Is Slavery A Justifiable Institution?

Words: 525
Pages: 3

Introduction The Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society asked Frederick Douglass to speak at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York on the Fourth of July 1852. He did not want to speak on that day but agreed to do the speech the next day, July 5. Because he was a black man and escaped slave, he thought that it would be ironic to speak on Independence Day because of his life experience. However, he used the recent holiday to his advantage and used the argument that African Americans, whether they are free or not, have no reason to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Historical Context During the 1850’s, America was undergoing social reform. The main question was whether slavery was a justifiable institution or whether it should be illegal. The