Frederick Douglass, My Bondage And My Freedom

Frederick’s oratory skills left the largest impact on Civil War time period literature. Douglass’s most significant autobiographical works include: Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: My Bondage And My Freedom: and Life And Times Of Frederick Douglass. These three books are about the same person, and share a similar message, but are written by Frederick at different times of his life, looking at the past in different ways.

Frederick Douglass was born as a slave in 1818. He was born in Maryland specifically in Baltimore. At the time of his birth, his last name was Bailey. Douglass began to receive an education as a child, which shows that he had more freedom than most slaves of the time. At the age of twenty Douglass fled Baltimore in pursuit of New York.

Throughout history, there have been many black-rights activists that use their power of speaking to fight injustice and promote equality. One of those activists, who fought for equality with the power of his words, was Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He had a vision of the roles of African Americans during and after the war to ensure they receive citizenship and freedom. Frederick Douglass faced many tribulations throughout his life and that only made his speeches for equality and justice that much more powerful because he was a victim of injustice. Douglass believed that if African Americans want to have citizenship and be seen as equals, they must prove that they deserve it. In order to prove that African Americans deserve citizenship, Douglass encouraged them to enlist and join the fight for equality. Although there were obstacles in seeing his vision implemented Douglass stood his ground and fought until his vision becomes reality.

Slavery is a huge topic that consists of many inspirational stories about former slaves. The story of Frederick Douglass was one of them. Frederick Douglass was born in the year of 1818. He was a great civil rights activist that had a big impact on African American History. Douglass was born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore Plantation. Unlike other slaves, Douglass was an individual who made great effort to obtain freedom and equality. Although Frederick Douglass was a slave, it did not stop him from getting his education, becoming a freeman, and becoming one of the most influential leaders in African American History.

“It was not color, but crime, not God, but man that afforded the true explanation of the existence of slavery; nor was I long in finding out another important truth, what man can make, man can unmake” (Douglass 59). In My Bondage and My Freedom, Fredrick Douglass explains in detail the harsh and cruel realties of slavery and how slavery was an institution that victimized not only slaves, but slave holders, and non-slave holding whites. Fredrick Douglass could not have been more right with his observation of slavery. In my opinion, slavery is not only an institution, but is a prime example of a corrupt business model that thrives on free labor, ultimate control, and wealth.

The life of Frederick Douglass was as horrible and miserable as any other slave. However, since bravery was his most dominant trait Frederick’s life became the life of a hero. Born into slavery on the year of 1818, Frederick never really got to know his family and was separated at birth. Growing up, he knew that blacks like him were not supposed to be educated, or treated as well as the whites. This compelled Frederick even

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.

Douglass and the abolitionists argued that because the aim of the Civil War was to end slavery, African Americans should be allowed to engage in the fight for their freedom. Douglass met with President Lincoln to discuss the role of blacks in the Civil War. He felt that military service was important in order to service the rights of citizenship and suffrage. In an interview with President Lincoln he advocated for equal treatment, pay and protection of black soldiers as well as rewards with promotion. “Abraham Lincoln referred to him as the most meritorious man of the nineteenth century (Who was Frederick Douglass?).” With the North no longer obliged to return slaves to their owners in the South, Douglass fought for equality for his people. He made plans with Lincoln to move liberated slaves out of the South. During the war, Douglass also helped the Union by serving as a recruiter for the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. “As soon as he got orders to start recruiting for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment his sons, Charles and Lewis, were one of the first ones to enroll (Douglass’ Role in the Civil War).” “His recruitment efforts were highly successful as regiments quickly filled up. Among the best known articles he wrote in Douglass Monthly are “Another Word to Colored Men”, “Why should a Black Man enlist?” and “Men of Color to Arms (Douglass’ Role in the Civil War).” His employment with the Anti-Slavery Society ended however, Douglass continued to fight for equal rights and full citizenship for African

Becoming on of the first black leaders in the 18th century. He decided to attack slavery and suffrage. His brilliance and determination of shaping America became a inspiration to many more Americans. He became a public speaker for Anti Slavery and started shaping America into a place of equal rights for black and women. He was in the society of abolitionist as a speaker and leader for 3 years until going to the civil war. In 1855 Douglass wrote and published his 2nd autobiography known as “My Bondage and Freedom”. Douglass also created many quotes written out through history to show true power, such as “It is easier to build strong children, than to rebuild weak men”. “If there is no struggle there is no progress”. (History.com)

The purpose behind Fredrick Douglass’s Narrative was to appeal to the other abolitionists who he wanted to convince that slave owners were wrong for their treatment of other human beings. His goal was to appeal to the middle-class people of that time and persuade them to get on board with the abolitionist movement. Douglass had a great writing style that was descriptive as well as convincing. He stayed away from the horrific details of the time, which helped him grasp the attention of the women who in turn would convince their husbands to help by donating money and eventually ending slavery. He used his words effectively in convincing the readers that the slave owners were inhuman and showed how they had no feelings for other human

Douglass also served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of our American history. Frederick Douglass was also worked very hard in the women’s rights movement. He once said

Frederick Douglass is perhaps the most well-known abolitionist from American history. He is responsible for creating a lot of support for the abolitionist movement in the years before the Civil War. He, along with many others, was able to gain support for and attention to the abolitionist movement. People like him are the reason that slavery ended in the United States.

To begin with, Frederick Douglass; born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Talbot County, Maryland. Douglass spent his first 20 years as a slave on the plantation in Maryland then in Baltimore. Douglass wrote 3 autobiographies. In the first of three, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, published in 1845, he addresses the hardships he endured in his early life. In his whole life, Douglass rarely saw his birth mother and if he did have an encounter with her; it was only for a brief second. Douglass also was not given much interaction or knowledge of his father other than knowing that his master was his father. "My father was a white man. He was admitted to be such by all I ever heard speak of my parentage." Having his master as his

First off, Frederick Douglass was a Journalist, Civil rights activist, and an author. He was also the first African American to hold a high US Government rank and be nominated for president in 1888. For the first 8 years of his life (1818-1826), Douglass lived with his grandmother on a plantation in Maryland. Then his owner sends him to Baltimore to live with Hugh Auld. Hugh’s wife broke the state law and taught Douglass to read and write when he was 12 years old. He then taught other slaves to read the bible as well as write. In 1834 his master dies and he is sent back to the plantation After escaping slavery in Maryland, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. In 1839, Douglass became upset when he attended a church in Massachusetts that was segregated. He wanted to make a change. It was these aspects of Frederick Douglass’ life that led the

Frederick Douglass brilliantly intelligent and defiant once led a minor insurrection against his masters and escapes his venture alive. Douglass’s career as a militant, uncompromising leader of the American Negro.