5. Douglass traveled to Ireland and Great Britain to talk about American Slavery
When he first shared his story, it was taken with a lot of conviction and this encouraged him to continue traveling and sharing his experiences with others. In 1845, he traveled to Ireland and Great Britain to talk about American slavery and even published the first and most famous of the three autobiographies he wrote that year, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.
6. His first autobiography became very famous
Just within four months of its release, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave sold over 5,000 copies and six new editions had been published between 1845 and 1849. The reality of what a nightmare slavery was put people be in touch with how inhumane it was hence its popularity. Fredrick went on to write two more autobiographies, My Bondage and My Freedom in1881 and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in1892. They did equally well and they showcased Fredrick’s amazing writing skills that painted a clear picture of what slavery really did.
7. He began publishing an abolitionist newspaper
After returning to the United States from England in 1847, Frederick Douglass began publishing an abolitionist newspaper that was known as ‘The North Star. This newspaper sold for a subscription fee of $2 and it was reported that it acquired more than 4,000 readers in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean, before even merging with the Liberty Party Paper in 1851.
8. Douglass played also a huge role in the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Apart from Fredrick’s work as an anti-slavery advocate, he was also very serious and a staunch supporter of the women’s movement. For instance, at the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, he was one of the very few men who attended and actually the only African American who was present. In fact, it is said that Douglass was the one who persuaded the convention to support Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s resolution asking for women’s suffrage. It is thanks to this that women now can vote and even participate in political movements.
9. He played a huge role in the emancipation of enslaved individuals
During the American Civil War, Fredrick found his role in agitation and activism where he continued to pressure politicians for the full emancipation of enslaved individuals. His constant agitation of Abraham Lincoln is actually what helped usher in the terms of emancipation to come. In turn, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 and this is the document that ensured freedom to those who were enslaved and living in the South. The emancipation proclamation had no legal standing per se since the states in secession did not recognize the authority of the United States. However, in the long run, this document did exactly what Douglass was all along encouraging Lincoln to do. Send a message that the civil war will not be won until everyone is free. He believed that African Americans, both legally freed and those formerly enslaved had a moral obligation to join the Union Army and fight for the cause against slavery.
10. Douglass served in many positions within the U.S. Government
Part of what makes Frederick Douglass even greater with such an impressive legacy is that he served in many positions within the U.S. Government, including a position as the president of the Freedman’s Savings Bank. In 1889, President Harrison appointed him to the posts of “Minister-Resident and Consul-General to the Republic of Haiti” and “Chargé d’Affaires for the Dominican Republic.” This made him to be the first black man to hold ‘high office,’ in the United States.
Douglass is a very big deal in the history of African Americans because of his determination and resilience in fighting for the rights of black people. He will forever be remembered for being outspoken and vocal and never backing down.
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