The Declaration Across History
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From a sermon in 1776 by Lemuel Haynes, a Black minister, calling for an end to slavery to Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, see how the promises held by the Declaration influenced the fight for liberty and equality.
Primary Sources
Read excerpts from historic documents that draw on the Declaration of Independence to push for a range of visions for America. The historical figures were chosen by a group of scholars from diverse perspectives: Allen Guelzo, Lucas Morel, Mevlin Rogers, and Manisha Sinha.
Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave- Keeping
By Lemuel Haynes | 1776
In this 1776 sermon, Haynes offers an abolitionist argument that reveals the incompatibility of American independence—a push rooted in key principles like liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, and the consent of the governed—with the institution of slavery.
An Address . . . Celebrating the Declaration of Independence
By John Quincy Adams | 1821
On July 4, 1821, then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, future President and son of John Adams, was invited to deliver a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World
By David Walker | 1829
David Walker was born a free African American in North Carolina. He later moved to Boston and became a part of the vibrant African American community there—joining the anti-slavery movement and writing for the nation’s first newspaper owned and operated by African Americans.
Seneca Falls Declaration
By Elizabeth Cady Stanton | 1848
To draw attention to the inequalities and oppressive laws facing women in pre-Civil War America, Stanton drafted a “Declaration of Sentiments,” which was later signed by 68 women and 32 men.
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
By Frederick Douglass | 1852
In June 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered this Independence Day address to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. It became one of Douglass’s most famous speeches—criticizing the chasm between America’s Founding principles and the institution of slavery.
Gettysburg Address
By Abraham Lincoln | 1863
On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history: the Gettysburg Address
How Enfranchisement Stops Lynching
By Ida B. Wells | 1910
In this 1910 article in Original Rights Magazine, Wells used the language and principles of the Declaration of Independence to continue the fight for Black enfranchisement, which, she explained, would create the political pressure necessary to fight against lynchings.
Speech on the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
By Calvin Coolidge | 1926
On July 5, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge delivered this speech in Philadelphia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
We Are Americans
By United Steel Workers of America | 1936
In the midst of the Great Depression, the Steel Workers Organizing Committee pushed to create a labor union representing the interests of steel workers. As part of this effort, four thousand steel workers gathered in Homestead, Pennsylvania, site of the famous 1892 Homestead Strike against the Carnegie Steel Company, in the summer of 1936.
I Have a Dream
By Martin Luther King Jr. | 1963
On August 28, 1963, approximately 250,000 people gathered outside of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. At this historic march, civil rights activist and Baptist minister Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history—his “I Have a Dream Speech.”
More on the Declaration
Learn more about the delegates who signed the Declaration, its impact across history, and exciting new content and events related to its 250th anniversary.
The Declaration Across History
Read excerpts from historic documents, curated by scholars, that draw on the push for a range of visions for America.
Signers of the Declaration
Historian Carol Berkin shares definitive short biographies of the 56 men who signed the Declaration. This section also includes an engaging video for each signer.
America at 250 Civic Toolkit
The toolkit brings to life the Declaration, the Constitution, and enduring principles that define America. It features America at 250 multimedia content, events, and continuously updated resources.