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Born in Maryland, Frederick Douglass’ birthday is unknown, as he was taken from his mother when he was an infant. He was raised as a slave, but was secretly taught to read and write by his owner’s wife, Sophia. Though an adolescent, he began to teach the other slaves at a new plantation, what he had learned from Sophia, in a Sunday school fashion. He believed that “knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.” After having success for a great while, these lessons were cut short with an attack by the slave owners. Later on in his life, he met and fell in love with his eventual wife Anny Murray, who would help him escape slavery into freedom.

After becoming free by hopping on a train from Havre de Grace to New York, Frederick Douglass began to be involved in the anti-slavery movement. He spoke in front of large groups of abolitionists while touring with the American Anti-Slavery Society, whose goal was to spread the ideas of taking down slavery. His writings and various autobiographies became popular in the northern states, though it was dangerous for him to write the things that he did. William Lloyd Garrison was a huge mentor in the life of Douglass, and they both fed off of each other until their views split from one another.

As his anti-slavery views were strengthened, Douglass made a trip to Ireland and England, and was pleasantly surprised by the equal treatment he received. When he made his return to the states, Frederick began writing numerous abolitionist papers. His views shifted, no longer overlapping with those of William Garrison. His good friend Garrison moved to the beliefs that the Union should split apart into two; slave states and non-slave states. Douglas, after returning from Europe and starting his paper //The North Star// had ideas of his own. He wanted the Union to be able to stay together, as not to isolate the southern slaves. Though others on the abolitionist side believed that the Constitution was a pro-slavery document, Douglass’ did not agree with this.

Douglass attended the First Women’s suffrage Convention as the only African American. He would not accept the right to vote if women were not afforded the same right. He was a strong supporter of the rights of African Americans, freedom for slaves, and rights of women. He believed America and the Christian church were hypocritical for preaching equality and acceptance, as he stated in one of his most famous addresses to the Ladies of Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society, which eventually came to be named “What to the slave is the 4th of July?” He also believed in schools without segregation, and that education was essential to the black people. His education had always been important, and he believed that it should be that way for the rest of the slaves and blacks. He continued to live for the well-being of his people deep into the Civil War.

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