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Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass in black and white against a green and orange background | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | George Kendall Warren |  Midjourney

4th of July

What Frederick Douglass Can Still Teach Us About the Fourth of July

Plus: What songs are on your Independence Day playlist?

Damon Root | 7.3.2025 7:00 AM

Statue of Liberty with an American flag draped across her mouth | lustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

Free Speech

Survey: Free Speech Support Is Eroding in America

A new global survey reveals a stark decline in Americans' support for free speech as the Trump administration tightens its grip on expression.

Jacob Mchangama | 4.3.2025 12:00 PM

Originalism

Frederick Douglass as Natural Rights Originalist

A fascinating new exploration of Frederick Douglass' constitutional thought.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 8.17.2023 11:55 AM

Frederick-Douglass-LOC | Library of Congress

War

Frederick Douglass's Classic 1871 Decoration Day Speech

Memorial Day originated as Decoration Day, an occasion to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. Douglass' 1871 speech may be the greatest-ever address associated with this occasion.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 5.29.2023 2:34 PM

Frederick-Douglass-LOC | Library of Congress

Frederick Douglass

The Continuing Relevance of Frederick Douglass

Douglass is best-known for his role in the abolitionist movement that helped end slavery. But much of his thought is also relevant to contemporary issues.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 2.4.2023 6:57 PM

newspapers on sale in New York City | Photo 88526003 © Antonio Gravante | Dreamstime.com

Media

The Press Idolizes Politicians. Instead, It Needs To Hold Them Accountable.

Newspapers deserve a great deal of credit for the expansion of freedom over the past 200 years. But the media have lost credibility.

Ira Stoll | 10.17.2022 5:10 PM

Second Amendment | Illustration: Lex Villena; Yobro10

Guns

The New York Times Is Surprised To Find Public Defenders Championing the Second Amendment

Yet the civil rights movement has long had a gun rights component.

Damon Root | 8.1.2022 1:23 PM

DeclarationofIndependence | National Archives.

American Revolution

Thoughts on the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution

A compendium of some of my previous writings on these topics, which I hope remain relevant today.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.4.2022 10:15 AM

DeclarationofIndependence | National Archives.

American Revolution

Reflections on the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution

A compendium of many of my previous writings on these topics, which remain relevant today.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.4.2021 10:10 AM

reasontv_video_8096443

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass vs. the 1619 Project

A new book explicates the escaped slave and renowned orator's argument that the Constitution is "a glorious liberty document" that justified ending slavery.

Nick Gillespie | 12.16.2020 2:45 PM

fd-edit_2x | public domain

Frederick Douglass

Damon Root: Why Frederick Douglass Loved the Constitution (and You Should Too)

The escaped slave called the Constitution "a glorious liberty document" that justified extending equality to blacks and women.

Nick Gillespie | 12.9.2020 5:00 PM

culture | Joanna Andreasson. Photos: Wikipedia

Frederick Douglass

How Frederick Douglass Destroyed John C. Calhoun With the Power of John Locke

Armed with the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the far-reaching guarantees of liberty and equality that they contained, Douglass took the fight directly to the slaveholders.

Damon Root | 11.14.2020 6:00 AM

Frederick-Douglass-LOC | Library of Congress

Volokh Conspiracy

Slavery, the Declaration of Independence and Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"

Douglass' classic speech is an indictment of slavery, racism, and American hypocrisy - but also includes a great deal of praise of the American Revolution.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.4.2020 4:39 PM

Juneteenth Flag | Alexlmx/Dreamstime.com

History

Juneteenth, America's Other Independence Day, Is the Holiday We Need Right Now

Frederick Douglass: "There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour."

Zuri Davis | 6.19.2020 12:01 AM

Juneteenth | Calyx22/Dreamstime.com

History

It's Time to Celebrate Juneteenth, America's Other Independence Day

Though Juneteenth is first and foremost a celebration of the end of slavery, the day has evolved in the 21st century.

Zuri Davis | 6.19.2019 10:00 AM

Pete Buttigieg | YURI GRIPAS/REUTERS/Newscom

Pete Buttigieg

America Doesn't Need Pete Buttigieg's Forced Labor Scheme

“What is freedom? It is the right to choose one’s own employment. Certainly it means that, if it means anything,” thundered Frederick Douglass.

J.D. Tuccille | 5.1.2019 1:15 PM

Large image on homepages | Cato Institute

Frederick Douglass

The Inconvenient Individualism of Frederick Douglass

A bizarre New York Times piece knocks down a strawman.

Jesse Walker | 2.15.2018 8:45 AM

Large image on homepages

Frederick Douglass

The Libertarianism of Frederick Douglass: Podcast

Damon Root on how the famous abolitionist was also an outspoken classical liberal.

Nick Gillespie | 2.9.2018 5:20 PM

Large image on homepages

Frederick Douglass

When the Constitution Was 'At War With Itself,' Frederick Douglass Fought on the Side of Freedom

A new appreciation of the great abolitionist on the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Damon Root | 2.2.2018 9:45 AM

Large image on homepages | Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Law & Government

Frederick Douglass Hated Socialism

He stood for natural rights, racial equality, and economic liberty in a free labor system. At the heart of his worldview was the principle of self-ownership.

Damon Root | 3.12.2017 6:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Frederick Douglass, Classical Liberal

A fresh look at the political evolution of a great American

Damon Root | 7.17.2012 12:00 PM

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