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FREDERICK
DOUGLASS LESSON STUDY:
A MAN & HIS TIMES
I.
OVERVIEW:
An in-depth biographical
study of Frederick Douglass
allows the eighth-grade student
the opportunity to examine the
rare qualities of an extraordinary
man in extraordinary times-
escaped slave, abolitionist,
writer, orator, suffragist,
among others- and also affords
students a broader understanding
of the times in which he lived.
This Frederick
Douglass lesson study involves
Douglass’ speech,“The
Meaning of July Fourth for the
Negro” delivered at Rochester,
New York, July 5th, 1852. It
is part of a unit on Frederick
Douglass relating to the debate
over slavery in America leading
up to the outbreak of the Civil
War in 1861. In the speech Douglass
delivers, he points out with
eloquent, incontestable argument
the “inconsistencies”
or hypocrisies of Americans
regarding the issue of slavery.
The sequence
of activities in the unit develop
background information on the
debate and legislation over
slavery as well as biographical
information on Frederick Douglass
including textbook readings
and various handouts, culminating
in the lesson that breaks down
the 4th of July speech into
decipherable chunks for the
student. There is a written
comprehension response to the
speech, and a final written
essay assessment on the unit.
Essential
Question:
Why was Frederick
Douglass important and what
does learning about him tell
us about the times in which
he lived?
Related Questions
with respect to the 4th of
July speech:
- According to Douglass who
supports slavery in America?
- Why did Douglass believe
people who professed Christian
beliefs, and also supported
slavery, were inconsistent?
- How has Douglas structured
his argument?
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