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The Childhood of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born on February 14, 1818 in Corodova, Maryland. At his birth, he was automatically forced into slavery. The plantation he grew up on was in Tablot County, Maryland on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. His enslaved mother was of African descent and his father, who potentially could've been her owner was likely of European descent. Douglas also likely descended from some Native Americans.

He was seperated from his mother at birth, living with his enslaved grandmother and free grandfather. At six years old, he was seperated from his grandparents and shipped away to another plantation. Through the next few years, this would be common place, being abused at one plantation then moved to another. Eventually, in September 1838, he escaped to the North, taking the surname Douglass and dropping his two middle names. 

Historical Context at the time of his Birth

At the time, slave codes were tightening across the American South. The area he was born was heavily dependent on slave labor for tobacco, grain and other types of farming. The slave trade was more than active around this area, frequently tearing families apart. Recently, the Southern states, including Maryland had enforced strict laws that criminalized teaching slavse to read and write. In the minds of the owners, them learning to would cause rebellion and the desire for independence.

His birth took place directly after the War of 1812, and shortly before (in the grand scheme of things) the Missouri Compromise of 1820.

The domestic market was on the rise, as well as industrialization in the North, decreasing the need for massive amounts of labor, and increasing sentiment for the abolishment of slavery nationwide, not just in the North. Despite, the slave trade being banned, slaves were still being shipped from Africa and it drastically increased at home in the United States.

Beliefs of Frederick Douglass - Slavery

He argued that slavery didn't just dehumanize the enslaved but also morally corrupted the slaverholders themselves. 

He agreed with his mentor, William Lloyd Garrison that the US Constitution was a pro-slavery document, although later he would completely flip this sentiment.

He encouraged the enslaved to resist by any means necessary. 

Beliefs of Frederick Douglass - Civilly

He fought aggressively for the 14th and 15th Amendments to the constitution. He believed that freedom was an empty promise without birthright citizenship.

He successesfully pressured Abraham Lincoln into allowing black men into the army to fight the Confederacy. 

He strongly opposed colonization. 

Beliefs of Frederick Douglass - Socially

He believed that human rights knew no boundaries of race or sex. He spoke adamently about women's rights and suffrage and was actually nominated for Vice President by a third-party which was created by the first woman to be a nominee for president (its actually a pretty interesting story).

He envision an America truly integrated, and multicultured, rejecting any sort of nationalism by race, sex or culture. He was also a devout Christian yet strongly critiqued what it was used to justify and viewed his religion differently.

Beliefs of Frederick Douglass - Economically

Being forced to work for no pay, he viewed self-ownership and the right to have the fruits of your labor as the bedrock of freedom. 

He strongly critiqued economic elites, although he favored market-based principles. He condemned wealth hoarding, land monopolies and greed. 

He told famously told white America to "do nothing" with black Americans other than to give them their complete freedom and equality.