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 * __Fredrick Douglas:__**

(1818 – February 20, 1895)


 * __Criticisms/Goals:__** I, Fredrick Douglass, am an avid leader of 2 major movements during the early and mid-1800s. I am first and foremost an abolitionist, who believes in equality for all. My push for an anti-slavery society is largely influenced by the fact that I myself was once a slave and have been exposed to the horrors that encompass that title. I was a slave from birth (1818) until age 20 (1838), when I escaped captivity. I became offically free in 1845. I am also a leader and speaker on behalf of the push for women's suffrage. I believe that it is morally wrong for me as a black man to have the right to vote if women can not also claim this right.

__**Methods:** Abolition-__ To further the cause of the abolitionist movement in the United States of America, I frequently attend meetings on behalf of abolitionsists. After speeking at a few of these meetings I was persuaded to become and anti-slavery lecturer. Having been a slave myself, I am able to give first hand accounts of the hardships of slave life in my speeches. After years on speaking out against slavery, I was a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society's 6 month tour across the East and Midwest in which I gave more speeches on why slavery should be abolished. __Women's Suffrage-__ I attended the Seneca Falls Convention, which was the first women's rights convention ever. At this meeting a resolution was presented that would ask for women's suffrage. Many at the convention were opposed to this idea, so I came up and gave a strong and emotional speech on behalf of women's rights. My speech influenced many of the attendees and got the resolution passed.

Because I lived during the period in which the Civial War began and ended, my movement on behalf of abolition was very successful. My speeches and various other activities such as serving in important political positions furthered the push for abolition. The Civil War was won by the North and slavery was abolishedl, so my goals were entirely accomplished. Although my push for women's suffrage wasn' as successful, it was still a positive outcome. My speeches and influence in goverment on behalf of women's rights shined more light on the subject and brought it to the forefront of problems to be addressed by the goverment. Because of my efforts and the efforts of many others, the 19th amendment was eventually passed granting women the right to vote.
 * __Successes:__**


 * __Practicality:__** Because I lived around the time of the Civil War, a time in which many reforms were taking place, so my efforts were very practical. in earlier time periods, a black man, or anyone for that matter, could've been attacked and harmed for speaking out against slavery. But, living in a time were abolition was a commonly acccepted ideal, I wasn't persecuted for my beliefs. Also, the women's rights movement also began picking up during my lifetime so my push in this department was also very practical. Overall, nothing I argued for during my life was impractical, due largely to the fact that my viewpoints were commonly accepted during this time period.


 * __Support of the Federal Government:__** Around the time when a Civil War was becoming imminetnt is when I began the bulk of my abolitionist and women's rights activism. At this time Abraham Lincoln was president and he shared many of my viewpoints on matters of the day. Lincoln is widely know for his "Emancipation Proclamation", which is essentially a summation of all my beliefs on behalf of abolition. I must say that I was very pleased with the support of the federal government in regards to my movements against slavery and for women's rights.


 * __References:__**

Abraham Lincoln- Although I had no direct relation to the then-president Lincoln, we were in a sense united by our beliefs. Although he joined the cause a little late, Lincoln was an avid supporter for the equality of all people, despite gender or race. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation helped make my push for abolition of slavery a successful movement. After his assanation, I was asked to give a speech on behalf of the deceased president. My speech was so successful that Mary Lincoln, Abraham's widowed wife, presented me with Abraham Lincoln's favorite walking stick to show her appreciation.

Ellen Richardson- Upon my travels to the United Kingdom I was met with great support from British Sympathasizers, led by Ellen Richardson. I had traveled to the U.K. to give speeches on behalf of the abolitionist movement. In 1845, after hearing a few of my speeches, Ellen and other British citizens were moved by my words, so much so that they donated me money that was used to offically purchase my freedom in 1845.


 * __Works Cited:__**

Frederick Douglass - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, 2 Sept. 2001. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. [].

Thomas, Sandra. "Frederick Douglass." //Rochester History Resources//. Version 1. Google, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. [].