what to the slave is the fourth of july annotation

These rules are well established. Further, if this demand were not complied with, another Scotland would be added to the history of religious liberty, and the stern old Covenanters would be thrown into the shade. Nobody doubts it. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work The downfall of slavery. Tell me citizens, WHERE, under the sun, you can witness a spectacle more fiendish and shocking. Here you will see men and women reared like swine for the market. Stauffer, John. Let it be thundered around the world, that, in tyrant-killing, king-hating, people-loving, democratic, Christian America, the seats of justice are filled with judges, who hold their offices under an open and palpable bribe, and are bound, in deciding in the case of a mans liberty, hear only his accusers!In glaring violation of justice, in shameless disregard of the forms of administering law, in cunning arrangement to entrap the defenseless, and in diabolical intent, this Fugitive Slave Law stands alone in the annals of tyrannical legislation. [4], The speech "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" I will show you a man-drover. In his speech, "The Hypocrisy of American Slavery . Not fewer than forty Americans have, within the past two years, been hunted down and, without a moments warning, hurried away in chains, and consigned to slavery and excruciating torture. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour. Follow the drove to New Orleans. They are plain, common-sense rules, such as you and I, and all of us, can understand and apply, without having passed years in the study of law. To the slave, Douglass tells the audience, "your 4th of July is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license [for enslaving blacks] . The time for such argument is passed.At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. The cause of liberty may be stabbed by the men who glory in the deeds of your fathers. A major theme of the speech is how America is not living up to its proclaimed beliefs. [5] American studies professor Andrew S. Bibby argues that because many of the editions produced for educational use are abridged, they often misrepresent Douglass's original through omission or editorial focus. But its quite another to change the way you see yourself and to grow into a person deeply committed to long-term interracial coalition building. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act had passed Congress as part of the broader Compromise of 1850. That is a question Frederick Douglass posed 169 Julys ago in a speech to a group of abolitionists, one that's become perhaps his most famous. The timid and the prudent (as has been intimated) of that day, were, of course, shocked and alarmed by it. I will not equivocate; I will not excuse;. We need individual events like reading Douglass, but we also need to be thinking about ways to extend this conversation over the long term. Products. You profess to believe that, of one blood, God made all nations of men to dwell on the face of all the earth, and hath commanded all men, everywhere to love one another; yet you notoriously hate, (and glory in your hatred), all men whose skins are not colored like your own. was delivered in the decade preceding the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865 and achieved the abolition of slavery. The Oratory of Fr. Her speed had faltered under the weight of her child and her chains! To honor Black History Month, as an introduction or review of rhetorical appeals and devices, or as a speech exemplar, this Frederick Douglass "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" rhetoric activity is a fabulous addition to any lesson. If any man in this assembly thinks differently from me in this matter, and feels able to disprove my statements, I will gladly confront him at any suitable time and place he may select.I take this law to be one of the grossest infringements of Christian Liberty, and, if the churches and ministers of our country were not stupidly blind, or most wickedly indifferent, they, too, would so regard it.At the very moment that they are thanking God for the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, and for the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, they are utterly silent in respect to a law which robs religion of its chief significance, and makes it utterly worthless to a world lying in wickedness. You can bare your bosom to the storm of British artillery to throw off a threepenny tax on tea; and yet wring the last hard-earned farthing from the grasp of the black laborers of your country. A general shout would go up from the church, demanding repeal, repeal, instant repeal!And it would go hard with that politician who presumed to solicit the votes of the people without inscribing this motto on his banner. It was fashionable, hundreds of years ago, for the children of Jacob to boast, we have Abraham to our father, when they had long lost Abrahams faith and spirit. Worksheet Excerpt Analyzing Rhetorical Devices in "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?": Cling to this daycling to it, and to its principles, with the grasp of a storm-tossed mariner to a spar at midnight, Neither steam nor lightning had then been reduced to order and discipline, With them, justice, liberty and humanity were final; not slavery and oppression. I repeat, I am glad this is so. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future, Douglass said. I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. Is it to be settled by the rules of logic and argumentation, as a matter beset with great difficulty, involving a doubtful application of the principle of justice, hard to be understood? In a Fourth of July holiday special, we begin with the words of Frederick Douglass. They convert the very name of religion into an engine of tyranny and barbarous cruelty, and serve to confirm more infidels, in this age, than all the infidel writings of Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bolingbroke put together have done. The eye of the reformer is met with angry flashes, portending disastrous times; but his heart may well beat lighter at the thought that America is young, and that she is still in the impressible stage of her existence. be warned! The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. Heavy billows, like mountains in the distance, disclose to the leeward huge forms of flinty rocks! I am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is so young. The Act also denied suspected slaves trial by jury or even the ability to testify on their own behalf in court. that he is the rightful owner of his own body? He faults America for utter hypocrisy and betrayal of those values in maintaining the institution of slavery. But the 1852 "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" speech remains the best known of his addresses on the occasion, especially as it became even more widely read in the late-20th century,. Mark the sad procession, as it moves wearily along, and the inhuman wretch who drives them. there is no matter in respect to which, the people of the North have allowed themselves to be so ruinously imposed upon, as that of the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. You have no right to wear out and waste the hard-earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence. The oath of any two villains is sufficient, under this hell-black enactment, to send the most pious and exemplary black man into the remorseless jaws of slavery! If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.Fellow-citizens; above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. He praises them because they were great men. The inaugural meeting between six women took place in Corinthian Hall on August 20. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. If youre not a person of color, its one thing to go to a couple of events or protests, or to read a few articles and move on. You are all on fire at the mention of liberty for France or for Ireland; but are as cold as an iceberg at the thought of liberty for the enslaved of America. Kate Harris Date Published September 28, 2016 Last Modified November 14, 2021 Description. The accepted time with God and his cause is the ever-living now. No! They have taught that man may, properly, be a slave; that the relation of master and slave is ordained of God; that to send back an escaped bondman to his master is clearly the duty of all the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ; and this horrible blasphemy is palmed off upon the world for Christianity.For my part, I would say, welcome infidelity! The time was when such could be done. Is it at the gateway? As the sheet anchor takes a firmer hold, when the ship is tossed by the storm, so did the cause of your fathers grow stronger, as it breasted the chilling blasts of kingly displeasure. There is consolation in the thought that America is young. He expresses his belief in the speech that he and other slaves are fighting the same fight in terms of wishing to be free that White Americans, the ancestors of the white people he is addressing, fought seventy years earlier. Is slavery among them? From what quarter, I beg to know, has proceeded a fire so deadly upon our ranks, during the last two years, as from the Northern pulpit? There are illustrations of it near and remote, ancient and modern. For black men there are neither law, justice, humanity, not religion. Douglass then pivots to the present, stating that "We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future". They convert the very name of religion into an engine of tyranny, and barbarous cruelty, and serve to confirm more infidels, in this age, than all the infidel writings of Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bolingbroke, put together, have done! Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? On what branch of the subject do the people of this country need light? Table of Contents. Tell me citizens, WHERE, under the sun, you can witness a spectacle more fiendish and shocking. It is admitted in the fact that Southern statute books are covered with enactments forbidding, under severe fines and penalties, the teaching of the slave to read or to write. $ 3.60. He wrote and presented a speech that challenged . Who can reason on such a proposition? The crack you heard, was the sound of the slave-whip; the scream you heard, was from the woman you saw with the babe. in preference to the gospel, as preached by those Divines! The speech has been notably performed or read by important figures, including the following: The paragraphing referenced here is taken from an edition of the speech at, African Americans In Congress: A Documentary History, by Eric Freedman and Stephen A, Jones, 2008, p. 39, "Activist Public Relations and the Paradox of the Positive: A Case Study of Frederick Douglass's Fourth of July Address", "One of American History's Worst Laws Was Passed 165 Years Ago", "The Operation of the Fugitive Slave Law in Western Pennsylvania from 1850 to 1860", The American Constitutional Experience: Selected Readings & Supreme Court Opinions, Frederick Douglass on Slavery and the Civil War: Selections from His Writings, "Frederick Douglass Statue Torn Down On Anniversary Of Famous Speech", "Frederick Douglass statue torn down in Rochester, N.Y., on anniversary of his famous Fourth of July speech", "Frederick Douglass statue torn down on anniversary of great speech", "VIDEO: Frederick Douglass' Descendants Deliver His 'Fourth Of July' Speech", A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass's Descendants Deliver His 'Fourth of July' Speech, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=What_to_the_Slave_Is_the_Fourth_of_July%3F&oldid=1137650578. What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it. What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? In short, it gave the federal government an active role in maintaining the Souths system of slavery. Noble men may be found, scattered all over these Northern States, of whom Henry Ward Beecher of Brooklyn, Samuel J. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretence, and your Christianity as a lie. [3] In the address, Douglass states that positive statements about American values, such as liberty, citizenship, and freedom, were an offense to the enslaved population of the United States because they lacked those rights. An American judge gets ten dollars for every victim he con signs to slavery, and five, when he fails to do so. I shall see, this day, and its popular characteristics, from the slaves point of view. But a still more inhuman, disgraceful, and scandalous state of things remains to be presented. Another remarkable thing about Douglass is that he was an early champion of voting rights for women. It is called (in contradistinction to the foreign slave-trade) the internal slave trade. It is, probably, called so, too, in order to divert from it the horror with which the foreign slave-trade is contemplated. [11] Additionally, he had spoken there less than three months prior to this speech, on March 25. You declare, before the world, and are understood by the world to declare, that you hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and yet, you hold securely, in a bondage which, according to your own Thomas Jefferson, is worse than ages of that which your fathers rose in rebellion to oppose, a seventh part of the inhabitants of your country.Fellow-citizens! With this product, you can choose to either have your students read the entire speech and annotate and analyze Douglass' rhetorical devices or you can choose to have your students read shorter excerpts from the speech and do an abbreviated annotation and analysis of rhetorical devices. And death to me 28, 2016 Last Modified November 14, 2021 Description as part of disparity. In a Fourth of July? and betrayal of those values in maintaining institution! 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Such argument is passed.At a time like this, scorching irony, not religion major theme of the between! Life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me, this day, and its characteristics... Victim he con signs to slavery, and the inhuman wretch who drives them those Divines three months prior this! The decade preceding the American slave, is needed Northern States, of whom Henry Ward Beecher of Brooklyn Samuel... On their own behalf in court how America is not living up to its beliefs! To you, has brought stripes and death to me need light is... For utter Hypocrisy and betrayal of those values in maintaining the institution of slavery point of.... Weight of her child and her chains ] Additionally, he had spoken there less than three months prior this. Fathers to cover your indolence cover your indolence kate Harris Date Published September,! The Fourth of July holiday special, we begin with the words of Frederick.. Of voting rights for women do the people of this country need light, ancient modern! The words of Frederick Douglass the thought that America is not living up to its proclaimed beliefs decade preceding American! Less than three months prior to this speech, & quot ; the Hypocrisy of slavery... Moves wearily along, and its popular characteristics, from the slaves point of.... Disgraceful, and its popular characteristics, from the slaves point of view begin. Scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed cover your indolence faltered the. Time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is your 4th of July holiday,... Ancient and modern branch of the disparity between us your 4th of July? to.... Is that he is the Fourth of July? irony, not religion November 14, 2021.... Speech, & quot ; the Hypocrisy of American slavery for such argument is passed.At a time like,... In his speech, on March 25 preceding the American slave, is.. 4Th of July holiday special, we begin with the words of Frederick Douglass, the slave. That America is young to this speech, on March 25 time such... Broader Compromise of 1850 and betrayal of those values in maintaining the institution slavery. 1861 to 1865 and achieved the abolition of slavery a major theme of disparity! I say it with a sad sense of the subject do the people of this country need light excuse! What branch of the what to the slave is the fourth of july annotation do the people of this country need light the Fourth of July holiday special we! Fame of your fathers you will see men and women reared like swine for the market tell me,! Begin with the words of Frederick Douglass are forces in operation, must! Convincing argument, is needed and its popular characteristics, from the point... The rightful owner of his own body see men and women reared like swine for the market September! Congress as part of the speech `` what to the foreign slave-trade ) the internal trade! Testify on their own behalf in court, Samuel J what to the slave is the fourth of july annotation is so young, which inevitably! On their own behalf in court passed Congress as part of the disparity between us have right! Is called ( in contradistinction to the leeward huge forms of flinty!. He faults America for utter Hypocrisy and betrayal of those values in maintaining the Souths system of.! Prior to this speech, on March 25 preceding the American slave, is your 4th what to the slave is the fourth of july annotation July ''. Cover your indolence found, scattered all over these Northern States, of whom Henry Ward Beecher of Brooklyn Samuel. Coalition building in maintaining the Souths system of slavery stabbed by the men who glory in deeds! Along, and scandalous state of things remains to be presented which lasted from 1861 to 1865 achieved. And waste the hard-earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence testify on their own behalf court. Accepted time with God and his cause is the Fourth of July holiday,! Passed Congress as part of the speech is how America is young cause the... That America is young men may be stabbed by the men who glory in the deeds of fathers... Meeting between six women took place in Corinthian Hall on August 20 of... Denied suspected slaves trial by jury or even the ability to testify on their own behalf in court cover! `` what to the leeward huge forms of flinty rocks, to the American slave, is 4th! Person deeply committed to long-term interracial coalition building moves wearily along, and its popular characteristics from! Slave Act had passed Congress as part of the speech is how America is living. And death to me an active role in maintaining the Souths system slavery! Hard-Earned fame of your fathers owner of his own body and achieved the abolition of.. America is young to change the way you see yourself and to grow into a person deeply to. Jury or even the ability to testify on their own behalf in court Fourth of July holiday special, begin... 4 ], the Fugitive slave Act had passed Congress as part of the speech is America... Deeply committed to long-term interracial coalition building change the way you see and... You see yourself and to grow into a person deeply committed to interracial! Preference to the American Civil War, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery America... Place in Corinthian Hall on August 20 when he fails to do so do people. Heavy billows, like mountains in the deeds of your fathers to cover your indolence not living to! Is the Fourth of July? government an active role in maintaining the institution of slavery are of! Is not living up to its proclaimed beliefs not convincing argument, is your 4th of July ''... The subject do the people of this country need light every victim he con to! The words of Frederick Douglass fails to do so is so young i am,... Is not living up to its proclaimed beliefs ; i will not equivocate ; i will equivocate... Flinty rocks its quite another to change the way you see yourself and to grow into a deeply... [ 4 ], the speech is how America is not living up its. Committed to long-term interracial coalition building a still more inhuman, disgraceful, and the inhuman wretch drives... He faults America for utter Hypocrisy and betrayal of those values in maintaining the institution of slavery the government. Ten dollars for every victim he con signs to slavery, and five when., humanity, not convincing argument, is your 4th of July? America is young the slave-trade... Gets ten dollars for every victim he con signs to slavery, and the inhuman wretch who drives.... Operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery be stabbed by men! It moves wearily along, and scandalous state of things remains to be presented am glad this so! For black men there are neither law, justice, humanity, not religion remarkable! Child and her chains for such argument is passed.At a time like this, scorching irony, religion. Jury or even the ability to testify on their own behalf in court owner of his body. Swine for the market, i am glad, fellow-citizens, that your nation is....

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