Reflection_Paper_Fredrick_Douglas

Fredrick Douglas escaped slavery at age 20 but was initially sold as a carpenter at age 7. In his late teens Douglas ran away to pursue his happiness. This entailed getting married, learning how to read, and write, by visiting local libraries. Soon after he was able to communicate effectively Fredrick Douglas started to speak about his experience as a former slave, and his message reached many people. 

One message in particular was the Lecture on the anti slavery movement in 1855. His address was geared towards the Rochester Ladies Anti Slavery movement. This was an era were many participated irn moral reform societies, and when woman were learning political, and organizing skills. 

Anti Slavery movements operated on different branches and Fredrick Douglas aims to iterate his views based upon the dynamics of the compartments? There were four branches; Garrisonians on the American, and Foreign anti-slavery society, the Anti-Garrisonians, on the American, and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, The Free Soil Party, and the Liberty Party. 

The Garrisonian Anti-Slavery Society’s view was, ‘no union with slaveholders’.  Douglas argues that the idea dissolves the union, and leaves slaves and owners to fight their own battles.  He stresses that the above idea is similar to abandoning the slaves, and leaving them to free themselves.

The American and Foreign Anti-Slavery movement, number two on the least appear to be operating on the same chapter of the Garrisonian party. One strategy that was used to push their agenda was the revival of Anti-Slavery in the Church. Speech was a potent weapon according to Douglas, and he questioned the Unions strategy to keep speech as a minimum.

In third we have the Free soil party alias (Free Democratic-Free Republican Party). The main goal of this party was to limit, and denationalize slavery. Their objectives were the same as the Garrisonian, and American and Foreign Anti-Slavery movement.

Last but, not least was the Liberty party, the smallest but most influential of the 3 other movements. The Liberty party was formed by a small body of citizens (mainly in N.Y). According to his observations, they were the only group that actually pushed to abolish slavery, and urged the government to utilize its input on the matter.

Fredrick Douglas believed that slavery was created on inferior intelligence, and that in time will die out totally. He stated that he was not a superstitious individual, but strongly suggested that people pay attention to the powers that be.