Critique of American Values
- When
- July 5, 1852
- Where
- Corinthian Hall
Douglass argued that American values like liberty and citizenship were offenses to enslaved people who lacked those rights, highlighting the contradiction between national ethos and slave treatment.
In the address, Douglass stated that positive statements about perceived American values were an offense to the enslaved population. He noted the contradiction between the national ethos of the United States and the way slaves were treated. He referenced the history of the United States, noting that Americans were subjects of the British Crown in 1776.
Sources
- What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-02
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