Reform in the 19th century/Fredrick Douglas - Essay Example

Seeing the dangers involved, Negroes strengthened their agitation against the law. To illustrate, Douglass attended a meeting at Faneuil Hall where he declared that the colored people must be prepared to show courage to prefer martyrdom to a return to bondage. As Douglass points out in his autobiography, he, like many other slaves, was ‘writhing under’ the slavery, and as he learned to read, he came to know more about the injustice inflicted upon them. So, he found that for the slaves, reading had been a curse (Douglas, 29).

When Douglass urged his fellow-slaves to get ready to give their life to gain freedom, he was simply publicizing his personal view. In his biography, he says that he found himself ‘regretting his own life’ and he wanted to kill himself for want of freedom (Douglas, 30). Douglass and his associates managed to create sympathy towards their cause in the city of Rochester. As Negro leaders realized the fact that there was the need for concerted action to improve the status of Negro population, they started activities with increased might (“Varied Activities.., 121). . He wanted the school in close proximity to Erie, Pennsylvania and he wanted to give admission to people without considering sex, race or complexion.

Though he did his best to raise money, he could not find enough support for the same (“Varied Activities.., 131). By the year 1831, one more issue got the attention of the leaders of the movement; the failure to initiate a manual labor college for the colored youth. While some advocated for its opening, some like Douglass believed it is irrational to start a black-only college, and some believed that it would be too costly to initiate one. Thereafter, a National Council was developed that comprised representatives from various state societies.

In the first convention of the National Council, a number of issues were discussed and the delegates expressed optimism about the progress of the movement. However, the period thereafter proved that the aims of the conventions were poorly attained. Admittedly, even religion was against them. For example, Douglass, in his biography, points out that his master was finding sanction in the religion scriptures for torturing his slaves. He quoted the Scripture that “He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes” (Douglass, 36).

Another important effort was in the form of colonization. In order to try colonization, Delany went to Africa, Whitfield went to South America, and James T. Holly went to Haiti in order to discuss with the respective governments the possibility of accepting black emigrants but all those efforts were fruitless. Another important front of social movement was the women’s rights agitation. In fact, there was close association between the Negro leaders and women’s right leaders. The