Slavery Is The Fourth Of July Essay

Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850. We as the readers see imagination, intuition, idealism, inspiration, and individuality from the authors of the Romantic period. Frederick Douglass wrote an oratory in 1852 called “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” and what he says is “No nation can now shut itself up from itself from the surrounding world and trot round the same old path of its fathers without interference. The time was when such could be done. Long established customs of hurtful character could formerly fence themselves in, and do their evil work with social impunity...Intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe.” (Cain 1044). Being that this oratory was written in 1852 it can still be used to encapsulate the American ideal. It is possible that if we come together as a nation we can indeed be more optimistic than Douglass was 160 years ago. Frederick Douglass had hope, he knew that the world was indeed becoming very intelligent. He had seen the darkest parts of the nation such a

As we evolve as a nation we do need to make sure we are using the past to learn from it. Ignoring it will only set the nation back, rather than advancing it forward. To become more optimistic than Douglass we must take the issues we have today and look at them from all sides. As a nation we have to keep looking forward and decide what is best for everyone. Political issues today are a big debate, such as abortion. What Political men and women need to decide is what is going to improve us as a nation and keep us as one. It is obvious that not everyone will always agree on things, and see eye to eye. That’s life though and to succeed we must stick together and more forward with our