...“all men are created equal,” in the Declaration of Independence which is something that has been criticized as an immortal declaration. It is also a popular phrase that is a popular theory prediction of the United States Revolutionary period with great continuing importance. The American Revolution would help lead to the national holiday of July 4th and the birth of a new nation that would be celebrated as a day that marked America’s independence. In the nineteenth century, many of the American communities celebrated Independence Day with a ceremonial reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by a speech dedicated to the celebration of independence and the heritage of the American Revolution of its Founding Fathers. On July 5th, 1952, Frederick Douglass spoke to his black community about the meaning of the Fourth of July. His speech was not to praise the celebration of July 4th, but it was to inform the audience that freedom has not been applied to everyone like how America said it would be. There are connections between our Revolutionary Founder book and Frederick Douglass’ speech that show the struggle of African Americans fighting for freedom before and ongoing after the American Revolution. I chose Frederick Douglass’s document “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, where he touches on the history of African Americans fighting for freedom and what the Declaration of Independence really meant to his people. Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer...
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...fought for equal rights; so women and men are seen as equal. Frederick Douglass fought for the equality of everyone and every race. Frederick Douglass used more rhetorical questions in his speech, while Elizabeth Cady Stanton got straight to the point. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a more effective speaker than Frederick Douglass because of her use of The Declaration of Independence, her list of demands, and her fight for equality. Cady Stanton used The Declaration of Independence to show what was said in the document, but what she thought should be used in The Declaration of Independence. Cady Stanton was more educated than Douglass. Douglass (being a slave) had no formal education. Cady Stanton attended Emma Willard School....
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...Running Head: Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech [Name of the writer] [Name of the institution] Frederick Douglas Independence Day Speech Introduction In the nineteenth century, many communities and cities in America celebrates Independence Day with a solemn reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by a general direction, either oral or a speech marking the celebration of independence and heritage of the American Revolution founding fathers. On July 5, 1852 "Ladies Society of slavery in Rochester, New York, suggested that Douglas will be the keynote speaker during the celebration of Independence Day. Mr. Douglas denounced the journalists and advocates of the abolition of slavery of African origin as the evil of slavery, which still prevails in South America at the time. He received a sheer support from the Declaration of Independence and established the general principles of American institutions that will work inevitably to depose slavery. Analytical Summary In the darkest moments of World War II, on July 4 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt reminded the nation that the democratic freedom which was claimed by the citizens has been established for them. According to him, July 4 is a tonic of hope and inspiration for all the nation. So the people should stand stronga and fight for freedom in this dark hour. People received this message as a breath of security, right to liberty for...
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...In the speech, “What to the slave, Is the Fourth of July?”, which was presented by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, Douglass condemns the hypocrisy of American society when they asked him to speak about the meaning of the Fourth of July and their freedom when a majority of the African American population remained in slavery. Considering that Douglass was a black man who escaped slavery, he found it ironic that they asked him to speak about this topic, but he still took the opportunity to establish his reasons on why the slaves should receive their freedom. In his speech, Frederick Douglass is trying to persuade the people who are pro-slavery to change their minds. In the introduction, Douglass starts off the speech by apologizing for being nervous and says, “apologies of this sort are generally considered flat and unmeaning.” He tells his audience this to show that he is being sincere and to establish trust between him and the congregation. He also states, “The little experience I have had in addressing...
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...right entails, evolved significantly over time from the Glorious Revolution of 1687-1688, to the American Revolution of 1773-1781, and eventually to the era of abolition and Frederick Douglass in the nineteenth century. The Glorious Revolution in Britain consisted of British Nobles and Parliament publishing the Declaration of Rights seeking greater autonomy and freedom from the lofty weight and absolutism of the seemingly arbitrary decisions of the king. The American Revolution led to a significant debate over rights, whether to create a Bill of Rights or not, and to whom rights apply and in what ways. Finally, with Frederick Douglass’ nineteenth century abolitionist narrative, his discussion of natural rights and the implicit or mandated laws and privileges of humanity and Christianity. The act of writing and recording rights ultimately facilitated great gains for the cause of human liberty and personal autonomy, the first assertion of one’s own autonomy with the Nobles of the Glorious Revolution,...
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...adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which declared the United States free from England’s control. This day gives Americans the great opportunity to renew our dedication to the principles of liberty and equality. It speaks to all who strive for liberty and seek to show the principles of self-government. Unfortunately, not everyone living in America felt the same American pride on the Fourth of July. The freedmen and slaves living in America has different views about the United States and the documents securing freedom and equality. One man, Frederick Douglass, spoke out for the slaves and freedmen in his speech “The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro”. In 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to speak about what the Fourth of July means for America’s black population. In his speech, Douglass questions what the Fourth of July means to a slave. His answer: the Fourth of July is, “a day that reveals to him … the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim”. Douglass continues by saying, “your celebration [is] a shame, a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages”. Douglass states there is no other nation on Earth guilty of the bloody and crimes made by Americans during this time. Douglass makes it known that equality is not within America. The high independence of American citizens shows a great gap between slaves and citizens. Slaves do not get the independence promised by the Declaration of Independence, not do the...
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...was getting the fight for independence and freedom started. He was strong in believing that people’s rights should be protected and that people should not be oppressed. Henry was able to recognize that Britain was an oppressing force....
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...and Unwillingly to End Slavery Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743, at Shadwell plantation in western Virginia. He inherited his father’s farming skills and had to take care of about 5000 acres of land. His mother was of high social standing. Jefferson endures excellent education of his time, at 17 years of age, he entered the College of William and Mary where he got his first considerable knowledge in science. After college, Jefferson became involved in government and was elected president of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Jefferson became a philosopher where he successfully practiced and was admitted to the bar in 1767. Jefferson soon found himself a forerunner of the American Revolution, when he was appointed to write the Declaration of Independence. Authoring this important document positioned him as one of the new nation's most important founding fathers equal to Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, and John Adams. Where his father was part of the early settlers at that time it was mostly a slave colony. One of the most treacherous things in American history is slavery and how it was common for some blacks and white to be owners. During, Jefferson’s life his father died in 1757, leaving him 60 slaves when he turned 21 he could have charge...
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...Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass serves as an essential piece of literature that has, and continues, to contribute to history. Douglass’ narrative allows the reader to empathize with him on a human level, exposing the reader to his everyday circumstances and emotions, rather than simply listing off historical facts about slavery. It is commonly known that slavery existed, that millions of Africans were shipped to the United States and other countries around the world, that they were whipped and tortured and forced to provide free labor, and that millions of them died do to the harsh conditions they endured. This information is taught in elementary schools across the nation and is occasionally revisited in junior high and high school, and then again if the person makes it to college. What typically is not taught or touched on, though, is the mental and emotional struggle the slaves endured. Because slavery is no longer prominent and that generation has passed, it is very difficult to dig deeper into what actually occurred during the time period in order to reach a level of empathy that perceives slavery as something more than just a historical fact. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass serves as a fundamental primary source that pulls the reader into the everyday life of a slave and allows them to go beyond history to focus on the human foreground of the narrative. Douglass’ first person point of view is what makes...
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...Life isn’t fair, but it is. There will always be things that afflict us from the injustices of the past, present, and future. And one of the most horrific and brutal times in history was the time of slavery. In this case, Frederick Douglass (a former slave who escaped and joined the abolitionist movement to speak out), used his experiences of dehumanization and inequality to justify the injustices of his world in The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by using the appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos in his writings and speeches. On July 5, 1852, Douglass spoke out to the almost 600 people in the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Sewing Society to deliver what would become one of the most revolutionary speeches in all of U.S. history. His delivery of...
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...vice president, clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Ironically, all beings have been aggravated by society to maintain the freedom of their ethnicity for years. African-American abolitionist and self-taught writer, Frederick Douglass, uncovers the white supremacy demonstrated in the form of slavery in his novel: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Its crucial content revolutionized how Americans perceive slavery since northerners in the 19th century were awfully convinced giving an African-American the life of bondage was none other than acceptable. White supremacy is the collaboration of people. Where all spread social hierarchies that exclude might. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass asserts: “I saw in every white man an enemy, and in almost every colored man an enemy, and in almost every colored man cause for distrust…[and] to understand it, one must...experience it…” (Douglass 113) This suggests the absorbance of gloomy behavior and attitudes about white male’s features particularly. Foreigners,...
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...12/23/17 Andrew DeNoyer Hum137 Chapter 28 Read and Respond Prof. Nancy Fandel Frederick Douglas Frederick Douglass was born a slave, he was very mistreated, abused and hated. Through all of this he still managed to hoist himself and others by inspiration with respect, hard work and true American Patriotism. Douglass believed considerably in the American Idea of freedom before millions of Americans believed that this idea of freedom was for all races, faiths and colors. Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, in February 1818. He ascended from slavery and became a leader in the abolitionist movement. Douglas was an enthusiastic speaker. He was firm and to the point. Douglass did not compromise on principle. In 1845 he described...
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...slavery was a massive issue spread out all over the country. Abolitionist slave Frederick Douglass became one of the several African-Americans to help change that in today’s societal standards. Douglass had been patronized all of his life as a slave and was brought to a community center to speak publicly about his issues. In Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” Frederick shows an exaggerating amount of figurative language, pathos, and logos throughout his speech to convey his message. Figurative language makes an appearance all throughout the speech. There are plenty of examples of figurative language in the speech; allusion, metaphor, antithesis, and parallelism. For example, the constant allusions to God made the audience emotionally connect with the speaker, considering the majority had been believers of God in any way. Giving the audience something to compare helps them earn...
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...Frederick Douglas is one of America’s well known black historical figures who helped paved the way for many young Black men and women who preceded him. Douglass is known for his influence in the promotion of social justice in United States. In other words, he helped to abolish slavery along with the help of other social activist. He aided the black population by advocating to eliminate discrimination. Frederick Douglass is still applauded for his contributions and support. As an African American, Douglass faced many obstacles before becoming a free man. Since slaves are treated as property to be bought and sold as a commodity. Douglass was moved away from his family. One thing that I was astonished by Douglass is his intuition of trying to...
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...Human Rights: A Paine in My….Douglass? According to Frederick Douglass, a nineteenth-century northern slave, “Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.” Thomas Paine, a rebellious eighteenth-century Englishman, finishes and furthermore expands this thought, saying that “those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” While both of these men grew up in separate worlds, miles and years apart, their idealisms and life missions are very much alike. This is evident through the investigation of Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. Frederick Douglass is the...
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