On the cover of the textbook Created Equal 4th Edition a young Abraham Lincoln graces the cover. A better choice would have been Fredrick Douglass as he was a very important figure in the abolitionist movement. While we are told in elementary school that Abraham Lincoln ended slavery and his whole purpose for the Civil War was to end slavery. Of course during this class I have found this well believed story to not be completely accurate. Abraham Lincoln is not unworthy of being on the cover of this fine textbook I just believe Fredrick Douglass is a much better choice and made a bigger impact on the abolitionist movement than Abraham Lincoln did. One of the most heralded documents in the Abraham Lincoln legend is the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Fredrick Douglass was born into slavery like a lot of other slaves during that time. Unlike most slaves of the time he acquired a powerful tool to combat slavery, the ability to read and write. Not only did he learn to read and write but did so at an extremely high level. His speeches and writings inspired all who heard and read them. He proved to be more than just an adequate orator and author he was a gifted one. His most famous speech was “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” given during a fourth of July celebration in Rochester, New York. This speech was a pretty strong attack on America’s hypocrisy. While everyone gathered around the country to celebrate freedom Douglass explained how the celebration of freedom was a hypocritical act considering there were some four million persons whose freedom were now being denied solely based on the color of their skin. This gave the abolitionist movement something that it had always lacked, a strong black spokesperson. With most of America believing that slaves were lacking the ability to be educated therefore not deserving of basic human rights, Fredrick Douglass certainly presented a sharp contrast to that misconception. By being so outspoken and educated Fredrick Douglass was able to give all men both free and slave a powerful example of what could be accomplished when any man is given an education. He gained a large amount of fame because of his skill with both the written and spoken word. By gaining this fame it made the voices of the abolitionist movement even louder. He would give the movement someone to rally around and someone to debunk any argument a pro-slavery advocate could present. A man who can inspire is much more effective than a man with power. Abraham Lincoln had all of the political power but with Fredrick Douglass’s example he had the power of inspiration with his
Fredrick Douglass was born into slavery like a lot of other slaves during that time. Unlike most slaves of the time he acquired a powerful tool to combat slavery, the ability to read and write. Not only did he learn to read and write but did so at an extremely high level. His speeches and writings inspired all who heard and read them. He proved to be more than just an adequate orator and author he was a gifted one. His most famous speech was “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” given during a fourth of July celebration in Rochester, New York. This speech was a pretty strong attack on America’s hypocrisy. While everyone gathered around the country to celebrate freedom Douglass explained how the celebration of freedom was a hypocritical act considering there were some four million persons whose freedom were now being denied solely based on the color of their skin. This gave the abolitionist movement something that it had always lacked, a strong black spokesperson. With most of America believing that slaves were lacking the ability to be educated therefore not deserving of basic human rights, Fredrick Douglass certainly presented a sharp contrast to that misconception. By being so outspoken and educated Fredrick Douglass was able to give all men both free and slave a powerful example of what could be accomplished when any man is given an education. He gained a large amount of fame because of his skill with both the written and spoken word. By gaining this fame it made the voices of the abolitionist movement even louder. He would give the movement someone to rally around and someone to debunk any argument a pro-slavery advocate could present. A man who can inspire is much more effective than a man with power. Abraham Lincoln had all of the political power but with Fredrick Douglass’s example he had the power of inspiration with his