Research Paper On Frederick Douglass The Great Reformer

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Frederick Douglass(1818-1950) was a famous and successful American abolitionist, and author. Born a slave, Douglass escaped at age 20 and went on to become a world renowned reformer and abolitionist. Frederick Douglass was the greatest reformer of all time. His great efforts for abolition make him stand out of all reformers. An honorable candidate as the greatest reformer is Solomon Northup. Solomon Northup was an American abolitionist and the primary author of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave. Yet Frederick Douglass is the best candidate as the greatest reformer of all time for his ability to influence and through experiences transfer out untouched information sophisticatedly. Frederick Douglass was the greatest reformer of all time. Douglass …show more content…

Douglass’s life as a reformer ranged from his abolitionist activities in the early 1840s to his attacks on Jim Crow and lynching in the 1890s. For sixteen years he edited an influential black newspaper, The North Star, and achieved international fame as a writer of great persuasive power. In thousands of speeches and editorials he levied an irresistible indictment against slavery and racism, provided an indomitable voice of hope for his people, embraced antislavery politics, and preached his own brand of American ideals. One of the reasons Frederick Douglass is the greatest reformer of all time is because he analyzed what he was advocating for well. This was especially hard for blacks at the time because they were put in a sort of bubble, isolated and feeling like they didn’t have the ability to stand up for themselves. In most cases though, blacks couldn't stand up, yet Douglass found a way, and through this knew how to fully understand the issue. In a letter to William Lloyd Garrison Douglass points out a major flaw in the country which is embedded in the writings of the nation. Douglass states, “My opinion has undergone no change in regard to the latter part of my supposition, for I believe a large class of writers in America, as well as in this land, are …show more content…

Solomon Northup was an American abolitionist and the primary author of the memoir Twelve Years a Slave. A free-born African American from New York, he was the son of a freed slave and free woman of color. Born in July 1808 in Minerva, New York, Solomon Northup grew up a free man, working as a farmer and violinist while having a family. He was lured south and kidnapped in 1841 and enslaved for more than a decade, enduring horribly violent conditions. Northup was freed in 1853 with help from colleagues and friends. Northup was owned first by William Prince Ford, and sold him to John M. Tibaut. When Tibaut attempted to whip him, Northup resisted and prevailed in the ensuing fight. Infuriated, Tibaut sought help from neighbouring overseers in attempting to lynch Northup, who was rescued by Ford’s overseer, Anderson Chafin. Northup also prevailed in a second fight and fled to the protection of Ford. In April 1843 Northup was sold by Ford and Tibaut to Edwin Epps, under whose ownership he remained for the next decade. Epps used Northup both as an artisan slave and as a field hand, occasionally leasing him out to sugar planters and processors. Throughout this time, Northup was often a “driver” in charge of other slaves. Epps, who was proud of his expertise with a lash, had a sadistic streak. Northup attempted to escape several times during that period but was unsuccessful. It was not until an abolitionist