In his famous “Independence Day Speech” Frederick Douglass uses an assortment of rhetorical appeals, stylistic devices, and historical allusions to expose the American government and the populace for its hypocrisy of epic and historical proportions. Douglass discusses the century-old issue, and the fear Americans have in addressing the issue, often hiding behind different ideologies such as religion, the actions of their forefathers, or their superiority complex. His controversial speech paves the way for future abolitionists and civil rights movements. Even today the subject of slavery is a sensitive topic and Douglass gives a powerful perspective on the ideologies within the complex institution of slavery. Slavery left irreparable scars as
