"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" & Frederick Douglass – Flashcards
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About when was this speech given?
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Before the Civil War; 1850s
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What is the tone of the introduction?
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Douglass begins the introduction by professing how nervous he is in order to draw the audience in and help them warm up to him. He also acts humble, and patriotic
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Why does Douglass consistently use the pronoun "your" in this speech?
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He is creating the separation between the slave and the free whites
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The tone of the speech changes by the end of the introduction. How does Douglass seem to become? What emotions? Why?
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He becomes angrier as the speech continues. He is reaching his point about slavery being the thing that makes the 4th hypocritical, and as he does so, he grows angrier and more impassioned
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What does Douglass think about slavery's future in North America?
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If slavery were to continue it would be the death of America - would lead to war - this is where we see the dried up river analogy
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In some ways, the first part of the speech is a traditional patriotic speech. Identify these elements.
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He talks about America being a great nation, and our Founding Fathers being wonderful people
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Douglass uses religious language in discussing Independence. Why do you think he does so?
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He wants to use any means to convince people to end slavery. Including using the example of Joseph and his brothers, as well as the Israelites being slaves in Egypt
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What is his opinion of the American Founders? What characteristics does he praise about them?
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He praises them because they were great men. He thinks they were extremely intelligent, and the thinks it is admirable that when they realized they were oppressed by Britain, they rebelled
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In the second part of the speech, Douglass turns to the present and his own feelings about the 4th of July celebration. What are these?
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It is hypocritical that a nation built on slavery can celebrate a day of freedom
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How does he show that everyone in America, North and South, views enslaved Africans as human beings
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There are laws concerning slaves. If they were not humans, there would be no need to create laws about them.
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What feelings is he appealing to in his audience in this section?
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Douglass appeals to both logic and emotion in his readers
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Frederick Douglass
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slave who escaped to the north
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Frederick Douglass
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fought against Mr. Covey
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Frederick Douglass
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taught himself to read and write
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Frederick Douglass
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realized education was the path to freedom
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Frederick Douglass
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became a ship caulker
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Colonel Edward Lloyd
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Owned the Great House Farm
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Colonel Edward Lloyd
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used tar on the fence around his garden to keep slaves out
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Colonel Edward Lloyd
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used to ask slaves what they thought of their master, then sell those who answered in a way he didn't like
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Captain Thomas Auld
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Lucretia Auld's husband; became a Christian and then became even more cruel to his slaves
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Captain Anthony
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Douglass's first master - most likely his father
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Hugh Auld
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Douglass's master in Baltimore
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Hugh Auld
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Forbids his wife to teach Douglass to read
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Hugh Auld
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Unknowingly inspires Douglass to become educated
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Hugh Auld
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says that education would ruin the best slave
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Sophia Auld
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was a working woman who had never owned slaves
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Sophia Auld
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taught Douglass his ABC's
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Sophia Auld
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grew cruel under the influence of slavery
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Sophia Auld
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serves as a warning about how slavery is harmful to whites
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Edward Covey
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a breaker of slaves
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Edward Covey
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Douglass fought him
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Edward Covey
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the "snake"
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Demby
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ran into the river to avoid being punished
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Demby
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was shot and killed when he refused to listen
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Aunt Hester
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was whipped by Captain Anthony for sneaking away to Ned
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Aunt Hester
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the first whipping Douglass ever witnessed
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Sandy Jenkins
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gives Douglass a root to keep him safe from Mr. Covey
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Sandy Jenkins
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most likely who told about Douglass's first escape attempt
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In what state did Douglass spend most of his years as a slave?
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Maryland
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How did Douglass continue to learn to read?
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He bribed and tricked little white boys
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Why did Douglass go to prison?
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Under suspicion of planning to escape
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How did Douglass and his fellow slave friends plan to escape slavery?
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By boat with forged notes of passage
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In Baltimore, what does Douglass learn is "the pathway from slavery to freedom"?
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education
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Who was the first person to help Douglass with money and shelter after his escape?
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Nathan Johnson
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Douglass is able to successfully escape by not arousing suspicion. How does he do this?
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Acting happy and giving all his money to his master
