What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

In his Fourth of July speech, why does Douglass say to his audience that “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine”?

• He believes that, too often, African Americans such as

  himself are excluded from celebrations of public holidays.

• He believes that enslaved persons should not celebrate the

  Fourth until they have earned their freedom.

• He and others like him do not believe in some of the key

  values represented by the holiday.

• He contends that the liberty affirmed by the holiday has

  been denied to African Americans such as himself.

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In his Fourth of July speech, Douglass says that “above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the wail of millions.” To what is he referring?

• the angry protest of African Americans against slavery

• the extensive sufferings of enslaved African Americans

• the anger of slaveholders opposed to slaves’ freedom

• the outrage of Northerners opposed to slavery

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Which of the following best summarizes Douglass’s judgment of the “conduct of this nation” in his Fourth of July speech?

• By engaging in slavery, the United States commits a crime, revealing the evil principles on which it was founded.

• By engaging in slavery, the United States disgraces itself, violating the principles of independence it celebrates.

• By celebrating liberty, the United States offers hope, showing that it will free the slaves despite its mistreatment of them.

• By celebrating liberty, the United States redeems itself, showing that despite slavery, it still has good intentions.

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A synonym is a word that means nearly the same as another word. Which of the following words are synonyms of stolid? Choose three options.

• unemotional

• unfriendly

• expressionless

• unexcitable

• frightened

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In which of the following situations has a person most clearly conceded something? Choose based on your knowledge of the meaning of conceded.

• Tomas told the team that he was taking a break from practice.

• Sid finally accepted the truth and logic of Sara’s argument.

• Mikela let Miguel go ahead of her in line at the cafeteria.

• Ramon and Taylor agreed to a debate on a controversial topic.

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If there is a disparity between Mia’s grades this year and her grades last year, which of the following must be true?

• Mia’s grades this year are the same as they were last year.

• Mia’s grades this year are worse than they were last year.

• Mia’s grades this year are better than they were last year.

• Mia’s grades this year are different than they were last year.

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Which of the following is the best definition of denounce?

• punish severely

• criticize harshly

• announce loudly

• reason clearly

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In his Fourth of July speech, Douglass asks, “Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man?” Why does he reject the idea that he must give this proof?

• He believes that if anyone should prove or disprove this claim, it is the slaveholders.

• He believes that the nation refuses to see the contradictions between its ideals and the practice of slavery.

• He believes that the rights of enslaved people are clearly supported by the Bible and the Constitution.

• He believes that even those who support slavery already admit that slaves are people.

In which quotation below does Douglass offer evidence for why he rejects the idea that he must prove that slaves are human, since he believes that even those who support slavery admit the humanity of slave?

• To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.

• … I will, in the name of the constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce … everything that serves to perpetuate slavery.…

• The manhood of the slave is conceded. It is admitted in the fact that Southern statute books are covered with enactments forbidding … the teaching of the slave to read or to write.

• … [A]m I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men … ?

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In his Fourth of July speech, Douglass imagines someone in the audience who believes he should “argue” and “persuade” more and criticize less in order to serve his cause more effectively. Which answer choice best summarizes Douglass’s response to this individual?

• He adjusts his language and his argument and decides to speak more persuasively

• He claims that the reasons to oppose slavery are so obvious that no argument is needed.

• He states that slaveholders are too stubborn to be persuaded by his arguments.

• He claims that the Declaration of Independence and the Bible present the best arguments against slavery.