The Quick Way To Learn About Frederick Douglass For the CSET

If a person of average intelligence like me can learn about Frederick Douglass while sitting on the couch tapping away on my laptop computer, I’ll bet you can too.

Frederick Douglass is a key figure in U.S. History and someone you need to study if you are going to take the CSET English or the CSET Multiple Subjects exam. For the CSET English exam, expect to see a Frederick Douglass question on Subtest IV: Communications: Speech, Media, and Creative Performance, specifically in the debate and persuasive speech sections. For the CSET Multiple Subjects exam, expect to see a Frederick Douglass question on Subtest I: History section.

In this lesson you will first read about Frederick Douglass. You will then read the Wikipedia article on Frederick Douglass. Finally, you will watch 8 videos on the life of Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (February 14, 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. Called “The Sage of Anacostia” and “The Lion of Anacostia,” Douglass was one of the most prominent figures of African American history during his time, and one of the most influential lecturers and authors in American history.

Frederick Douglass, was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland near Hillsboro. He was separated from his mother, Harriet Bailey, when he was still an infant. She died when Douglass was about seven years old. The identity of Douglass’ father is obscure; Douglass originally stated that his father was a white man, perhaps his master, Captain Aaron Anthony, but later said that he knew nothing of his father’s identity. When Anthony died, Douglass was given to Mrs. Lucretia Auld, wife of Captain Thomas Auld; the young man was sent to Baltimore to serve the Captain’s brother, Hugh Auld. When Douglass was about twelve, Hugh Auld’s wife, Sophia, broke the law by teaching Douglass some letters of the alphabet. Thereafter, as detailed in his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (published in 1845), Douglass succeeded in learning to read from white children in the neighborhood in which he lived, and by observation of writings of the men with whom he worked. Douglass later referred to the lessons he received from Sophia Auld in his first abolitionist speech.

In 1837, Douglass met Anna Murray, who sold a poster bed to buy sailor’s papers needed for Frederick Douglass’s escape. Douglass escaped slavery on September 3, 1838 boarding a train to Havre de Grace, Maryland dressed in a sailor’s uniform and carrying identification papers provided by a free black seaman. After crossing the Susquehanna River by ferry boat at Havre de Grace, Douglass continued by train to Wilmington, Delaware. From there Douglass went by steamboat to “Quaker City”—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His escape to freedom eventually led him to New York, the entire journey taking less than twenty-four hours.

Douglass later became the publisher of a series of newspapers: North Star, Frederick Douglass Weekly, Frederick Douglass’ Paper, Douglass’ Monthly and New National Era. The motto of The North Star was “Right is of no sex–Truth is of no color–God is the Father of us all, and we are all Brethren”.

Douglass’ most well-known work is his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which was published in 1845. Critics frequently attacked the book