Hypocrisy Of Slavery Analysis

In Frederick Douglass’s The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro, he exposes the hypocrisy and iniquity that is infused into considerably one of the most prolific American moments in history known as The Fourth of July. Douglass, who was a former slave that eventually reached freedom, was invited to speak about what Fourth of July meant for the black population within America. Although Douglass provided much gratitude to the Founding Fathers for their courage and ability to oppose oppressive systems, he criticizes the American country for its involvement within slavery. Slavery served as the foundation that constructed America, allowing for it fuel the economy and develop into a cultural and political norm within society.

Douglass tried to get his point across by teaching white people what they’re really doing to slaves. He tried to get them to realize that their actions will have consequences. He used God in his speeches to show what the white people were doing was a crime against

“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground,” stated by Frederick Douglass. Douglass tries to make “hyprocaties” understand that those who want free need to work for it if they don’t work for it they will only make fools of themselves. Frederick Douglass was an American slave who bought his own freedom in order to become a free man, and he states this type of quotes to make slaves fight for their rights. Using the Toulmin Model, readers can discern the main claim is that Americans are hypocrites when they celebrate Independence day on the grounds that they still have slaves and analyze other elements of argumentation such as many Americans still encouraging slavery.

How Douglass Demonstrated His Courage and How it is a Defining Element of The Human Spirit Frederick Douglass demonstrated many acts of courage in his narrative, many of which gave hope and inspiration to fellow slaves at the time. Slaves were treated very poorly and were given a low place in society. Those who supported slavery despised those who were against it, and any slaves who attempted to stand up for themselves or others were punished severely. To boldly stand up for what is morally right, especially during that time, was an enormous act of courage in itself. “It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog” (Twain).

Frederick Douglass     He was born into slavery and worked on a slave farm in Maryland and in Baltimore when he was very young. Although Douglass got a bit more freedom than any other slave did down south. Slave were allowed or granted with nothing at all because they were slaves and people believe that they deserve nothing but to work more very little or not at all. During his free time Douglass his slave owner's wife had taught him how to read and write but her husband ended that quickly. Shortly after that he found ways to teach him.

Although from different eras, both Douglass and Rowlandson use similar techniques such as religion, repetition, and sentimentalism to show that being held captive and slavery is wrong. America was founded on Christian beliefs, so Douglass attacked that. He states, “If the churches and ministers of our country were not stupidly blind, or most wickedly indifferent, they, too, would so regard it” (Douglass 1037) Douglass is making a bold move that will spark controversy. He uses statements like this to keep the audience’s attention.

Douglass believed that the enslavers should be punished by prison because they were taking people from their homes and selling them into slavery. He also believes the people that roused him and took him from his home were thieves. After being

Former abolitionist leader, writer and orator, Frederick Douglass was born into slavery around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. Frederick learned to how to read at a young age and was a very smart boy growing up. It was obvious to him that being a slave was not his purpose in life. Douglass escaped from slavery when he was 20 years old and became an anti-slavery activist. As a reformer Douglass did many things to get the rights he believed African Americans needed.

He proclaims that "…While we are…living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives and children, and, above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian's God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave, we are called upon to prove that we are men!" By showing the mundanity of the slave, Douglass shows the audience that the slaves are human and therefore unable to be considered property. He forces his audience to examine their own lives and realize their similarities to the slaves and the hypocrisy of slavery. He doesn't give his audience a chance to disagree with his stance on slavery because he makes such a blunt argument. Douglass asks again, "Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man?

On July 5th 1852 Fredrick Douglass gave a speech to the anti-slavery society to show that all men and woman are equal no matter what. Douglass uses ethos, pathos, and logos in his speech to make look reasonable. Douglass demonstrates ethos by speaking in first person that of which he had experience slavery: "I was born amid such sights and scenes"(Douglass 4). When Douglass spoke these words to the society, they knew of his personal knowledge and was able to depend on him has a reliable source of information. The anti-slavery society listening to his every word, considering that Douglass spoke with integrity, knowledge and emotions.

The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass shows the imbalance of power between slaves and their masters. In his book, Douglass proves that slavery is a destructive force not only to the slaves, but also for the slaveholders. “Poison of the irresponsible power” that masters have upon their slaves that are dehumanizing and shameless, have changed the masters themselves and their morality(Douglass 39). This amount of power and control in contact with one man breaks the kindest heart and the purest thoughts turning the person evil and corrupt. Douglass uses flashbacks that illustrate the emotions that declare the negative effects of slavery.

Most of his time was in the movement of the abolition of slavery. He did not want any other black person to face brutality, humiliation, and pain. His arguments became very useful in the anti-slavery movement. It is through his experiences of being a slave that he urged for the abolition of slavery (Douglass, 1845). Douglass’ style of narration makes the reader to be involved in the story emotionally.

In 1776, on July 4th, the 13 English colonies officially declared their freedom from England. However, as the years progressed, slavery became incorporated into everyday American life. In 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave, was called upon to deliver a speech to celebrate America’s independence; however, he censured Americans for saying they were a “country of the free”. In the speech, Hypocrisy of American Slavery, Frederick Douglass declares that Americans should not be celebrating their freedom when there are slaves living in the country. He uses emotional appeal, ethical appeal, and rhetorical questions to convince his audience that Americans are wrong celebrating freedom on the 4th of July when slavery exists in their country.

When most people hear the words “Fourth of July” they think about fireworks, cookouts, and sparklers. During the 1850’s, the Fourth of July served as a reminder of the many horrors and injustices in the world. On July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass-- a former American slave, abolitionist leader and adroit speaker-- spoke in Rochester, New York about the affectation of celebrating independence. In his speech, “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”, he claims celebrating independence is unethical when slavery is widespread. To convince the reader of his claim, he uses rhetorical questions, emotional appeal, and antithesis in hopes of shedding light and sparking action on the wrongful situation.

Douglass writing skills are further conveyed as magnificent through his logic-based argument. His logic-based argument comes through proving himself valid and credible, and developing uniform lines of reasoning. First and foremost, his validity is established early on, when he describes his background in vast amount of detail and even truthfully exclaims how he was separated from his parents, but that had an effect of which he did “not know” of and thus very miniscule. The reader carries many details about Douglass’ childhood, and Douglass illustrates the truth on how the separation did not affect him that much gains more credibility for him. The reason being is any slave who just starts off the narrative by complaining about his separation