Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass “Writer” “Orator” “Abolitionist” “Social rights reformer” Muhammad t. Raza 12/2/12 Period 1, h. eng 10 Mr. Eisner “Justice” “Equality” “Freedom” “Hard work” Raza, period 1

About • Lived from 1818 to 1895 • He was an abolitionist, human rights and women's rights activist, orator, author, journalist, publisher, and social reformer. • Frederick Douglass has been called the father of the civil rights movement. He rose through determination, brilliance, and eloquence to shape the American nation. • His ideas on slavery were most profound during the pre-Civil war era; an influential leader throughout the Civil War and the Reconstruction era. An artist rendition of Frederick Douglass made during the early 20th century. (Jupiter Images, “Portrait of Frederick Douglass”) (Source 1, "Frederick Douglass: Father of the Civil Rights Movement." ) Raza, period 1

Birth and Childhood • Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland around 1818. • Separated as an infant from his slave mother (he never knew his white father), Frederick lived with his grandmother on a Maryland plantation until, at age eight, his owner sent him to Baltimore to live as a house servant with the family of Hugh Auld, whose wife defied state law by teaching the boy to read. • He had just started to learn when she stopped the lessons because she learned that teaching slaves to read was against the law. • Determined to learn, he tricked the street boys into teaching him how to read. Reading changed his view of the world and taught him that there was no escape from slavery. Yet. (Source 3, “Frederick Douglass”) Raza, period 1

Looking for Freedom • At age 13 he began to look for ways to earn his freedom. • He read the Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches dealing with freedom, courage, and democracy. • He secretly taught other slaves to read. • Also he decided to learn to write, and used writing as a way to speak out against slavery. This image first appeared in John Greenleaf’s book “Our Countrymen in Chains,” which was published during 1837. The picture shows a male slave in chains begging for freedom. (Greenleaf, “Am I not a man and a brother?”) (Source 2, “American History: Douglass, Frederick”) Raza, period 1

Becoming an abolitionist • Still determined to escape, he succeeded in 1838, using the borrowed papers of a free African American sailor. Once in the North, he took the last name of Douglass and married Anna Murray, a free African American woman he had known in Baltimore. • The couple settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where Douglass tried to find work as a ship caulker, but racial discrimination in the shipyards forced him to become a common day laborer instead. • Soon after arriving in New Bedford, Frederick Douglass was drawn to the emerging antislavery movement. He began to read the Liberator, a leading abolitionist journal edited by William Lloyd Garrison and was influenced by it and its author. (Source 2, “American History: Douglass, Frederick”) Raza, period 1

Now a lecturer… Mr. Garrison saw a potential in Douglass and hired him as a lecturer and hired him as an agent for the society. For most of the next 10 years, Douglass lectured for the society and sold subscriptions to the Liberator. Most importantly he had an enormous ability, to capture in words the meaning of what America is about. This unique ability separated him from the rest of the slaves. This is a poster for one of the lectures Frederick Douglass delivered in the Pennsylvania church during the winter of 1837. (Shutter stock, “The Union Forever”) (Source 1, "Frederick Douglass: Father of the Civil Rights Movement." ) Raza, period 1

A way towards Freedom (Source 1, "Frederick Douglass: Father of the Civil Rights Movement." ) Raza, period 1

The North Star Using funds, Frederick Douglass started his own antislavery newspaper called The North star,in Rochester, New York. Served as a source of inspiration for slaves (who could read). Use appeals like Pathos and logos, and contained had strong arguments . He would get in trouble for making cartoons that were directed toward plantation owners. Later became the Frederick Douglass Paper. (Source 3, “Frederick Douglass”) Raza, period 1

Underground movement Douglass also became in the Underground Railroad network, helping slaves escape to Northern states. He used his own house as a station to provide food and shelter for runaway slaves. He eventually served as superintendent of the entire system in his area. The picture shows 3 of the most important workers of the Underground Railroad network. Including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Garrett Smith. (nps.gov, “Abroad the Underground Railroad”) (Source 1, "Frederick Douglass: Father of the Civil Rights Movement." ) Raza, period 1

Role during the Civil War • Joined the recruiting black Soilders for the Union army. • Became a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln. • He traveled through upstate New York persuading the youth to enlist. • He first signed up his youngest son, Charles, and then recruited more than 100 men to serve in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. • Douglass denounced the Confederates' threat that they would kill all the black. (Source 2, “American History: Douglass, Frederick”) Raza, period 1

Roles during Reconstruction/Post-Reconstruction • Through Reconstruction (1865-77), he fought not only for the African Americans but also for the women. • Wrote several other books including: Life and Times of Frederick Douglass • After Reconstruction he served as the assistant secretary of Santo Domingo Commission in the District of Columbia. • Died at the age of 77, in 1895, due to a heart attack (Source 3, “Frederick Douglass”) Raza, period 1

Legacy and Works (No source, Independent research) Raza, period 1

Misconceptions about Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass…. 1. Did went to jail but for a short amount of time so that’s why its not even considered in many articles 2. Did not win any major awards during his life time 3. AND NO HE WAS NOT WHITE!! YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS BY NOW Raza, period 1

Thesis Frederick Douglass, was an abolitionist who stood against racism and affected the lives of many people. Through his keen words, bold figure, and intelligent mind, he helped the slaves from the Pre-civil war to the Post-Reconstruction era; advocating for women’s rights, helping the runaway slaves, and encouraging the colored youth to join the Union army. Raza, period 1

Works Cited The three databases: "Frederick Douglass: Father of the Civil Rights Movement." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. <www.abc-clio.com>. "Douglass, Frederick ." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., .Web. 11/30/12 .<http://school.eb.com/eb/article-1892>. Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print. Raza, period 1

Works Cited cont… parkservice. “Portraits of Douglass.” nps.gov. 18 July 2009. Web.12/02/12 <http://www.nps.gov/frdo/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm>. derecknick. “Images, Douglass.” apimages.com. 14 June 2007. Web. 12/02/12 <http://www.apimages.com/Search.aspx?st=k&remem=x&entity=&kw=frederick+douglass&intv=None&shgroup=-10&sh=10>. Raza, period 1

Frederick Douglass