Fredrick Douglass on Remembering the Civil War in 1877
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4/30/2020
Introduction
Long after the civil war ended, Americans suffered from the affliction of painful attachments of memories and remembrance of the slavery acts and late rebellion. This made them develop different notions, beliefs, and understanding of the reasons why the war took place. Due to their differences, Fredrick Douglass together with other black leaders engaged with different confederate sympathizers in the creation of National Memorial Day for remembering civil war armies as a way of honoring them and bring the Americans together for a collective understanding of the war that would help them to unite, forgive and forget.
Body paragraph
During the celebrations and commemoration speech by Fredrick Douglass (1877), he explained to them the importance of coming together in solidarity to remember their fallen soldiers. He emphasized the only way they could end the notion and differences about the war was through coming together to forgive and forget. Fredrick asked Americans to seek and obey the constitutional amendments created by executing it faithfully and justly interpret the laws to bring back justice and liberty among all Americans. He cautioned them not to listen to anyone who incited on their differences and not to confound right with wrong. They were to derive the moral character of the war that would encourage them to remain strong and true to themselves by enhancing their patriotism and promoting towards attaining liberty, equity, and justice.
Due to the doom of bondage the Americans suffered and experienced, it was time to have peace of mind and declare the beginning of their freedom. Fredrick emphasized obedience, respect, and observing the Memorial Day that would enrich them with future unity and lend them love and charity towards all and malice towards none. They obeyed.
Cited Works
Joseph Locke &Ben Wright. “Frederick Douglass on Remembering the Civil War, 1877”: Speech delivered in Madison Square, New York, Decoration Day. 1877″ Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.