Through the struggles of the institution of antebellum slavery, Frederick Douglass was a man who found a way to change his destiny. Born into slavery in the state of Maryland he faced many hardships and trials, from separation from family, and brutal whippings the life of Frederick Douglass seemed to lack any hope of redemption. With the thought of freedom on his mind Frederick persevered, even through one failed escape to the north. Finally the man who was once nothing more than property became a free man. His self-written account of his life opened the eyes of many Americans to the horrors of slavery, and helped propel the abolitionist movement of the north, but was it nothing more than a catalyst to speed up the growth of the abolitionists,
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Frederick Douglass moved around to quite a few small farms, and experienced a variety of different work in his time as a slave. Through all of his years as a slave he only spent a few as an actual field hand however. Even from the beginning of his life Douglass himself as a normal slave of the time. When talking about being pulled away from his mother he said that, it was custom in Maryland for children to be taken away from their mothers at a very young age (48). Perhaps Douglass’ most extraordinary experience throughout his slavery was learning how to read and write. He gained this knowledge due to a kind Mistress, but she did not continue to teach him for very long. Once her husband discovered that she had been teaching Frederick these things Mr. Auld made it very clear to his wife that she should not be teaching Douglass anything, and her heart eventually became much less giving. So Frederick learned only the basics from his mistress and much of his knowledge on writing was self-taught. In William Lloyd Garrison’s letter in the prefix of the book he states that, Frederick Douglas’ experience as a slave was not a special one, he says that it is a fairly accurate representation of how slaves were treated in Maryland. He finishes by saying that slaves in Maryland were treated and fed better than much of their counterparts in other southern states (38). While Douglass’ story is interesting it probably wasn’t too unusual for Maryland slaves at this time period to be going through similar experiences to that of Frederick
Frederick Douglass moved around to quite a few small farms, and experienced a variety of different work in his time as a slave. Through all of his years as a slave he only spent a few as an actual field hand however. Even from the beginning of his life Douglass himself as a normal slave of the time. When talking about being pulled away from his mother he said that, it was custom in Maryland for children to be taken away from their mothers at a very young age (48). Perhaps Douglass’ most extraordinary experience throughout his slavery was learning how to read and write. He gained this knowledge due to a kind Mistress, but she did not continue to teach him for very long. Once her husband discovered that she had been teaching Frederick these things Mr. Auld made it very clear to his wife that she should not be teaching Douglass anything, and her heart eventually became much less giving. So Frederick learned only the basics from his mistress and much of his knowledge on writing was self-taught. In William Lloyd Garrison’s letter in the prefix of the book he states that, Frederick Douglas’ experience as a slave was not a special one, he says that it is a fairly accurate representation of how slaves were treated in Maryland. He finishes by saying that slaves in Maryland were treated and fed better than much of their counterparts in other southern states (38). While Douglass’ story is interesting it probably wasn’t too unusual for Maryland slaves at this time period to be going through similar experiences to that of Frederick