What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key ideas are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Page numbers in this resource refer to this online edition of “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

Reading Check

1. What feelings does Douglass confess to having at the beginning of his address?

2. How old is the nation when Douglass gives his address?

3. Why does Douglass say the country’s relative youth is a hopeful thing, a good thing?

4. To whom does Douglass compare modern Americans when they take credit for the good deeds of past generations?

5. How does Douglass tell the audience he feels about being asked to speak on the 4th of July, to “join [his audience] in joyous anthems” (7)?

6. To what text source does Douglass make allusions to illustrate his feelings?

7. What reason does Douglass give for choosing a strident, biting tone instead of calm, cool rationalism?

8. To whom does Douglass defer when considering the constitutionality of slavery?

9. What tone does Douglass name as the ending note of his speech?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. On page 1, Douglass states, “It is the birthday of your National Independence, and of your political freedom.