Transcript Antebellum Reforms: Frederick Douglass

By:
Amanda Sutton
Allyson Wheaton
Freedman Abolitionist:
Frederick Douglass
In Bondage
Born 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 Spotlight
Anna 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 AntiSlavery 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 Business
Published
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. Yo
u must abolish
slavery or
abandon the
Union."
Civil War and Reconstruction
During 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.
Politics
Douglass 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-Slavery
James 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’ Reflections
Amanda 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 Wheaton
I 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 Cited
Archer, 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.