In 1845, Frederick Douglass published his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. The book was exceptionally successful, proving to be not only the first of its kind but also one of the best-selling books of all time. The publication of Narrative was followed by a literary explosion, as other prominent abolitionists, including Harriet Beecher Stowe and William Lloyd Garrison, published their own autobiographies. In the following years, as the U.S. Congress debated and eventually passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery, many prominent abolitionists published autobiographies to advocate for the cause.
Slavery and Human Identity
What makes the work of Frederick Douglass so important is not merely the fact that he was one of the first prominent African-Americans to write an autobiography; it is also because he was among the first to address the issue of slavery in the United States, one of the country’s defining problems.
Many of our most prominent historical figures, including Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, owned and held slaves. However, it was not considered respectable for a prominent white man to publicly debate the issue of slavery; it was considered a ‘divisive’ topic that should not be brought up in polite society. For that reason, until the Civil War, most white Americans were unaware of the existence of slavery; their understanding of it was limited largely to the stereotypes they had been taught by their teachers and by the media.
Frederick Douglass was among the first prominent African-Americans to openly debate the existence of slavery. In his work, he repeatedly refers to slavery as a ‘national curse,’ and he calls for the destruction of slavery and the enactment of legislation to protect the rights of African-Americans.
In the preface of Narrative, Douglass addresses the issue of why he decided to write his autobiography, stating that “I have always had a deep interest in history, and love to see the records of those by whom I have lived.” As with other prominent abolitionists of the time, Douglass was concerned that the cause of abolition would be forgotten if it was not for the diligent record keeping of those who fought for it, stating that “I am well aware that my own history would be rapidly lost…but I feel assured that the struggles and achievements of my fellow citizens will not.”
In addition to providing an important historical record of the abolitionist movement, the publication of Narrative helped to end the stigma surrounding discussion of slavery in America. It was an important step in the long struggle against racism and racial inequality in the United States. We cannot discount the importance of this step toward social justice and equality, and we should continue to recognize and fight for the important role that historians and memoirists like Frederick Douglass play in keeping our history alive.
What Can We Learn About Slavery From The Underground Railroad?
The issue of slavery is so entwined in American history that it was impossible for the country to fully overcome the problem. Even today, when most people think of slavery they think primarily of the Civil War and the abolishment of the practice. However, the issue was not resolved during the Civil War; it was, in fact, temporarily ‘sheltered’ by the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed only those people living in the country; it did not apply to people who lived in urban areas. The federal government did not officially and fully endorse slavery until 1865, when it was officially abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. And, even then, many southern states did not abolish slavery until decades after the Civil War.
That being said, the abolitionist movement, which began as a white, middle-class phenomenon and quickly grew to include prominent African-Americans like Frederick Douglass, was a significant factor in the eventual abolition of slavery. The vast majority of activists involved in the anti-slavery movement were white, and they often used their positions of prominence to passionately advocate for the cause – even going so far as to speak out against Lincoln during the Civil War because he was not radical enough in his opposition to slavery. The movement succeeded in part because it used the existing system to amplify its voice and secure some justice for enslaved people.
The story of the abolitionist movement is one of perseverance and fierce advocacy for the cause, which made it one of the most prominent movements in U.S. history. However, much like Frederick Douglass and other prominent abolitionists before him, the activists of the movement were often met with fierce opposition, often coming from the very people they were trying to help – slave owners who did not want to see their practice ended and, as a result, fought desperately against the anti-slavery movement. Their opposition was not based solely on racial antagonism, since many northern states had large numbers of people who owned slaves as well and, as a result, became part of the abolitionist movement as well. In fact, the opposition to the movement came from all areas of society, including the media, academia, and church leadership. It is estimated that nearly 200 people were murdered in the name of slavery, with many more victims suffering greatly because of it.
That being said, the anti-slavery movement succeeded in abolishing slavery in America, and for that we should be thankful. Without it, it is quite possible that many of our most significant historical events, like the Civil War, might never have happened.
Slavery and The Formation Of The Democratic Party
Although slavery was abolished in America in the aftermath of the Civil War, the issue did not disappear – it merely changed course. The system of chattel slavery, in which slaves were bought and sold like cattle, did not disappear but was replaced with a new system of sharecropping and tenant farming, which allowed southern plantation owners to profitably complete off the labor of sharecroppers and tenant farmers. This was more profitable for the planters than producing cotton on their own land, which quickly lost its allure once the Civil War ended. As a result, many northern and southern slave owners, as well as the practice of slavery itself, began to decline.
This was further exacerbated by the Immigration Act of[***update***](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjK2Fr7nLqcAjNc3OcCpR7hW4B4l0jm52jTfJqzMz2nBqKS4tA7rc7EUQ/viewform)?embed=true, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President[***update***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln)’ Lincoln in the late 1860s. The act allowed for the legal importation of foreign workers into the United States. Most came from Southern Europe, where the practice of slavery had not yet been abolished, thus further depressing the demand for labor in the South. The effect was immediate and significant, with agricultural productivity decreasing by nearly half in many areas of the country. The resulting hardships and unemployment contributed to the formation of the independent political party commonly known as the[***update***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party)’Democratic Party, which was founded in full in 1864.
The Democratic Party, which at its inception was primarily made up of southern and western Democrats, opposed slavery and opposed the enforcement of the fugitive slave laws. However, over time, as the national discourse turned more and more against slavery, many northern and western Democrats began to chip in as well. By the late 1800s, northern and western Democrats, along with a number of socially liberal Republicans, worked together to form what was then known as the[***update***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Liberal_Party)’Nationally Liberal Party, later to become the[***update***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party)’Democratic Party.
Slavery, Feminism, And The Women’s Rights Movement
The early efforts of the women’s rights movement, which began in the late 1800s as feminists fought for the right of women to vote and to hold public office, were also met with fierce opposition, often coming from the same quarters that opposed the earlier abolitionist movement – church leaders, media personalities, and the like. As with slavery, opposition to the women’s rights movement stemmed not only from a fear of change but also, in many cases, from a simple dislike of strong, independent women who threatened men’s control over women.