Who was Frederick Douglass?
“Abolition of slavery had been the deepest desire and the great labor of my life” Frederick Douglass, née Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born into slavery in Tuckahoe, Talbot County, Maryland. A runaway slave, he became an and civil rights leader, social reformer and eventually one of the most influential African American intellectuals of the […] more
Frederick Douglass and the abolitionist movement
Frederick Douglass was introduced to the abolitionist movement in 1841 when William Coffin invited him to share his story in a convention organized by the Massachusetts Antislavery Society (MAS). William Garrison, impressed by his oratory, hired him as an agent of the MAS. This was a turning point in Douglass’ life and the beginning of […] more
Legacy and Significance of Frederick Douglass
Words were the medium of his life Frederick Douglass’ most important legacy was the use of his words to fight for the freedom and rights of African Americans. He used his oratory and writing skills throughout his life to communicate his desire to free African American slaves which led to the brought by President Abraham […] more
From Slavery to Freedom
“Give him a bad master and he aspires to a good master; give him a good master, and he wishes to become his own master” Baltimore After Douglass’ first failed attempt to escape he was sent to Baltimore to live with Hugh Auld, brother of Thomas Auld. His master never found prove that he intended […] more
Douglass’ Role in the Civil War
“A war undertaken and brazenly carried for the perpetual enslavement of the colored men, calls logically and loudly for the colored men to help suppress it.” Growing political tensions over the spread of slavery started a decade before the beginning of the war. As a preamble to the Civil War, between 1854 and 1861, […] more
Abolitionist Activities
Anti-Slavery convention in Nantucket The summer of 1841 was a turning point in Douglass’ career. Frederick was invited by William Coffin, the general agent for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society, to speak at a convention in Nantucket organized by leading abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was the founder of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and editor […] more
Timeline of the Life of Frederick Douglass
“Intelligence is a great leveler here as elsewhere” c. 1818 Frederick Douglass, neé Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was born in in Tuckahoe, Talbot County, Maryland. His mother was Harriet Bailey, a slave, his father was a white man believed to be his master Aaron Anthony. He was separated from his mother as an infant. 1819-1825 […] more
The Right to Criticize American Institutions
Source: Speech before the American Anti-Slavery Society, May 11, 1847. I am very glad to be here. I am very glad to be present at this Anniversary, glad again to mingle my voice with those with whom I have stood identified, with those with whom I have laboured, for the last seven years, for the […] more
The Emancipation Proclamation Text
The Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863 A Transcription By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation. Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, […] more
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Transcription of the Provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 Section 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the persons who have been, or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in virtue of any act of Congress, by the Circuit Courts […] more
Rapid growth of slavery in the 1800’s
Louisiana Purchase 1803 The acquisition of the Louisiana territories, known as the Louisiana Purchase, in 1803 by the Jefferson administration doubled the size of the American territory and therefore its availability to the spread of slavery. The north and south had opposing views. The south supported the spread of the institution of slavery to the […] more
Wye House Plantation
When Frederick Douglass was 7 or 8 years old he was taken by his grandmother, Betsey Bailey, to the Great House in the Wye Plantation about twelve miles from his birthplace, . Here Douglass was left on his own for the first time. It was common practice to bring young slaves who were too young […] more
Birthplace of Frederick Douglass
According to his autobiography, , he was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, about 12 miles from Easton in Talbot County, Maryland. in Aaron Anthony’s Holmes Hill Farm which provided young slaves to the Wye House plantation owned by Edward Lloyd. Generations of Lloyds had built up a considerable fortune since the seventeenth century to be […] more
Cedar Hill House
Frederick Douglass’ Cedar Hill House is located in the Federick Douglass National Historic Site in Anacostia, District of Columbia. The property is overseen by the National Park Service which is a bureau of the Department of the Interior. . Cedar Hill is open to the public for tours. . Originally built between 1855 and 1859 […] more
A school project on Frederick Douglass
This video is a school project on the life and accomplishments of Frederick Douglass. The creators of the video are Robert Little and Alex Jordan. more
