Read the excerpt from "what to the slave is the fourth of july? ” are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that declaration of independence, extended to us? how does this rhetorical question contribute to the passage’s central idea?

This rhetorical question reinforces the idea that rights given to others are not extended to African Americans. This is the correct answer.

EXPLANATION

“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” is a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York. The Speech was delivered to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. Besides Douglass’ autobiographies, this speech is the most widely known writings of his.  

Copies of one section of the speech, especially beginning in paragraph 32 widely circulated online. There is some confusion as to the name originally called “July Fourth Oration”, where the speech itself was delivered on July 5. The speech continued to be published under the title The Frederick Douglass Papers, series one, volume 2.

The speech goes in-depth about the constitutional and values-based arguments about Slavery and slave trade within the United States, referring to the celebration of American Independence day as his basis. Douglass spoke that while American values such as liberty, citizenship, and freedom are all good and positive, this was an offense for the enslaved people of the United States.  

Enslaved people had little to no freedom, liberty, and citizenship, as well as mentioning the merciless exploitation, torture, and cruelty faced by these people. Douglass encourages free people of the United States to help the slaves like the way they helped themselves breaking free from the British during the War of Independence.  

The speech was delivered a decade before the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, where the conclusion of the war had achieved the abolition of slavery. This was a notable victory for Antislavery views, although Douglass himself said more should be gain in the coming years.

LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

What to the Slave is the Fourth July:  

Writer’s purpose of writing “What to the Slave is the Fourth July”:  

KEYWORD: What to the Slave is the Fourth July, Frederick Douglass, rhetorical question

Subject: English

Class: 10-12

Subchapter: What to the Slave is the Fourth July

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