William Lloyd Garrison : Primary Source Analysis : Antislavery

Douglass began his speech to the audience by asking a series of rhetorical questions in addition to the use of sarcasm. He referred to the Declaration of Independence as “that” instead of “the” Declaration stressing a separation between African-Americans and the freemen of the United States. He extended the use of his rhetoric by asking, “What have I or those, I represent, to do with your national independence?” Slaves, whose freedom is denied, do not share other Americans’ patriotic feelings regarding the Fourth of July. His use of these rhetorical questions was valid because it separated Douglass as a different man than the rest of his white audience. Furthermore, Douglass asked, "Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty?" He indicated that people knew in their hearts that all were entitled to freedom. Douglass demonstrated sarcasm in this principle of freedom, almost as if the aforementioned rhetorical question shouldn’t need to be stated. He further declared that the stigma separating free whites and enslaved African-Americans was blatantly foolish.

During a time when an oppressive practice such as slavery was prevalent in American society, many people who claimed to be anti-slavery were actually interested in taking a gradual approach to abolishing this practice. However, William Lloyd Garrison wants to take immediate action to ending slavery when he expresses his honest opinion towards slave owners and moderates, as well as pointing out the hypocrisy of Americans. He expresses his hatred towards slave owners and supporters of slavery, through his repetition of the word “tremble”. Garrison wants all slave owners to feel disgusted by their actions and their contribution towards the suffering of slaves. He wishes that all slave owners will feel extreme regret towards for their horrible

He tells them that slavery is in contradiction of what the founding fathers valued and believed in, as well as what they fought for. Frederick says the founding fathers believed in freedom and equality. The same things they fought to get away from, are the same things white Americans were doing to African Americans in that present time. He says in his speech, “Feeling themselves harshly and unjustly treated by the home government, your fathers, like men of honesty, and men of spirit earnestly sought redress,” (404). This quote is an example of how the founding fathers were feeling under England’s government, and how Frederick Douglass was relating it to how blacks were getting treated and how they felt throughout the United States in that present time. He wanted white Americans to recognize how they were portraying their nation. Another way he gets his audience to recognize what they were doing was wrong was by using their emotions to trigger shame and disappointment within themselves. Mr. Douglass shames them by comparing them to their founding fathers, who they look up to and celebrated. He says in the speech, “You live and must die, and you must do your own work…You have no right to wear out and waste the hard-earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence,” (407), to shame his audience on not carrying on the principles and morals that the founding fathers worked so hard to gain. Another example of him guilting his audience is when he

Garrison attracted enough followers to start the New England Anti-Slavery Society in 1832 and the American Anti-Slavery Society the next year.

During the eighteenth century, the opposition to slavery prior to forming the United States became increasingly stronger between the Northern and Southern territories. Prior to the 1830s, antislavery societies began to emerge from every corner to challenge the slave system and to help combat slavery. During this time, people had different ideas about how to confront the issue of slavery in the system and how to establish a freedom of oppression. In the eighteenth century, antislavery political activists believed the slave system would able to be changed through peaceful political reforms, while others felt that real change could only be achieved by violence. A radical white abolitionist named John Brown became a historical figure whose beliefs motivated the violent abolitionist crusade.

Having been a slave, Douglass already knew firsthand what it was like to be considered “property” and the struggle of having to work for white men who treated them like animals. Lincoln knew that slavery was immoral and sought to abolish it even though he was not an abolitionist and was a Republican white man. In Douglass’s speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” he says, “Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for Republicans?” (Douglass 291). Douglass was giving this speech to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society and is saying in this quote that he should not have to explain why slavery is wrong and why it should be abolished. President Lincoln was one of the few who did believe slavery was a terrible thing and in

Frederick Douglass’s speech The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro and John C. Calhoun’s Speech on the Reception of Abolition Petitions have some similarities and differences in the argument about slavery and its destiny with America. They both talk about slavery but in different ways. Douglass argues against slavery addressing that the signers of the Declaration of Independance put the interests of a country above their own and urges his listeners to continue the work of these great men who brought freedom to this land. While Calhoun argues for slavery responding to anti slavery petitions sent to the Senate by abolitionist groups, and unlike most southern politicians, Calhoun thought white southerners needed to stop apologizing for

These people were known as abolitionists, popular leaders included Charles G. Finney, William L. Garrison, and Fredrick Douglas. Document 3 features a kneeling black woman whose wrists are bound in chains and she is asking if she is not a woman. It can be interpreted from this document that abolitionists felt that blacks were also people, not property as slave owners felt. Americans were now taking a stand and even succeeded in earning rights for black citizens. The main goal of abolitionists was to end slavery, but they also wanted to prevent slavery spreading into the west. The American Anti-Slavery Society, founded by William L. Garrison in 1833, hung up propaganda opposing slavery to advertise the issues with the mistreatment of blacks. They also signed

Opposing the abolitionists were the proponents of slavery. Some of them believed that slavery was a god given right, citing the bible and its mentioning of the owning of men. Others believed that slavery was a necessity for the southern economy, and better than the North’s way of capitalism. (McPherson, 2003)

“For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold…that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men…we are called upon to prove that we are men!” (Douglass) During his speech, Douglass elaborated on the different aspects of why blacks have a natural right to freedom as any other human being He argued it is wrong to turn a man into a “brute” and proceeded to argue that slavery is not divine in its origin. Douglass’s speech was a calling for equality, for change. He accomplished his goal and proved the fourth of July was a revolting reminder to him and those like him of the continual inhumane cruelty American attempted to conceal through its mockery.

On January 1, 1831, the first issue of the Liberator containing an editorial from Garrison was published. The editorial was addressed to the public and ‘demanded the immediate, unconditional abolition of slavery’ and vowed to use extreme measures to effect a “revolution in public sentiment” (Masur 22-23). Garrison gave warning that he would not compromise or sugar coat his words: “I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – AND I WILL BE HEARD” (Masur 23). Garrison used the Liberator to voice his ever-increasing radical abolitionist ideas, urging free blacks to accept temperance, religion, and education as a means to further themselves.

He has shown that the “blessings in which you, this day rejoice, are not enjoyed in common” (124). With the purpose of his speech firmly defined, he now has the liberty to expound upon the true evil of slavery that lurks in the shadow of hypocrisy. He employs the satirical technique of ridicule to expose the ugly nature of enslavement with equally ugly diction. Douglass’ disapproval ranges from “hideous” to “revolting” to “an outrage”, and culminates in the assertion that slavery is the “greatest sin and shame of America” (125). A far cry from the almost reverent tone of his opening statements, Douglass led his audience from the throes of a Fourth of July celebration to an intense degradation of the freedom they so

The Abolitionist Movement sought to end slavery and the goal to immediately emancipate of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation. David Walker and Frederick Douglass were former slaves that were now part of the Anti-Slavery movement; white abolitionists that made an impact were John Brown and William Lloyd Garrison. There were three types of Abolitionist movement groups, pacifist/moralist, militant/multi-ethnic, and black militants/separatist; each had their own opinion on how they would abolish slavery. David Walker was black militant/separatist because he wasn’t part of the abolition movement but still wanted to help the cause, he wrote “Walker’s Appeal” and stated, “Let our enemies go on with their butcheries, and

After his successful escape, he began to join the abolitionist and playing an important role in their movement in United States and the world. After experiencing for himself a life of a free man, Frederick Douglass confessed that he was enlightened by the way of life in New Bedford - surprisingly wealthy and equality. And for a while after having a normal life with a normal job that brought back for him fully wages, an event happened and turned his whole life into a brand new page contains either potentials or risks. He became a subscriber to the Liberator – a paper edited by William Lloyd Garrison. Mr. Garrison was a person who inspired Frederick a lot. His papers and lectures in Liberty Hall directly blazing up a fire of an abolitionist inside Frederick. The spirit against slavery inside Frederick was getting bigger by day through absorbing new thoughts and knowledge of the Liberator’s contents. One of his extensive work was in the summer of 1841, in a grand anti-slavery convention, he got the first chance to speak out loud the truth that is burning inside him in front of the public about how cruel and evil the slave system can be. And Mr. William C. Coffin, an abolitionist was the first person that recognized his importance to the draconic fight against slavery system. For the next few months, he really did play an amazing role in popularizing the conception of equality throughout American’s community. Anti-slavery journals were diffusing daily whereabouts he would make

In William Lloyd Garrison’s speech, “No Compromise with the Evil of Slavery”, the argument for the abolishment of slavery is presented. He uses many rhetorical strategies in order to connect with the audience and to convey his message. Garrison critiques slavery through rhetorical questions and by employing logos, ethos, and pathos.