What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

Douglass introduces himself to the crowd, confessing that he is quite nervous and lacks confidence in his ability to deliver his speech. His reasoning for this is neither his audience nor Corinthian Hall, the location of the speech—he is familiar with both—but rather that he finds it difficult to believe that he has made it from a slave plantation to a speech platform. He claims that he will not open his speech with any grand introduction and thanks the audience in advance for their graciousness. With this, he declares the beginning of his speech.

Douglass discusses the Fourth of July, which he describes as the American people’s anniversary of political freedom, comparing it to Passover for the Jewish people. He also discusses how the nation’s birthday is a reminder that it is still young: only 76 years old, which Douglass describes as the “period of childhood” for a nation. This fact gives Douglass hope, as it means that America still has room to grow; if the nation was older, it would be more difficult to believe in its ability to change for the better. He compares America to a young stream that can still be guided, rather than a well-established river worn too deep in the earth to change course. Douglass warns that, just like bodies of water, nations can wither away.

Douglass turns to discussing the origins of the Fourth of July: the Revolutionary War. He recounts how Americans were once British subjects with few rights until Americans rose up and declared this unjust, demanding sovereignty. Douglass declares his agreement with this philosophy and points out that, while it is now commonly agreed that America was right and England was wrong, such a stance was incredibly risky back when America was still a British colony. Douglass suggests that the stigma around siding with the oppressed still persists in the present day, and that the Founding Fathers’ anti-oppression ideals are in danger of being destroyed by the same individuals who claim to represent them. However, he proceeds with his speech before elaborating.

Although the Founding Fathers initially pursued justice through polite and respectable means, Douglass continues, they were met with indifference and scorn from England. However, this only hardened their resolve and intensified the force of their resolve, which Douglass illustrates using the metaphor of a ship persevering through a powerful storm. Although many people in British government agreed that the American cause was just, the anger of the British king meant that England continued to oppress America in spite of their better judgment. Douglass points out that, although even England now admits that this decision was illogical, America’s current leaders have not learned from England’s mistake.

Once the Founding Fathers realized that their grievances would not be addressed within a colonial framework, they came up with a new idea: breaking away from England entirely. Douglass points to their innovation as an example of how the brave can always find ways out of oppression, even when “the timid and the prudent” wish to preserve the status quo. He muses that these timid types have always existed and likely will always exist, stating that this type of person hates all change except “silver, gold, and copper change.” He states that these people were called "Tories” in the Founding Fathers’ days, but the same type of person—particularly certain older American politicians—are called by a different name in present-day American newspapers.

Despite close-minded individuals, Douglass continues, the Founding Fathers were able to obtain independence. He describes how, on July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence. From the Declaration, Douglass quotes the specific passage that grants America complete and total freedom from British rule. Douglass then says that present-day Americans have benefited from this independence, and that the Fourth of July is “the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny.”

Douglass encourages Americans to hold tightly onto their “ring-bolt” at whatever cost, as its principles will allow them to endure the coming storm, which threatens their “ship of state.” He warns that if the bolt is broken, all of America will be lost, and urges Americans to hold tightly to their ship’s mast.

Douglass reflects on the circumstances surrounding the birth of America, particularly its small population and lack of industrialization. Although Douglass admits that he cannot view the Founding Fathers completely favorably, he admires them for their tenacity and patriotism. The Fathers, he says, were unique for their ability to put their ideals over their own personal interests and their willingness to die for their country. Douglass contrasts their integrity with the politicians of the day, whom he paints as short-sighted and degenerate.

In closing his introduction, Douglass discusses the jubilant atmosphere of the Fourth of July, particularly the vibrant services of churches across the country. He speculates that the audience is more familiar with the background of the holiday than he is, as he does not have as much interest in it as they do. In addition, America’s independence has been extensively taught in schools and has become a staple of American culture. Douglass also notes that Americans can discuss the Fourth of July at length since they are always familiar with parts of history that cast them in a favorable light. After this wry aside, he declares his intent to leave the history of the Founding Fathers to “gentlemen whose claim to have been regularly descended will be less likely to be disputed than mine.”