What To The Slave If The Fourth Of July Analysis

American beliefs are rooted in the value of freedom. The founding fathers risked their lives for freedom, yet it has not always been given to all. American values and beliefs have changed overtime causing today’s beliefs to be different. By comparing and contrasting the perspectives of Frederick Douglass, who in his speech “What to the Slave if the Fourth of July?” presents his viewpoint on the need to end the act of slavery, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who in her speech from Declaration of Sentiments of the Seneca Falls Woman’s Rights Convention argues the need for equality between men and women, it is evident that Americans value this belief and hope for a positive future by creating freedom for the rest of the nation. Frederick Douglass argues the act of slavery is unconstitutional. In his passionate delivery, he says, “Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity in which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery the great sin and shame to America!” (Douglass 3). Douglass feels the need to shame America for the act of slavery. He believes America should be shamed because slavery contradicts all that the founding fathers fought for. Douglass states, “. . . looking hopefully for life
The ideas that they have fought for have changed the world today. Douglass’ drive to put an end to slavery and grant liberty to all, and Stanton’s fight for equality of women, have paved the way to creating laws that now protect every citizen’s basic civil rights. In today’s society, women and minority groups are given their rights such as voting and equality in marriage, but the fight is not over