I believe that Douglass is arguing that the 4th of July while it declares Independence for this country, that it is on false terms because of the continued slavery of man and no freedom.

Quote 1: “Your fathers have lived, died, and have done their work, and have done much of it well.” ( Douglass 7)

Paraphrase: I translate this as my fellow family members that have come before me have done their part in this world. They mad a lasting impact even after death.

Response: This quote supports my understandings of the text in the fact that our for fathers and those before have suffered and worked to the point that I am here to day reaping benefits of their continued fight.

Quote 2: “From the slave prison to the ship, they are usually driven in the darkness of night; for since the anti-­‐slavery agitation, a certain caution is observed.” (Douglass 12)

Paraphrase: Going from containment in the darkness of night. Slavery is looked down upon and they use the cover of night to do such things.

Response: This is a clear statement saying that even knowing that what they are doing is wrong they use the darkness of the night to cover up who and what they are moving.

Quote 3: “You have no right to wear out and waste the hard-­‐earned fame of your fathers to cover your indolence.”( Douglass 7)

Strategy: In this quote Douglass was using this in a way of never giving up and continuing a fight.

I found this effective because it puts light on the fact that we think we are happy with our current stance but we could always fight for more. Whe are opressed but not incapable of standing up.

Quote 4: “To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs, and to chime in with the popular theme, would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world.” (Douglass 8)

Strategy: In this quote Douglass is using the strategy of pain and showing us what submission would be.

I find this effective because it shows us what giving into our suppressors would do. It describes the reaction and pain it would cause of all these years just being tossed aside and forgotten. We would have to answer for our ignorance in the highest form.