Who was Frederick Bailey?
Douglass was born Frederick Bailey and later wrote that he did not know exactly when he was born. (Historians think he was born in February 1818[1]) Born enslaved in Maryland to Harriet Bailey, there was a thought that his father was Douglass’ first enslaver Aaron Anthony.[2] Click here to learn more about the importance of names.
He was moved by his enslavers several times as he was hired out, eventually becoming the ‘property’ of Thomas Auld. Douglass was taught to read by the wife of Auld (until they were both told to stop by Auld)[3]
By various people he was beaten and saw others beaten badly. He would become down[4] but carried on and even started to teach enslaved people about freedom. Hired out to a man named a cruel man called Covey who tried to beat Douglass until he fought back and won.
He was a skilled person and was a ship caulker (keeps the ship watertight). This gave him a degree of freedom that he used to educate himself and plan his escape. After unsuccessful attempts to escape he succeeded in 1836, using the Underground Railroad. He changes his name to Johnson, later changes it to Douglass (from a Scottish book called Lady of the Lake)
[1] Blight, D., n.d. Frederick Douglass. P 9
[2] Douglass, F., n.d. Narrative of the live of Frederick Douglass. NY; Signet Books: (1968). P5.
[3] Douglass, F., n.d. Narrative of the live of Frederick Douglass. NY; Signet Books: (1968). P29.
[4] Douglass, F., n.d. Narrative of the live of Frederick Douglass. NY; Signet Books: (1968). P35
What did Douglass do once he was free?
Douglass became a campaigner against enslavement, travelling and giving talks in the US. He also wrote Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave in May 1845. It became one of the most significant firsthand books on enslavement ever written.
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In 1846 he came to Britain and travelled a lot. He spoke in hundreds of places and campaigned for the UK to press for the end of enslavement in the USA.
To see how much he travelled and spoke research this map.
What did Douglass do once he was free?
Douglass gave four reasons why he came to England.
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He wanted to be ‘Out of the way.’ The success of his book brought great danger that he would be captured and sent back to enslavement.
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He sought information on a country he considered as his ancestral home. He was referring to his father’s side.
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He wanted to spread the message of the evils of slavery.
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He wanted to increase the readership of his Narrative.[1]
[1] Blight, D., n.d. Frederick Douglass. P 154-155
Were the Richardsons right to help Frederick Douglass 'buy' his freedom?
Ellen and Anna Richardson were from a Quaker family in Newcastle. They were part of the abolitionist movement and were very practically minded. They helped lots of formerly enslaved people to speak in the Northeast and to help them in other ways.
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After Frederick Douglass freed himself, he was in the eyes of his previous enslaver and more importantly in the eyes of US law a fugitive. This meant that in all parts of the United States, even the free North, he could legally be captured and returned to enslavement. This weighed heavily on him. When he was in Great Britain it remained with him. At once longing to go home and at the same time worried that his home could legally recapture and enslave him once more.
We have seen that huge amounts of money were paid to British owners of enslaved people. You will have your own thoughts about it. Some see it as a way to end British slavery while others see it as money that was given to wrongdoers, while no compensation was given to the formally enslaved, others made a fortune from compensation.
We want you to bear this in mind while we tell you about what happened with Frederick Douglass and a family from Newcastle called the Richardsons.
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In 1846 Frederick Douglass met the Richardsons. He stayed in Newcastle that summer. After a trip to the seaside where the Richardsons could see he was sad about being away from home they started to form a plan. On October 29th, 1946, Ellen and Anna started raising funds to buy Douglass his freedom. By December 5th of the same year, he was finally free, no longer a fugitive.
It is interesting in the correspondence between Auld and those buying Douglass’s freedom from him that he refers to Douglass as Bailey. Here again, we see the power in names.
Many abolitionists were against this. To deal with the person who owned Douglass went against their beliefs. They believed that those who enslaved others should not be compensated, like the British owners were when British slavery was abolished in 1833. While people sympathized with Douglass, they thought he should not have gone along with it.
It cost £150, or $711[1]
To show the other side of the argument we can hear Frederick Douglass’ opinion.
Thomas Auld, aided by the American Government, can seize, bind and fetter (To chain or manacle someone), and drag me from my family, feed his cruel revenge upon me, and doom me to unending slavery.[2]
Douglass was now able to travel back to the USA without the fear that he could be caught and returned to enslavement or worse.
Both sides make a good point.
Where do you stand on this? Would you have helped Douglass by giving money to his enslaver? What other options were there?
[1] Blight, D., n.d. Frederick Douglass. p.171.
[2] The Frederick Douglass Papers 22nd December 1846 as quoted in Black and British pg. 255.
Over to You!
Did you know?
Once he returned to the USA Frederick Douglass worked for the rest of his life on the Civil Rights of Black people.
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He wrote and campaigned
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He started the North Star Newspaper
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Once the American Civil War Started he campaigned for Black people to join the Union Army to fight against the the Confederate army that wanted to keep enslavement in America.
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He met President Abraham Lincoln and advised him on the rights of Black people and helped to educate the president to change his views.
How important were the Richardons in helping Douglass to achieve so much later on?
History Detective challenge
Frederick Douglass travelled all over Britain to campaign and raise awareness about enslavement in the USA. ​
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Use this map, made by Professor Hannah Rose Murray from the University of Edinburgh to see where Douglass spoke nearest to where you live.
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Is the building still there?
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Are there any signs that someone so important to American history spoke there?
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Research the other speakers and complete the above steps.