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 Henry
delivered his most famous speech in March 1775 at St. John's
Church during the Second Virginia Convention. His eloquent
words that day became a clarion call that led the colonies
toward independence: "We must fight!" "Gentlemen may cry 'peace,
peace' - but there is no peace." "As for me, give
me liberty or give me death."
As the first elected governor of Virginia,
Henry supported George Washington and the patriot cause at
critical moments in the War for Independence. Henry supported
the movement for independence in 1776, He also participated
in the drafting Virginia's new constitution and it Declaration
of Rights, an important precursor of the federal Bill
of Rights. Henry served three terms as governor, from 1776
to 1779 and two subsequent terms from 1784 to 1786. He worked
closely with George Washington to raise and equip the soldiers
who won American independence, and in 1778 sent Virginia troops
under George Rogers Clark to hold the Old Northwest against
the British and their Indian allies.
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