Looking at Some Great American Speeches

Our country has long been a nation that encourages expression, which makes for many an opportunity to deliver a memorable speech. With this post, I wanted to observe some of the very best, and possibly find some common theme that makes them so powerful.

Patrick Henry: "Liberty or Death" (1775)

Delivered to an audience at a political convention, this example of a powerful call to action is often presented as one of the most influential, fitting pieces of Revolutionary spirit. Henry's cry, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" reflected many of the bold new ideas that became a part of the values of the 18th century Americans.

Abraham Lincoln: "Gettysburg Address" (1863)

Lincoln's most famous speech was given at a memorial for the Battle of Gettysburg. While Lincoln may have never intended for it to become so culturally and politically significant,  it quickly became so, soon becoming an invaluable part of the national consciousness. Some historians say that the speech gave a concrete meaning to the war, boosting morale among troops and putting it in a new light for the disillusioned American public. Whether it had such a wide-reaching effect is debatable, but it can certainly be agreed that it was an important contribution by a highly regarded figure in American politics.

Ronald Reagan: "Tear Down This Wall"

Reagan delivered one of his most iconic lines at an anniversary celebration for Berlin. Although the audience was relatively small, the speech was broadcast live on television, making the actual number of those who witnessed it much larger. Reagan directly addressed Mikhail Gorbachev, ending his speech with the famous phrase, "tear down this wall!", referring to the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Berlin.

Conclusions:

These examples are only several of the countless speeches that were delivered throughout the history of America. Looking at them, we can find a few similarities. I think the most important of these is the speaker's ability to find a way to connect to their audience. In Henry's speech, he makes an exclamatory statement that summarizes a lot of the feelings at the time. In Lincoln's speech, he appeals to the emotions of the American people with his tone. In Reagan's speech, he again finds a common ground, expressing a direct, pointed command. It is the content of the speeches themselves, not the occasion or the prestige of the speaker, that makes them have such a lasting impact.

Sources:

USHAP Lectures

http://www.patrickhenrycenter.com/Speeches.aspx#LIBERTY

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8