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I Have a Dream
by Martin Luther King, Jr. Available on: Online Audio | Online Video
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
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Gettysburg Address
by Abraham Lincoln Available on: Audio Download
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation...
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Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" Speech
by Patrick Henry Available on: Audio Download
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered a speech which supported military action against the British. This stirring speech swayed the vote and was most likely the deciding factor in committing Virginia troops to fight the British.
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Common Sense
by Thomas Paine Available on: Audio Download
Common Sense is perhaps the work single most responsible for the American Revolution.
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The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton Available on: Podcast
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution.
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United States Bill of Rights
by James Madison Available on: Audio Download
After the ratification of the Constitution, the first United States Congress met in Federal Hall in New York City in 1789 and many of delegates wanted a "bill of rights" that would guarantee individual liberty in the face of the newly established federal government.
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Ronald Reagan Speeches
by Ronald Reagan Available on: Audio Download
Below are complete audio recordings of some of Ronald Reagan's most important speeches.
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The United States Declaration of Independence
by Various Authors Available on: Audio Download
By the summer of 1776, the American Patriots had taken control over all the 13 colonies, and they were now effectively individual states establishing their own state constitutions that existed outside of British rule. On June 11, 1776 a committee met with the purpose of drafting a resolution to declare independence of Great Britain.
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I've Been to the Mountaintop
by Martin Luther King, Jr. Available on: Online Audio
"And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!"
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2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address
by Barack Obama Available on: Audio Download
"Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely..."
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John F. Kennedy Speeches
by John F. Kennedy Available on: Audio Download
Below are complete audio recordings of some of John F. Kennedy's most important speeches.
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First Inaugural Address of President George Washington
by George Washington Available on: Audio Download
In 1789 George Washington was elected unanimously by the Electoral College as the first president of the United States of America. He was inaugurated as president on April 30, 1789 and he delivered the first inaugural address at Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City.
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Democracy in America, Vol. I
by Alexis de Tocqueville Available on: Audio Download
When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in the 1830s he found a thriving democracy of a kind he had not seen anywhere else.
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Bill Clinton Inauguration Speech 1993
by Bill Clinton Available on: Audio Download | Online Video
Renewal and reform were the prevalent themes of Bill Clinton's first inaugural address in 1993.
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Richard M. Nixon: Resignation Speech
by Richard M. Nixon Available on: Audio Download
"In passing this office to the Vice President, I also do so with the profound sense of the weight of responsibility..."
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Causes of the Civil War
by Jay Winik Available on: Audio Download
In this introductory lecture, Professor Jay Winik traces what led America into the grip of Civil War, and begins a series on how the nation survived.
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Barack Obama: Presidential Inaugural Address
by Barack Obama Available on: Audio Download | Online Audio | Online Video
"With eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
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The Articles of Confederation
by Various Authors Available on: Audio Download
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by The Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and they became effective when they were ratified by all the states three years later on March 1, 1781.
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The Constitution of the United States
by Various Authors Available on: Audio Download
At the Philadelphia Convention, delegates from twelve states (Rhode Island chose not to attend) met to amend the Articles of Confederation, but as the convention progressed it was decided to draft a new constitution which required only 9 of the 13 states to ratify it.
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David McCullough's Biography of a Year: 1776
by David McCullough Available on: Audio Download | Online Video
Bestselling historical writer and two-time Pulitzer winner David McCullough follows up his biography John Adams by focusing on an historic time rather than an individual…
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2000 First Presidential Debate: Gore v. Bush
by George W. Bush Available on: Audio Download
The first in a series of highly anticipated debates.
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The Scopes Monkey Trial
by Alan M. Dershowitz Available on: Audio Download
In this lecture American lawyer, prolific author, and Harvard professor Alan M. Dershowitz examines one of the most significant American cases in the 20th century: The Scopes Trial. Dershowitz looks closer at the trial than its typical portrayal of fundamentalist creationism vs. evolution...
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The Gettysburg Address
by Abraham Lincoln Available on: Audio Download | Online Audio
This speech was delivered by Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, four months after the Battle of Gettysburg.
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Democracy in America, Vol. II
by Alexis de Tocqueville Available on: Audio Download
When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in the 1830s he found a thriving democracy of a kind he had not seen anywhere else.
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Federalist Paper No. 51
by James Madison Available on: Audio Download
Federalist Paper No. 51, written by James Madison, was one of the most influential articles published, as it addressed the checks and balances that were put in place by the constitution to ensure that no branch of the government would dominate over the other.
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