Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

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“The law on the side of freedom is of great advantage only when there is power to make that law respected”. This quote comes from Fredrick Douglas’ book, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, written in 1845. Fredrick Douglas who was born into slavery in 1818 had no understanding of freedom. However, his words shed light on the state of our country from the time he made this statement, but can be traced back fifty-eight years earlier to when the Constitution was drafted and debated over by fifty-five delegates in an attempt to create a document to found the laws of a new country upon. However, to eradicate the antiquated and barbaric system of slaver would be a bold step to set the nation apart, but it would take a strong argument and a courageous move by someone or a group to abolish what had enslaved thousands of innocent people within the borders of America for centuries. There was an opportunity for the law to be written within the Constitution, which would support this freedom Fredrick Douglas alluded to. However, the power, which controlled this law, would as Douglas stated, “make that law respected”. The delegates who had made their way to Philadelphia to attend the Constitutional Convention had dealt with several issues prior to their coming to Pennsylvania in 1787. Just four years prior to the Convention, The Paris Peace Treaty with Britain was agreed upon and signed with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin as America’s first ambassador. Only months, before the convention was underway in February of 1787, Shays rebellion had started and would cause for issues. This conflict however, would be one of the major reason why the convention would come together to look at the Articles of... ... middle of paper ... ...ut this may have been just a ploy to have them fight. At the end of the Revolutionary War, many of the slaves were turned back to their masters, rather than given freedom as they were promised. George Washington our first president and founding father was guilty of such an atrocity. Author Glen Brasher states, “Washington ordered the slaves returned to their owners and opened up the lines so their masters could reclaim their property”. It can only be imagined how each of these men felt knowing they had sacrificed so in hopes that along with the freedom of the colonies from Britain they too would have a chance to taste the winds of freedom as well, but the hopes were dashed as they made their way back to a life a turmoil and bondage. A soldier of the Hessen army who was there to witness the event described the scene, “we used them to good advantage and set them .

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