INTRODUCTION:
When George Washington was sixteen, he was made a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. At twenty he was put in Braddock's army and he saved the broken pieces. He was later elected to the house of Burgesses in Virginia.
After Washington's brother, Laurence, died, Washington received the beautiful Mt. Vernon plantation on the Potomac.
One day while Washington was on his way to Williamsburg, he met a beautiful woman named Mrs. Martha Custis, who later became his wife.
The second act will be Washington, Patrick Henry and others in the house of Burgesses in Virginia.
(House of Burgesses assembled. Class in House of Burgesses.)
Speaker at Desk: As you know the French and Indian war has left both England and her colonies in debt and King George, thinking only of England, put a tax on tea and a Stamp Act on the Thirteen Colonies. Through such great men as Samuel Adams and our own Patrick Henry, these Acts have been repealed. Now we are confronted with the trouble in Boston. Shall the people of Boston be slaves or shall the thirteen colonies fight to save that town?
(Exclamations from House). Fight! Fight! No! No! Fight!
Speaker: I think Patrick Henry has a resolution to offer.
Patrick Henry: Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen: I offer resolutions declaring that Virginia arm herself for the coming war.
Men of House: Why should we fight England? It is the greatest country in the world and it is our Mother Country.
Second Man of House: Why not send petitions to the King asking him to send his two armies out of Boston?
Third Man of House: We cannot fight England. Look at Drake. He checked the Spanish Armada on the sea while Raleigh checked the Spanish on the land. If we fight England it will leave us weaker than we are.
Fourth Man of House: If we fight our Mother Country now it will spoil the little nation we are trying to build up. We are not ready to fight.
Patrick Henry: Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Mr. Henry.
Henry: We must fight! I repeat it, Sir, we must fight. An appeal to arms and the God of Hosts is all that is left to us. They tell us, Sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be next year, or next week? Sir, we are not weak if we make the proper use which the God of Nature has placed in our power. Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable, and let it come! Our brothers are all ready on the field. Why stand we here idle! 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! (Much applause).
End of Act II.