Differences Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass both have interesting ways of writing. There are similarities and differences in their writing. They each have their own personal preference toward their style, tone, and perspective.

Lincoln shared the uncommon belief that the confederate states could still be part of the union and that the cause of the rebellion was only a few within the states which lead him to begin the reconstruction in December of 1863. This resulted in plans with lenient guidelines and although they were challenged by Wade-Davis Bill, Lincoln still rejected his ideas and kept his policies in place. Lincoln also allowed land to be given the newly freed slave or homeless white by distributing the land that had been confiscated from former land owners however this fell through once Johnson took office. After Lincoln’s death when Johnson was elected many things started to turn away from giving blacks equal rights and resulted in many things such a black codes which kept newly freed slaves from having the same rights as whites.

While Reconstruction after the Civil War seemed to have promise for former slaves, there were still many hardships. President Andrew Johnson’s leniency with the south during this decisive period allowed for there to be debate over what the fate of freed slaves should be. Some believed that continuing to work in the fields they were once slaves in was the best option for blacks because of their past as field workers, while others believed that there were more options for blacks than just farm work as seen in the schools built in the south for the black population by the Freedman’s Bureau. However, the question still remained as to what freedom for blacks truly meant. People’s opinions on what freedom for ex-slaves needed to be depended exclusively on their race and their socioeconomic status.

We can state the obvious, that we are not all perfect, and we certainly say things we don’t mean. Was President Lincoln really a racist? There is documented text that could point evidence that leans in either direction. Things said in the heat of long debates and drawn out conversations that ran for hours, does not make such a monumental man a poor or hypocritical person. Looking at the Constitutional right that “All men are created equal” to the thought that things won’t change without action, and to a man with no moral obligation other than to share his personal option that slavery was wrong, we dive into President Lincoln.

Frederick Douglass, an African American slave, went through many obstacles to become a free man. Frederick Douglass not only kept his head held high through all of the troubles he faced, he also was fearless, defiant, and determined. All of these qualities are what helped him escape slavery in the long run.

Fredrick Douglas and Henry David Thoreau have the same ideas yet different experiences which shine through their writings. The main idea is that I would have had no idea that Thoreau was an abolitionist from this writing alone. This excerpt from Thoreau is extremely philosophical, as were most of his other writings, and could only loosely be applied to the issue of slavery while Douglas’ writing was strictly an autobiography. This simple difference goes a long way in highlighting their differences as rights activists.

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass are American heroes with each exemplifying a unique aspect of the American spirit. In his recent study, "The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics" (2007), Professor James Oakes traces the intersecting careers of both men, pointing out their initial differences and how their goals and visions ultimately converged. Oakes is Graduate School Humanities Professor and Professor of History at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has written extensively on the history of slavery in the Old South.

Lincoln was not an abolitionist. In fact he said that if he could save the Union without freeing any slaves he would do it. Lincoln did believe that all men (including black men) should have the right to improve their condition in society and to get paid for their labor. However, he did not believe that black men could

“I will give Mr. Freeland the credit of being the best master I ever had, till I became my own master.” –Fredrick Douglass. The fight for the end of slavery was an issue that eventually tore the United States into two parts. Antebellum America was a period of conflict and unease due to the various differences in beliefs regarding slavery between the northern and southern states. However, American abolitionists provoked sympathy and outrage of southern slave ideals by using the rhetoric of natural rights and the Declaration of Independence, illustrating the contradiction of Christian values to slavery, and criticizing how domestic ideology conflicted with slavery. Abolitionist and former slave, Frederick Douglass refuted the proslavery ideology

However, these differences show that the North and South were actually two distinct countries held together by one constitution. The North felt that decisions regarding slavery and its legality were entrenched in the central government while the South felt that such decision belonged to the individual states. In the times preceding the war, both sides could not reach a compromise. Bonner mentions, “Because secession and war were permitted to come, warned Russel, "We are not entitled to lay the flattering unction to our souls that the Civil War was an inevitable conflict (Bonner, 195).” Hence, these differences could only be addressed through war. President Lincoln made it clear in the Emancipation Proclamation that any state found holding slaves would be in contravention of the Constitution of the United Sates and thus would be considered to be in “rebellion against the United States” (Lincoln,

Although a century apart, Martin Luther King Jr’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and Frederick Douglass’s What to a Slave is the fourth of July are kindred spirits. Notwithstanding the many differences in their respective writing styles, deep down the essence of the message conveyed is still very much the same. Both Martin Luther King Junior and Frederick Douglas had similar beliefs and concepts related to the treatment of the African American community. They both describe a tough yet heart breaking situation that makes them question their moral values and doubt the system and its ability to change for better. Both King and Douglass were advocating for the same thing: their constitutional sanction of freedom.

Douglass is a African American that was a slave and did a Narrative about his time being a slave and in his Narrative he “threw light” at the American slave system. African American slave Frederick Douglass lived through a time of racism and how slavery was a natural thing to do but was a very awful thing. And slavery is when families who had colored skin were separated and sold of to a person that can do anything to them, the slave is pretty much like the slaveholder’s property. And in this essay I will talk about how Douglass’s position differs from those who supported slavery and also I will be talking about How Douglass used his Narrative to share his position.

Abolition of slavery was a big controversy in the United State of America in the nineteenth century due to the different stances between northern and southern states which led to the American Civil war. At the present time, Abraham Lincoln was the president of the United States who supported the north (Union) thought that free the slave could help him united all the states. As the result, he passed out the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, which give freedom to slaves in the states that the Union did not control. After the war, he issued the Thirteenth Amendment on December 6, 1865, to free all slaves. Although Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery, he did not deserve to be call “ The Great Emancipator” because he freed the slaves for war purpose, only part of the slaves were freed at first, and he did not know what to do to abolish slavery.

Second, both Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass gained freedom. Booker gained his freedom when he was only 8 years old, because he was born in 1858, or 1859. As one might imagine, he was freed when Abraham Lincoln made the emancipation proclamation. Once he was freed, he settled into a town with his family and started working in the salt business, packing salt in barrels. Frederick Douglass, however, gained freedom when he was quite older; when he was 20 years old. Since it was 1835 when he gained his freedom, he wasn’t freed by the emancipation proclamation, but instead ran away from his master. Once he was free, he resided in a town in the north, and started a home with a wife there right away. Both Booker and Frederick gained

With the South succession from the North, two leaders emerged to lead the nation forward—Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Both men were great leaders who believed their cause was worthy. For example, they both “proclaimed numerous official days of fasting and prayer in the aftermath of important battles” (Tindall and Shi 517). Yet this was a challenge they faced. Who’s side was God on? That is uncertain. However as each challenged arose, they struggled to overcome them. For example, Lincoln had little military training, yet managed to secure experienced generals that lead his army to victory. This came from his ability to “analyze situations quickly and make good decisions. He was also good at dealing with difficult people” (Hillstrom and Collier 272).