Freedman Abolitionist:Frederick DouglassBy:

Amanda SuttonAllyson Wheaton

In BondageBorn February 1818 in Talbot, MD as Frederick Bailey

Slave mother died when he was ten, white father rumored to be a slave master he served for

Taught alphabet by master’s wife at 12, quickly forbidden, proceeded to learn further from young white neighbors, later taught other slaves how to read before forbidden to do that, too

First learned of abolitionist movement through reading newspapers, The Columbia Orator especially defined his views

Sent to Edward Covey, infamous “slave-breaker,” eventually fought back against a beating, Covey left him alone afterwards, turning point in Douglass’ life as he realized he had control and could be a human instead of a slave

Third escape attempt successful on 9/3/1838, assisted by future wife and free black woman Anna Murray

Entering the SpotlightAnna and Frederick eventually settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts in a black community, then took the name Douglass

He subscribed to William Lloyd Garrison’s weekly journal The Liberator.

He joined the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, where he became acclaimed for his oratory skills, telling his tale of slavery and his escape

In response to doubts about such an educated man having been a slave, he published his first autobiography in 1845, a landmark book

After becoming famous, he went to Britain for two years to gain more support for the cause and to avoid being captured and sent back to the plantation. His British followers bought his freedom.

In BusinessPublished many abolitionist newspapers, including The North Star

Attended Seneca Falls conference – he supported women’s rights

Douglass’ straightforward and insightful philosophy on abolition:"...abolition or destruction.  You must abolish slavery or abandon the Union."

Civil War and ReconstructionDuring the Civil War, Douglass came up with a brilliant plan:

emancipate all slaves (establish subject of war as slavery instead of states' rights), enlist freed blacks into army (lack of labor to power engine of the South), then send them into combat (empower blacks, psychological blow to South) --- Lincoln did NOT do this, for at first he feared emancipation would anger the proslavery parts of the North's army, but he was influenced by Douglass in general.

He helped to recruit blacks into the first black regiment in the army during the war

Douglass was crucial to the Reconstruction after the Civil War by advocating for enfranchisement (voting rights) of blacks, and he led the democratic movement of Republican reformers pushing for enfranchisement of blacks and punishment of Confederacy leaders.

He advocated full citizenship rights for blacks as a principle to be followed after abolition.

Setbacks

Though he managed to help get the 14th and 15th amendments established, ensuring voting rights for black men, he decided not to try to add women’s voting rights to the amendment. This was because he believed it to be too radical of an idea to add if he wanted the amendments to ever pass.

PoliticsDouglass was the first African American to be nominated for Vice President in 1872. He was nominated unknowingly and did not consent to it and therefore did not campaign. However, it was the first time an African American was on the presidential ballot.

Following the war, Frederick Douglass became involved in politics. He was President of the Freedman’s savings bank. After two years he resigned and afterwards was appointed minister-resident and consul-general to the republic of Haiti (1889-1891)

He was the first very active abolitionist to join Republican Party (did so in 1850s), others were in the smaller Liberty Party.

Douglass recognized promise of Republican party for its importance in the nation's politics and potential for an antislavery movement (Republicans initially only opposed spread of slavery).

"The only way to put an end to the aggressions of slavery, is to put an end to slavery itself... The safety of liberty requires the complete extinction of its opposite"

Significant People

Pro-SlaveryJames Henry Hammond

John C. Calhoun

• Anti-Slavery• Abraham Lincoln• William Lloyd Garrison

After it all…

On meeting his former master Captain Auld (40 years after running away) after the Civil War was over:

"He was to me no longer a slaveholder either in fact or in spirit, and I regarded him as I did myself, a victim of the circumstances of birth, education, law, and custom.  Our courses had been determined for us, not by us.  We had both been flung, by powers that did not ask our consent, upon a mighty current of life, which we could neither resist nor control.  By this current he was a master, and I a slave; but now our lives were verging towards a point where differences disappear..."

A Historian’s Point of View

Historian James Oakes wrote: “From a very young age Frederick Douglass had dared imagine that one day he would be free, just as he dared imagine that he would one day be a senator….When Douglass abandoned the Garrisonians and embraced antislavery politics, the theme of his speeches and writings began to change. Instead of denouncing the degradation of an entire nation corrupted by slavery, he located himself among America’s Founders, with all their flaws....Douglass came to admire the Founders as well, though less because they had articulated an important set of human freedoms than for having bowed in deference to the desire for freedom that stirred in the soul of every man and woman. For Douglass it was this innate passion for freedom that drove human history forward.”

Analysis: Douglass was a symbol of American success. He was ambitious, rose up from hardship, and became a very influential abolitionist and a symbol of freedom. He had a positive impact on the war effort and helped to change history and point America in the direction of liberty.

•Historian Waldo Martin wrote: “Douglas served primarily as a propagandist during the war. He endeavored to convince the Union to mobilize and use black troops as well as to convince Negroes that eventually their services would be needed and requested.”

Analysis: Douglass’ oratory skills were what caused him to be such a successful figurehead of the Union. As a result of his actions, the Union benefited during the Civil War, not only due to additional military support, but also due to establishing that blacks were important to the American military.

Modern Events Frederick Douglass was only one key advocate in civil rights and the fight for African Americans. What he fought for was basic human rights. Today there are always cases based on the subject however most recently the most relatable event is the Gay rights movements (one in the 60’s and one occurring now).

Less recent but still relevant, the civil rights movement of the 60s and the granting of women’s right to vote are further developments in Douglass’ passions.

Authors’ ReflectionsAmanda Sutton

Overall, I learned that there were very tricky ways out of slavery, that most of Europe did not support slavery and that Frederick Douglass made a huge impact not only today but in his time. That seems profound to me because African Americans just tended to be ignored back then even with white people on their side. If it weren't for Frederick Douglas we might still live in a world where gender, race and religion define your opportunities.

Allyson WheatonI was amazed at Douglass’ huge role in crafting the 14th and 15th Amendments and that women’s voting rights were almost established then, too. And his importance to the war effort was one of the many fascinating things that I learned. What was most profound to me was how Douglass ended up accepting his slave master as another victim of the institution of slavery, even though he had been a slave himself. It takes courage to do that. Or perhaps just lots of experience.

Works CitedArcher, Jules. They Had a Dream. N.p.: Viking Children's, 1995. Print.

"Frederick Douglass." bio. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-douglass-9278324>.

"Frederick Douglass." National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 7 Jan. 2015. <http://www.nps.gov/frdo/historyculture/people.htm>.

Govenar, Alan B. African American Frontiers: Slave Narratives and Oral Histories. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2000. Print.

Kismaric, Susan. American Politicians: Photographs from 1843-1991. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1994. Print.

Steele, James. Freedom's River: The African-American Contribution to Democrary. New York: F. Watts, 1994. Print.

Wooster, Robert. The Civil War 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential People in the War between the States. Secaucus: Carol Pub. Group, 1998. Print.

Zdrok-Ptaszek, Jodie, ed. The Antislavery Movement. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002. Print.