When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir... America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I Have a Dream

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More information about this quote

Topic

Declaration of Independence US Constitution The Founders American founding Civil rights American politics

Speaker

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Source

I Have a Dream

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1963 1960s 20th century

Occupation

Black activist Civil rights activist Clergyman Christian

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Citation

King, Martin Luther, Jr. "I Have a Dream." March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 28 Aug. 1963, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC, USA.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. about declaration of independence: “When the architects of our republic wrote…”
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A quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. about declaration of independence: “When the architects of our republic wrote…”
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A quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. about declaration of independence: “When the architects of our republic wrote…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1960s

The order is rapidly fadin'
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Bob Dylan

The Times They Are a-Changin' (song)

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Read the lyrics to The Times They Are A-Changin' at genius.com
More information about this quote
Topic
Old vs. young Change The 60s
Speaker
Bob Dylan
Source
The Times They Are a-Changin' (song) The Times They Are a-Changin' (album)
Medium
Song
Genre
Protest music Folk music
Language
English
Time
1965 1960s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Dylan, Bob. "The Times They Are a-Changin'." The Times They Are a-Changin'. Columbia Records, 1965.

Another quote about American politics

If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him?

Abraham Lincoln

Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln

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Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website
More information about this quote
Topic
American Civil War Slavery American politics God and America
Speaker
Abraham Lincoln
Source
Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln Presidential inaugural address
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Statement Type
Question
Language
English
Time
1865 1860s 19th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1865, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugral Address, March 4, 1865." Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1859-1865, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 2018.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

A monarchy is a merchantman which sails well, but will sometimes strike on a rock, and go to the bottom; a republic is a raft which will never sink, but then your feet are always in the water.

Fisher Ames

More information about this quote
Topic
Monarchy Democracy Downsides of democracy Political theory
Speaker
Fisher Ames
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1795 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Ames, Fisher. Address in the House of Representatives. House of Representatives. 1795, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Current Citation

Ames, Fisher. Quoted in A Miracle Mirrored: The Dutch Republic in European Perspective, written by Henk van Nierop, edited by Karel Davids and Jan Lucassen. Cambridge University Press, 2011, ch. 2.