On what grounds does Frederick Douglass criticize American democracy in his address, “What To the Slave is the Fourth of July?” How can we square his view, and that of the other anti-slavery voices in some of this weeks documents with the pro-slavery ideology found in others? How and why do you think such divergent views of the basic humanity and capacity for citizenship of African Americans could exist in 19th century America?

Document Reader: 8-3; Chapter 9

Question:
On what grounds does Frederick Douglass criticize American democracy in his address, “What To the Slave is the Fourth of July?” How can we square his view, and that of the other anti-slavery voices in some of this weeks documents with the pro-slavery ideology found in others? How and why do you think such divergent views of the basic humanity and capacity for citizenship of African Americans could exist in 19th century America?

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