This chapter delves into the historical context of famous American speeches including the Gettysburg Address and 'I have a Dream', comparing the styles and impacts of oratory in different time periods. It explores the significance of Lincoln's speeches, their dissemination, and evolution in American culture over time, as well as the emphasis on past reverence combined with a forward-looking perspective. The chapter also discusses Lincoln's second inaugural speech and its focus on racial and sectional reconciliation in the aftermath of his assassination.
What lessons can we take from the speeches of Abraham Lincoln for today's turbulent times? How did those speeches move the nation in Lincoln's day? Listen as political scientist Diana Schaub of Loyola University, Maryland talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about three of Lincoln's most important speeches and what they can tell us about the United States then and now.