Colonial Williamsburg interpreter Richard Schumann describes Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech of 1775, including its impact, the religious and legal influences it reveals, and the debate over how much of the speech as it has been recorded is historically accurate. The interview is accompanied by an image slideshow.
To listen to this podcast, select "All 2008 podcasts," and scroll to the March 24th program.
According to the Gilder Lehrman website, "Henry L. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era and Professor of History at Gettysburg College Allen Guelzo examines Abraham Lincoln's motivations for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863. Guelzo contends that the proclamation is among the most misunderstood of the Civil War era, a necessary and even desperate attempt by Lincoln to enact a form of emancipation that would pass legal muster. Guelzo traces the evolution of Lincoln's views on emancipation with particular emphasis on the strategic and moral calculus that factored into the momentous proclamation of 1863."
Charting changes in women's rhetoric in the public realm from 1848 to the present is possible through this archive of more than 400 speeches by influential, contemporary women. These include prominent female politicians and scientists, as well as popular culture figures. There is an emphasis on the United States (particularly after 1900), including speeches from women as diverse as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Mary Church Terrell, Marie Curie, Helen Keller, Emma Goldman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Friedan, and Ayn Rand. A nearly complete list of Nobel lectures by women laureates provides access to acceptance speeches.
The search function is particularly useful for pulling speeches from a diverse collection into common subject groups. It also allows for the study of the language of women's public debate by following changes in the use of particular metaphors or idioms, such as the concept "motherhood."
Professor Danielle Allen discusses the concept of U.S. citizenship and the ideal behavior of a U.S. citizen as suggested by major documents in U.S. history, including the Federalist papers, the Declaration of Independence, and presidential inaugural addresses.
This lecture continues from the lecture What is Citizenship?: Part One.
Professor Danielle Allen discusses the concept of U.S. citizenship and the ideal behavior of a U.S. citizen as suggested by major documents in U.S. history, including the Federalist papers, the Declaration of Independence, and presidential inaugural addresses.
This lecture continues in What is Citizenship?: Part Two.
Professor Peter Myers investigates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s concepts of civil disobedience and political action, as well King's thought, as found in his writings and speeches, more generally. Myers examines particularly the objectives King wished to achieve with his work.
This lecture continues from the lecture Martin Luther King, Jr., Part One.
Professor Peter Myers investigates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s concepts of civil disobedience and political action, as well King's thought, as found in his writings and speeches, more generally. This lecture continues in Martin Luther King, Jr., Part Two.
Professor Lucas E. Morel reviews the life and views of Martin Luther King, Jr., focusing on the March on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech. This lecture continues from the lecture Martin Luther King, Jr., Part One.
For the lecture, scroll down to the third seminar of Wednesday, August 4. Readings, available for download, accompany the lecture.
An older version of this lecture can be found here.
Professor Lucas E. Morel reviews the life and views of Martin Luther King, Jr., examining his views of race relations, his religious beliefs, and his definition of civil disobedience, as suggested in his writings and speeches. This lecture continues in the lecture Martin Luther King, Jr., Part Two.
For the lecture, scroll down to the second seminar of Wednesday, August 4. Readings, available for download, accompany the lecture.
An older version of this lecture can be found here.
Historian Harold Holzer compares Abraham Lincoln's 1860 Cooper Union Speech and Barack Obama's 2008 Race Speech at the Constitution Center.
To listen to this lecture, select "Historian Harold Holzer compares Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech and Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center" from the sidebar on the right side of the page.