Frederick Douglas is an American public figure of the 19th century, an uncompromising fighter for the rights of blacks and one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement. Douglas is also the author of three autobiographical novels in which he described, among other things, the period of his life when he was a slave.
Being enslaved and escaping
Frederick Douglas was born in Maryland in February 1818. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Frederick practically did not remember his mother, a slave. At the age of about five, he was taken away from her, and in the future they never reunited.
When Frederick grew up a little, he was forced to attend to the master's grandson. The grandson went to school and sometimes told the servant about what he had learned in the lessons. Slaves were not supposed to be literate, but Frederick by the age of twelve was able to independently learn to write and read. But opening the books in the presence of the slave owner was in any case dangerous, so Frederick had to look for secluded places in the forest to read. Once Frederick was caught doing this by the owner and, as a punishment, he lashed him with a whip.
Then Frederick was handed over to a certain Mr. Covey, who was believed to be able to turn obstinate slaves into obedient ones. After some time, tired of bullying and beatings, Frederick attacked Covey, and after that he never raised his hand to the young man again.
And then Douglas managed to escape from the slave owner. Anna Murray, a free black woman from Baltimore (she was several years older than Frederick), helped arrange this escape. Douglas met Anna in 1837. This acquaintance strengthened Douglas' belief that he, too, could be free. By the way, later Frederick married Anna and lived with her in a marriage union for about 44 years.
Anna got Frederick a naval escape uniform and the necessary documents proving that he was a black sailor. The escape took place on September 3, 1838. First, Douglas reached the city of Wilmington (Delaware), then sailed by steamer to Philadelphia, and from there headed to New York.
Douglas' activities as an abolitionist
To provide for himself in a new place, Douglas took on the dirtiest work - he was a chimney sweep, a lumberjack, a coachman. Once in his hands was the journal of abolitionist William Lloyd Harrison "Liberator". On its pages, the slave system was furiously exposed. Frederick wished to meet this figure.
Harrison and Douglas met in 1841 at an abolitionist meeting. Douglas himself decided to give a speech that day - he told people about what he himself experienced in the slave South. His story amazed the audience, and in the future, Douglas repeatedly spoke to the public, thereby attracting new supporters into the ranks of the abolitionists.
Newspapers began to write about the talented Douglas. Moreover, many did not believe that he really had once been in slavery. To dispel all doubts, Douglas wrote his biography entitled "The Tale of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave." It was published in 1845 and immediately brought fame to the author.
And already in 1847 Frederick began to publish his own newspaper called "The North Star". This publication was considered one of the leading abolitionist publications.
Interestingly, Douglas made a significant contribution to the protection of women's rights. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Belief at the 1848 Women's Rights Conference held in Seneca Falls.
In 1855 Douglas published his second autobiography, My Slavery and My Freedom. In this work, he not only comprehended his own past, but also outlined his political position on a wide range of issues.
In 1861, the southern states rebelled and created a separate slave state - this is how the Civil War began in the United States. At first, the government of the North refused to draft blacks into the army. Douglas did much to secure the right for African Americans to fight against slave-owning southerners. And from the beginning of 1862, black men still began to be accepted into the service.
On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln published the famous emancipation proclamation, and in 1865, when the Northmen won a complete victory over the South, the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was adopted, effectively prohibiting slavery.
Years after the Civil War
Frederick Douglas remained a prominent politician and public figure after 1865. Not sparing himself, he fought for the electoral and labor rights of blacks, defended other progressive ideas for that time.
Interestingly, in 1872, Douglas became the first African American to become a candidate for the post of Vice President of the United States. However, he still did not receive this position.
In 1881, the abolitionist politician published the third autobiographical book of his career, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglas. She, like the two previous ones, enjoyed success with readers.
It is also worth noting that since 1881, Douglas served as Acting Recorder for the District of Columbia, and since 1889 he was the Resident Minister and Consul General of the Republic of Haiti.
Frederick Douglas died of sudden cardiac arrest on February 20, 1895.
