Do you ever feel like the world is going to hell in a handbasket? Well, here are some quotes from famous speeches in United States history that may help you get through this time.
George Washington – Farewell Address (1796)
One of the most famous speeches in United States history is the farewell address that George Washington gave to the nation on September 19, 1796. The address was delivered to both houses of Congress and the President was urging them to maintain their faith in the Constitution and their duty to the population of the nation.
The address became extremely important because it was the first time that a president admitted to the American people that he was not a god and that he could not solve all their problems. Instead, Washington emphasized that the best thing for the nation was for the citizens to have faith in themselves.
Abraham Lincoln – Gettysburg Address (1863)
The Gettysburg Address is the most famous speech in United States history. It was given by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, during the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The address is famous because it was the first to be delivered by a President as Commander in Chief.
Lincoln was honoring the sacrifices that both sides had made during the American Civil War and he was urging the country to unite and “bind this nation together”. The speech was one of the most important because it put an end to the fighting between the North and the South and it ultimately united all of the states in the Union.
Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have A Dream speech (1963)
The most famous speech in United States history was given by Martin Luther King Jr. in front of over 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. The speech is famous because it outlined the civil rights movement in the U.S. at the time.
The speech stated that the goal of the movement was to end segregation, and racial inequality, and to “create a nation where every man is treated as if he were as God intended him to be”. This was the first major speech by an African American and it is considered by many to be one of the most important speeches of all time.
Winston Churchill – Iron Curtain speech (1948)
Winston Churchill is often credited with coining the term “Iron Curtain” in a speech that he gave to the British Commonwealth on April 15, 1948. The speech is famous because it marked the beginning of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
The speech was extremely important because it showed the world that the U.S. was not afraid of Stalin, who was showing a lot of power and confidence at the time. The speech is still considered to be one of the most powerful speeches of all time.
Theodore Roosevelt – Man in the Arena speech (1906)
Theodore Roosevelt is often credited with coining the phrase “man in the arena”, which was the title of his speech that was given at the Sorbonne on May 5, 1906.
The speech is famous because it introduced a new phrase to the American lexicon and showed the world that the U.S. was not afraid of any foe, even those that were stronger than them. The speech was extremely important because it helped to unite the U.S. and bring the country a step closer to greatness.
John F. Kennedy – Profiles in Courage speech (1963)
The one speech that is most often credited as the turning point in the Civil Rights Movement was the Profiles in Courage speech that John F. Kennedy gave on January 17, 1963. In the speech, JFK recognized five senators who had broken the rules of their party to support civil rights.
The speech was extremely important because it showed the world that the U.S. was not going to stand idly by while people were discriminated against. The speech also helped to inspire more people to fight for equal rights.
Barack Obama – The Audacity of Hope speech (2008)
Obama’s speech that is credited for inspiring so many people was his commencement address at the University of Notre Dame on May 27, 2008. The speech is famous because it was a call to action and a rallying cry for people to get involved in the political process. The speech was extremely important because it inspired so many people to vote and it helped to make Obama a rising political star.
Ronald Reagan – Evil and Pride speech (1987)
The most famous speech in the history of the World Series is the Evil and Pride speech that was delivered by Ronald Reagan on October 25, 1987. The speech was delivered during the celebration of the World Series win with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The speech is famous because it was a celebration of the team and the fans, but it was also a jab at the Soviet Union, which Reagan believed to be the biggest threat to the world.
