Richmond
Students examine the March 1775 Virginia Convention at St. John's Church, including Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty, or give me death' speech, and analyze how the Convention's decision to mobilize Virginia for war shaped the colony's subsequent trajectory. Students also examine the historical evidence for the speech itself.
Grade Range
6-8
Duration
2 class periods
Included
3 Resources
What's Included
Everything
You Need
- 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
- Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
- 3 printable handouts
Lesson Overview
Students examine the March 1775 Virginia Convention at St. John's Church, including Patrick Henry's 'Give me liberty, or give me death' speech, and analyze how the Convention's decision to mobilize Virginia for war shaped the colony's subsequent trajectory. Students also examine the historical evidence for the speech itself.
Essential Questions
- We don't have a transcript of Henry's actual words. How do historians work with speeches that were never recorded? What can we trust, and what can't we?
- Why did the Virginia Convention need to debate whether to prepare for war in March 1775? Who was arguing against it?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, January 12, 1781 (Arnold's Raid Correspondence)
Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Papers
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Benedict Arnold's Dispatch to Sir Henry Clinton: Report on the Richmond Raid, January 1781
Public Record Office (National Archives, United Kingdom)
PRIMARY · TIER1
Virginia Executive Papers and Council Journals, 1779-1781
Library of Virginia
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Virginia Convention at St. John's Church, Richmond: Proceedings, March 1775
Library of Virginia
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Richmond National Battlefield Park: Revolutionary War Resources
National Park Service
View SourceLesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Describe the political context of the Second Virginia Convention (March 1775) and explain why it met in Richmond
- 2Analyze Patrick Henry's speech as reconstructed by William Wirt and assess the challenges of historical memory
- 3Evaluate the Convention's decision to prepare Virginia for war and identify arguments on both sides
- 4Connect Richmond's role in 1775 to its emergence as Virginia's state capital in 1780
Assessment
Richmond in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Richmond significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Richmond during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more questions in the full packet
Ready to Print?
The full teacher packet includes cover page, lesson plan, all primary source worksheets, quiz, answer key, and standards alignment — formatted for classroom printing.