Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was born a slave in 1818. He was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, but after his escape from slavery he changed his name to Frederick Douglass. His purpose in changing his name was to hopefully prevent being caught, since he was a fugitive slave.
Douglass grew up to be a famous abolitionist who opposed slavery. He started out by going to anti-slavery conventions, where he was occasionally asked to speak. He then spoke at one of these conventions and was later invited to be a part of the Massachusetts anti-slavery society. He accepted this offer and then also took part in the Rhode Island Campaign, which went against the new Constitution. After hearing his speeches, students from Harvard had proposed the idea that Douglass Write an autobiography about himself. Douglass eventually went on to write ,Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Douglass then went on to write two subsequent autobiographies called ,My Bondage and My Freedom and The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. The publication of these autobiographies meant exile for Douglass, as he was now announcing to the whole world that he was a fugitive slave, throughout these autobiographies.
To avoid exile Douglass then fled to Britain. Here he earned money to buy his freedom, once he returned to America, and also spoke for abolition. While in Britain Douglass also published various newspapers, which expressed his opinion of abolition and freedom.
When the Civil War started in 1861, Douglass took part as a propagandist of the Union and was also a recruiter for black troops. On two different occasions Douglass met with President Abraham Lincoln to discuss the treatment and use of the African American Soldiers, for the Union forces. After each meeting with Lincoln the role of the African American soldiers was upgraded. The African American soldiers weren't in combat at first but eventually ,due to Frederick Douglass, they actually fought and helped during the war.
One of the main objectives of the war was emancipation of the slaves. Douglass kept this issue alive by arguing with the fifteenth amendment. With the help of the fifteenth amendment Douglass could prove that African Americans have the right to vote, because that is what this amendment guarantees, it enhanced their freedom. Douglass also used the thirteenth and fourteenth amendment to show how many rights African Americans should have.
I believe Douglass's most tremendous accomplishment during the civil war was that he pushed the idea of blacks fighting in the Civil War, which he eventually managed to have happen. All because of Frederick Douglass, the black Union soldiers were actually able to fight in a battle. This had many different controversial views and was questioned by many, but eventually after Frederick Douglass's meetings with Lincoln, blacks did fight in battle during the Civil War. This was very hard to accomplish as it would mean that blacks were equal to whites, which many whites did not like. It took hard work and dedication, but Frederick Douglass made it happen, which is why I view it as his most significant contribution during the Civil War.
Frederick Douglass was born a slave in 1818. He was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, but after his escape from slavery he changed his name to Frederick Douglass. His purpose in changing his name was to hopefully prevent being caught, since he was a fugitive slave.
Douglass grew up to be a famous abolitionist who opposed slavery. He started out by going to anti-slavery conventions, where he was occasionally asked to speak. He then spoke at one of these conventions and was later invited to be a part of the Massachusetts anti-slavery society. He accepted this offer and then also took part in the Rhode Island Campaign, which went against the new Constitution. After hearing his speeches, students from Harvard had proposed the idea that Douglass Write an autobiography about himself. Douglass eventually went on to write ,Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Douglass then went on to write two subsequent autobiographies called ,My Bondage and My Freedom and The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. The publication of these autobiographies meant exile for Douglass, as he was now announcing to the whole world that he was a fugitive slave, throughout these autobiographies.
To avoid exile Douglass then fled to Britain. Here he earned money to buy his freedom, once he returned to America, and also spoke for abolition. While in Britain Douglass also published various newspapers, which expressed his opinion of abolition and freedom.
When the Civil War started in 1861, Douglass took part as a propagandist of the Union and was also a recruiter for black troops. On two different occasions Douglass met with President Abraham Lincoln to discuss the treatment and use of the African American Soldiers, for the Union forces. After each meeting with Lincoln the role of the African American soldiers was upgraded. The African American soldiers weren't in combat at first but eventually ,due to Frederick Douglass, they actually fought and helped during the war.
One of the main objectives of the war was emancipation of the slaves. Douglass kept this issue alive by arguing with the fifteenth amendment. With the help of the fifteenth amendment Douglass could prove that African Americans have the right to vote, because that is what this amendment guarantees, it enhanced their freedom. Douglass also used the thirteenth and fourteenth amendment to show how many rights African Americans should have.
I believe Douglass's most tremendous accomplishment during the civil war was that he pushed the idea of blacks fighting in the Civil War, which he eventually managed to have happen. All because of Frederick Douglass, the black Union soldiers were actually able to fight in a battle. This had many different controversial views and was questioned by many, but eventually after Frederick Douglass's meetings with Lincoln, blacks did fight in battle during the Civil War. This was very hard to accomplish as it would mean that blacks were equal to whites, which many whites did not like. It took hard work and dedication, but Frederick Douglass made it happen, which is why I view it as his most significant contribution during the Civil War.