Maggie Grundy Mrs. Carey Hush E 3 October 2014 Frederick Douglass: Introduction and Outline I. Frederick Douglass used his words through his writing and speeches to express his desire for freedom and equal rights for the African-American slaves. Douglass encouraged equal rights and liberties for his fellow people as a Civil Rights leader. He wrote three autobiographies about his hardships through life and established "The North Star" which was an anti-slavery newspaper. Douglass knew the value of his skills were and took every opportunity, in writing and speeches, to show the brutality of slavery. (Thesis) Frederick Douglass is a leader and a legacy in American History because of his use of words to fight for the freedom and rights of African …show more content…
He started reading the Liberator, a popular abolitionist newspaper established by William Lloyd Garrison and attending antislavery meetings at local African American churches, sometimes speaking about his slavery experiences. In August 1841, at the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society Conference, his speech brought about the attention of Garrison and other leading white abolitionists. The abolitionist were impressed with Douglass' eloquence and moving presence hired him as a lecturer. Over the next two years, Douglass delivered hundreds of speeches for the anti-slavery audiences throughout New England and New York. In 1843, Douglass united with other leading abolitionist speakers on the Hundred Conventions tour, with the idea to strengthen the abolitionist belief. His speaking skills made him increasingly popular and well respected in the anti-slavery movement. But anti-slavery lecturing was a dangerous job. Douglass and his associates were commonly a victim of assaults, such as, throwing of food and mob violence. Also, as a runaway slave, his growing fame put him in constant danger of being recaptured. Douglass's popularity and credibility grew even more after he published his autobiography, The Narrative of Frederick Douglass, which allowed many American citizens to understand the brutality of slavery. Douglass’ colleagues were afraid …show more content…
This ended connections with Garrison and his colleagues, who endangered him to violent public attacks, which included shameful allegations about his personal conduct. Douglass believed in the persuasion of politics and violence for ending slavery. . During this time, Douglass opened up to the idea of abolitionist violence. In 1849, Douglass encouraged slave violence informing a Boston audience that he would wish for news that slaves have rebelled and "were engaged in spreading death and devastation" throughout the South (Benjamin Quarles, Allies for Freedom [1974], p. 67). After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which put the government and citizens of the United States in the affair of capturing and returning escaped slaves. Douglass publicly argued opposition of the law, with violence if essential. Douglass was active in the Underground Railroad, making his house in Rochester a safe haven for the runaway slaves in hiding and aiding them on their way to Canada. In 1852 his novel, The Heroic Slave, showed Douglass's increasing appeal to the use of violence is apparent. In the novel, the leader of a gory slave revolt was praised and honored. Later, Douglass was included in scheming for John Brown's 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He secretly gathered funds for the raid, even though he believed it was not well devised. When the raid was