How Frederick Douglass became an abolitionist
Learn more about Frederick Douglass.
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Transcript
Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, orator, and author known for his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself.
Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey on Holme Hill Farm in Talbot county, Maryland.
Born into enslavement about 1818, he never knew his birthday or his white father and was separated from his Black mother when very young.
He was sent to Wye House Plantation at age five or six and to Baltimore, Maryland, at age eight.
More than once he tried to escape bondage. Finally, in 1838 Douglass self-liberated and reached the free state of New York. After moving to New Bedford, Massachusetts, Douglass discovered William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, which inspired him to attend the 1941 Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society convention.
He became an agent of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society and began to travel the country promoting abolition. When the Civil War began in 1861, Douglass advocated for the Union army to recruit Black soldiers.
He became a recruiter for the Massachusetts 54th, an all-Black infantry regiment. Douglass advocated to President Abraham Lincoln for improvements in the status and rights of Black people and soldiers. After the Union victory ended slavery in the United States, Douglass dedicated himself to securing social and legal freedoms for the millions of free Black Americans. In the latter years of his life, Douglass held multiple government appointments, became the most photographed man of the 19th century, and served on Howard University’s board of trustees. He died on February 20, 1895.
Born into enslavement about 1818, he never knew his birthday or his white father and was separated from his Black mother when very young.
He was sent to Wye House Plantation at age five or six and to Baltimore, Maryland, at age eight.
More than once he tried to escape bondage. Finally, in 1838 Douglass self-liberated and reached the free state of New York. After moving to New Bedford, Massachusetts, Douglass discovered William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, which inspired him to attend the 1941 Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society convention.
He became an agent of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society and began to travel the country promoting abolition. When the Civil War began in 1861, Douglass advocated for the Union army to recruit Black soldiers.
He became a recruiter for the Massachusetts 54th, an all-Black infantry regiment. Douglass advocated to President Abraham Lincoln for improvements in the status and rights of Black people and soldiers. After the Union victory ended slavery in the United States, Douglass dedicated himself to securing social and legal freedoms for the millions of free Black Americans. In the latter years of his life, Douglass held multiple government appointments, became the most photographed man of the 19th century, and served on Howard University’s board of trustees. He died on February 20, 1895.
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