Summary Of What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July

A man born into slavery, Frederick Douglass, gives a speech which is based upon the ideals of the Founding Fathers. In Douglass’ speech of What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, he talks about what the Fourth of July means for America's black population and gives us many examples in his speech of what the Founding Fathers wanted for our country. He says the Fourth of July, “is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom.” His speech quickly shows how black slaves were treated unequally by the white American society. Douglass spoke on behalf of other slaves for their rights, which challenged American social policies regarding the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights within his speech.

He says that the “Declaration of Independence is the ring-bolt to the chain of the nation’s destiny” because the “principles contained in it are saving principles.” What he means by saving principles, he is referring to the preamble, when the founding fathers said, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He refers to this part of the Declaration, because it says how all men are created equal, and if we are equal then why are we prejudice towards slaves? Douglass referred to the unalienable rights in his speech, because those are rights that cannot be taken away from you, or denied. Many black slaves were treated as if they didn't have unalienable rights, and Douglass wanted to reassure in his speech that they still