is
used to identify some of Douglass's best known and most important speeches.The following list includes reports of speeches, excerpts from speeches,
and printed speeches. A is
used to identify some of Douglass's best known and most important speeches.
Because not all of Douglass's speeches were printed in full, you will find that even some of his best-known addresses appear in different forms. This is because reporters, listeners, editors, and people who construct web pages have sometimes offered selective excerpts from the speech without indicating that it is a partial transcription. Opening paragraphs were frequently excised by those who assume that the introduction of a speech will not interest the modern reader. So keep the source and nature of the material you are dealing with in mind when analysing Douglass's ideas and rhetoric. Be sure you have a complete transcription before you try to analyze, for example, Douglass's openings and closings, or take the fact that you are dealing with a fragment into account.
You should also be aware that many of Douglass's speeches were delivered (and sometimes printed) simply under a descriptive title such as "Address before the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society, Rochester Hall, Rochester, N.Y. 1852" and were later republished under titles taken from a key line or phrase in the speech, for example, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"
When analyzing a speech, you may want to note the date so that you can consider the ways in which Douglass's rhetoric changes to reflect the shift in issues and audience.
Speeches by Douglass at the Library of Congress
RECEPTION SPEECH AT FINSBURY CHAPEL, MOORFIELDS, ENGLAND, MAY 12, 1846. See also: Audio of actor reading 1846 speech in London, entitled "An Appeal to the British People"
THE NATURE OF SLAVERY. EXTRACT FROM A LECTURE ON SLAVERY, AT ROCHESTER, DECEMBER 1, 1850.
INHUMANITY OF SLAVERY. EXTRACT FROM A LECTURE ON SLAVERY, AT ROCHESTER, DECEMBER 8, 1850.
THE INTERNAL SLAVE TRADE. EXTRACT FROM AN ORATION, AT ROCHESTER, JULY 5, 1852
SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE MASS FREE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AT ITHACA, NEW YORK, OCT. I4TH, 1852
No Progress Without Struggle! (A very short excerpt from an address on West India Emancipation, August 4, 1857.)
Addresses of the Hon. W. D. Kelley, Miss Anna E. Dickinson, and Mr. Frederick Douglass, at a mass meeting ... Philadelphia, July 6, 1863, for the promotion of colored enlistments. ADDRESSES OF THE HON. W. D. KELLEY, MISS ANNA E. DICKINSON, AND MR. FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AT A MASS MEETING, HELD AT NATIONAL HALL, PHILADELPHIA, JULY 6, 1863, FOR THE PROMOTION OF COLORED ENLISTMENTS.
An Appeal to Congress for Impartial Suffrage, 1867
"THE SERFS OF RUSSIA...WERE GIVEN THREE ACRES OF LAND" Frederick Douglass assesses the meaning of emancipation in 1880.
Address to the Louisville Convention (1883)
Article which appeared in the Cleveland Gazette 11/26/189: Douglass Speaks on Effects of Recent Election
Frederick Douglass--A Debate on Colonization
Frederick Douglass, "The American Missionary," 1889
Here is an article by Douglass that was published in a magazine but still seems to share many of the characteristics of his speeches: What Shall Be Done with the Slaves If Emancipated? Douglass’ Monthly, January 1862 (Much nineteenth century American literature can be better understood once we recognize that speeches provided a model for much of the writing. In fact, a great many essays were written and published as "addresses," that is, they functioned essentially as printed speeches to the reading audience.)
One of Douglass's Most Important Speeches: "WHAT TO THE SLAVE IS THE FOURTH OF JULY"
Different versions of the text as published in different pamphlets, newspapers, books, and websites:
Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society, Rochester Hall, Rochester, N.Y. 1852 What to the Slave -- whole with notes about what is excerpted
The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, by Frederick Douglass A speech given at Rochester, New York, July 5,1852 looks complete
Side by side comparison of two different reports of the same speech delivered in Maryland
Outline and Analysis at Douglass Archives
What to the Slave... Has opening paragraph that precedes Douglass Archives versionbut deteles other things.
Independence Day Speech at Rochester, 1841 "What To The Slave Is The 4th Of July?" FREDERICK DOUGLASS SPEECH 1841
Fourth of July speeches given by other 19th century orators:
FOURTH OF JULY ORATIONS--NY State Library
Arnold Green, New England's gift to the nation--the township. An oration, by Arnold Green, with a poem by Henry C. Whitaker, delivered July 5, 1875.
1854 SLAVERY IN MASSACHUSETTS by Henry David Thoreau
Centennial: The American Negro from 1776-1876; Oration Delivered at Avondale, Ohio, 1876
Abraham Lincoln's Independence Day Address of July 7, 1863
Background Information on Fourth of July Speeches and Celebrations in 19th century America:
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, With Sketches of Several Distinguished Colored Persons: To Which Is Added a Brief Survey of the Condition And Prospects of Colored Americans: Electronic Edition. Nell, William Cooper and an Account of 4th of July Celebration Published in 1855 with introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Fourth of July Celebrations Database
Take a look at the elaborate preparations laid out for a Parade in Philadelphia: Order of procession, in honor of the establishment of the Constitution of the United States : To parade precisely at eight o'clock in the morning, of Friday, the 4th of July, 1788
An Ode for the 4th of July 1788
July 4th, 1876. [The Galaxy. / Volume 22, Issue 1, July 1876] text
