...civil rights activist, orator and journalist who fought for the equality of African Americans. In the speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”, he discusses the meaning of the fourth of July to Americas black population which consists of mostly slaves. Douglass believes that people who are still enslaved should not celebrate the white man’s freedom. Slave are not free therefore they should not rejoice in festivities not designed for them. Secondly, he condemns the church for not speaking out against slavery. Douglass gives the title “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” because he wants others to view the lack of equal rights, democracy and freedom of the very people who are oppressed: Slaves....
Words: 777 - Pages: 4
...“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” is a compelling praise and condemnation of the history of America. Frederick Douglas wrote said speech and was able to make perfect points and examples of this country’s faults with enough passion to draw a listener/reader in. Based on the time the speech was said and the people with the amount of patriotism the audience must have had, one can assume that Douglas’ almost belittling manner of speaking to them, almost as if they were children that needed to learn a lesson, was also a technique Douglas used to his advantage to be able to make his speech listen-worthy and as compelling as it was. Douglas’ very own patriotism can be questioned throughout this speech as one can infer that his patriotism and...
Words: 2056 - Pages: 9
...On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass was invited to give a speech to the citizens of Rochester, New York. His speech was titled, “What, To The Slave, Is Fourth of July”, in his speech he reveals the hypocrisy, false appearance, of the nation’s freedom and justice. In his speech he states, “Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us” (Douglass p.46). He points out that the celebration of the fourth of July is not for African Americans when millions are enslaved. In the Declaration of Independence, it states, “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...
Words: 2150 - Pages: 9
...Atlantic Revolutions, 1600-1825 The revolutions of the eighteenth century have their origins in political and cultural developments of the seventeenth century. Of course, they were also products of all of major developments the European conquest of the Americas, the rise of kingdom states and empires, the tremendous wealth that resulted from the expansion of global trade, and the development of colonial cultures and societies in the Americas. Scholars call these cultures and societies creole societies, because they blended elements of European, native American, and African culture and society. Developments in England, 1641-1688 But revolutions are also inspired by ideas, and ideas that we may take for granted today had much of their start in England. Political conflict in Great Britain was a common theme of the seventeenth century. In 1641, a civil war led to the execution of the king (Charles I), and the establishment of a republic, what was known as the Commonwealth. Politics and religion both played a part in the Civil War, with the English nobility and wealthy commoners (whose interests were represented in Parliament, England’s legislature) wanting a greater say in how royal revenues were raised and spent. This republic quickly became a military dictatorship, and the old king’s son (Charles II) was invited back. But when Charles II died, the next king soon ran into trouble with Parliament, who feared that this king, James II, wanted too much power for himself. So in...
Words: 2326 - Pages: 10
...The Story of the Fourth of July The Declaration of Independence We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775). And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776). So what did happen on July 4, 1776? The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes. July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence...
Words: 16917 - Pages: 68
...explaining the importance of the American Revolution. He starts off by stating that during the 1780’s everyone thought that it was only natural that America verge away from British rule. They all figured that it would be a gradual change; not a full blown revolution. Throughout the chapter, Ellis puts great emphasis on the many things that could have gone wrong during the revolution. He points all these negative events and set backs that he felt could easily have brought the developing America down to show just how great of an accomplishment the revolution was. The Founding Fathers were not completely oblivious to the severity of breaking away from Great Britain. Tom Pain states that, “it is only common sense that an island can not rule a continent (pg.3).” Many assumed that it was only natural that the thirteen colonies govern themselves. They figured that it would be a peaceful break such as the gaining of independence for Ghana or Canada. It was not until later on that the colonies realized that Britain would not easily hand over the land. What I find interesting is that only the Founding Fathers seemed to realize the great events taking place during their time. John Adams even instructed his wife to file and keep all of his records. It is as if he knew that hundreds of years from then, we the future Americans would look back at his notes and recognize his greatness. This makes me wonder why they were so sure of themselves. The Americans were at a disadvantage during the...
Words: 4380 - Pages: 18
...with Canada to the east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean. At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 314 million people, the United States is the third- or fourth-largest country by total area, and the third-largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. Paleoindians migrated from Asia to what is now the United States mainland around 15,000 years ago. The descendent and isolated Native American population was greatly reduced by European contact, primarily by disease brought by explorers and traders. European colonization occurred, beginning about 1600, chiefly from England. The United States emerged from thirteen British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard, which developed their own economies and democratic political systems. Patriots protested at British intrusions into taxation policies that Americans considered their rights, leading to war in 1775. On July 4, 1776, delegates from the 13 states to the Continental Congress unanimously issued the Declaration of Independence, which established the United States of America. The new nation, in alliance with France, defeated...
Words: 681 - Pages: 3
...John Adams was an independent man. He was an American patriot who served as the second president of the United States. John taught Abraham Lincoln how to free slaves and give them freedom. He also was a lawyer, diplomat, statesman, political. You can say he was a leader of the movement for America independence from Great Britain. John Adams was always a very independent man, he enjoyed working on his own a lot. He really wanted independence. He was a short man, but he’s long on opinions and he always thinking for himself. That’s why everyone started to call him “Alas of Independence”. He developed a reputation for being independent, out spoken, and honest. So he moved to a public service just as the movement for independent America was developed. John Adams was the leader of the American Revolution. He served as the second U.S. president from 1797 to 1801. Then he became critic of Great Britain authority. Before he was president he was the first vice president. He lost by Thomas Jefferson. He was also the first American ambassador to the court of St. James. He’s the author of the Massachusetts constitution....
Words: 1279 - Pages: 6
... when the Peace of Paris formally ended the Seven Years’ War. Since the late seventeenth century, their lives had been disrupted by a series of wars between Britain and the “Catholic Powers,” France and Spain. Now, however, a triumphant Britain took title to Spanish Florida, French Canada, and all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi. With the British flag flying over so much of the North American continent, the colonists looked forward to a time of uninterrupted peace, expansion, and prosperity. Deeply proud of the British victory and their own identity as “free Britons,” they neither wanted nor foresaw what the next two decades would bring—independence, revolution, and yet another war. Independence The Seven Years’ War had left Great Britain with a huge debt by the standards of the day. Moreover, thanks in part to Pontiac’s Rebellion, a massive American Indian uprising in the territories won from France, the British decided to keep an army in postwar North America. Surely the colonists could help pay for that army and a few other expenses of administering Britain’s much enlarged American empire. Rather than request help from provincial legislatures, however, Britain decided to raise the necessary money by acts of Parliament. Two laws, the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765), began the conflict between London and America. The Sugar Act imposed duties on certain imports not, as in the past, to affect the course of trade—for example, by making it more expensive for colonists...
Words: 3620 - Pages: 15
...Age, Christianity affected all aspects of an individual’s life. Christianity was the basis of decision making in politics and society. Governments often ruled over their subjects, with the notion that they had approval from God and would therefore be granted his mercy for slaughtering innocent individuals, whether it was through crusades or witch hunts. At the time of the seventeenth century, kings and queens final decisions ruled which branch of Christianity to follow; with the constant upheaval in rulers, and exile towards Protestants during the Catholic era and Calvinists during the Church of England era, radical religious ideals began to form resulting in a revolution. During this time period, certain individuals went against what the government and church said were true of God, and formed their own opinions of what God truly wanted. These radical actions, which went against the church and government, resulted in the earliest ideas of separation of state, anti-slavery, and gender equality. Anne Hutchinson, the Germantown...
Words: 6255 - Pages: 26
...the Individual 11 September 2015 Freedom On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence, one of America’s most historical documents, was signed in Philadelphia. Doug Hoey states “It marked the birth of this nation which, under God, was destined to become the symbol of freedom and world leadership” (91) in his article Freedom is Not Free, and It Must Be Preserved. Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate Independence Day, with fireworks, family gatherings, and bar-b-que, but the people of this country should also take time to reflect and remember the importance of why this is such an important holiday. Millions of young men and women lost their lives on a foreign battle field, fighting for this country, so that the people of the U.S. could enjoy the freedom and rights that they have today. Do they really understand how this country began and how their freedom was obtained? Do they truly appreciate freedom? The citizens of this country need to remember and honor these fallen heroes not just on Independence Day, but every day. “It is important that we recall and return to the faith of our forefathers. In our prosperity and our present position of world leadership, America today is forgetting the God who gave this nation its birth and its present greatness” states REV. Doug Hoey. (91) In the year 1492, the year that Columbus reached the present day Caribbean islands, Native American Indians made up the population of what we now know as the U.S. This was before European...
Words: 1606 - Pages: 7
...Chapter 9 The Market Revolution 51. Complaint of a Lowell Factory Worker 1. The female factory worker compared her conditions with those of slaves because she felt like they were being treated like slaves by not being allowed to speak for themselves. She felt that they were awed into silence by wealth and power and was under tyranny and cruel oppression 2. She doubt the sincerity of the Christian beliefs of the factory owners because they talk benevolence in the parlor, compel their help to labor for a mean and paltry pittance in the kitchen. They manifest great concern for souls of the heathen in distant lands and care for nobody else besides their own. 52. Immigrants Arriving in New York City 1. The tone the reporter adopted regarding the immigrants is hostile because of how he describes the immigrants and how they looked. He described them having degraded faces with many stamps of inferiority. 2. The aspirations the reporter thinks are uppermost in the immigrant’s minds is hope, freedom, and a chance to work, and food to the laboring man. 53. A Woman in the Westward Movement 1. Moving west altered tradition expectations of women’s roles by proving that they could endure rough conditions from moving west. They were left to be lonely and the burdens of pioneer life. 2. Mrs. Noble’s main complaints about her situation on the frontier was carrying her infants and not being able to sleep because of thinking about wild beasts. She...
Words: 3551 - Pages: 15
...William Truman March 5th 2014 Timeline Part I Major Event/Epoch in American History | Time Period/Date(s) | Description and Significance of the People/Event(s) to American History | 1) Describe three different American Indian cultures prior to colonization. | 1421-15211492-1504 1541- 1937 | Aztec Indians: They were located in central Mexico and they spoke Nahuati language. In 1520-1521 Small pox hit, between 10% and 5o% of population was affected. The government was a system of tribute. They believed in human sacrifice. Eastern woodland cultures were along the Atlantic coast mostly during the summer time. During winter they were forced to diverse because of how many people to be fed and the weather. They were mostly small villages during the summer time. The English settlers were most likely to encounter the Algonquian-Speaking Indians. They were the Plains Indian and they were located where Kanas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They had villages up to 20 houses. For their government they had council circles but it is unclear what they actually did. | 2) The effects of British colonization on the Native Americans. | 1492-1810 | There were many affects from the British colonization on native Americans. They were forced to be slaves if they did not die from diseases, because not having freedom they decided to kill them self or if it was a women were pregnant they had abortions. | 3) The evolution of the socio-political milieu during the colonial period, including...
Words: 1348 - Pages: 6
...Barbara Jeanne Fields Slavery, Race and Ideology in the United States of America Two years ago, a sports announcer in the United States lost his job because he enlarged indiscreetly—that is, before a television audience—upon his views about ‘racial’ differences. Asked why there are so few black coaches in basketball, Jimmy ‘the Greek’ Snyder remarked that black athletes already hold an advantage as basketball players because they have longer thighs than white athletes, their ancestors having been deliberately bred that way during slavery. ‘This goes all the way to the Civil War,’ Jimmy the Greek explained, ‘when during the slave trading . . . the owner, the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so he could have a big black kid, you see.’ Astonishing though it may seem, Snyder intended his remark as a compliment to black athletes. If black men became coaches, he said, there would be nothing left for white men to do in basketball at all. Embarrassed by such rank and open expression of racism in the most ignorant form, the network fired Jimmy the Greek from his job. Any fool, the network must have decided, should know that such things may be spoken in the privacy of the 95 locker-room in an all-white club, but not into a microphone and before a camera. Of course, Jimmy the Greek lays no claim to being educated or well informed. Before he was hired to keep audiences entertained during the slack moments of televised sports events, he was...
Words: 13261 - Pages: 54
...the Ku-Klux-Klan 1 2.1 The first Klan 1 2.2 The second Klan: 1915- 1944 2 2.3 The third Klan: 1944-1976 4 2.4 The fourth Klan 5 2.5 The fifth Klan or 33-5 6 2.6 The Ku-Klux-Klan today 7 3. Structure and traditions of the Ku-Klux-Klan 8 3.1 Appearance, Symbols and Rituals 9 4. Conclusion 11 Bibliography 1. Preface No other conservative movement in the American history is as popular as the Ku-Klux-Klan, none was more militant, and none is so legendary to this day. During its 146 years long existence, the Klan has never disappeared. Even today it still has a strong attraction, not only for Americans, but also for people all over the world. From a small group, which was founded by six young men for their amusement, it developed into a nationwide terror regime in the United States. In the following text, I will describe the development of the Klan since its founding in 1866 until today and explain its structure and rites. 2. History and development of the Ku-Klux-Klan 2.1 The first Klan On 9th April 1865, the American Civil War ended with the result that the slavery was abolished. However, the situation of the black did hardly change. Without further education, labor and civil rights they had no chance to feel free. Moreover, the "Black Codes" were introduced, which are special laws that placed restrictions on freed slaves such as prohibiting their right to vote, carrying weapons in public places and working in certain occupations. Though, the...
Words: 4964 - Pages: 20
