soapbox

thumb|alt=An old-timey man with a long moustache is wearing a suit and tophat and standing on top of a soapbox. Behind him, there is a caravan with adverts describing his snake oil.|An actor portrays a snake oil salesman at a theme park

A soapbox is a raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject. The term originates from the days when speakers would elevate themselves by standing on a wooden crate originally used for shipment of soap, or other dry goods, from a manufacturer to a retail store.