Josh Kotek
Ms. Edleman
Humanities
12/11/20
Frederick Douglass was important to U.S. history because of his great
contribution to black rights. He became the leader of the abolitionist movement, and
gave speechs around the world against slavery. His legacy also inspired the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960’s. This movement helped continue his work even after his death.
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot county, Maryland in or around
1818. At first he lived with his grandmother, but then was moved to a plantation in
Baltimore, Maryland as a slave. There he taught himself and others how to read and
write. When his master heard of this Douglass at the age of 16 was sent off to a
plantation for “trouble” slaves. Then after several tries in the year 1838 he was able to
escape slavery. He then got married and had five kids. After that he went and spoke
about escaping slavery all over the U.S. and Europe inspiring others along the way.
During this time he was a leader of the abolitionist movement, and helped people along
the underground railroad. He died of a heart attack on february 20 1895 in Washington
D.C.
Frederick Douglass was a very smart and courageous man. He was very smart
because over the years of being a slave he was able to teach himself how to read and
write using only a bible. He also got switched to a different plantation, one that is for
“trouble” slaves because word got out that he was teaching other slaves how to read
and write. He was also very courageous because after he got switched to the other
plantation he tried to escape multiple times. Doing this is extremely courageous and
dangerous, and after a few tries he was able to escape.
Frederick Douglass thinks American democracy should be that everyone has
equal rights. That means voting, owning land, and the freedom of not being a slave. He
continually gave speech after speech doing everything in his power to make it so that
black people have these rights. He says in one speech “What have I, or those I
represent, to do with your national independence? ” This is him saying that black people
don’t have these independences. This shows that he thinks that all people need to be
treated equally in order to have a real democracy.
Frederick Douglass would have been very pleased with how democracy turned
out. Though there is still racism, we have no slavery anymore, and even a black
president that served two terms. This is amazing knowing that black people didn’t have
the right to vote just 100 years before. Knowing all of this Frederick Douglass would be
very happy and would encourage America to continue along this path.
By learning about Frederick Douglass I realized that America changed a lot.
Though there is still lots of racism and inequality it has changed for the better over the
past few hundred years. Also you don’t have to be a president to be a great person.
Usually when I'm in history class I'm always hearing things about presidents and how
they are so great, but now I see that there are a ton of other great people out there. I am
really happy I got to learn about Frederick Douglass because he was able to show me
that you can always fight for what you believe in.
Works Cited
“Aboard the Underground Railroad-- Boston African American NHS.” National Parks Service,
U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/dc1.htm#:~:text=He
was a leader of,of deeds for the city.
“Frederick Douglass's, ‘What To the Slave Is the Fourth of July?".” NEH,
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VBwxmzBUHiVfnWyt8AaBREjyVn7ERblzupUp8K_
ucLU/edit
History.com Editors. “Frederick Douglass.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct.
2009,
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-douglass
“Lit2Go.” Reception Speech. At Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, England, May 12, 1846 & Dr
Campbell's Reply | My Bondage and My Freedom | Frederick Douglass | Lit2Go ETC,
https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/45/my-bondage-and-my-freedom/1507/reception-speech-at-
finsbury-chapel-moorfields-england-may-12-1846-dr-campbells-reply/
