The evident immorality within the institution of slavery and the necessity for its abolition are deeply interwoven into the history of America and are profoundly correlated to the orations of Frederick Douglass. In particular, Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" speech can be evaluated in the context of a critique on American institutions with focus on the hypocrisy of those who abide by the sacred documents that embody the American society. Throughout his speech, Douglass reiterates his perception,

"Americans! Your republican politics, not less than your republican religion, are flagrantly inconsistent. You boast of your love of liberty, your superior civilization, and your pure Christianity, while the whole political power of the nation is solemnly pledged to support and perpetuate the enslavement of three million" (1833).

The statement proves to verify Douglass's belief in relation to the illogical nature of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, a

When the fundamental law of the land, be it the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or the Holy Bible, is proved to be a conspiracy against human rights; when, instead of protecting equally and impartially every human being within its reach, "it remorselessly and without provocation, delivers up large numbers to irredeemable bondage; then, in so far, law ceases to be law, and becomes an outrage on society" (HL 178). The government, founded on the principles of equality and freedom for all, was tarnished not by the documents themselves, but rather, by those who live and abide by them. The American society, as a whole, proves themselves hypocritical by their unwarranted bondage of African Americans into the institution of slavery and Frederick Douglass, once a slave himself, utilizes his stirring rhetorical skills to remind those opposed to slavery, to "stand by (the) principles (of the Declaration), be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost" (1821). His speech exposes the hypocrisy of a nation that must be exposed and the crimes against God and man that must be proclaimed and denounced" (1826). However, in doing so, he proves the hypocrisy of a nation through three of its most sacred documents. They command man to treat others as an equal, but he who denies his fellow man personal freedom and the rights of manhood does not truly abide by the laws in which he is supposedly governed. Thus, slavery, instead of sustaining rights, tramples them in the dust, and those Americans who call themselves Christians cannot be so when the words of equality and love, the founding words of the faith, are disregarded.

The Constitution is established on the statement, "In Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" (Constitution). From this, the authority of the Constitution of the United States, as a legal document by which the American people abide, is contradicted and appears utterly ridiculous in the face of slavery. Although "slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it," those who do possess slaves do so by their own interpretation of the document (1835). The delegates to the Continental Congress provided that three-fifths of "all other Persons" would be counted in determining the number of congressmen each state could elect to the House and also requires the return to their owners of fugitive slaves, or "persons held to Service or Labour"(Constitution). The authors of the Constitution never make mention of the word but its presence is recognized and the right to enforce such an institution is granted by those who abide by the document. The avowed object of government is protection for all and to say that the constitution recognizes slavery is to say that the very means of liberty have been converted into a mode for oppression. As Douglass points out, the document never mentions the word slave and it is unfair to assume, as the American people opted, that such a right now or ever did exist. The Constitution sets forth its standards, yet it proves to do none of which it states for those oppressed or in servitude.

By incorporating the misconstrued interpretation of the Constitution by the American people, Douglass is able to demonstrate its redundancy in regard to slavery. Although Douglass does not place any blame on the fundamental law, his rhetorical tactic is extremely successful. This is evident in Douglass utilization of William Lloyd Garrison's aspiration in quoting, "when none on earth shall exercise a lordly power, nor in a tyrants presence cower; but all to manhood's stature tower, by equal birth!" all men shall be free (1836). As it is undoubtedly known, the issue of the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of slavery is

Some common words found in the essay are:
Fourth July, Frederick Douglass, Law HL, Declaration Independence, Holy Bible, Wendell Phillips, Christian American, Service LabourConstitution, Declaration Independence-those, God1831 Douglass's, american society, declaration independence, frederick douglass, fourth july, american people, douglass makes, christian faith, institution slavery, american culture, african americans, liberty pursuit happiness, frederick douglass crusading, douglass crusading orator, book frederick douglass, guilty viewed connection,
Approximate Word count = 2625
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)