The Library makes the sound recordings in the National Jukebox available pursuant to permission from the rightsholders. Under the Music Modernization Act, many of these recordings will begin entering into the public domain on January 1, 2022, when all recordings published prior to 1923 will enter the public domain and will be free to use and reuse. Recordings published between 1923 and 1946 are then protected for 100 years, and recordings published between 1947 and 1956 are protected for 110 years. In addition, some of the items in the Jukebox, such as the Victrola Book of the Opera, are currently in the public domain and free to use and reuse. Disc labels that are more than 95 years old are now in the public domain and are free to use and reuse. The Library presents more recent disc labels with permission or under fair use.
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FAQs
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
What is the message of Give me liberty or give me death? ›
The speech is well-known for its culminating sentence of, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” His words in this speech were a major factor in Virginia's decision to start militias in every county to be ready to fight when the time came, and for the resolve of some ...
Did Patrick Henry actually say Give me liberty or give me death? ›
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry urged his fellow Virginians to support the Revolutionary War, supposedly saying “Give me liberty or give me death!” Actually, it is unlikely that Henry uttered those precise words. The phrase was first attributed to him in 1817, more than 40 years after the American Revolution.
What was the meaning of Patrick Henry's speech? ›
Patrick Henry gave this speech at the Virginia Convention in order to convince the American colonists that they needed to seek freedom from the British Empire. It was by no means his only speech, but significant and noteworthy quotes from this speech make it his most well-known and remembered.
What does Patrick Henry's famous quote mean? ›
Patrick Henry is most known for his famous quote: "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Henry spoke these words at the end of his speech given at the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775. In his speech, Henry was calling for the mobilization of the militia in preparing for war against Britain.
Who yelled give me liberty or give me death? ›
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry signaled the coming revolution when he spoke at a Virginia convention and allegedly implored: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
What is the main idea of liberty or death? ›
"Give me liberty or give me death!” is the closing line from a speech made by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention on 23 March 1775, in which he argued that war with Britain was inevitable and a militia should be raised to defend American liberties.
How many slaves did Patrick Henry own? ›
Besides the 67 enslaved people at Red Hill, Patrick Henry was also a slave owner at his Long Island and Seven Islands properties, totaling 112 in all at the time of his death.
What figure of speech is Give me liberty, or give me death? ›
Expert-Verified Answer. Give me liberty or give me death. The figure of speech in this sentence is 'alliteration'.
Who cried Give me liberty, or give me death? ›
"Give me liberty, or give me death!" Patrick Henry delivering his great speech on the rights of the colonies, before the Virginia Assembly, convened at Richmond, March 23rd 1775, concluding with the above sentiment, which became the war cry of the revolution.
Teacher's Note: Context Of Patrick Henry's Speech
Henry, considered a radical by moderate Virginians, was asking Virginia to form a militia prepared to fight British regulars if needed. To prove his point, he told the assembly that he would rather die than lose his liberty under the tyranny of Britain.
Is Patrick Henry still alive? ›
What is the full quote of "give me liberty or give me death"? ›
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Was Patrick Henry a patriot or loyalist? ›
A participant in virtually every aspect of the founding of America, Patrick Henry leveraged his eloquence as a Patriot and became the Revolution's most renowned orator.
What was Patrick Henry trying to persuade in his speech? ›
Henry was convinced that war was around the corner, and he arrived at the Virginia Convention determined to persuade his fellow delegates to adopt a defensive stance against Great Britain.
What is the best quote about liberty? ›
Liberty must be limited in order to be possessed. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it.
Who is famous for the quote give me liberty or give me death? ›
"Give me liberty, or give me death!" Patrick Henry delivering his great speech on the rights of the colonies, before the Virginia Assembly, convened at Richmond, March 23rd 1775, concluding with the above sentiment, which became the war cry of the revolution.
What are three famous quotes from Thomas Jefferson? ›
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. . . ." "it is the great parent of science & of virtue: and that a nation will be great in both, always in proportion as it is free." "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost."
What was Nathan Hale's famous quote? ›
Nathan Hale is considered a hero of the Revolutionary War. He became a symbol of patriotism and self-sacrifice for the generations of Americans. In particular, he is remembered for the words he reportedly said before being executed by the British: 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. '
