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How Does Frederick Douglass Appeal To Declaration Of Independence

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Slavery in America began in the early 16th century, and lasted through the late 19th century. There were many people that believed that slavery was tolerable, and there were others that believed that it was an unacceptable cause. One of the many abolitionist of slavery, Frederick Douglass, wrote and delivered The Hypocrisy of American Slavery Speech on July 4, 1852 to a assemblage of other abolitionists. In Douglass’ speech, he attempts to display that slaves are human beings and should be treated as such. He establishes a sympathetic tone to grasp the attention of the people who are allowing slavery to continue happening. Frederick Douglass initiates his speech with questions. He asks “What have I or those I represent to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” In these set of questions he conveys that himself, along with other African Americans, are not given the same rights as other Americans are given. Douglass is appealing to the sympathetic emotion by questioning the fact of to why the same rights given to Americans aren’t given to the African Slaves. The sympathetic tone he uses, makes the audience sympathize for the slaves. Douglass refers to the principles of political freedom …show more content…

I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham…” (Douglass ). He convinces to Americans that the Fourth of July shouldn’t be a celebration, it should be a shame. He feels as if they should be guilty for the Fourth of July to even be considered a day of celebration for freedom, because not all people of America are free. He argues that slaves find this day to be a cruel, and disgusting to them, because it is basically a day of

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