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Frederick Douglass Influence On American Culture Essay

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America underwent constant reform between the years of 1840 to 1850. Living in a country established for less than a century, Americans witnessed great wars, new inventions, expansion, and changes within the government. Art wasn 't as prevalent then as it became later on.The pioneers of dance and historic events regarding such happened later. However, it is the history of the people that have influence upon masterpieces born in generations to come. During this time period, the government saw lots of progressions. More people became citizens, the country claimed western land, and Peace was made among nations. On June 1st, 1840, the United States census grew to 17,063,353, which was up 33% from the decade before. New York, Pennsylvania, …show more content…

Black culture in America was on the rise as well. While many African 's were enslaved during the 1840 's, their traditional customs such as dance, music, and storytelling reached the grounds of freedom. Ex-slave Frederick Douglass published his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave in May of 1845 (1). Douglass was very influential to black culture in that he was able to intelligently speak on his experiences as a slave, and lead different reforms against slavery. In 1842, he led a successful campaign against Rhode Island 's Dorr Constitution which was to continue the prohibition on black voting rights(2); in 1847 he began his own newspaper entitled The North Star (2); and in 1848 he was amongst a handful of men who attended the first Women 's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the women in charge of the convention weren 't only for the rights of women but for the rights of blacks as well(2). Story-telling extended to Negro Spirituals from the Underground railroad were born in 1849 when Harriet Tubman escaped and went to find a way for other slaves(1). The similarities between the Irish and African cultures began both tap dance and the Minstrel Shows. The First Minstrel Show debuted in the United States at the Bowery AmphiTheater in New York City on February 6th, 1843(1). Tap dancer William Henry Lane, also known was Master Juba was acclaimed the first black dance performer in

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