How Did Frederick Douglass Contribute To The Abolitionist Movement

Frederick Douglass, a man that was very popular in many aspects during the mid 20th century, is mainly known today for his abolitionist speeches and literature. Douglass was an abolitionist who fought for the end of slavery in the United States and many looked up to him during that time. Douglass' experiences with slavery and other challenges in his early life helped him to contribute to the abolitionist movement through his literature and speeches, for this he was seen as an inspiration and a leader among the abolitionists. Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 on Holme Hill Farm, located in Talbot, Maryland. During his childhood he was traded multiple times in the slave trade. One of his mistresses taught Douglass the basics of
Douglass started contributing to the abolitionist movement not long after he and his wife, Anna (Murray) Douglass, moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Inspired by an abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, Douglass attended the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and he quickly grew in popularity after he made a speech at one of the meetings and later he would join the American Anti-Slavery Society. According to Britannica it states “As an agent of both the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass traveled the country promoting abolition and the organizations’ agenda.” Douglass contributed to the abolitionist movement through his speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” which was given in Rochester, New York. The “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech showed people in positions of political power the impact slavery has on the slave. His background as a former slave gained both him and the abolitionist movement more publicity, and with that came both opposition and support for Douglass and the