f. douglass vocab

William Lloyd Garrison

A major abolitionist of his day and journalist; formed the abolitionist paper The Liberator, which Douglass read

Slave Code

Rules set forth regarding slaves as property and rights of their owners

Pilgrims

First settlers of New England, many of whom left England to escape religious persecution

Patrick Henry

American statesman and major figure leading to the Revolutionary War; most famous for his speech in which he proclaimed, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

Mason Dixon Line

Dividing line across America between slave states in the South and free states in the North

Meekness

State of enduring injury with patience and without resentment; mild

Consecrate

 Dedicated to a sacred purpose

Proselyte

  A new convert as to a faith or cause

Monger

someone who deals in a specific product/ service. In the Narrative, a flesh-monger is one who deals or trades slaves

Ham

In the bible, Ham’s descendants were cursed by Noah (Ham’s father) to be slaves. Many Southerners claimed Africans to be the descendants of Ham.

Cudgel

a short but thick stick

Cowskin

whip made out of cowhide

Overseer

the one in charge of the daily work of the slaves; often under pressure of the master to produce crops; rarely employed for long

Plantation

an agricultural estate usually worked by resident labor (Webster). At the time of Douglass’ narrative, many relied on slave labor.