Frederick Douglass: His Slavery Years Essay

During the 18th and nineteenth centuries, the United States was a green nation divided by many philosophical and political differences. Arguably, thr all(prenominal) was the most divisive issue at the sentence. in that respect were individuals who spoke out against bondage perchance the most silver anti- slavery contribution belonged to Frederick Douglass. Douglass was an American abolitionist who altered American views concerning slavery through his piece of musics and actions. He stood in stark contrast to pro slavery advocates claim that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to act as devoid citizens.Douglass was innate(p) into slavery as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, in February, 1818. The exact date of his parenthood is un cognize. Douglass chose to celebrate February 14th as his birthday. In his autobiography, The Narrative of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Douglass (2002) stated, I have no accurate knowledge of my age, n perpetually having seen authentic put d birth containing it(SparkNotes Editors, 2002). Douglasss birth localise was Holmes Hill Farm, located on Marylands Eastern Shore. Fredericks mother, Harriet Bailey, was a slave who worked the corn field of operationss around Holmes Hill. Little is known of Fredericks father other than he was a whitened man. There was speculation that Douglasss father was his master as slave proprietors a great deal impregnated their female slaves.Common among slaves was being forced to work long hours Harriet was no exception. The long hours deprived Harriet from forging a motherly bond with her son. Douglass (2002) recalled the completely time he spent with his mother was when she would walk 12 miles by and byward dark to lie next to him at night (SparkNotes Editors, 2002). At a small age, Douglass was separated from his mother and placed in the care of his mother standardised grandmother, Betsey Bailey. Several years later, when told that his mother had blendd, Douglass b arely reacted to the parvenues.Living with his grandmother protect Douglass from the harsh realities of slavery. Betseys job was to simply look after the young children of the slaves. When Frederick was s withal or eight years old, he would begin to the fountain the bleak life of a slave.Douglasss grandmother inexplicably took him on a long, far absent journey. The two approached a large, graceful home, called the Lloyd Plantation. Several children were playing in front of the home. According to Sandra doubting Thomas, author of Frederick Douglassabolitionist/Editor, A Biography of the life story of Frederick Douglass, Betsey Bailey pointed to three of the children and introduced them as his siblings, Perry, Sara, and Eliza (Sandra Thomas, n.d). Frederick reluctantly joined his brother and sisters for a bonding session. After a while, Frederick realise his grandmother had left(a) the political platformtation without him. a stand firmness on the Lloyd Plantation was vastly d ifferent from what Frederick was accustomed to. The plantation encompassed 20 farms and grew tobacco, corn, and wheat. Douglasss master was named superior Aaron Anthony, who was similarly the plantations superintendent. Captain Anthony supervised all of the plantations overseers, and was responsible for three to intravenous feeding hundred slaves owned by the Lloyd family. however slaves were required report to Lloyds central plantation for their monthly allowances of pork or fish and cornmeal. All of Lloyds slaves referred to the central plantation as The Great House Farm, because it resembled a small village (SparkNotes, 2002). The slaves also reliable one fixate of linen clothing, which was expected to last for one year.Frederick did not work in the field as a young boy because children were not strong exuberant. Instead, he was delegate to be the companion of Daniel Lloyd, the plantation owners grandson. tear down though Daniel quick became quite fond of Douglass, thi s friendship did not earn any favoritism towards Frederick. Like the other slave children, Douglass was knuckle undern only a long, linen shirt to wear. The cold winters damaged Douglasss feet so badly that he could insert a pen into the cracks of his flesh (SparkNotes, 2002). The children were ply cornmeal mush and forced to eat it out of a trough, mistakable to how pigs were fed. Perhaps the only preferential treatwork forcet Douglass received came from Lucretia auld, Captain Anthonys daughter, recently married to a ships captain. Lucretia gave Douglass menial tasks to perform, such(prenominal) as running errands.In 1826, Lucretia told Douglass he would be sent to Baltimore to live with her brother-in-law, Hugh auld, manager of a ship building company. Additionally, if Frederick cleaned himself up really well, Lucretia promised to give him a pair of pants to wear for his trip. In his autobiography, The Narrative of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Douglass (2002) states he spent the majority of the three days leading up to his trip at a creek, washing off the plantation nape(BookRags, p 75). Clean and stylish in his pants, Douglass left the Lloyd Plantation for what he hoped would be the last time.Of go away Colonel Lloyds plantation, Douglass (2002) felt no regret or loss because his mother was dead, he seldom saw his grandmother, and his race with his brother and two sisters was limited (BookRags, p 75). Frederick arrived in Baltimore and was greeted by the Hugh and Sophia auld, and their slender son, Thomas. The happy smile on Sophias face represented a first for Douglass kindness on the face of a white master. Douglass (2002) believed his pretend to Baltimore signified the first major step toward freedom.He credited his picking among so many other children as an act of divine intervention, express From my earliest re assembling, I date the entertainment of a deep sentence that slavery would not always be able to hold me at heart its fou l embrace and in the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living parole of faith and sapidity of hope departed not from me, further remained like ministering angels to cheer me through the gloom. This good sprit was from God, and to him I offer thanksgiving and praise. (Book Rags, p. 75)Fredericks duties at the Auld home were to run errands and care for the Aulds infant son, Tommy. There was a noticeable difference amongst slavery in Baltimore and slavery in the country. In Baltimore, slave owners shared a common sense of decency towards their slaves. In general, slaves were rarely commoveen and were given qualified amounts of food to eat. Sophia Auld was unlike any white char Douglass had ever take overed she treated him like a human being. Sophia was a religious woman and would often read aloud from the Bible to Frederick and Tommy. Douglass gathered up enough courage and asked Sophia to teach him how to read.Sophia agreed and had soon taught Frederick the alphabet and a fewer simple words. Sophia had never been a slave owner, and had not developed the mindset that blacks were sub-human. Sophia was thrilled with Frederickss progress and excitedly informed her husband. Hugh Auld was hot at his married womans willingness to bond with a slave as well as her desire to educate one. Auld informed his wife that it was unlawful to teach a slave. Furthermore, if a slave knew how to read and save up it would make him unfit to be a slave. A slave owners worst fear was an educated slave. An educated slave would no protracted obey the master and may correct begin to inquiry life as a slave. An educated slave may even go out to freedom alone or with a band of slaves. Auld ordered his wife to stop the slightons immediately. Over time, the constant prodding from Sophies husband and the menacing effects of slavery soon changed her pose towards Frederick. Douglass (2002) famed the change of feelings in his autobiography, sayingBut, alas this kind hea rt had but a short time to remain such. The fatal poison of unaccountable power was al effectuate in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful pump under the influence of slavery soon became red with rage that voice make of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh discord andangelic face gave place to that of a demon. (Book Rags, p. 77-78)Frederick surmised from Aulds outburst that reading and writing were his pathways to freedom. Frederick make pick uping this knowledge a personal challenge. Douglass utilize what he take awayed from Sophia and increase his knowledge of the alphabet on his own. He accomplished his task through diligence and the use of clever tactics. Since Sophia had stopped teaching Frederick to read, she became extremely lively in preventing him from learning, becoming stricter than her husband. Whenever she caught Frederick reading, Sophia would scream at him to stop and threaten to beat him if she caught him reading again.In order to coun ter Sophias watchful eye, Douglass made friends with as many white children as he could while he ran errands. The children became Fredericks teachers each child offered a different skill set to further Fredericks knowledge. Whenever Douglass had time between his errands, he would join his friends for a quick lesson. Frederick also exchanged bread for instruction, particularly from the poorer white kids who had less to eat than he did. Frederick (2002) recounts talking to some of them about freedom and even gained sympathy from some for his plight (BookRags p. 79). When Douglass was around 12 or 13, he obtained a copy of a adjudge entitled, The Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches and essays dealing with liberty, democracy, and courage.The book opened up for Douglass a vast multitude of ideas on freedom, liberty and truth. One particular passage in the book intrigued Frederick the most. A master and his recaptured slave exchanged dialogue regarding why the slave had run away. The master failed to understand why the slave had attempted to escape for a second time, outlining the many acts of kindness given to the slave. The slave defended his actions and the communion soon turned into an argument for or against slavery. The slave expertly countered every point the master made for why slavery should be allowed. Having realized defeat, the master granted the slave freedom, even wished him prosperity in his new life.The book also contained a speech arguing for the freedom of Irish Catholics and for human rights in general. Douglass began to fully articulate the case against slavery, but it also brought forth the painful realization of his own life as a slave. The warnings of Hugh Auld had come true, Fredericks new form knowledge began to nark his sense. In his autobiography, The Life and generation of Frederick Douglass, (2007), Douglass stated, the very discontent so graphically predicted by Master Hugh had already come upon me. I was no longer the lig ht-hearted gleesome boy, full of mirth and play, as when I landed in Baltimore(Library of Liberty, p.90).During this time, Douglass began to list to anyone who discussed slavery. At some point in the discussions, Douglass heard the word abolitionist for the first time. In a city newspaper account of a Northern abolitionist petition, Frederick wise(p) that word meant anti-slavery (SparkNotes, 2002). Armed with this new found knowledge, Frederick attempted to learn all he could about abolitionists. Douglass (2007) declared, I accordingly set about finding out, if possible, who and what the abolitionists were and why they were so obnoxious to the slaveholders(Library of Liberty, p 90).Soon thereafter, Douglass aided two Irish sailors, without being asked, unload a boat at the wharf. When the task was completed, one of the sailors asked Douglass if he was a slave. Frederick (2007), replied, I am a slave for life (Library of Liberty, p.93). The Irishman shrugged and appeared to be dee ply affected by Fredericks response. Both Irishmen implored Douglass to run away to the north where he could be free. Douglass pretended to be uninte substituteed, because he feared the men might be bounty hunters who enticed slaves to escape, then recaptured them to collect the reward money. However, the thought of running away stayed on his mind, with a vow to do so when the time was right. forward he could run away, Frederick believed that he should learn to compose. Douglass (2007) surmised that knowing how to write would be useful, as I might have occasion to write my own pass(Library of Liberty,p.94). By this time, Douglass was assigned to Hugh Aulds shipyard. He used that opportunity to study the letters that the ships carpenters wrote on pieces of timber. Douglass quickly became proficient in writing the letters he knew, and devised a plan that would increase his writing skills.He approached local boys at the shipyards and challenged them to writing contests. Douglass woul d write out the letters he had learned, and defied them to outdo him. This tactic gave Frederick the opportunity to learn new letters which he practiced over and over. Any writing surface he encountered, i.e., fence, wall, or pavement, he used to practice. His masters son, Tommy was in grade school at this time and had several books at home. Whenever Douglass was left alone to care for the house, he wrote the words in Tommys book until he was able copy them exactly. Through these tedious tasks, Douglass learned to write.About three years after moving to Baltimore, Captain Anthony died. Anthonys youngest son, Richard, preceded him in death. In order to divide the estate equally between the two remaining children, Andrew and Lucretia, Douglass was sent keep going to Talbot county as property to be evaluated. Fredericks departure from the Auld household was a sad occasion. Douglass (2007) recalled, We all wept bitterly, for we were parting, and it might be we were parting forever (Lib rary of Liberty, p.97). At the valuation (2002), slaves young and old were ranked along with the pigs, horses, and cattle (Book Rags, p. 80). The slaves were forced to anxiously watch to see where they were headed.Fredericks worst fear was to be placed in the possession of Master Andrew, a man known to be unfeeling and cruel. Douglass was especially troubled by this since he had experienced a veritable degree of kindness in his life. Fortunately, Douglass was given to Lucretia Auld, who promptly sent him back to Baltimore to live with Hugh and Sophia Auld. Shortly after his return to Baltimore, both Lucretia and Master Andrew died. Their deaths left all the slaves in the hands of strangers. Perhaps the cruelest aspect of slavery was how Fredericks grandmother was treated. After years of faithful service to her master and his children (2002), after caring for him from infancy to death, and after populating his plantation with her children and grandchildren, she was deemed too old t o be of value and sent out to a little hut to die alone (Book Rags, p. 82).Two years after the death of Lucretia, Thomas Auld had a disagreement with his brother Hugh, and demanded Fredericks return. Unlike the first time he was forced to leave Baltimore, Frederick was not sad about leaving Hugh and Sophia. According to Douglass (2007), The influence of brandy and bad company on him, and of slavery and sociable isolation on her had wrought disastrously upon the characters of both(Library of Liberty, p. 100).When Douglass returned to live with Thomas Auld, his began to experience slave life as a field hand. For perhaps the first time in his life, Douglass began to experience prolonged bouts of hunger. He and the rest of the slaves had to resort to begging and even stealing in order to obtain food. Douglass and Captain Auld did not get along Auld considered Douglass spoil from city life. Douglass received several beatings as a result of his attitude and for purposely letting the mast ers horse run away. in spite of several beatings, Douglass refused to be broken. As a direct result, Captain Auld lent Frederick to Edward litter for a year. bevy was a farm renter with a reputation for being a nigger breaker(Library of Liberty, p. 101). Douglass was appreciative for the move, believing he would at least have enough to eat.During Fredericks first six months with Covey, he was beaten for a myriad of mistakes. whatever of the mistakes were real, while others were due to Coveys imagination. Frederick (2007) experienced his darkest days as a slave, statingI was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died(Library of Liberty, p. 105).A hoo-hah of hope kept him goingthe ships on the Chesapeake Bay. Frederick admired the vessels with their white sails and swift mobility. Douglass (2007) contrasted his condition of bondage to the freedom of the seas (Library of Liberty, p. 105). Frederick gained an overwhelming desire to escape from slavery or die trying. A turning point in Douglasss life occurred after an incident with Covey. Frederick was severely beaten by Covey for being too exhausted to continue to work.Douglass fled to Thomas Aulds home for protection but was ordered to return. Upon his return, Douglass was beaten again. After conferring with some other slave, Frederick was given a root to carry for protection. The next day Douglass received kind words from Covey instead of a beating. The next encounter between Douglass and Covey resulted in a fight that lasted nearly two hours. Afterwards, Covey did not lay a hand on Douglass again. Frederick (2002) recalled, My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place(Book Rags, p. 110).When Douglasss time with Covey ended, Fredericks life became similar to a nomads. Douglass spent time on another farm, but was arrested for conspiring with other slaves to escape. After his release from jail, Douglass returned to Baltimore and Hugh Auld. Auld assigned Douglass to a shipyard so that he could learn to caulk. There were white men at the shipyard that refused to work with Frederick and a fight ensued. Douglass was assigned to another shipyard where he finally learned to caulk, and received top wages for his work. Since he was compose a slave, Douglass was forced to give Hugh Auld all of his money. This injustice strengthen Douglasss desire to escape, and he put a plan in concert to do just that.After years of hardship, beatings, jail, and other emotional atrocities, Frederick Douglass was ready to escape slavery. Douglass (2007) stated, On Monday, the third day of September, 1838, in accordance with my resolution, I bade farewell to the city of Baltimore, and to that slavery which had been my abhorrence since childhood (Library of Liberty, p.110). more often than not dressed as a sailor, Frederick boarded a train to New York. development his knowledge of ships, the vernacular of sailors, Douglass deceived the conductor into believing he was a seaman. Douglasss perilous journey to freedom ended twenty-four hours later in New York City.Douglass found freedom and prosperity as a free man. He eventually settled in New Bedford, MA, with his new wife Anna. Douglass discovered that colored people in the North were united in their efforts to help escaped slaves. Douglasss (2002) interest in the abolitionist travail was fueled by reading The Liberator, a newspaper that stirred his soul to join the fight to end slavery (Book Rag, p.112). In August, 1841, Douglass attended an anti-slavery recipe in Nantucket. With encouragement from a friend, Frederick speaks for the first time to a white audience about slavery. From that moment on, Frederick Douglass became perhaps the foremost figure in the abolitionist movement.ReferencesDouglas, F. (2002). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (2nd ed.).Retrieved from http//www.bookrags.com/notes/fred/PART5.html Douglas, F. (2007). The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass From 1817-1882. Retrieved fromhttp//oll.libertyfund.org/title/2007/138723SparkNotes. (2002). SparkNote on Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Retrieved fromhttp//www.sparknotes.com/lit/narrative/Thomas, S. (n.d.). Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist/Editor, A Biography of the Life of FrederickDouglass. Retrieved from http//www.history.rochester.edu/class/douglass/home.html