One of the ways that Frederick Douglass prevented offending his readers and listeners was by talking about America in general. He was avoiding pointing fingers but continued to talk about the forefathers and how they felt the need for change. He would make reference to the “Declaration of Independence” and how life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were the ideas of the forefathers, but seem to be missing today. By him starting with the past and slowing bringing his speech to the present this helped keep the audience engaged. In the end of his speech is where the most powerful ideas are. The part about how America has made many laws against the black man but still didn’t consider him a man, but by having these laws America is admitting