1818 1836 1837 1838

Born Frederick Bailey near Easton, Maryland First escape plan fails; is imprisoned; sent back to Hugh Auld Meets Anna Murray Escapes to New York; sends for and marries Anna Murray;changes

name to Frederick Douglass 1841 Asked to speak at American Anti-Slavery Society meeting; invited to

go on lecture tour 1845 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is published; Douglass

begins tour of England 1847 1847 1848 1850 1863 Returns to the United States and begins lecture tour Begins printing the North Star Attends first women's rights convention Becomes involved in the underground railroad Meets with President Abraham Lincoln to discuss the treatment of

black soldiers during the Civil War 1864 Meets with Lincoln to formulate plans to lead blacks out of the South

in case of a Union defeat 1866 1870 Meets with President Andrew Johnson to discuss black suffrage. The Fifteenth Amendment is adopted and blacks are granted the right

to vote; becomes editor of the New National Era 1874 1877 1880 1882 1884 1889 1891 Becomes president of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company Becomes U.S. Marshal Appointed recorder of deeds for Washington, D.C. Anna Douglass dies Douglass marries Helen Pitts of Rochester Accepts post of American consul-general to Haiti Resigns post and returns home

Frederick Douglass was one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery within the United States in the decades prior to the Civil War. A brilliant speaker, Douglass was asked by the American Anti-Slavery Society to engage in a tour of lectures, and so became recognized as one of America's first great black speakers. He won world fame when his autobiography was publicized in 1845. Two years later he bagan publishing an antislavery paper called the North Star. Douglass served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of American history and is still revered today for his contributions against racial injustice. Believe in yourself. Take advantage of every opportunity. Use the power of spoken and written language to effect positive change for yourself and society