Frederick Douglass Individualism

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Government is very dependent on modern times, not because of the economic or political views of the time, but because of moral normalities. Every time period brings another change in society that soon becomes a social normality in fifty years. One of the most revolutionary shifts in government that is still relevant in today's society is the Civil War and the Civil Rights Acts that were soon to follow. There were many political leaders of the time that lead to changes with the government in terms of laws and movements that allowed African Americans to live as equals in America, Martin Luther King Jr. being the most popular. One inspirational writer that rose in the beginning of the movements, that actually inspired and was inspired by the King, …show more content…

“Early in his career Frederick Douglass often maintained that he had and could have no patriotism. His argument for taking this stand was straightforward: To have patriotism is to love one’s country; consequently to have patriotism one must have a country; but he had no country; consequently he had and could have no patriotism.” according to Bernard R. Boxill in "Frederick Douglass's Patriotism." This lead him to having very individualistic liberal views on government and the entire political scene. This point is even further proven in Frederick Douglass’s novel Life of Frederick Douglass:An American Slave when he says that “I was about twelve years old, and the thought of being a slave for loge began to bear heavy upon my heart.” These types of leaders and political leaders are often found in very peaceful countries and can be seen in one large leader being Lao-tzu. Lao-tzu states in his work Tao-te Ching states “The Master does his job and then stops. He understands the universe is forever out of control.” Together both Frederick Douglass and Lao-tzu have similar view on politics in stating how the individual person should be free in any regular situation so that the state is stable and …show more content…

Compared to Frederick Douglass the southern slaveholders he fought against believed in a tight rule with heavy restrictions for all of those who aren’t in charge. Machiavelli will build on this concept of restriction and cruelty that was taken up by the slaveowners of the south in his novel The Prince saying that “Therefore a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal.” Seven Conn explains in detail how this idea was expressed in the south stating “Think of that iconic photograph of the integration of Little Rock Central High. The quiet dignity of that young black woman and the white teen shrieking in hatred just behind her. Or of that gruesome image of a Southern lynching where a young girl smiles up at the body hanging from a tree.” in his work "Frederick Douglass and Southern Politics." Many southerners were able to defend their territory against the injustice of their actions by saying that these slaves were a danger to the economy like IHT Corporation in "Political: The Views of Frederick Douglass a High Tarriff a Necessity." exclaiming that ”The slaves own no Government bonds: so they will never vote to tax themselves to pay interest or principal of the national

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