Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest.

What does Henry mean in this excerpt from his Virginia Convention speech when he says “we have no election”?

We do not have the political will to resist the British.
We have no representation in the British Parliament.
We have no choice because the war has already begun.
We have no ability to democratically elect our leaders.

Answer 1

In this excerpt from Henry's Virginia Convention speech, when he says "We have no election," he means they have no choice because the war has already begun. Henry suggests that the situation has escalated to the point where they cannot back down or opt out of the conflict. They are already engaged in the struggle for independence, and there is no turning back.