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Similarities Between Douglass And Fredrick Henry

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Perception on life can differ from person to person, but can also be close to the same thing. Two very good examples of this are Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention and “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglas. Both of these texts show Freedom is worth fighting for no matter the cost. Henry’s piece is talking about establishing a 100% free and independent country without slavery. Although these texts are focusing on freedom from different historical points of view and time, they are equally persuasive with their passion for liberty. In Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” He asks the rhetorical question “are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that the declaration of Independence, extended to us?” This question ponders the idea of “freedom” and how accessible it is to all Americans. Does the right of freedom see that color, gender, money or beliefs do not matter, or is it blinded by the fact that some believe not all live and breathe just like themselves? Douglass asked that question to remind the people to ask themselves to remember what the constitutional rights are and what …show more content…

Without these two inspirational men going after what was right the world that is known today would not be the same. Douglass and Henry both use figures of speech and deep thoughts to get their points through, these points can help one connect the world that was known then to the world known today. “Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death” (Henry 85). “...They however gradually flow back to the same old channel and flow on as serenely as ever ... As with rivers so with nations” (Douglass 1-2). These two quotes pull everything in life and in the moments together by stating that every pathway is the roadmap to

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Summary Of Frederick Douglass Using The Toulmin Model

822 Words | 4 Pages

Additionally, Douglass supports his main claim by including minor claims by stating what he has seen; for example, how “true American patriots” treat African Americans miserable. Therefore, he states, “ America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.” What this phrase is saying is that ever since people started celebrating independence they don’t know the true meaning of it. That’s why Frederick states they are hypocrites because many Americans don’t know true significant of what Independence Day is, they just think it’s the day America separate from Great Britain. In addition, further generations are going to think it was the separation and that everyone in the United States had the same freedom, but in reality they are not going to know who were the only ones that had freedom in the

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Have I not as a right to be free as you have?”. After gaining the ability to read and comprehend things, Douglass starts to question the rights he has a slave and the freedoms he doesn’t have

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873 Words | 4 Pages

Both King and Douglass were advocating for the same thing: their constitutional sanction of freedom. Both men, in their respective letters touch upon parallel thoughts and beliefs that revolve around the much bigger topic of racial inequality and discrimination. Both men were discriminated against and they talk about their experiences and plight in their very distinctive yet special styles. Born in the year 1817, in an era of open and unashamed slave trade, Frederick Douglass’s story begins as a serf to Mrs. Hugh in the city of Maryland.

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1830 Words | 8 Pages

"Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us [blacks]?” (Foner 1950). As Frederick Douglass proclaimed this to a crowd of five hundred attendees on July 5, 1852, he gained the attention of the spectators. Although he was invited to speak about what the fourth of July means for the Black population, Douglass accentuated much more. Frederick Douglass respectfully addressed how the nation is young, but can still undergo positive changes.

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Rhetorical Analysis Of Frederick Douglass Speech

462 Words | 2 Pages

Although the constitution states “justice, liberty, prosperity and independence” (39), there are still slaves. Douglass uses a rhetoric question as he asks: “What, to a slave is your 4th of July?” (39) This method is very effective as it does truly change the perspective of the audience. As he continues through the speech, Douglass believes this celebrations is just and excuse to “cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (39).

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1493 Words | 6 Pages

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was promised to all American citizens in the constitution. In Douglass’s My Bondage and My Freedom, as well as his 1852 speech, The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, he makes it crystal clear that free black americans, the individuals whose sweat and tears built America, were exempt from these promises. Interestly enough, the same rights and treatments that Douglass deserved in America, he enjoyed during his hiatus as an orator in Great Britain. As the mother country of America, one would expect the experience in both countries to be similar.

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This Fourth Of July Fourth For The Negro Analysis

174 Words | 1 Pages

Though America is built on strong foundations such as liberty and independence, the trials of slavery leads one to conclude that freedom for one does not necessarily mean freedom for all. In the speech “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” by Frederick Douglass, he explains how “The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me” (Douglass n.pag). The fourth of July to a white person means a day of celebration and independence, whereas to an African American slave there was a constant reminder of the struggle they went through. Continuing on, Douglass also states how “This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn” (Douglass n.pag).

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445 Words | 2 Pages

American slavery is the subject of Douglass’s speech. On that day he wanted everyone to see the popular characteristics from the slave’s point of view. The standing was identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mines, he didn't hesitate to declare, with all my soul. The character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to him than that 4th of July.

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498 Words | 2 Pages

At last, Douglass brings the point of freedom and justice the one person has every right to him than any other, and no man has the authority to rule over

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1025 Words | 5 Pages

He declares, “to forget them [the slaves], to pass lightly over their wrongs and to chime in with the popular theme would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world,” (para. 5). He discusses that slavery is unjust, and says that celebrating freedom with slavery would be treason. This helps the audience realize that celebrating freedom in their country is not a peccadillo, and they naturally will try to right the wrong because of their moral instincts by stopping their celebration. He also says, “to him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy - a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages,” (para. 15). In this quote, Douglass says that celebrating liberty is covering up a crime: slavery.

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What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July Essay

636 Words | 3 Pages

Freedom is the primary ideal upon which America was founded. It is the tenet most cherished by the original colonists; it is a pillar upon which they built the new government. However, freedom was denied to a large part of America's citizens for a long time. Frederick Douglas was one of the greatest activists for African-American freedom of the 19th century; he used literary works and speeches, instead of violence, to achieve his goals. In his piece "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?"

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918 Words | 4 Pages

God and the forward march of history, Douglass believed, would bring the realization of truth, justice, and the brotherhood of man. As such, equality is not just necessary for the establishment of government but is also a requisite in maintaining a safe and stable nation. Most importantly, upon entering society individuals are required to alienate a modicum of freedom and liberty, but full equality can (theoretically) never be compromised. This, of course, will impact the state and inevitably require a

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307 Words | 2 Pages

The Spirit of Life Freedom isn’t free, it’s an appealing mind concept. The human spirit is never free until the quality of oneself gain the strength to make it through every obstacle thrown at them. Frederick Douglass taught us to express the things that no one failed to mention within slavery. He had to master the negativity that dealt within him and the enslavement of all African American. In the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass uses his own personal experiences, a theme of identity and self-discovering.

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1345 Words | 6 Pages

In fact, in western tradition, freedom is often tied with inequality and violence and defined in opposition to forms of enslavement and other oppression, which refers to impediments based on membership in a group, particularly if said group has historically lacked power. Frederick Douglass illustrates this in a speech on “what to the slave is the 4th of July?” He views the U.S. Constitution as a “glorious liberty document” (Douglass), but also acknowledges how the existence of slavery still legally occurred despite flagrant transgressions on the principles of freedom the document says it upholds. Douglass, who was asked to give a patriotic speech in celebration of the holiday by what would be considered a relatively progressive group of abolitionists, invites and even requires his hosts to consider the hypocrisy of this request and how the failings of the system make him unable to fulfill their request and is an offense against the injustice his people have suffered as slaves. One can see that there are problems with varying degrees of state involvement in maintaining and limiting freedom, and there is no clear answer on how freedom should be defined, or if there is even a definition that should be had of it.

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1090 Words | 5 Pages

As the profound Dutch writer Hans Christian Andersen put it, “just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” These words stay true throughout the history of time, and the importance of freedom cannot be undersold. Even in the mid nineteenth century, when slavery ran wild, the slaves knew the importance of their freedom, but they could not quite achieve it just by themselves. People cannot achieve freedom alone because any revolution requires multiple people to succeed and gain influence and since freedom is only achieved after one is oppressed by another, it means more than one person is involved; although others may argue that freedom from oneself is something achieved alone, in reality, one is never really

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