AP Language and Composition- Frederick Douglass

Where and when was Frederick Douglass born? What was his name at birth? What did he know about his parents?

He was born in February, 1818 in Maryland. His birth name was Frederick Bailey. There were rumors that his dad was his slave holder and white and his mom was a slave.

How old was Frederick Douglass when he wrote his narrative?

He was about 77 years old

Describe Frederick's relationship with his mother. Include the number of times they saw each other, what their visits were like, and Frederick's age when she died.

His mom was on a different plantation and would walk 12 miles at night to see him. They only met about 4 or 5 times in his life. She would lay with him until he feel asleep. He was about 10 when she died.

What are Douglass's observations about the mulatto children--those who had a slave mother but a white father, who was usually the slave owner?

He observed that mulatto children looked different from African Americans and white southerns

What are Douglass's observations about this class of mulatto slaves in relation to the south and the American idea of the correctness of slavery?

mulatto slaves directly exposed the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the American idea of the "correctness" of slavery

Who was Douglass's first master? Also name the members of his family. Tell where they lived.

Captain Anthony had 2 sons- Andrew and Richard, 1 daughter- Lucretia. They lived on Colonel Llyod's plantation.

Describe the slaves' monthly allowance of food and yearly clothing. Describe their beds and bedding.

Once a month they got 8lbs of pork or fish and 1 bushel of corn meal. They got coarse clothing and blankets and basically slept on the floor if they got to sleep.

What did Douglass say about the singing of the slaves? How did he feel about the songs?

Slave songs appeared to express happiness, but in reality they were expressing saddness.

Describe Colonel Lloyd's method for keeping slaves out of his garden.

He put tar around his garden and whipped any slave with tar on them.

Summarize Douglass's observations about the reasons the slaves usually gave only positive, complimentary comments about their masters.

The masters had spies on slaves, so slaves only said nice things about their masters otherwise they would get sold.

Douglass says that Mr. Gore was "cruel, artful, and obdurate." What are the examples that Douglass gives for each of these adjectives about Mr. Gore?

Cruel- Able to inflict his sadistic punishment

Artful- he was cunning and artful enough to be devious

Obdurate- He was able to stubbornly ignore his conscious

What did Mr. Gore do to the slave named Demby? Why did he do this? What punishment did Mr. Gore receive? Why?

He Demby because he didn't get out of the pond. He shot him to keep the other slaves in line and to show them what could happen to them. Mr. Gore was not punished because it was legal and the only witnesses were slaves and they could not sue a white man.

Who were Mr. Thomas Lanman, Mrs. Hick, and Mr. Beal Bondy? What did each of them do? What were the results of their actions?

They were all slaveholders that killed slaves w/o punishment because it was legal.

How did Master Daniel Lloyd treat the young Douglass?

He protected Douglass and gave him food since he was young.

How old was Douglass when he left the Lloyd plantation? Where did he go? With whom did he live there? What was his job?

He went to Baltimore when he was 7 or 8. He worked/lived with Hugh Auld. Douglass had to take care of Thomas Auld.

What did Douglass think about his departure from Colonel Lloyd's plantation?

He though of it as an interesting, new, and exciting time of his life.

To what did Douglass attribute his good fortune?

"Good fortune from God"

What did Mrs. Auld teach Douglass to do? What did Mr. Auld say when he found out?

She taught him the ABC's. Mr. Auld said it's dangerous to teach a slave because it make them discontented.

What did Douglass think about Mr. Auld's comments about teaching slaves to read is bad? What did Douglass decide to do in light of the comments?

He thinks Mr. Auld is right so he learns to read.

Compare and contrast the treatment of slaves by the slave owners in the city with the slave owners on the plantations.

City- More freedom, no whippings, fed decently.

Country- limited freedom and watched, whipped, cruel punishments and no food.

How did Mrs. Auld change during the time that Douglass lived with the Auld family? What made her change?

She became stone hearted and violent because she was becoming a true slave owner.

How did Douglass learn to read?

When he would go on errands he would bring bread and books to poor white kids.

Bread for reading lessons.

How old was Douglass when he read "The Columbian Orator"? What effect did this book have on him?

He was 12 and it made him hate slavery even more.

Why did Douglass say that learning to read was a curse instead of a blessing?

The more he read the more he realizes how awful it is to be a slave.

What word did Douglass hear that was of interest to him? How did he find out the meaning? Why was this word interesting?

He found abolition interesting because it would always be used in the connection of a slave. People would always say it but he didn't know what it meant, now he does.

Describe how Douglass learned to write.

He would challenge kids in his neighborhood to write better than him. He would also trace words in the dictionary.

What event happened about three years after Douglass began living in Baltimore that again reminded him that he detested slavery?

His master sent his grandmother away to live on her lonesome.

What regret did Douglass express about the time when he was moved from Master Hugh's home to Master Thomas? Why did he have this regret?

He wished he escaped sooner because he was close to the north but now he is back south very far from freedom.

Douglass says that Master Thomas was a mean man. Which of Thomas's practices was considered the meanest, even among slaveholders?

Not giving slaves enough food.

Where did Master Thomas send Douglass, for how long, and why?

He was sent to the "slave breaker," Mr. Covey for 1 year because Douglass was clever enough to find food on a neighboring farm.

What happened to Douglass almost every week for the first six months that he lived with Covey?

He was whipped almost every week.

Douglass says that he was "somewhat unmanageable" when he first went to live with Covey. How does Douglass describe himself after he had been with Covey for a few months?

He felt broken in mind, body, and spirit. He wanted to kill himself at one point.

Summarize Douglass's thoughts when he looked at the ships on the Chesapeake Bay.

He said that the ships had more freedom than him. He vows that he will do whatever it takes to be free.

What did Covey do to Douglass when he (Douglass) became sick while fanning the wheat?

He got angry and pounds on him and leaves him there.

What did Douglass do as a result of Covey's treatment of him? What was the result of Douglass's actions? What did Douglass do?

He goes to his old master for help; it doesn't work. When he gets back to Covey's he gets whipped.

What suggestion did another slave named Sandy Jenkins give to Douglass? What did Douglass do?

She gives him a special root to wear on his arm that will protect him. He is spared from Covey for a bit.

Describe the turning point in Douglass's life as a slave that happened when he was with Covey.

He fought back, he'd rather be dead than a slave.

According to Douglass, what institution is the "mere covering for the most horrid crimes"? What type of slaveholders are the worst? Why does Douglass think this?

The mere covering fro the most horrid crime is southern religion.

Describe Douglass's first attempt to run away. Tell who was with him, what the plan was, how far they got in the attempt, and what happened to each of the men after they were caught.

He stole a conoe to row north, pretending to be a fishermen. They were caught and put to jail. Douglass (leader) was sent back to Mr. Auld who rents him out a ship.

What trade did Douglass learn? What was his situation at the end of a year of working at this trade? What was unfair about this situation?

He learns trade of ship building alongside blacks and whites. But the whites start a fight with the blacks, Douglass, gladly gets outmatched.

Why didn't Douglass give all of the details of his escape?

Slavery was still legal, he wanted to protect the underground railroad.

How did Douglass feel about the underground railroad?

They were too known, slaveholders were suspicious.

Master Hugh sometimes gave Douglass six cents of his wages after he had made six dollars, supposedly to encourage him. What effect did this have on Douglass?

He got a small sense of freedom, he wanted full freedom.

Why did Douglass want to hire himself out, even though Master Hugh took most of the wages?

It was the first step to his escape plan. He also wanted the responsibilities of a free man.

When did Douglass succeed in escaping? Where did he go? How did Douglass feel when he arrived in the free state?

On sept. 3rd he escaped to NY and realized he knew no one and anyone could be trying to return him to the south.

What motto did Douglass adopt in the free state. Why?

"Trust no man" He saw every white man as bad because of his horrid past.

Who helped Douglass and what were some of the results of his help?

Mr. Ruggles helped Douglass find a place to stay and helps him get married.

Describe how Frederick Bailey took the name of Douglass. Include all of the names he used, including the name his mother gave him.

Given: Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey

Baltimore: Stanley

Maryland: Frederick Bailey

NY: Frederick Johnson

NB: Frederick Douglass from "Lady of the Lake"

What newspaper did Douglass begin to read? How did this newspaper affect his ideas and actions?

"The Liberator" an abolitionist magazine and slowly got involved in the cause.

Summarize Douglass's thoughts on the type of Christianity that he calls the slaveholding religion.

Douglass feels that he may be misunderstood and he wants to explain that he is not anti-religion. He makes it clear he is only against the religion of slaveholders; for Douglass, their religions far removed from "Christianity of Christ." To be Christian requires one to reject slavery.