Assignment task: Frederick Douglass Speech: "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"
Creator: Frederick Douglass
Origin: Delivered on July 5, 1852, in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York, addressing the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society
Description: Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland in 1818. He was separated from his mother in infancy and lived with his grandmother until he was separated from her as well at age seven. After several attempts, he finally successfully escaped slavery in 1838. He became one of the most influential abolitionist speakers and before a crowd of white abolitionists in 1852, he delivered this (the speech above), one of the greatest abolitionist speeches,
For this assignment, I want you to analyze this primary source and answer the questions below.
Questions:
Q1. Who delivered this speech and what are some of the important facts that we know about him? Why is it important to know the speaker and gather information about him?
Q2. When was this speech delivered? Why is it important to know this?
Q3. Who do you believe was the speaker's intended audience? Who do you believe might have become an unintended audience? Hint: consider those opposed to slavery and those in favor of it.
Q4. What do you believe was the speaker's purpose in delivering this speech? Consider who it was delivered to, the date it was delivered, and the events that were occurring during that time.
Q5. What do you believe might have been some reactions to this speech? Consider those in attendance and those who might have heard about or read about this speech shortly afterwards. Also consider the various stances of that particular period (hint: pro-slavery and anti-slavery).
Q6. As a historian or someone who wishes to understand the past, what research questions does this speech raise? In other words, after you have read and examined the speech, what questions about the topic and/or period do you now have? What are you still curious about? Think of questions that can be answered through research.