ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics Frederick Douglass: From Slave to Presidential Advisor
Frederick Douglass was an incredible person who started life as a slave but became a famous leader, writer, and advisor to presidents. He was one of the most photographed African Americans in the 1800s, which made him well-known, even though it was risky for him. His life story is about never giving up, being smart, and always wanting freedom and fairness.
Frederick Douglass was not born with that name. He was originally named Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. Nobody knows his exact birth date, but he chose February 14th as his birthday. In his book, A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he wrote, “I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.” Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland, probably the son of his mother and their owner. His mother was smart and one of the few slaves who could read or write, but Douglass didn’t know her well because slave children were often separated from their mothers.
He lived with his grandmother, Betty Bailey, who took care of many children. His mother was on a different plantation, and he only saw her a few times before being taken away from his grandmother. At about 7 years old, Douglass was sent to Wye Plantation, where he joined many other slaves. He didn’t work in the fields because he was too young, but he took care of cows and the garden. Sadly, his mother died while he was there, and he was sent to Baltimore to work for Hugh Auld’s family.
In Baltimore, Douglass learned to read and write, following his mother’s path. Sophia Auld, Hugh’s wife, started teaching him the alphabet, but Hugh Auld stopped her because he thought educated slaves would want freedom. Douglass called this his “first decidedly antislavery lecture.” Even without formal lessons, Douglass taught himself using newspapers and pamphlets.
He also taught other slaves to read during Sunday School using the New Testament. This went on for a while until slave owners found out and stopped it with anger and violence. By his late teens, Douglass had been moved between different owners and plantations. He was sent to Edward Covey, who was very cruel. Douglass described the beatings he suffered, but eventually, he fought back, and Covey never tried to hurt him again.
Douglass knew he couldn’t stay a slave. He met Ann Murray, a free Black woman from Baltimore, who inspired him to seek freedom. They fell in love and later married. In 1836, Douglass tried to escape but was caught and jailed. Two years later, on September 3, 1838, he tried again, disguised as a sailor, and successfully reached Philadelphia with the help of Underground Railroad activists.
Even in a free state, Douglass was still considered a fugitive, but he was thrilled to be free. He described it as a new world opening up to him. The activists helped him contact his wife, Anna, who came from Baltimore to marry him. They moved to Massachusetts, where Douglass joined the abolitionist movement.
Inspired by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Douglass began speaking at anti-slavery meetings. His powerful speeches and personal stories made him a key figure in the movement. In 1843, he joined the American Anti-Slavery Society and traveled the Midwest, advocating for the end of slavery. Douglass also wrote his autobiography, Narrative: The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, which was a big success and even translated for European readers.
Douglass spent two years in Europe, where he raised money to buy his freedom and was treated with respect, unlike in America. His supporters raised enough money for him to return to the U.S. as a free man. He started his own newspaper, The North Star, and got involved in other causes like women’s rights and school desegregation.
When the Civil War started, Douglass was a well-known figure in America. He pushed for African Americans to join the Union Army and even spoke with President Abraham Lincoln. His efforts helped lead to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which allowed African Americans to enlist in the military. Douglass’ sons joined the fight, and he encouraged others to do the same.
After the war, Douglass continued to fight for civil rights and economic opportunities for newly freed African Americans. He was appointed President of the Freedman’s Bank and supported Ulysses S. Grant’s presidential campaign. In 1872, he made history as the first African American to receive a vote for president at a major party’s convention when he was nominated as Victoria Woodhull’s vice-presidential running mate.
Douglass spent his final years in Washington, D.C., working as a United States Marshal. After his first wife, Anna, passed away, he remarried and continued to travel and speak on political issues. He published a new edition of his autobiography, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, and held several diplomatic positions.
In 1895, Douglass gave his last speech at the National Council of Women in D.C. Shortly after, he suffered a heart attack and died at 77. Thousands attended his funeral, and he was buried next to Anna in Rochester, New York.
Frederick Douglass risked his life for freedom and fought for the end of slavery, the right to vote, and civil rights for everyone. He left behind powerful words: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”
Research the key events in Frederick Douglass’ life and create a timeline. Use online resources or library books to find dates and details. Illustrate your timeline with images or drawings to make it visually engaging. This will help you understand the sequence of events and the challenges Douglass faced throughout his life.
Imagine you are Frederick Douglass at a significant moment in his life, such as his escape to freedom or his meeting with President Lincoln. Write a diary entry expressing his thoughts, feelings, and hopes for the future. This activity will help you empathize with Douglass and understand his motivations and emotions.
Participate in a class debate about the role of education in achieving freedom, inspired by Douglass’ own experiences. Prepare arguments for or against the statement: “Education is the key to freedom.” Use examples from Douglass’ life and other historical or current figures to support your position.
Write a newspaper article highlighting Frederick Douglass’ achievements and contributions to society. Include quotes from his speeches or writings, and discuss his impact on the abolitionist movement and civil rights. This will help you practice journalistic writing and learn more about Douglass’ legacy.
Design a poster for an abolitionist meeting where Frederick Douglass is the keynote speaker. Use persuasive language and imagery to attract attendees and convey the importance of the abolitionist cause. This activity will help you understand the power of visual communication and the role of public speaking in social movements.
Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass rose to become a prominent abolitionist, statesman, author, and respected figure worldwide. He was the most photographed African American of the 19th century and a recognizable figure, even as his identity put him at risk for much of his life. Douglass’ story is one of perseverance, intellect, and an unending desire for freedom and justice.
**Early Life**
Frederick Douglass was not born with that name; he was originally christened Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. The exact date of his birth is lost to history, but he later chose February 14th as his birthday. He wrote, “I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it,” in *A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass*. Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland, likely the son of his mother and their owner. His mother was known for her intelligence and is considered to be one of the few slaves in her area who could read or write. However, Douglass never really got to know her, as it was common for infants born to slaves to be separated from their mothers shortly after birth.
Douglass was sent to live with his grandmother, Betty Bailey, who cared for twelve other children. His mother was enslaved at a different plantation, and he only saw her a few times before being removed from his grandmother’s home. At around age 7, Douglass was separated from his family and sent to Wye Plantation, where he joined many other slaves. While he did not work in the fields due to his young age, he tended to the family’s cows and garden. Tragically, his mother died while he was there, and Douglass was uprooted again, this time sent to Baltimore to serve the family of Hugh Auld.
In Baltimore, Douglass followed in his mother’s footsteps and learned to read and write. His journey to literacy began when Sophia Auld, Hugh’s wife, started teaching him the alphabet. However, Hugh Auld disapproved of this and believed that educating slaves would make them desire freedom. Douglass referred to Auld’s argument against literacy as his “first decidedly antislavery lecture.” Despite the end of his formal tutoring, Douglass continued to teach himself to read and write, using any available materials, including newspapers and pamphlets.
He began teaching other slaves to read during Sunday School, using the New Testament. This went unnoticed for several months until slave owners discovered it. They reacted with anger and violence, disrupting Douglass’ classes and putting an end to his teaching for a time. By his late teens, Douglass had already been moved from owner to owner and plantation to plantation. He was eventually sent to Edward Covey, who subjected him to brutal violence. Douglass later recounted the beatings he endured, describing the physical scars left on his body.
Eventually, Douglass fought back against Covey, and the man never attempted to control him through violence again.
**First Free Years**
Douglass knew he could not continue living as a slave. He had met Ann Murray, a free Black woman from Baltimore, who inspired him to seek freedom. The two fell in love and later married. In 1836, Douglass attempted to escape from slavery but was caught and jailed. He remained a slave for two more years before making another escape attempt on September 3, 1838. He disguised himself as a sailor and successfully boarded a train to Philadelphia, where he sought refuge with Underground Railroad activists.
Despite being in a free state, Douglass was still technically a fugitive. However, he was ecstatic to be free. He described his feelings upon reaching free soil as a new world opening up to him. The Underground Railroad activists provided him shelter and contacted his wife, Anna, who traveled from Baltimore to marry him. The couple then moved to Massachusetts, where Douglass became involved in the abolitionist movement.
Inspired by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Douglass began speaking at anti-slavery meetings. His eloquence and personal experiences made him a powerful voice in the movement. In 1843, he joined the American Anti-Slavery Society and toured the Midwest, advocating for the abolition of slavery. Douglass also wrote his autobiography, *Narrative: The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass*, which became a significant success and was translated for European audiences.
Douglass traveled to Europe for two years, where he raised funds to buy his freedom and was treated with respect, unlike in America. His supporters successfully raised the necessary funds, allowing him to return to the U.S. as a free man. He published his own newspaper, *The North Star*, and became involved in various causes, including women’s rights and school desegregation.
**Civil War**
When the Civil War began, Douglass was a well-known figure in America. He advocated for the inclusion of African Americans in the Union Army and had the ear of President Abraham Lincoln. Douglass’ efforts contributed to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, allowing African Americans to enlist in the military. Douglass’ sons joined the fight, and he encouraged others to do the same.
After the war, Douglass continued to advocate for civil rights and economic development for newly freed African Americans. He was appointed President of the Freedman’s Bank and supported Ulysses S. Grant’s presidential campaign. In 1872, he was nominated as Victoria Woodhull’s vice presidential running mate, making history as the first African American to receive a vote for president at a major party’s convention.
**Later Life**
Douglass spent his final years in Washington, D.C., serving as a United States Marshal. He remarried after the death of his first wife, Anna, and continued to travel and speak on various political issues. He published a new edition of his autobiography, *The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass*, and held several diplomatic positions.
In 1895, Douglass delivered his last speech at the National Council of Women in D.C. Shortly after, he suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 77. Thousands attended his funeral, and he was buried next to Anna in Rochester, New York.
Frederick Douglass risked his life for freedom, advocating for the end of slavery, the right to vote, and civil rights for all. He left behind powerful words: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”
Freedom – The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. – In history class, we learned about the struggle for freedom during the American Revolution.
Slavery – The practice or system of owning people as property and forcing them to work without pay. – The novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” depicts the harsh realities of slavery in the 19th century.
Abolitionist – A person who advocated or supported the ending of slavery. – Harriet Tubman was a famous abolitionist who helped many enslaved people escape to freedom.
Autobiography – A self-written account of the life of oneself. – We read the autobiography of Frederick Douglass to understand his journey from slavery to freedom.
Civil – Relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters. – The civil rights movement was a pivotal time in American history, fighting for equality and justice.
Rights – Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement. – The Bill of Rights outlines the fundamental rights guaranteed to all American citizens.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Education played a crucial role in empowering individuals during the Enlightenment period.
Speeches – Formal addresses or discourses delivered to an audience. – Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches inspired many to join the fight for civil rights.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Our history textbook covers the major events that shaped the modern world.
Maryland – A state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, known for its significant historical events. – Maryland was a border state during the Civil War and played a key role in the conflict.
