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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Robert F. Kennedy: Day of Affirmation at Cape Town University

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the audio mp3 and text of Robert F. Kennedy's speech on June, 6, 1966 on the occasion of Affirmation day for South Africa.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: John Kerry: Statement at Senate Foreign Relations Committee1

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a video and transcript of John Kerry's testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the topic of the horrors committed by American soldiers in Vietnam and the resulting anger and suffering their participation in the war...
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I've Been to the Mountaintop"

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop" delivered on April 3, 1968, at Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters), in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: William Jefferson Clinton: Oklahoma Bombing Memorial Address

For Students 9th - 10th
This is President Clinton speaking at the prayer memorial for the bombing of Oklahoma City delivered on April 23, 1995, in Oklahoma City, OK. It is offered in YouTube Video, mp3 audio, and text [9:11]
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Analyze Famous Speeches for Rhetorical Structures and Devices

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In this lesson, you will learn to analyze persuasive speeches, those that are intended to sway the audience to agree with the speaker. You will examine the impact of rhetorical structure and the use of devices in famous speeches.
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Website
University of Maryland

Voices of Democracy: Sojourner Truth "Address at the Woman's Rights Convention "

For Students 9th - 10th
In a speech given before the Women's Rights Convention in Akron Ohio in 1851, Sojourner Truth argued forcefully for the rights of women, drawing particular attention to the position of women of color in the social and legal hierarchy of...
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Website
University of Maryland

Voices of Democracy: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "How Long? Not Long" 1965

For Students 9th - 10th
On March 25, 1965, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on a flatbed truck and delivered his "How Long? Not Long?" speech. The speech was delivered at the conclusion of the Selma-to-Montgomery march. Included are the full text...
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Website
University of Maryland

Voices of Democracy: John F. Kennedy, "Address: "The President and Press" 1961

For Students 9th - 10th
Read President John F. Kennedy's speech, "The President and the Press," which he delivered before the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) on April 27, 1961. In this speech, he attempted to explain and justify the Bay of Pigs...
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Primary
Other

American Rhetoric: Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of the speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" delivered by Malcolm X on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. He focuses on Civil Rights.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Emma Goldman: Address to the Jury

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of Emma Goldman's address to the jury at her trial and that of Alexander Berkman on July 9, 1917, in New York.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Woodrow Wilson: Final Speech in Support of League of Nations

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of President Woodrow Wilson's last speech in support of the League of Nations delivered on September 25, 1919, in Pueblo, Colorado.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Woodrow Wilson: First Inaugural Address

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of President Woodrow Wilson's First Inaugural Address delivered on April 4, 1913.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Woodrow Wilson: War Message

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of President Woodrow Wilson's speech to Congress on April 2, 1917, asking them to declare war on Germany thereby, entering World War I.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Russell Conwell: "Acres of Diamonds"

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio versions of Russell Conwell's famous inspirational story "Acres of Diamonds" which was delivered over 5000 times at various times and places from 1900-1925.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Ronald Reagan: First Inaugural Address

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio of President Reagan taking the oath of office and his first Inaugural Address on January 20, 1981.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Woodrow Wilson: "The Fourteen Points"

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text for Wilson's "The Fourteen Points," a statement of principles for world peace to be used in the negotiations for the end of WWI, delivered on January 8, 1918.
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Unit Plan
The History Place

The History Place: Great Speeches Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides a good selection of historical and relatively modern speeches from many English-speaking countries. Each speech is set up in its historic context. Many are available with audio links.
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Analyze Famous Speeches for Rhetorical Structures and Devices

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Analyze the persuasive impact of rhetorical structures and devices in famous speeches.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Hillary Rodham Clinton: u.n. 4th World Conference on Women

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text, audio, and video [19:35] of Hillary Rodham Clinton's address to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women on September 5, 1995, Beijing, China.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Spiro Theodore Agnew: "Television News Coverage"

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio of Spiro Agnew's speech "Television News Coverage" expressing his disappointment in the news media's behavior after a Presidental speech on Vietnam; it was delivered at a Republican Midwest regional meeting on...
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Top 100 Speeches

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is an interactive collection of the top 100 speeches in order of their popularity; most include the text and audio of the speech and several also offer the video. RI.9-10.9 US Documents
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Robert La Follette: Senate Address:"free Speech in War Time"

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is the text of Robert La Follette's speech to the Senate, "Free Speech in War Time" delivered on October 6, 1917, in the U.S. Senate Chamber, in Washington, D.C.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Anita Hill: Senate Judiciary Testimony on Clarence Thomas

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text, audio, and video [1:44] of Anita Hill's testimony on Clarence Thomas in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 11, 1991.
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Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text, audio, and video [4:31] of President John F. Kennedy's first Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961.