Voices that shaped America

This six-week course explores six influential speeches that illuminate major turning points in American history. From the founding of the United States to the Cold War, participants will examine how political leaders, reformers, and activists used rhetoric to shape public opinion, challenge injustice, and redefine the meaning of American democracy.
Through lectures, guided reading, and group discussion, learners will develop a deeper understanding of the ideas, conflicts, and aspirations that have shaped the United States.

Through the speeches of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, and Ronald Reagan, the course covers:

• The founding of the United States and the challenges of building a new republic

• The American Revolution's legacy and the development of democratic government

• The American Civil War, slavery, and national unity

• The power of political rhetoric in times of crisis and change

• Women's suffrage and the struggle for voting rights

• Citizenship, constitutional rights, and political inclusion

• The United States and the Second World War

• Democracy, freedom, and America's growing role in world affairs

• The Civil Rights Movement and the fight for racial equality

• Non-violent protest and social reform

• The Cold War and the contest between democracy and communism

• How influential speeches have shaped American history and national identity

• Techniques of persuasion used by political leaders and activists

• The continuing relevance of historic speeches in contemporary debates about freedom, equality, and democracy.