TREASON: How Patrick Henry Ignited the Revolution in 1765

 

“If this be TREASON” How Patrick Henry Ignited the Revolution in 1765  (article | video podcast)

"Not Bound to Yield Obedience" That was no mere slogan. It was a warning - and a call to action printed across the colonies in 1765. The British had just passed the hated Stamp Act. But in Virginia, a 29-year-old freshman legislator named Patrick Henry pushed back - hard. His Virginia Resolves didn't just protest a tax, they rejected Parliament's power outright. And when government tried to silence him, Henry stood firm, and the other colonies joined in - publishing every single word. The fuse was lit. THE FRESHMAN TAKES HIS STAND The story starts in March 1765 when Parliament passed the Stamp Act - a raw assertion of power over the colonies. As Joe Wolverton writes, "News of the Act's passage reached Virginia in April 1765, but the sparks really didn't begin flying until May, when a young, newly elected member from the county of Louisa took the ancient oath of office and set out to use all his talents to fight this latest example of British tyranny." Henry took his seat in the House for the first time on May 20th. Nine days later, on his 29th birthday, he presented a series of resolutions against the Stamp Act. RIGHTS BY INHERITANCE, NOT GRANT Henry's first resolution cut straight to the heart: Virginians held their rights by inheritance, not permission. They had brought with them "all the liberties, privileges, franchises, and immunities" of British subjects. His second resolution pointed out this was confirmed by royal charter. Not radical claims. Established law. Virginians had the same rights as Englishmen - period. THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSENT Henry's third resolution first affirmed the principle of no taxation without representation. "The Taxation of the People by themselves, or by Persons chosen by themselves to represent them” He then explained the practical logic behind this. Distant lawmakers who don't feel the pinch will keep squeezing until the people break. Only representatives “who can only know what Taxes the People are able to bear, or the easiest Mode of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every Tax laid on the People, is the only Security against a burdensome Taxation, and the distinguishing Characteristick of British Freedom, without which the ancient Constitution cannot exist." TREASON: How Patrick Henry Ignited the Revolution 📚 Here's the podcast with reference links to read and share: 👉  https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/05/treason-how-patrick-henry-ignited-the-revolution/ UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNJUST Henry's fifth resolution brought his argument to its logical conclusion. Having established Virginians' inherent rights, he declared that Virginia's General Assembly alone held legitimate taxing authority. But Henry didn't stop there. He branded Parliament's Stamp Act as unconstitutional tyranny: "And that every Attempt to vest such Power in any other Person or Persons whatever, than the General Assembly aforesaid, is illegal, unconstitutional and unjust, and have a manifest Tendency to destroy British as well as American Liberty." This fifth resolution triggered the firestorm. "IF THIS BE TREASON" In the heated debate that followed, Patrick Henry delivered words that would echo through American history. His biographer William Wirt captured what happened: "It was in the midst of this magnificent debate, while he was descanting on the tyranny of the obnoxious Act, that he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder, and with the look of a god, 'Caesar had his Brutus - Charles the first, his Cromwell - and George the third - '" The chamber erupted. "'Treason,' cried the Speaker - 'treason, treason,' echoed from every part of the House." With every eye fixed on him, Henry could have backed down. Instead, he doubled down: "Henry faltered not an instant; but rising to a loftier attitude, and fixing on the Speaker an eye of the most determined fire, he finished his sentence with the firmest emphasis) 'may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.'" A young Thomas Jefferson witnessed the confrontation, later recalling "torrents of sublime eloquence from mr Henry." VICTORY BY A SINGLE VOTE Jefferson's account reveals how close it came: "They were opposed by Randolph, Bland, Pendleton, Nicholas, Wythe & all the old members whose influence in the house had, till then, been unbroken." The old guard versus the firebrand. The fifth resolution "was carried but by a single vote. the debate on it was most bloody." Jefferson overheard establishment dismay: "Peyton Randolph, after the vote, came out of the house, and said, as he entered the lobby, 'by god, I would have given 500. guineas for a single vote.'" Henry's constitutional challenge survived by the narrowest margin - between colonial submission and the path to resistance. THE ESTABLISHMENT STRIKES BACK - AND FAILS Henry made a critical miscalculation. After passage, he departed for home. Virginia's political establishment moved swiftly: "The next day, under pressure from the governor and the Council, the House rescinded Henry's fifth resolution and had it erased from the official journal. Virginia's royal governor, Francis Fauquier, even prevented the publication of the four resolutions in the Virginia Gazette." Censorship, however, proved ineffective. The resolutions spread throughout the colonies despite official suppression. Rhode Island incorporated them into their own resolves, reproducing Henry's allegedly expunged fifth resolution almost word for word. TOO DANGEROUS TO VOTE? Henry's sixth and seventh resolutions were apparently too radical even to vote on. The sixth declared Virginians owed no obedience to unconstitutional acts - the foundational principle behind nullification. The seventh turned the tables. After being branded treasonous, Henry declared that anyone supporting Parliamentary taxation was "AN ENEMY TO THIS HIS MAJESTY'S COLONY." JOIN TAC, SUPPORT LIBERTY! Let’s keep building the foundation! For as little as $2/month, help us take a stand for the Constitution and liberty - whether the government likes it, or not. (they don’t!) details here THE FIRE SPREADS Despite suppression, within weeks all seven resolutions were published throughout the colonies. Governor Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts observed: "Nothing extravagant appeared in the papers till an account was received of the Virginia Resolves." Decades later, an aging Patrick Henry reflected on what he had unleashed. On the back of his personal copy of the Virginia Resolves, he traced the direct line to Independence: "The alarm spread throughout America with astonishing quickness, and the Ministerial party were overwhelmed. The great point of resistance to British taxation was universally established in the colonies. This brought on the war which finally separated the two countries and gave independence to ours." But he understood victory was only the beginning: "Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us." HENRY'S FINAL WORD The man who defied Parliament ended with a warning that transcends time: "If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation." Reader! whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practise virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.” 📖 Read now → HERE 🎙️ Watch or listen to the podcast → HERE It’s no wonder government-run schools never teach this. That’s part of why we work so hard every single day to reach and teach more people about this essential history - and these essential foundational principles behind the American Revolution and the Constitution. But we can’t do it alone. Your membership support is crucial to keep these enduring ideas alive, shared, and put into practice. JOIN US TODAY! Here’s the link, you know what to do: https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/members/ Prefer to make a one-time donation? Pitch in here: https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/donate/ You can also mail a check to: Tenth Amendment Center 16755 Von Karman Avenue Suite 200 PMB 705 Irvine, CA 92606 Brick-by-brick. Person-by-person. Building a strong foundation for liberty – whether the government happens to like it, or not. (they definitely do not) Thank you so much for reading - and your support! Concordia res parvae crescunt (small things grow great by concord) Michael Boldin, TAC