Soapbox facts for kids
Man soapboxing in Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, London
A soapbox is a temporary platform used to give a speech. During the 19th century, soap was transported in wooden boxes. When a person had new or unusual ideas, and wanted to talk to a crowd about them, sometimes he or she would stand on an empty soapbox so that everyone could see and hear the talk well.
People sometimes use the word "soapbox" to mean a place to say new or unusual things.
Images for kids
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"Soapboxing" in Chinatown, San Francisco
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American political activists considered soapboxing a First Amendment right. Law enforcement authorities frequently viewed it as an impediment to the public right-of-way (New York City, October 1908).
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Soapbox Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.