FREEDOM and SLAVERY & Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass

1. FREEDOM and SLAVERY&Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass An American Slave, Written by Himself

2. Historical Context • Year: 1845 • Slavery: North vs. South • North: Abolitionist movement: antislavery movement that began in 1780’s in W. Europe & US • South: not having it, they needed their slaves for agricultural economy • Both N and S treated slaves as inferior, denying them any legal protection.

3. Underground Railroad • a network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada • not run by any single organization or person: • consisted of many individuals -- many whites but predominantly black -- only knew of the local efforts to aid fugitives and not of the overall operation • effectively moved hundreds of slaves northward each year -- according to one estimate, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850

4. Underground RR Map

5. Slave Narratives • Once they found freedom, slaves began to write about their experiences under slavery • Often called “protest literature” • With the abolitionist movement, these pieces of literature (and earlier narratives) were being recognized to fuel debates • In the world: British Empire abolished slavery in 1830’s

6. Pro-slavery Legislation • 1850: Fugitive Slave Law penalized those who assisted runaway slaves and allowed escaped slaves to be tracked down and returned to their ex-slaveholders. • 1857: Dred Scott ruling decided African Americans had NO protection under Constitution

7. Douglass’ Narrative • With it, he became figurehead for cause, giving African Americans a voice • Again, African American rights at this time were nonexistent: had limited legal protection in the North (none in South) • Could not hold any public office or vote • SO, this type of literature (published in North) was the only way to be heard. • A foundational text in American literary canon (core texts) and literary tradition of African American identity

8. Douglass – the Abolitionist • Traveled, giving lectures about the wrongs of slavery (met with discrimination/angry mobs) • Extraordinary speaking skills caused his credibility as a slave to be questioned. • His Narrative is a response to that criticism, as he explains, in detail, his life as a slave • After it was published, he went to Britain for safety until some Quakers raised enough money to buy his freedom in 1847.

9. Douglass – the Abolitionist (cont.) • Douglass believed in and worked for human rights in many ways, including: • Political action, rather than moral persuasion, to end slavery • The belief that blacks, rather than whites, should lead the movement • His assistance with the Underground Railroad • His efforts to end racial segregation in schools • His support of women’s suffrage

10. Sources • www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2962b.html • www3.mpls.k12.mn.us/.../underrailroad.html • www.worthingtonmemory.org/FullFrameImagePF.cf... • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html • Prestwick House teaching unit • Enotes teaching unit