Slavey in the United States was one of America’s worst mistakes. The slaves were poorly treated for decades. Now, it is common knowledge that it this was a negative act, but many years ago it was not as obvious. Many made attempts at abolishing slavery, these individuals were known as abolitionists. Frederick Douglass was one of these abolitionists, he was an “outspoken leader of antislavery sentiment.” His life as a slave through the years 1818 to 1841, impacted his future career as an abolitionist. Through speeches, literature, and actions, he proved to be one of the most important and famous abolitionist of his time. Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland during February 1818, but like many other slaves, his exact birthday
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Although he was lucky enough to never experience slave punishment first hand at this plantation, he witnessed it from his own family. In Douglass’, he explains the punishment given to his Aunt for going out at night. He wrote, “[The owner] took her into the kitchen…made her get upon the stool, and tied her hands to the hook…he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood came dripping to the floor.” He recognized the problems in slavery from that moment on. The most “significant turning point in Frederick’s life came in 1826, when Anthony “loaned” the young slave to…Hugh Auld.” Douglass recognized that Auld’s wife, Sophia Auld, treated him as a human being unlike his previous owners. Frederick Douglass was born a slave, but unlike most slaves, he was taught how to read and write by Mrs. Auld. This gave Douglass an advantage since “most slaves were illiterate, and slave owners…feared…it would put ideas in their head about freedom and make it easier for them to devise ways to escape.” These slave owners rightfully thought this, Douglass began to understand the meaning of the word abolition. He developed more and more resentment towards the idea of slavery, and longed to be …show more content…
Douglass returned to the United States in 1847, where he “purchased his freedom from his Maryland owner and founded an antislavery newspaper, the North Star.” He created an autobiography called, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, in 1845, as well as many other autobiographies that explained the life as a slave. He gave his most famous Independence Day speech in 1854. He became the leader of the Abolitionist group, and went on to help make a change for black history until the late 1890’s. Douglass wanted not only freedom, but equality for
Although he was lucky enough to never experience slave punishment first hand at this plantation, he witnessed it from his own family. In Douglass’, he explains the punishment given to his Aunt for going out at night. He wrote, “[The owner] took her into the kitchen…made her get upon the stool, and tied her hands to the hook…he commenced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the warm, red blood came dripping to the floor.” He recognized the problems in slavery from that moment on. The most “significant turning point in Frederick’s life came in 1826, when Anthony “loaned” the young slave to…Hugh Auld.” Douglass recognized that Auld’s wife, Sophia Auld, treated him as a human being unlike his previous owners. Frederick Douglass was born a slave, but unlike most slaves, he was taught how to read and write by Mrs. Auld. This gave Douglass an advantage since “most slaves were illiterate, and slave owners…feared…it would put ideas in their head about freedom and make it easier for them to devise ways to escape.” These slave owners rightfully thought this, Douglass began to understand the meaning of the word abolition. He developed more and more resentment towards the idea of slavery, and longed to be …show more content…
Douglass returned to the United States in 1847, where he “purchased his freedom from his Maryland owner and founded an antislavery newspaper, the North Star.” He created an autobiography called, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, in 1845, as well as many other autobiographies that explained the life as a slave. He gave his most famous Independence Day speech in 1854. He became the leader of the Abolitionist group, and went on to help make a change for black history until the late 1890’s. Douglass wanted not only freedom, but equality for