Frederick Douglass' Radical Vision For The Constitution

Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist and advocate for civil rights who believed that the United States Constitution was a powerful tool in the fight for freedom and equality. In a speech in 1860, he discussed whether the Constitution was pro-slavery or anti-slavery, arguing that the intentions of the framers of the Constitution were good. While he acknowledged the wrongs committed against Black people in America, he never blamed the Constitution, instead asserting that slave owners had given it a slaveholding interpretation. Douglass held the Constitution in high reverence and used it as a weapon in his fight against slavery and discrimination, seeing it as a promissory note that defended liberty, justice and freedom.

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Frederick Douglass's early views on the Constitution

Frederick Douglass's views on the United States Constitution evolved throughout his lifetime. Initially, after escaping slavery in 1838, Douglass became a follower of William Lloyd Garrison, a Garrisonian abolitionist. Garrison held the firm view that the Constitution was designed to promote Southern slavery, and Douglass shared this belief in the early years of his abolitionist work. In 1850, Douglass wrote in his newspaper that the Constitution contained both liberty and slavery, with the latter being supported by kidnapping and slaveholding.

However, by the early 1850s, Douglass had changed his stance on the Constitution, now arguing that it was a powerful tool against slavery and discrimination. He took the words of the founding document literally and believed in equality before the law, stating that the Constitution's language referred to "we the people," without regard to race or class. Douglass emphasized that the Constitution did not explicitly discriminate and did not give a right to discriminate, even when the government used it as an excuse to do so. He saw the Constitution as a promissory note that defended liberty, justice, and freedom in principle, if not always in practice.

In a speech in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1860, Douglass further outlined his views, arguing that the Constitution was anti-slavery rather than pro-slavery. He pointed out that the framers of the Constitution had kept their debates closed and that their intentions were good, even if they had not been fully realized. Douglass's interpretation of the Fugitive Slave Clause, shared by many antislavery politicians, was that it referred to enslaved individuals as "persons" rather than "property," thus granting them certain due process rights.

Despite facing opposition and conflicts with allies, Douglass remained committed to his belief in the Constitution as a valid document. He used it as a tool to advocate for the freedom and civil rights of African Americans and women, viewing it as an ideal that the country had yet to fulfill.

His evolving beliefs

Frederick Douglass's beliefs about the US Constitution evolved throughout his lifetime. Initially, he found himself at odds with his fellow Garrisonian abolitionists. However, in the spring of 1851, he publicly changed his stance on the Constitution, referring to it as a ""promissory note" that legitimately defended liberty, justice, and freedom in principle. He argued that the Constitution was a valid document that could be used as a tool to advocate for the freedom and civil rights of African Americans and women.

In a speech before the Scottish Anti-Slavery Society in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1860, titled "The Constitution of the United States: Is It Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery?", Douglass outlined his views on the American Constitution. He argued that the Constitution was not explicitly pro-slavery, even though it was often interpreted that way by slaveholders and readers who construed slavery into the text. Douglass believed that the intentions of the framers of the Constitution were good, and that the document itself was neutral on the issue of slavery. He pointed out that the debates during the Constitutional Convention, which could have provided insight into the framers' intentions, were not published until more than 25 years after the adoption of the Constitution.

Douglass continued to support the Constitution as a civil rights document after 1865, lobbying heavily for the passage of the 15th Amendment, which granted Black male suffrage. Despite facing opposition from some of his White female allies, he maintained his view that the Constitution was an ideal that the country had yet to fulfill. He believed that the Constitution's language of "we the people" indicated equality before the law, regardless of race, gender, or religion.

In summary, Frederick Douglass's evolving beliefs about the US Constitution centred on his interpretation of the document as a valid and powerful tool for advocating freedom and civil rights. He used the Constitution as a weapon against slavery and discrimination, arguing that it was not inherently pro-slavery despite its interpretation by some. Douglass's ideological shift towards supporting the Constitution as a political abolitionist was influenced by political expediency and a genuine desire to create constitutional change.

The Constitution as a tool for advocacy

The Constitution of the United States was a powerful and enduring feature of Frederick Douglass's career. Initially, Douglass was at odds with his fellow Garrisonian abolitionists over his support for the Fifteenth Amendment and Black male suffrage. However, he remained steadfast in his reverence for the Constitution, seeing it as a tool to advocate for the freedom and civil rights of African Americans and women.

In 1851, Douglass publicly changed his stance, embracing a position as a political abolitionist. He viewed the Constitution as a ""promissory note",, upholding liberty, justice, and freedom in principle, even if not yet in practice. Douglass argued that the Constitution's language of "we the people" signified the inclusion of all human inhabitants, regardless of race, gender, or religion. He believed that the document itself was not at fault for the injustices committed against Black people, but rather, it was the interpretation and actions of slaveholders that were to blame.

In his speeches, Douglass emphasised that the Constitution should be interpreted literally, promoting equality before the law. He lobbied heavily for the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, understanding the importance of citizenship and the rights it entailed. Despite facing opposition from some of his White female allies, Douglass persisted in his efforts to realise the ideals of the Constitution, viewing it as an aspirational goal for the nation to strive toward.

Douglass's views on the Constitution were also shaped by his understanding of the historical context. He argued that the framers of the Constitution had intended to end the slave trade and that their intentions were good. In his 1860 speech, "The Constitution of the United States: Is It Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery?", Douglass highlighted the distinction between the American Government and the Constitution, asserting that they should not be conflated.

Frederick Douglass's commitment to the Constitution as a valid and powerful document was unwavering. He utilised it as a tool in his arsenal, advocating for the rights and freedoms of marginalised groups. Despite the complexities and evolutions of his thinking, Douglass's unwavering belief in the Constitution's potential to bring about positive change remained a constant throughout his life.

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The Fifteenth Amendment and Black male suffrage

The Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which granted African American men the right to vote, was ratified in 1870. The debate about the Amendment fractured many of Frederick Douglass's long-term relationships with his women's rights allies. Initially, Douglass found himself at odds with his fellow Garrisonian abolitionists, and later, his support for the Fifteenth Amendment and Black male suffrage was opposed by some of his White female allies.

At the annual meeting of the American Equal Rights Association in May 1869, Douglass asserted that Black men needed the right to vote because, unlike women, they were being dragged from their homes and lynched. When an audience member objected to his claim, citing Black women, Douglass countered that Black women were targeted because of their race rather than their gender. He attempted to compromise by submitting a resolution welcoming the Fifteenth Amendment while committing to efforts to gain rights without regard to gender, but his proposal was ignored.

In his speeches, Douglass maintained that the Fifteenth Amendment was supplying a more immediate need and would ultimately serve in the fight for universal suffrage. He aligned himself with the American Woman Suffrage Association, which favoured the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment while still lobbying for women's suffrage. Douglass's stance on the Fifteenth Amendment reflected his belief in the importance of citizenship and his commitment to advocating for the freedom and civil rights of African Americans.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Fifteenth Amendment, Douglass continued to view the Constitution as an ideal that the country had yet to fulfil. He considered it a promissory note that legitimately defended liberty, justice, and freedom in principle, even if not always in practice. Douglass's ideological shift towards supporting the Constitution as a tool for civil rights occurred in the spring of 1851, and it informed the rest of his career.

The Constitution as a promissory note

Frederick Douglass, a former slave and prominent abolitionist, played a significant role in shaping the course of American history, particularly in the fight for freedom and civil rights for African Americans. His views on the United States Constitution evolved over time, and he eventually came to see it as a powerful tool in this struggle for equality.

In his speech, "The Constitution of the United States: Is It Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery?" delivered in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1860, Douglass presented a nuanced perspective on the Constitution. He acknowledged the wrongs committed against African Americans, including slavery and discrimination, but refused to blame the Constitution itself. He argued that the document did not explicitly discriminate or grant a right to discriminate, even when used as an excuse by the government to do so. Douglass interpreted the Constitution's language of "we the people" as inclusive and universal, encompassing all human inhabitants without regard to race.

In 1851, Douglass underwent a notable ideological shift, publicly changing his stance on the Constitution. He began to refer to it as a "promissory note," a commitment to the principles of liberty, justice, and freedom, even if they were not yet fully realized in practice. This perspective aligned with his belief in the importance of citizenship and the rights that should come with it, such as voting and equal protection under the law. Douglass saw the Constitution as a tool to advocate for these rights, not just for African Americans but also for women, reflecting his support for women's suffrage.

Despite facing opposition from some of his allies, including White female supporters when he advocated for the Fifteenth Amendment and Black male suffrage, Douglass remained steadfast in his commitment to the Constitution. He viewed it as an ideal that the country had yet to fully realize. Douglass' interpretation of the Constitution as a "promissory note" underscores his belief in its potential to bring about positive change and his dedication to holding the nation accountable to its founding principles of liberty and justice for all.

The enduring relevance of Frederick Douglass' ideas on the Constitution lies in their ability to shape not just his own career but also the trajectory of civil rights in the United States. By framing the Constitution as a "promissory note," Douglass provided a powerful argument for using it as a tool to strive towards a more perfect union, where the principles of liberty, justice, and equality are not just ideals but a lived reality for all citizens, regardless of race, gender, or religion.

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