"What to the Slave is Fourth of July?"

Good Day Class,

I hope all is well. Due to convocation on Wednesday we WILL NOT HAVE CLASS. However, you have an assignment. Please read the speech "What to the Slave is Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass and the background information below. Thereafter you should complete the questions below and email them to me by Wednesday, September 11 by the end of the class period (10am). Please use complete sentences and do not post this to your blog. 

The speech can be found at: 

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july/

Background: (taken from http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/douglass.htm) : 

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was the best known and most influential African American leader of the 1800s. He was born a slave in Maryland but managed to escape to the North in 1838.

He traveled to Massachusetts and settled in New Bedford, working as a laborer to support himself. In 1841, he attended a convention of the Massachusetts Antislavery Society and quickly came to the attention of its members, eventually becoming a leading figure in the New England antislavery movement.

In 1845, Douglass published his autobiography, "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave." With the revelation that he was an escaped slave, Douglass became fearful of possible re-enslavement and fled to Great Britain and stayed there for two years, giving lectures in support of the antislavery movement in America. With the assistance of English Quakers, Douglass raised enough money to buy his own his freedom and in 1847 he returned to America as a free man.

He settled in Rochester, New York, where he published The North Star, an abolitionist newspaper. He directed the local underground railroad which smuggled escaped slaves into Canada and also worked to end racial segregation in Rochester's public schools.

In 1852, the leading citizens of Rochester asked Douglass to give a speech as part of their Fourth of July celebrations. Douglass accepted their invitation.

In his speech, however, Douglass delivered a scathing attack on the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating freedom and independence with speeches, parades and platitudes, while, within its borders, nearly four million humans were being kept as slaves.

"What to the Slave is Fourth of July?" Classwork/Quiz Assignment 

Name: __________________________________  ID # ________________________

1. Who was Frederick Douglass's audience? What was the name of his newspaper? Why did he flee to Great Britain? 

2. What are his reactions to those who fought for the independence of the colonies?

3. What does Douglass mean when he says: "Americans are remarkably familiar with all facts which make in their own favor."? 

4. What is the difference in what July 4th means for American citizens versus what it meant to the enslaved?

5. What are Douglass's thoughts on the slave trade?

6. How does Douglass feel about the American church?

7. In your opinion do you agree or disagree with Douglass's speech? Is there any truth in what he is saying?