What do you know about Patrick Henry? I bet you know “Give me liberty, or give me death!” even if you don’t know anything else, but he was a fascinating man. Case in point:
- He’s known as the “Voice of the Revolution” – he spurred people to action with his eloquence, often in speeches like the one mentioned above.
- He was friends with George Washington, at times with Thomas Jefferson, and many other Founding Fathers.
- He was a frugal man, retiring to a home with only three rooms, where he lived with ten other family members!
- He fought valiantly against the ratification of the Constitution until it spelled out the specific rights of the people, not wanting the ideals fought for in the Revolutionary War to be taken by a strong, centralized government.
- He was extremely popular during his lifetime despite never holding a federal position. He did, however, turn down the jobs of supreme court justice, secretary of state, attorney general, and ambassador to Spain and France – when asked by Washington! – so that he could spend time with his family.
Henry’s career was long and varied, and it remains relevant today in many ways. As students are studying civics and American history, learning about how our government was formed and should work, it’s important to know about the man who helped found it and ensured that our rights were listed as law.
What better way to do that than with a scavenger hunt?
I created this resource as an introduction to the life of Patrick Henry. It contains quotes from him shared within chronological information about his life, work, and character.
Students start with a mission. Then, they read informational passages to answer questions, which lead them to scrambled letters that form a final answer. They can tackle this in many ways: as a scavenger hunt, a gallery walk, or as task cards. This is great for cooperative learning!
I’ve also included several reflective writing prompts for students to share what they’ve learned. These take several forms: from simple essays to poems and even a basic exhibit design.
Where did all of this come from? I’ve been learning about Patrick Henry for years, as he’s a favorite historical figure of one of my own kids – but I also attached a bibliography of excellent resources, should you want to know more.
So have you met Patrick Henry? Scavenge away and find out more about this complex Founding Father!
