History

Early US History

Writing Assignment

Frederick Douglass

This writing assignment will give you a glimpse into the nature of American slavery.  Please provide well-developed and insightful answers to the following questions based on Frederick Douglass’ autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (1845).

Douglass' wrenching autobiography serves as an invaluable primary account detailing the aspects, mechanisms, and evils of American slavery seen through the eyes of a man who lived and escaped from it. When answering these questions, don’t simply rephrase or regurgitate Douglass’s words, but utilize and express your own. (Do not cut & paste - answers cut & pasted will receive "zero" points.) For some background on Douglass’ life, read about Douglass and abolitionism in your textbook.

Each response should be 2 to 4 paragraphs and should contain evidence from the documents along with your own insight. Draw on what you have read but also reflect upon the relevant historical material covered in the course (textbook chapters, videos and primary source documents). Refer to the course source materials, videos and the textbook only. You do not need to do any additional research. Do not use outside sources (Internet, Websites etc.) Assignments submitted with outside sources will receive zero points.

Use academic college level writing. To support your answers, provide specific details and examples with in-text citations from the primary source documents and course materials. Responses received without in-text citations will receive a 5-point deduction off the earned grade and may be considered plagiarized. Citations may be informal (document title, pg. #), (film title, time).

Submit Assignment on Canvas (attach a word document or PDF only) by the due date & time and bring a paper copy to class on the due date. Canvas does not accept Mac Pages, Google docs or .odt files. Files submitted in the incorrect format will receive zero points as Canvas cannot open them. Student may resubmit the assignment in the correct format ONLY before the due date & time. Any resubmissions after the due date & time will be considered late. All Assignments submitted after the due date & time will be considered late. Refer to the late policy in the couse syllabus.

Assignment Questions:

1.  Explain why Douglass knows nothing of his accurate age.  In describing the ways slaves understood or “related” to their biological parents, what does Douglass know about his father and describe the kind of relationship Douglass had with his mother Harriet?   Provide specific examples and details from the primary source to support your response.

2.  Douglass sees the first of many slave evils during the whipping of his Aunt Hester.  According to Douglass, describe, what kind of offenses or perceived offenses that a slave can commit to warrant brutal punishment or whippings (other than Aunt Hester)?  Provide specific examples and details from the primary source to support your response.

3.  Douglass provides stark information about the torturous and controlling nature of slavery.  In other words, Douglass clearly shows the complete and absolute power the master has over his slave.  What various episodes from his narrative does Douglass provide to reflect this power relationship (Do not use Aunt Hester)? [Note: the master is not the same as the overseer, but you are permitted to describe the actions of the overseer in this answer] Provide specific examples and details from the source to support your response.