What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of each activity.

ACTIVITY 1: “Examine the Constitution”

In this activity, students will take up Douglass’s challenge for his audience to examine the Constitution and draw their own conclusions.

In the last third of his speech, Douglass challenges his audience to examine the Constitution and draw their own conclusions and opinions about the document—an activity that reflects a serious commitment to civic duty. Prior to this speech, Douglass used his newspaper, The North Star, to promote the same idea. He once believed the document was flawed and defended slavery. However, by the time he gave this famous address, he had changed his mind, declaring, “The Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither” (17).

He proclaims that with a plain reading, “it will be found to contain principles and purposes, entirely hostile to the existence of slavery” (17).

• Now it’s your turn: Read the Constitution and its Amendments up to the 12th Amendment.