Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, Writer And Orator

Frederick Douglass was known for being an abolitionist, writer and orator. He was born on February, 1818 in Maryland. Frederick was born into a life of slavery, his mother was a slave and his father was a white man. When Douglass was about six years old, he began his life as a slave on the Wye House plantation. He later writes about the brutal conditions of the plantation in his autobiography. He spent most of his childhood with his grandparents and with an aunt, he only got to see his mother four or five times before her death when he was seven. During this time of slavery, he witnessed firsthand brutal whippings and he spent most of his time cold and hungry. In 1826, when Frederick was eight years old, he was sent by Lucretia, who was

When he was almost at the age of thirteen, he learned about the abolitionist movement. Frederick read The Columbian Orator, a book of political essays and poems, to learn about human rights. He also read newspapers, and found many new ideas that inspired him to end slavery. His dreams of ending slavery were encouraged by the example of other blacks in Baltimore, most of whom were free. But, laws were passed by the states that made it much more difficult for slave owners to free their slaves.
When Frederick was 15 year old, Thomas Auld took Douglass back from Hugh after an argument they had. Thomas Auld sent Douglass to work for a poor farmer who had a reputation as a "slave-breaker." His name was Edward Covey and on his plantation he whipped his slaves regularly. Frederick decided to fight against Coveys harsh beatings. After this, Edward Covey never beat douglass

They both lived in New Bedford and stayed in the city for four years. While he stayed in New Bedford he joined various organizations including a black church, and regularly attended abolitionist meetings. Douglass was unexpectedly asked to speak at an abolition convention. He spoke about his life as a slave. After this speech, he wanted to become an anti-slavery lecturer. Douglass delivered his first speech at the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society's annual convention in Nantucket at 23 years old. Douglass's speech was mentioned in many anti-slavery