Civil War Letter Collection

This collection of letters written by Frederick Douglass to a variety of different people, some close friends and others are acquaintances. In each of the letters written between 1846 and 1868, Frederick shares his view on slavery with a unique point of view. Frederick Douglass is a former slave who ran away just before the Civil War. Throughout each of the letter, Frederick shares with the reader his unwavering stance on slavery and the future of America. He recounts his time as a slave and the hardships he endured to effectively illustrate what it was like to be a slave and the instant feeling of freedom. How do our own experiences shape our views today? How do we decide what is right and wrong in such a diverse century with blurred lines?

Frederick Douglass

Letter 1 is written by Frederick Douglass on April 16, 1846 to William Lloyd Garrison. In this letter, Frederick describes to his dear friend his desire to be at home, not to be with friends or family, but to be working toward the end of slavery. He believes that the future of the Union will not exist if slavery continues. Frederick goes into depth about how he was treated and abused by his slave owner and how he tried to cover it up by telling lies and withholding the truth.

Letter 2 is written by Frederick Douglass in 1848 to his slave owner, Thomas Auld. Similar to the first letter, Frederick describes the horrors of slavery and explains almost a decade after his emancipation the reasons for which he ran away and the feelings associated with it. In the second part of the letter, he repeatedly explains that him and Thomas are "distinct persons" and the defines the difference between "you" and "me" and "mine" and "yours." Lastly, Frederick holds Thomas accountable for his actions and sheds light onto the failed system highlighting one last time the difference between him and Thomas, 'I am your fellow man but not your slave."

Letter 3 is written by Frederick Douglass in 1852 as a speech to American slaves. Frederick once again argues to end slavery. He condemns the idea and America for the harsh treatment of these people who are all men. He goes to great lengths to illustrate his hatred for the act and ways in which the idea is absurd. He ends the speech with this thought provoking idea: "Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival." This powerful sentence serves to show just how corrupt Frederick thinks slavery is and the lengths he will go to end it once and for all.

Letter 4 is written by Frederick Douglass to Mary Todd Lincoln on August 17, 1865. In this letter, Frederick thanks Mrs. Lincoln for the cane that was formerly owned by her late husband. He explains that President Lincoln's "Excellency" will remain a big part of him and his work to end slavery. Lastly he thanks and recognizes the work of her husband in "the welfare of my whole race."

Letter 5 is written by Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman on August 29, 1868. Frederick takes time to recognize and applaud Harriet Tubman for her work to free slaves. He praises her and understands the work that they have both done to end slavery is huge but she was never commended publicly like Frederick himself.