Essay - Frederick Douglass Former Slave, Abolitionist, Civil Rights Advocate Introduction Emancipation...

Frederick Douglass

Former slave, abolitionist, civil rights advocate

Introduction

*****

Enlistment of black soldiers

Fair Wages for black soldiers

Equal treatment

POWs

Awards / recognition

Conclusion

Frederick *****

Former slave, abolitionist, civil rights advocate

Most high school history classes teach only that Frederick Douglass was a freed sl*****ve who helped free others. While he was instrumental in the Underground Railroad and the emancipation of slaves, he was also a major ***** rights *****. He fought for *****ir freedom, the equal treatment ***** *****s and the rights of women as well. ***** was an abolitionist, an orator, and editor of the North Star (later renamed Frederick Douglass' Paper).

The son of a slave woman and a white man, Douglass ***** a plantation boy ***** great strength. He was taught to read by ***** wife of one ***** his masters. He worked as a calker in the shipyards. This trade helped him when he f*****ally did plan out his escape. At about 13, ***** purchased his first book, The Columbian Orator, which convinced ***** of the right for all people to be free. The ***** ***** ***** him several public speaking techniques ***** he would use later.

***** escaped to ***** North in Septem*****r 1838; ***** freedom was finally purchased in 1846. In 1850, the US population was 23 million; 3.2 million were *****s.

A great ora*****r, Douglass spoke out for the freedom of slaves. He went from city to city ***** tell the story ***** his being a slave. His autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, "brought home the collective inhumanity of slavery and ***** individual humanity of the slaves." His first speech ***** at an 1841 anti***** convention in Nantucket. At first he would not tell of where he was from nor his master's name, since he had escaped. ***** master could send hunters *****th ***** any moment. Once his freedom ***** bought however he was free to add these details ***** his speeches.

Fellow ***** William Lloyd Garrison greatly influenced him. He devoured Garrison's weekly The Liberator, an antislavery newspaper. He started his own abolitionist paper, originally called The ***** Star. Douglass desired an end to slavery but he wanted to work through t***** Constitution of the United States.

Not only a station master, Douglass ***** also a notable conductor of ***** Underground Railroad. His ho***** in Rochester, New York was among one of the stops of the ***** Railroad. He actively helped many escaped slaves on their flight North, most of whom fled to Canada. Douglass, unlike Garrison, believed that slaves should actively resist their oppression. He felt ***** slaves had every right to rebel and resist enslavement.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. However, ***** was not abolished until 1865 when the Thirteenth Am*****ment was ratified.

***** was instrumental in enlisting other blacks, free *****, ***** fight against the Confederacy. These black troops made up the famous Massachusetts 54th. He recruited so many black soldiers that a second unit was created.