The Speech itself was Intended

On July 5, 1852, the day after the fourth of July, Frederick Douglass was invited to give a speech to the citizens of his hometown, Rochester, New York, to celebrate the nation’s 76th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Douglass took advantage of the occasion not to celebrate the nation’s success, but to remind them of its ceaseless enslavement of millions of people. Frederick Douglass, a former slave speech, what, to the slaves, is the fourth of July about the malicious American slave trade and what it means to me.

The speech, What, To the Slaves, is the Fourth of July was written and given by Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass was a slave that had fled from the cruel, back breaking labor and torture that was his life at the time. He received very little formal education, that being a friend of his teaching him the alphabet. He then taught himself how to read and write after learning the alphabet. He later became a prominent activist, public speaker, and author. He also became an abolitionist leader that fought to end slavery before and during the civil war.

The speech itself was intended for the general public that was attending the city’s celebration of that 76th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Douglass’s hometown of Rochester, New York. Within the speech, Douglass explores the coherent arguments against slave trade in the United States. Douglass explains how American values such as citizenship, liberty, and freedom are offensive to slaves who are not given those values despite living in the same place. He also explains how the treatment of slaves is closely related to that of American colonists under british rule and encourages them to help the slaves like they helped themselves break free. Douglass also describes how slaves were not only enslaved in captivity but they were also exploited, treated cruelly, and tortured.

The speech was obviously written to address the injustice, hypocrisy, and bigotry that was associated with the slave trade in the United States at the time. He wrote the speech hoping he could change the thoughts, and ways of the American people so maybe one day people of color could gain the same rights that the rest of America had. Its purpose was to give the thoughts, facts, and opinions of Frederick Douglass while also addressing a coherent problem that existed at that time to all of the people listening to his speech.

Douglass assumes that most of his audience is bigoted and oblivious to the injustices that the slaves are enduring. You can tell by the way he talks to the audience in the following text, Americans! your republican politics, not less than your republican religion, are flagrantly inconsistent. You boast of your love of liberty, your superior civilization, and your pure Christianity, while the whole political power of the nation (as embodied in the two great political parties) is solemnly pledged to support and perpetuate the enslavement of three millions of your countrymen.. The society that existed during the time period at which this speech was given was very political and religious. Douglass calls the audience out on their backwards politics as well as their religion. He claims that the country’s republican politics as well as their religion supports slavery.

This speech is very believable and was filled with alot of valid arguments. The document was filled with alot of claims and warrants to back up his claims. The reason this speech is so believable is because Frederick Douglass was a slave himself. He witnessed and endured most of the struggles that slaves went through during that terrible time.

This speech is very important in many different ways. This speech was a very powerful, heartfelt speech in which Douglass spoke for the betterment of slaves all over the country. This speech helped Douglass become the powerful, well known activist that he is known for today. This speech also shows us what life was like for slaves and colored people in the country during this time. It showed us the injustice that existed within or divided country. The document is vital to our remembrance of this terrible time in history and can remind us to learn from our mistakes.

This speech is important to me because I believe everyone should be given the same rights no matter their race, gender, creed, or ethnicity. Slavery has always been a very touchy subject that I have been very passionate about. I cannot stand the injustice and bigotry that our country had against these human beings. These terrible things still exist and affect the lives of people to this very day. I hope one day to be an activist fighting for the rights of people that can’t be heard or that aren’t in a position to stand up for themselves, just as Frederick Douglass did all those years ago.

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