He dressed as a sailor and boarded a train headed north to new york, a free state. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass quotes shmoop. An address delivered in ayr, scotland on march 24, 1846 american prejudice against color. In narrative of the life of frederick douglass an american slave he depicts the plight of slavery with such eloquence that only one having suffered through it could do. After the civil war, douglass remained an active campaigner against slavery and wrote his last autobiography, life and times of frederick douglass. After he escaped to freedom, he tirelessly addressed antislavery. In the antebellum south, it was illegal to teach slaves how to read and write, but douglass learned anyway, and he secretly educated other slaves. Douglass delivered his first speech at the massachusetts antislavery. Frederick douglass from slave to abolitionist youtube. In his autobiography frederick douglass details the daily horrors slaves faced. This book traces the development of his rhetorical skills, discusses the effect of his oratory on his contemporaries, and analyzes the specific oratorical techniques he employed. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Very easy to read and great insights into the condition and crimes of slavery, the american civil war, and reconstruction.
Excerpt from frederick douglass speech to the people of rochester, new york on the hypocrisy of slavery, july 4, 1852. His magnificent treatise against the slave system, the unconstitutionality of slavery 1845,would spark a firestorm of debate and have a huge influence on douglass evolving legal ideas. Frederick douglass, geboren als frederick augustus washington bailey cordova. Speech analysis the hypocrisy of american slavery by king.
Frederick douglass 18181895 fought three great evils in his life. Speech of fredrick douglass to american antislavery. The career of douglass was, in every way, a remarkable one. We are reprinting here several speeches of frederick douglass, the renowned negro antislavery leader. Frederick douglass made himself the most compelling witness to the evils of slavery and prejudice. Frederick douglass was an american social reformer, abolitionist, orator. Frederick douglass speech july 4 1852 anti slavery youtube. Frederick douglass and the war against slavery bennett, evelyn on. Proceedings of the americanantislavery society at its second decade. Frederick douglass the hypocrisy of american slavery a portrait of frederick douglass. By 1847, douglas began publishing a civilrights newsletter called the north star, of which the motto was, right is of no sex, truth is of no color, god is the father of us all, and we are all brethren.
A collection of twenty of frederick douglasss most important orationsthis volume. Throughout reconstruction 186577, he fought for full civil rights for freedmen and vigorously supported the womens rights movement. An address delivered in cork, ireland, october 23, 1845. Frederick douglass is perhaps the most wellknown abolitionist from american history. In his speeches and writings, douglass hammered at the cruelty and hypocrisy of justice. In 1845, douglass published his autobiography, the narrative of the life of frederick douglass. With the revelation that he was an escaped slave, douglass became fearful of possible reenslavement and fled to great britain and stayed there for two years, giving lectures in support of the antislavery movement in america. Frederick douglass, whose birth name was frederick augustus washington bailey, was born in february 1818. Key arguments in the narrative of the life of frederick. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of narratives written by former slaves during the same period. Identification and analysis of rhetorical strategies what to the slave is the fourth of july this was a three part speech presented by fred on july 5, 1852.
Frederick douglass, americas most famous antislavery activist and fugitive slave, saw no ground to celebrate. He was not sure of the exact year of his birth, but he knew that it was 1817 or 1818. Frederick douglass, 18181895 narrative of the life of. Politics and reason in the slavery debate my first experience leading a socratic discussion was during my junior year of college. The frederick douglass papers at the library of congress. Before him sat abolitionists who had travelled to the massachusetts island of nantucket.
Douglass was a revolutionary in his era, suffering through the horrors of slavery and exposing a precivil war united states to his first person accounts of life as a slave. To spooner, the protection of natural rightsthe doctrine that individual liberty is inherent to mans naturewas essential for constitutional legitimacy. Given july 5, 1852, nine years before the civil war. During the civil war 186165 douglass became a consultant to pres.
Douglass seems to have been the chief strategist of the abolitionistsat least in all things relating to the activities of the slaves themselves. This is the greatest antislavery speech uttered by an. For those uninitiated to frederick douglass the introduction by foner is helpful, but the prose of douglass really speaks to the reader. Against the advice of garrison, moves to rochester, new york, to publish a weekly newspaper, the north star, which in later years becomes frederick douglass paper and finally douglass monthly.
Frederick douglass born frederick augustus washington bailey. George kendall warrennational archives and records administration editors note. However, he accomplished this feat through speeches which relied on, or later formed part of his books. Writing with the eloquence and fierce intelligence that made. Frederick douglass believed the united states constitution was itself an antislavery document, a view that differed sharply from that of some abolitionists in the mid19th century.
He even met with abraham lincoln in the white house. It is one of the greatest speeches ever written and through the use of rhetorical strategies, it really emphasized. Invited to speak as part of july 4 festivities in his adopted hometown of rochester, n. The first part is a biographical sketch of douglasss life, dealing with. Frederick douglasss arguments against slavery by eric. That holiday, he delivered the greatest antislavery speech in american history. Born a slave, douglass escaped at age 20 and went on to become a worldrenowned antislavery activist. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read frederick douglass on slavery and the civil war. Having escaped from slavery at age 20, he took the name frederick douglass for himself and became an advocate of abolition. Most of the leaders in the society were white, and their outlook towards blacks was. He is responsible for creating a lot of support for the abolitionist movement in the years before the civil war. Douglass traveled widely, and often perilously, to lecture against after his escape from slavery, douglass became a renowned abolitionist, editor and feminist. Frederick douglass was a man who claimed his own freedom by a dramatic escape from slaverythen became a liberator of others by helping fellow slaves escape.
He became famous after writing his autobiography in. Douglass was americas first great civil rights leader, and he threw off the physical, mental, and legal chains of slavery to become one of americas greatest champions for human rights. I came here, as i come always to the meetings in new england, as a listener, and not as a speaker. Frederick douglass 181895 was a prominent american abolitionist, author and orator. Douglass states that i trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery 30 douglass relates that there were times that he was broken in body, soul and spirit. This is the greatest antislavery speech uttered by an american us. The hypocrisy of american slavery frederick douglass 1852. February 1818 february 20, 1895 was an american social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. It follows the full transcript of frederick douglass what to the slave is the fourth of july. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and former slave frederick douglass.
He also began publishing his own antislavery newspaper, the north star, in rochester, new york. Yet until that day comes, his only escape is through the books he reads, which take him to worlds far from. Born into slavery young frederick dreams of the day he and his people will be free. Douglasss book is significant because its one of the most important examples of a black slave writing about his own experience of slavery. He was born into slavery in talbot county, maryland, approximately in 1817. Abraham lincoln, advocating that former slaves be armed for the north and that the war be made a direct confrontation against slavery. How frederick douglasss first speech got him noticed. I had the opportunity to ask the opening question on the narrative of the life of frederick douglass, and found myself at something of a loss. My friends, i have come to tell you something about slavery what i know of it, as i have felt it. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast backstage opera for iphoneipod pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges. Frederick douglass and frederick douglass analysis bartleby. Selections from his writings ebook written by frederick douglass. Excerpt from frederick douglass speech to the people of.
February 1818 february 20, 1895 was an africanamerican social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass an american. National book awardwinning author of stamped from the beginning. Writings by douglass frederick douglass library guide. What were douglasss most powerful arguments against the. Frederick douglasss impact upon the antislavery movement in america and abroad, remains his crowning achievement. Frederick douglass, americas most famous antislavery activist and fugitive slave, saw. The message of frederick douglasss 1852 speech on the. Frederick douglass the nature of slavery 1 religious. Here in this library of america volume are collected frederick douglasss three autobiographical narratives, now recognized as classics of both american history and american literature. What was the name of the newspaper frederick douglass published. Frederick douglass s speech the meaning of july fourth for the negro and john c.
The exact date of his birth was unknown by douglass, but he picked february 14 as a date to celebrate his birth. Douglass began attending lectures at the american antislavery society, which had been formed in 1833. What the black man wants frederick douglass april 1865. The cambria riot, my slave experience, and my irish mission. Abolitionist frederick douglasss 1852 speech, what. Douglass himself escaped from slavery in maryland and became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in massachusetts and new york. As david blight notes in his new book, frederick douglass. Fredericks mother harriet bailey remained on the plantation about 12.
As a young boy he was sent to baltimore, to be a house servant, where he learned to read and write, with the assistance of his masters wife. Born a slave in maryland, douglas escaped in 1838 and earned widespread acclaim for his 1845 autobiography. An address delivered in belfast, ireland, on december 5, 1845 speech of wendell phillips. Frederick douglass escapes slavery, becomes leading. Calhouns speech on the reception of abolition petitions have some similarities and differences in the argument about slavery and its destiny with america. Frederick douglass stood at the podium, trembling with nervousness. Full text of the telegraphheralds abridged history of the. Good and wholesome laws are often found dead on the statute book. He, along with many others, was able to gain support for and attention to the abolitionist movement.
After escaping from slavery in maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in massachusetts and new york, gaining note for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. On july 5th, 1852, frederick douglass, one of the greatest orators of all time. Frederick douglass was born in slavery as frederick augustus washington bailey near easton in talbot county, maryland. Frederick douglass, whose birthday is honored on february 14, was born a slave in 1818, and now remembered for his eloquence, activism, and fearless championing against slavery. Speech at the annual meeting of the massachusetts antislavery society in boston. Born into slavery in 1818 and separated from his mother at birth, douglass never knew his actual birth date. It is worth noting that this speech was made just three years after narrative of the life of fredrick douglass was published. In addition, the collection contains books presented to douglass on various issues relating.
The full text of his speech to the rochester ny ladies antislavery society. Selected speeches and writings where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Speech of fredrick douglass to american antislavery society. Recognized as one of the first great africanamerican speakers in the united states, douglass was an advisor to president lincoln during the. Letter from frederick douglass to francis jackson, january 29, 1846 a few facts and personal observations of slavery. Frederick douglass escaped from slavery in 1838 and became a leading. A former slave, selftaught writer, editor, and public servant, frederick douglass was also among the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement.
Through various connections, douglass joined the abolitionist movement as a speaker and leader. After testifying firsthand to the brutality of slavery at an american antislavery society meeting in nantucket, frederick douglass became an overnight success. He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has. Frederick douglass 18181895 was a champ of the abolitionist movementso much so that he was able to write not one, not two, but three bestselling autobiographies about his life born frederick augustus washington bailey, he was a runaway slave, a supporter of womens rights, and probably the most prominent abolitionist and human rights leader of the nineteenth century. First published in 1881 and revised in 1892, three years before his death, it covered events during and after the civil war. He gave lectures and wrote books to convince others to help him fight against slavery. They both talk about slavery but in different ways.
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