Example Of History Essay Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was born in 1818 in Talbot County in Maryland (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition” n.p.). He was a former slave and an eminent human rights leader in the abolition movement. He taught people about many different causes such as Irish home rule and women’s rights. Douglass wrote many autobiographies about his life in slavery and after the Civil War. He died in 1895.

Douglas’ Life as a Slave

Douglas was born into slavery. He lived with Betty Bailey, who was his maternal grandmother. At the age of 10 years, his mother died. In the early years of his life, he lived in the home of plantation owners. He was then sent to the Baltimore house of Hugh Auld, where he got skills that became the cause of his popularity. Sophia, who was Hugh’s wife, taught Douglas the alphabet at the age of about 12 years; Sophia was actually defying the prohibition on teaching slaves. Hugh forbade Sophia to teach him (Douglass, “The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass” 49). After that Douglass kept on learning from other white children in the surrounding and people in the neighborhood. During his times of reading and learning, Douglass started opposing the slavery. He used to read newspapers enthusiastically. He used to read political thoughts and literature. With the passage of time, Douglass was credited “The Columbian Orator” as he clearly presented his views on human rights (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition” 53). He shared his knowledge with other slaves in the neighborhood. In the presence of William Freeland, he taught the New Testament at a weekly church service to other slaves on the plantation. Over 40 slaves a week started joining his lessons to learn new things. Although Freeland showed no problem with lessons, other slave owners started working against the lessons and tried to stop the program. Later on, Douglas worked for Edward Covey, who was popular as a “slave-breaker”. Covey used to abuse the 16-year-old Douglass, but he fought back with force, and Covey stopped beating him. He worked for Covey for one year and then his work ended in 1833 (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition” 100).

Douglas’ freedom

Douglas tried to escape from slavery and was assisted by Anna Murray, who was a free black woman in Baltimore, in this escape. Douglass went to Havre de Grace in Maryland in 1838. Murray helped him with her savings as well as a sailor’s uniform. Douglas successfully moved to the abolitionist David Ruggles in New York. He noted that “according to my resolution, on the third day of September, 1838, I left my chains, and succeeded in reaching New York without the slightest interruption of any kind.” After that, Douglas found Murray and they married in 1838. They moved to New Bedford in Massachusetts. Douglass started going to black church, attended abolitionist meetings. Douglas was asked to tell his life at abolitionist meetings and then he started giving anti-slavery lectures. The Liberator published his story. After the story, he delivered a speech at the annual convention of Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and acted as a lecturer (Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition” v).

Works Cited

Douglass, F. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition. Booksurge Llc, 2008. Print.
Douglass, F. The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Park publishing, 1881. Print.