Fredrick Douglass: Turning Points In The Life Of Frederick Douglas

TURNING POINTS IN
THE LIFE OF FREDERICK
DOUGLASS
HISTORY 017 ONLINE
BIRTH
CHAPTER I
• Around the year 1818, Frederick Douglass was born to a slave woman by the name of Harriet Bailey -- and possibly his first white master. "I come to this, from hearing my master say, some time during 1835, I was about seventeen years old" (13).
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS
WASHINGTON BAILEY
• The first major event in Douglass' life may have been his separation from his mother at a very young age.
This action may have caused an absence in the natural bond in which a mother and child are supposed to share. !
SENT TO THE GREAT HOUSE FARM
COLONEL
LLOYD'S PLANTATION
• Now living at the Great House Farm,
Douglass began to question his surroundings. He realized that the
white
"I sailed from Baltimore for St. Michaels' in the sloop (..) I paid particular attention to the direction which the steamboats took to go to
Philadelphia" (41).
• However, even with this newfound knowledge and an ever-burning desire for freedom,
Douglass would not make an attempt to runaway. Doulgass would be sent to St.
Michael's, relocating him back into the country--making escape much more difficult.
The decision not to runaway would be a huge regret for Frederick Douglass, and he would vow to not make the same mistake again.
LEARNING TO READ
EDWARD COVEY
AND THE ESCAPE
CHAPTER III
“I LIVED WITH MR. COVEY ONE YEAR. DURING THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS, OF THAT YEAR, SCARCE A WEEK PASSED WITHOUT HIS
WHIPPING ME. I WAS SELDOM FREE FROM A SORE BACK” ( 4 7 ) .
!
-FREDERICK DOUGLASS
THE BATTLE WITH EDWARD COVEY
• Edward Covey was a slavebreaker in
Talbot County, Maryland, and it would be on this farm where
Federick's resolve would be tested.
• In August of 1833, Douglass was fanning wheat when he suddenly became ill and fell to the ground.
Mr. Covey saw Douglass on the ground and gave him two hard kicks then hit him on the head with
He is completely astonished by the wealth and hard work he observes in the town. Witnessing a strong economic center not based on slavery was shocking for Douglass. All his life he had seen that it was the negro's sweat and blood which gave life for so many others. But, here, it was different.“I was for once made glad by a view of extreme wealth, without being saddened by seeing extreme poverty” (78).
• After saving up enough money, Douglass is able to buy the towns local paper, further signifying his integration into a free state. Additionally, his excitement over
The Liberator signifies the freedom he can experience in the pursuit of his own happiness. “The paper became my meet and drink. My soul was set all on fire. Its sympathy for my brethren in bonds—its scratching denunciations of slaveholders
[…] ” (80).
Frederick Douglass' journey from slavery to freeman was that of a great man in history. His journey was never easy and he faced many trials and tribulations throughout his life. If not for certain key events and a particular set of circumstances, these achievements may have not been possible. The close relationship that he