Frederick Douglass Biography

The brutality that slaves endured form their masters and from the institution of slavery caused slaves to be denied their god given rights. In the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," Douglass has the ability to show the psychological battle between the white slave holders and their black slaves, which is shown by Douglass' own intellectual struggles against his white slave holders. I will focus my attention on how education allowed Douglass to understand how slavery was wrong, and how the Americans saw the blacks as not equal, and only suitable for slave work. I will also contrast how Douglass' view was very similar to that of the women in antebellum America, and the role that Christianity played in his life as a slave and then

Fredrick Douglas lectured thousands for many causes, he did not only change black history, but he stood for women’s rights, and even Irish Home Rule. Fredrick wrote many autobiographies describing his experiences in slavery and his life, even after the civil war, including, “Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas, an American Slave” No-one knows the exact date of Fredrick’s Birth, But we know his life came to an abrupt end, February 20, 1895. Even though he did not know when he was born, he still celebrated it, February 14th. Douglass started off living with his maternal grandmother, Betty Bailey. When young, Douglass was selected to live in the personal establishment of the plantation owners, one of the owners, may have actually been his dad. His mother though, died when he was only (around) ten.

“Whilst I was saddened by the thought of losing the aid of my kind mistress, I was gladdened by the invaluable instruction which, by the merest accident, I had gained from my master. Though conscious of the difficulty of learning without a teacher, I set out with high hope, and a fixed purpose, at whatever cost of trouble, to learn how to read. The very decided manner with which he spoke, and strove to impress his wife with the evil consequences of giving me instruction, served to convince me that he was deeply sensible of the truths he was uttering. It gave me the best assurance that I might rely with the utmost confidence on the results which, he said, would flow from teaching me to read.” (Douglass, 29-30).

Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, and writer. Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland on February1818 and he died on February 20, 1895. And was named by his mother, Harriet Bailey. But the exact date of Douglass birth is unknown. After escaping from slavery, he becomes a leader of the abolitionist movement. He know that as a living counter is a example to slave holders augments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to the function as independent American citizens. He was known as the narrative of the life of American slaves. His dialogue was “I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it”. He was of mixed race, which included Native American on his mother side as well as African and European. He is author and narrates of the Narrative. Douglass has always thinking about views regarding the slave owner’s interpretation of Christianity. He is the rhetorically skilled and spirited man is a abolitionist movement. He talks about the religion, Resistance, Coming of age, the importance of friendships, the poverty of slavery, and the abuse of women.

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, more commonly known as Frederick Douglass, was born around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland (Hagler). Douglass was one of the most influential human rights leaders and one of the most renowned abolitionists. By learning to read and write around the age of 10, Douglass was able to develop a greater understanding of the world that didn’t revolve around slavery, along with the desire to become a free man and civil rights activist (Hagler). Douglass is now well known for his famous autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, in which he recalls his many experiences in slavery and the ways he dealt with the daily suffering. In his autobiographical narrative, The Narrative of the Life

Fredrick Douglass (1818-1945), both a fugitive slave and a free man, was one of the most courageous and influential leaders of the abolitionist movement. His narrative, published in 1845, illustrates his childhood and early manhood experiences as a salve, as well as his escape to the North and find of freedom. Within his narrative entitled “The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass,” Douglass argues that in order to achieve physical freedom, a slave must seek knowledge and an education.

In "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass", Frederick uses his trials and tribulations to show that mental strength can overcome physical abuse while also showing us how faith is something that one must have to stay true to one’s self. “I was covered with blood. My hair was all clotted with dust and blood. I supposed that I looked like a man that had escaped from a lion’s den” (54). Fredrick Douglass once said reading and writing is the most important, most basic, and the most meaningful way to grasp an understanding of life and express yourself.

In this book Fredrick Douglass finds shows himself growing up as a slave in Baltimore, Maryland. He eventually escapes from his master and becomes a run away slave as he flees to the north. Douglass however is most popularly known for his pressure on the supreme court to obtain equal rights for African American citizens. He made huge advances in civil rights for his fellow African American brothers and sisters. His contributions have caused a balancing of society that is still getting better to this day.

Fredrick’s first journey away from the eastern shore was in the Baltimore where he resided for seven years of his young adult life. He wished he was back in the eastern shore as the boys in Baltimore pounced on him teased him about being an eastern shore at every corner. “After all, the home plantation was more desirable place of residence that home on Alliciana Street, Baltimore.” Miss Sopha his “mistress” (his master’s wife) made his stay a little more comfortable on the plantation. She made sure he had a comfortable straw bed with blankets and clean clothes. His job on the plantation was to run errands and to take care of the master’s child. His mistress would read the bible aloud every night while her husband was away. When he husbands came home and found that his slave was reading he then explained to his wife the rules of slavery and told her it was unlawful to do so, in his own word he spoke “If you give a nigger an inch he will take an ell, he should know nothing but the will of his master and learn to obey it. Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world.” Hearing these harsh words spill from no only stirred up a sort of rebellion, but awakened vital thought of how the white

For Douglass, the most memorable and emotion-provoking incident was the treatment of his grandmother. When she became too old to work, she, after a lifetime of faithful service to the family, was left helpless and alone in a shack in the woods to fend for herself. “They took her to the woods, built her a little hut, put up a little mud-chimney, and then made her welcome to the privilege of supporting herself in perfect loneliness; thus virtually turning her out to die!” (Douglass 51) Throughout his narrative, Douglass applied he rhetorical strategy of Pathos repeatedly and to great effect to promote and validate his view that slavery is morally wrong.

“My mother was of a darker complexion than either my grandmother or grandfather. My father was a white man. He was admitted to be such by all I ever heard speak of my parentage.”

When you think of great Americans in our history there are countless that come to mind. Some immediately think of the many presidents we have had, others think of inventors, but what about the people that are in between – the people that fought for equality. Fredrick Douglass arguably had the greatest impact on American society, especially African American society, in the nineteenth century. Douglass is credited as being an abolitionist, author, editor, and diplomat. He used literature, books, newspapers, and even speeches, to leave a long lasting mark on our society. Douglass advised presidents and lectured to thousands about different causes, including women’s rights. A cause he felt a strong connection with was the abolishing of slavery, being that he was once a slave.

Patrick Henry once said, “give me liberty, or give me death.” In the eyes of Frederick Douglass and countless others enslaved, this took on a much deeper meaning to them. “It was doubtful liberty at most, and almost certain death is we failed.” [51] Frederick Douglass was one of the most commonly known slaves to have existed. Slavery has been around since the 1700s, but the subject of slavery is controversial because it not only includes information written from former slaves, but information acquired from historians. The question that has with stood the test of time is, “are these encounters that have been written out, exaggerated or the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” In the early 1800’s Frederick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, and grew up on Colonial Edward Lloyd’s plantation. Children would be separated from their mothers before they were twelve months in age-Frederick too was separated from his mother. As a result of entering slave-hood at an early age, he did not know his birthdate (like most slaves). Frederick Douglass’s account on slavery could be seen as biased as a result of first hand experiences with being held as a slave. Although, Douglass is able to be direct our thoughts to these experiences in such a light, you feel as if you are witnessing it happen right before you. Because of Douglass’s quest for freedom, his daring attitude, and determination to learn, he shows us the way through American Slavery in his eyes. Douglass provides

of living a slave life and he feared he would walk that path for the remainder of his life. Despite

Fredrick Douglass was Born into slavery in Tuckahoe, Maryland on February, 1818. His mom was also in slavery and his dad was the owner of the slave plantation (Douglass & O’Meally). He tried to escape slavery, but failed in 1836. He attempted to escape a second time two years later in 1938 and succeeded and went to New York City where many escaping slaves often went. (Timeline of Frederick Douglass and Family) He died in 1882 from a heart attack that occurred shortly after participating in a women’s rights meeting and lived to be 77 years old (Timeline of Frederick Douglass and Family) Some of his major accomplishments were that he was nominated to be the Vice President of the united states of America. Another noticeable thing he did was write a famous speech still quoted today and is considered a major part in demolishing slavery called “what to the slave is the fourth of