What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? Essay Questions

Why does Douglass feel that the Church is both the root of the problem and the root of the solution when it comes to slavery?

Douglass notes that Americans are very proud of their faith, and that religion is celebrated. Therefore, the Church has an immense amount of influence over its members. Some self-serving representatives of the Church have wrongly argued that slavery is consecrated by the Bible, while others remain silent on the issue of slavery altogether. This neutrality enacted by the Church, Douglass argues, is what enables slavery to continue.

However, the Church can also be part of the solution because of its extreme influence. Douglass realizes that many people of faith will follow the teachings of the Church, and that the Church should be teaching Jesus' lessons of kindness and equality among men. Pointing out to believers that they are in fact being rather hypocritical is something that Douglass thinks will push the Church to reexamine its position on slavery.

What is Douglass's interpretation of the Constitution with regard to slavery?

Douglass makes it clear that he does not wish to argue the ability to interpret the Constitution in a number of ways. Slavery, however, might be one of the areas where the Constitution makes its stance rather clear-cut. For Douglass, the argument that the Constitution is meant to support and uphold slavery is entirely dismantled by the fact that all words related to slavery do not appear in the document. What does appear in the document, Douglass argues, is frequent mention of liberty, equality, and freedom for all men. Douglass implores his audience to use their common sense when facing contrived, pro-slavery interpretations of the Constitution.

Why is Douglass's speech considered one of the best examples of oratory in American history?

While evaluating Douglass's speech is a largely subjective practice, most agree that "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" is an expertly crafted oration that stands out among the most famous American speeches. Douglass's speech is organized and thorough; he refutes arguments quickly but convincingly, leaving little room for opponents to challenge him. Furthermore, his speech is fundamentally passionate and energetic; Douglass makes clear through his use of imagery and personal anecdote that he cares deeply about his subject matter—indeed, as a former slave, his subject was a matter of life and death. Finally, Douglass deftly uses American history against itself, often citing the irony inherent to celebrating "independence" on the Fourth of July while slaves continued to be stripped of their liberty throughout the country.

Why does Douglass begin his speech with what seems like false humility?

Whether Douglass was actually nervous to deliver the speech, as he claims, is up for debate, but he does pepper the beginning of his oration with modesty, humility, and even self-deprecation. It quickly becomes clear that the version of himself he has presented to his audience—unlearned, intimidated, and poorly-prepared—is not an accurate reflection of Douglass's state. In many ways, this opening to the speech helps Douglass gain his audience's sympathy and trust. But more importantly, Douglass's dashing of the audience's expectations establishes the central idea of the rest of the speech: that what one knows and celebrates about America is not, in fact, accurate or worthy of celebration at all.

Why does Douglass include a comparison between religion in England and religion in America?

After chastising the American Church for its complicity in the ongoing existence of slavery, Douglass briefly compares American Christianity to English Christianity. That is, Douglass evaluates the official positions of the Christian Church in America and that in England, noting that the English Church sought to abolish slavery in their ongoing attempts to improve the world for mankind. The American Christian Church, by contrast, has done no such thing, and still maintains neutrality if not endorsement of slavery in the country. That Douglass includes this comparison functions as another element of irony in the speech: as, on the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate their independence from England, Douglass praises England—Americans' former oppressor, in their view—for becoming more dedicated to liberty than America itself.