Introduction
The significance of the founding documents, an umbrella term for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, for American history and governance has been discussed by several orators throughout American history. Each of the personalities who sought to uphold the ideals of the American Constitution did so with a specific idea in mind. Abraham Lincoln advocated for unity and quality, and Calvin Coolidge sought to emphasize the importance of the Declaration of Independence.
Martin Luther King Jr. focused on the American Civil Rights Movement, while Frederick Douglass sought to abolish slavery. Finally, Samuel Adams was intent on protecting American independence at whatever cost. Their intentions notwithstanding, eminent American orators referenced the Founding documents as the basis for the ideals of government, freedom, and liberty. Lincoln, King, Coolidge, Douglas, and Adams demonstrated their commitment to the ideals of the founding documents through powerful metaphors that emphasized the role of government and the idea of equality.
The Founding Documents: Lincoln, King, and Coolidge
Lincoln, Coolidge, and King demonstrated a commitment to the ideals enshrined in the founding documents. Lincoln, in his “Electric Cord” speech, used his commitment to the revolutionary idea of equality enshrined in the Declaration of Independence to unite people in his quest to secure a seat in the U.S. Senate (Lincoln, 1953). He emphasized unity, liberty, and constitutionalism. Calvin Coolidge echoed similar sentiments in an address considered one of the most insightful regarding the Declaration of Independence.
In his 1926 address, Coolidge makes a case for the intentions of the Founding Fathers as they drafted the document. He argues that the Founders maintained that all people are created equal and that they have an unalienable right to life, liberty, and happiness, as well as an unalienable right to own property (Coolidge, 1926). Martin Luther King embodied the views mentioned above in his “I Have a Dream” speech. King argued that the Constitution did not recognize or condone social classes among its constituents and was, in essence, colorblind.
The use of powerful metaphors is evident in speeches regarding the founding documents. For instance, Lincoln used the metaphor of an electric cord to emphasize how the Declaration of Independence binds the hearts of liberty-loving and patriotic men together (Lincoln, 1953). He argued that the cord would continue to bind patriotic hearts as long as men everywhere cherished freedom.
King referred to the aspirational words of the Declaration and the Constitution, calling them great wells of democracy that the Founding Fathers had dug. Coolidge contended that the Founders believed that the ability to reason and the moral code that may be found via reason are gifts from nature and that these were more precious than any gifts from the state (Coolidge, 1926). Each speech uses metaphors to highlight its message.
All three documents emphasize the important role of government in society. Coolidge emphasized that, since humans are fallible, their security of liberty requires government (Coolidge, 1926). According to this viewpoint, the purpose of government must always be to serve the people. Its goals are to uphold the natural order and protect a person’s freedom from the tyrannical and predatory rule of others. The rule of law is the foundation upon which government functions (Coolidge, 1926).
In his speech, King was pleading with the country to fulfill the constitutional pledges made by its citizens, political institutions, and those who served in them (King, 1963). The government, in his view, ought to protect its citizens, regardless of their color. Lincoln references the role of government by virtue of the fact that he was in the midst of a political contest. He used the speech to contrast his opponent’s perception of a privileged America with his own idea of an aspirational United States (Lincoln, 1953). Lincoln believed that he could be part of a government that protected people’s rights and liberties. Institutions of power need to serve the people who make their existence possible.
The idea of equality and its indoctrination in the founding documents is evident in the arguments presented by the eminent personalities. Lincoln advocated a policy that would embrace both native-born Americans and the offspring of those who traveled across the Atlantic on the Mayflower equally (Lincoln, 1953). Lincoln challenged Americans in the 1850s to read the message sent from Philadelphia four hundred years earlier and to abide by its ideals (Lincoln, 1953).
King, in his address, wanted to remind people who thought of him as un-American that he was continuing the legacy of the men who created the country by defying unfair laws that deprived people of their basic rights (King, 1963). He was a firm advocate for providing opportunities for all. Coolidge contended that the principles arising from human reason and facilitating human flourishing form the foundation of a natural moral order (Coolidge, 1926). In his view, the aforementioned order necessitated the consideration of all people within the confines of the American border as one. The founding documents embodied the idea of unity and equality for all.
The conceptualization of the founding document’s promises differs across the highlighted speeches. For instance, King purposefully invoked the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to allay white America’s concerns that the civil rights movement was an attempt by foreigners to subvert American political and social entities. In his speech, he refers to the American Constitution as a promissory note to which each American is an heir (King, 1963).
Lincoln envisioned the documents’ promise as an a geographical and temporal reunification of American generations with their Founding Fathers. This idea was further reflected in the Gettysburg Address, where images of forefathers, conception, and the new birth of freedom centered on the idea of solidarity across generations. Coolidge viewed the Founding Fathers’ promise as one of a functional government. He agreed with the belief that it was based on divine law (Coolidge, 1926). However, he contended that it must be rigorously limited because it is not meant to provide for the greatest things in life, and it could grow overly powerful.
Other Notable Constitutional Events: Lincoln, Adams, and Douglas
Abraham Lincoln, Samuel Adams, and Fredrick Douglas made significant contributions to the public’s conceptualization of Liberty. In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln provided context for the more than 50,000 men who lost their lives during the Gettysburg Battle (Latunra, 2022). He argued that the United States must continue to be a nation where all people are created equal and treated with dignity (Latunra, 2022). Fredrick Douglas echoed the aforementioned views in “What to the slave is the 4th of July?”
Douglas begins his speech by noting that the Declaration of Independence brought about significant political liberty (Strickberger, 2021). He notes the fact that the Founding Fathers dared to fight for freedom from bondage and submission. Samuel Adams emphasized the concept of liberty when he presented a speech titled “On American Independence.” Adams emphasizes the belief that men can deliberately and voluntarily construct a political society for themselves. Adams declares that the American people are the protectors of their own liberty (Homolar, 2021). The philosophy of American free will is clearly articulated in the founding documents.
Conclusion
The Founding documents are the cornerstone of American identity. American orators have referenced the documents in times of war and peace to highlight the ideas that the American forefathers believed would shape the nation. The evaluated speeches were delivered at times when the public needed to reflect on what it means to be American.
The importance of government and the idea of equality are the main themes that echo through all the arguments presented by the orators. It is worth noting that the highlighted views are brought to life through powerful metaphors. In addition, the eminent personalities’ conceptualization of government, liberty, and constitutionalism has facilitated progress. The documents have served as a guide in times of crisis as various identities within the American populace fought for equality, freedom, and recognition.
References
Coolidge, C. (1926). Address at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The American Presidency Project.
Homolar, A. (2021). A call to arms: Hero–villain narratives in US security discourse. Security Dialogue, 53(4), 324–341.
King, M. L. J. (1963). I have a dream. NPR.
Latunra, A. R. Q. (2022). Interpersonal meaning in the Gettysburg Address (systemic functional analysis). ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 5(4), 723–728.
Lincoln, A. (1953). “Electric cord” speech (1858). In R. P. Basler (Ed.) Lincoln: The collected works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. II. (pp. 499-500). Rutgers University Press.
Strickberger, E. (2021). Douglass’s dual identity. The Morningside Review, 17, 1–3.