During the colonial period, a revolutionary spirit swept through the land, inspiring the colonists to fight for their independence. Many writings of the time period such as Paine's The Crisis, Number 1, Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention, and Jefferson's Declaration of Independence manifest this spirit. These writers tried to convince the colonies to fight for their independence.
In from The Crisis, Number 1, Paine says, "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." He was trying to explain to the all Americans that gaining independence is something that you have to work for through struggle. If you work for what you want then your accomplishment will be more praiseworthy. Paine wanted every state to look at the future in a positive manner. .
Paine encouraged the colonists to have strong forces, so they could come together to accomplish devastating time periods, such as depressions. Paine preached to "show your faith by your works" instead of "laying the burden of day upon Providence." The main point that Paine was trying to make was that he wanted everyone to unite. It did not matter whether you were rich or poor, what rank you held in society, where you lived, or whether you were black or white. Everyone needed to come together to fight the Revolutionary War. This motivated the colonists to want to fight.
In Speech in the Virginia Convention, Henry tries to persuade the colonist to fight. He argues that they have already petitioned, remonstrated, supplicated, prostrated before the throne, and have implored its intervention to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. However, none of these measures that the colonists tried to resist British rule were successful. Their petitions were slighted; their remonstrance's produced additional violence and insult; their supplications were disregarded, and the throne scorned them with contempt.
