"What to a Slave is the Fourth of July" by Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a known abolitionist. What is an abolitionist?

• a person who wanted to end slavery.

• a person who wanted to help endangered animals.

• a person who fought for women's rights.

• a presidential candidate.

Frederick Douglass was friends with this U.S. president.

• Barack Obama

• George W. Bush

• George Washington

• Abraham Lincoln

In the opening paragraph, Frederick Douglass views the Founding Fathers as…

• scoundrels who should be shunned.

• leaders who deserve our utmost respect.

• brave men who deserve our wary and critical respect.

• peaceful men who were willing to submit to bondage.

Which statement best summarizes the main idea of Frederick Douglass' speech?

• Throughout the world, America shows the most revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy for its usage of slavery.

• The Fourth of July is a day that reveals to the American slave the injustice and cruelty of his or her lack of freedom.

• Gross inequalities exist throughout the United States of America, and Independence Day serves to highlight them.

• Enslaving people robs them of their essential humanity, which is a God-given right.

• The Fourth of July should not be celebrated by some Americans if it cannot be celebrated by everyone.

In paragraph two, Douglass states, “What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence”? How does this question represent Douglass's appeal to ethos?

• As an elected official, he has credibility to speak for his constituents.

• As a former slave, he has credibility to speak on slaves’ behalf.

• As the head of an abolitionist group, he has credibility to present its views.

• As a minister, he has credibility to present the Christian perspective.

What does Douglass state he does NOT need to prove to the audience?

• That the popularity of slavery would diminish with their help.

• That slaves can do the same amount of work as free men.

• That slaves are men.

• That slavery is divine.

• That comparing slaves to animals is wrong.

Which statement reflects an appeal to logos?

• “I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people.” (Paragraph 3)

• “I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me. . . .” (Paragraph 6)

• “Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man? That point is conceded already.” (Paragraph 7)

• “I would to-day pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke.” (Paragraph 12)

In paragraph eight, Douglass mentions that there are 72 crimes in Virginia that will subject a black man to death while there are only two that will do the same for a white man in order to:

• A. Prove that by the state's own laws, slaves should be considered people.

• B. Display the gross inequities between free men and slaves.

• C. Relay facts to the audience that they may not already know.

• A and B only.

• A, B, and C.

Douglass says he would make himself “ridiculous” if he argued that “man is entitled to liberty” (Paragraph 9) because

• he is not skillful enough to make the argument.

• the claim is too complex to be argued simply

• the audience already accepts the principle.

• the topic is not relevant to the occasion.

In paragraph 9, Douglass presents a long list of things that black people are doing with their productive and valuable lives. Then in paragraph 10 he presents a list of the wrongs that are done to slaves. How do these two different lists serve Douglass’s purpose in giving the speech?

The list of accomplishments reminds the audience that blacks are equal in their accomplishments and human aspirations to whites and contribute in many ways to the American society. Following this evidence closely with the shocking list of abuses against slaves reinforces the idea that slavery is an inhumane institution. He believes the audience would not sanction such actions against people who are like themselves. However, the long list serves to remind the audience of the hypocrisy of allowing these abuses to be perpetrated on people who are unlike themselves. This serves Douglass's purpose by helping to convince the audience that they should act to change what is happening

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