Final answer:
The phrase 'they are sent over to bind and rivet upon us' in Patrick Henry's speech refers to the oppressive efforts by the British government to control the American colonies. The correct answer is C) To oppress and control us, which reflects the widespread sentiment for liberty and resistance against tyranny during the revolutionary period.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Patrick Henry's speech Give me liberty or give me death, the phrase “they are sent over to bind and rivet upon us” refers to the oppressive and controlling measures imposed by the British government on the American colonies.
Henry uses this vivid imagery to characterize the laws and regulations enforced by the British as chains intended to keep the colonists subjugated and deprived of their liberties. This compelling metaphor underscores the severity of the situation and Henry's perception that the British aim not to secure the rights of colonists, but to tighten their control over them, thereby extinguishing any hope of living as free people.
This interpretation aligns with the broader themes of freedom and resistance against tyranny found throughout the revolutionary period, reflected in other historical texts and battles for independence. The American colonists were yearning for self-governance and the ability to shape their own destiny free from foreign interference. Henry's speech exemplifies these sentiments and galvanizes his audience into action against what they deemed to be an oppressive rule.
The correct answer to the question about the meaning of the phrase “they are sent over to bind and rivet upon us” is therefore C) To oppress and control us. This interpretation is supported by the context of the speech and the period's overwhelming desire for liberty.