Greatness

K. Devaney

Public Speaking 235

December 1, 2012

Fredrick Douglass Speech Outline

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was the best known and most influential African American leader of the 1800s. He was born a slave in Maryland but managed to escape to the North in 1838. He traveled to Massachusetts and settled in New Bedford, working as a laborer to support himself. In 1841, he attended a convention of the Massachusetts Antislavery Society and quickly came to the attention of its members, eventually becoming a leading figure in the New England antislavery movement.

In 1845, Douglass published his autobiography, "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave." With the revelation that he was an escaped slave, Douglass became fearful of possible re-enslavement and fled to Great Britain and stayed there for two years, giving lectures in support of the antislavery movement in America. With the assistance of English Quakers, Douglass raised enough money to buy his own his freedom and in 1847 he returned to America as a free man.

Thesis: With the assistance of English Quakers, Douglass raised enough money to buy his own his freedom and in 1847 he returned to America as a free man.

I. The first main point is that everyone should understand what Fredrick Douglass was about and what he established.

II. The second main point is that Douglass delivered a scathing attack on the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating freedom and independence with speeches, parades and platitudes, while, within its borders, nearly four million humans were being kept as slaves.

III. The third main point is to revisit key parts of his speech and introduce some keypoints in his life.

Conclusion:

Douglass believed that education was the key for African Americans to improve their lives. For this reason, he was an early advocate for desegregation of schools. Douglass was acquainted with the radical abolitionist John Brown but...