Read the excerpt from frederick douglass’s speech “what to the slave is the fourth of july? ” go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through south america, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, america reigns without a rival. which phrase best describes the connotation of the word “reigns”? a sense of opportunity and growth a sense of fear and anxiety a sense of compassion and humanity a sense of oppression and domination

The answer is D. The connotation of the word “reigns” is a sense of oppression and domination.

EXPLANATION

Frederick Douglass is widely known as an orator, and his views of equality among people from the various race and skin colors, along with abolitionist stand when the United States still regards slavery as legal are also a writer, statesman, and a social reformer. Born as a slave in Maryland, Douglass later escaped slavery and led the abolitionist movement in New York and Massachusetts.  

He was regarded as a living counter-example for a long-standing argument that slaveholders hold that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity to become an independent American people. Although regarded as a leader of the abolitionist movement, he believed that dialogues should be engaged and alliance to be made across racial and ideological values, even with the slaveholders, something he is criticized for by radical abolitionists.

Douglass delivered What to the Slave Is the Fourth on July 5th, 1852 in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York for Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. The speech is an unmistakably most widely known form of Douglass’ writing, save for his autobiographies. Many copies of his speech, especially beginning in paragraph 32 circulated online.  

The speech represents well Douglass’ view, as Douglass goes in-depth about American independence and that it does not represent the independence that most American hope and strive to achieve. His most popular view stresses that slaves and free Americans are the same in essence. He points out to the privileged white people that their ancestors and his ancestors fight the same war seventy years earlier.

LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

Why does Douglass describe his fight with Covey in such detail in his memoir, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?  

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass:  

KEYWORD: Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July, reigns

Subject: English

Class: College

Subchapter: Frederick Douglass

A sense of oppression and domination

Further Explanation:

Frederick Douglass was an African American social reformer writer and during his younger days, he escaped slavery and then after many years fighting for the slaves, he went on to become the leader of the abolitionist movement. He is famously known for a speech that is known by the name of “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” on July 5, 1852, in New York. In his speech, he pointed out towards the Americans celebrated Independence Day stating that Slavery is still a serious issue in the United States and if we go by the constitution of United States every citizen of the country has the right to live with liberty and dignity.  

But, if there will be slavery still going around all over the United States then there is no reason behind celebrating independence. He further suggested about the positive statements about American values like freedom and liberty were an offense to the enslaved people because of their lack of freedom and slaves were being exploited all over the United States.  

Learn More:

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2.in a parliamentary system of representative democracy, the prime minister is appointed by the monarch. is elected by representatives chosen by the people. is the leader of the party that won the most seats in parliament. is elected directly by the people.

Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Chapter: Frederick Douglass

Subject: English

Keywords:

Frederick Douglass, United States, Slavery, Enslaved, Freedom, Liberty, Citizenship, Offense, Exploited, Constitution.  

the statement flat characters usually only have one trait that is developed in their story lines is true.