What specific actions or changes does Douglass hope to inspire in his audience through his speech?

Douglass aims to rouse the conscience of the nation, expose its hypocrisy, and ultimately inspire action to abolish slavery and extend the principles of freedom and justice to all.

Douglass states, 'To him, your celebration is a sham.' What does he mean by this, and how does it relate to his purpose?

Douglass means that the celebration of freedom is meaningless and hypocritical to the enslaved person. This statement underscores his purpose of exposing the nation's injustice and challenging its self-congratulatory narrative.

Douglass's Purpose

11th Grade•90 minutes

Learning Objective

I can analyze Frederick Douglass's purpose for writing his autobiography.

Key Concepts

Frederick Douglass, born into slavery, became a key leader of the abolitionist movement.

Douglass delivered his speech, "What to the Slave Is Your Fourth of July?" on July 5th, 1852 in Rochester, New York.

Douglass argues that the Fourth of July reveals the "gross injustice and cruelty" experienced by the American slave.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What is the primary purpose of Frederick Douglass's speech, 'What to the Slave Is Your Fourth of July?'

2. In his speech, Douglass uses several rhetorical devices. Identify one such device and explain how it contributes to his overall purpose.

3. How does Douglass use the phrase 'scorching irony' to convey his purpose?

...and 9 more questions

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"What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?": James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglass's Historic Speech

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