Frederick Douglas's Influence On Slavery

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1.) In what ways does the opening paragraph of Chapter I of Frederick Douglass 's Narrative contain in brief the whole story of his experience with slavery? In the opening paragraph, Frederick is telling about the little rights he had as a slave. They were completely stripped of their identity and didn’t even know their age. All he wanted was to know a simple fact of how old he was,
“A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood. The white children could tell their ages. I could not tell why I ought to be deprived of the same privilege. I was not allowed to make any inquiries of my master concerning it” (Douglass, 1).
This small excerpt portrays the insecurity to the black. By stating the white children knew their age, but black slaves could not know …show more content…

Religion left a positive influence on slave owners because religion supported slavery. If they slave owners ever felt guilty for installing punishment, religion would be the to rid them of their sins. Douglass remembers, hoping once his master came back from church, he would realize how unholy his actions were and he would be released. But, in fact, his master came back harsher than before,
“Prior to his conversion, he relied upon his own depravity to shield and sustain him in his savage barbarity; but after his conversion, he found religious sanction and support for his slaveholding cruelty. He made the greatest pretensions to piety. His house was the house of prayer” (Douglass, 54).
It is clear religion did not favor the slaves. Religion existed to make slaveowners feel better about their actions. They felt by going to church they could rid their sin, seek salvation and free their sole. This encouraged slave owners to become harsher and place strict rules. Due to religion, slave owners never had to feel guilty about their actions.
6.) What happens between Douglass and Edward

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