The Federal Period:
Shaping a Nation 1780-1820

An Impassioned Voice – Using Words as Tools of Persuasion

Strong and impassioned are words that easily describe the writing and thoughts delivered by two African American men who lived more than a century apart: Robert Roberts and Martin Luther King. Have your students use quotes from these men to learn how their thoughts were similar, though they lived in different generations.

• To compare and contrast the unique thoughts and words of two African Americans, striving for the same goals, yet separated by over 100 years.

• Reading and Literature Strand—Standard 9—Making Connections


• Reading and Literature Strand—Standard 15—Style and Language

• The Principles and Institutions of American Constitutional Government

• Writings of Robert Roberts
• Excerpts from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech:

• Compare and contrast Roberts' written quotes with paragraphs 3, 4, 5 from Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. What similarities do you notice? What differences?
• What is each man saying about human rights?
• What is each man saying about the proper way to behave?
• If a speech were written today on the same subject how would it compare to these?

"Remember, your character is your whole fortune through life; therefore you must watch over it incessantly, to keep it from blemish or stain; ...that if you keep company with those whose character is not of the best, your character will be censured as much in a manner as though you were as bad as themselves."
Robert Roberts
The House Servant's Directory
Introduction, lix

"We are told that establishing a colony on the coast of Africa will prevent the slave trade. We might as well argue that a watchman in the city of Boston would prevent thievery in New York. Such unnecessary expense for a remedy, so far from the disease, is contrary to common sense, especially when we know that the moral disease—slavery—is in America, not in Africa."
Robert Roberts
The Liberator, March 12, 1831
(Roberts is condemning colonization, a pro-slavery reform of his day that urged free African Americans to emigrate to Africa)

Martin Luther King, Jr in the Birmingham Jail
Photo courtesy of National Archives and Record Administration

Teacher Tips

• To begin this activity, I had students brainstorm what they knew about Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and different types of protest. A chart on the board was completed with similarities/differences between slavery and segregation. (Grade 8)
• We listened to the "I Have a Dream" speech in class. (Grade 8)
• I added a question at the end: Write your own advice about human rights and proper behavior. Address your advice to your friends and peers, mention a relevant problem affecting you or your friends and propose a possible solution. (Examples: How to address racist comments in school, How to make and maintain friends from different backgrounds, How to accept different opinions.) (Grade 8)
• This activity and lesson serve as a connection between Roberts in the 1830s and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. Students are able to put Roberts' work into perspective and are able to discuss how both individuals valued good character, peaceful means of protest, and the struggle for equality. (Grade 8).

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