In his speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Frederick Douglass uses rhetorical appeals and rhetorical devices to deliver a powerful message about the hypocrisy of celebrating American Independence while still tolerating the existence of slavery.
One of the main rhetorical appeals that Douglass uses is pathos, or an appeal to the emotions of his audience. Throughout the speech, Douglass uses vivid and powerful language to describe the horrors of slavery and the pain that enslaved people experience. He also uses personal anecdotes and rhetorical questions to elicit feelings of empathy and outrage in his audience. For example, he asks: "What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham".
Douglass also uses logos, or an appeal to reason and logic, to present a clear and compelling argument against slavery. He uses facts and statistics to demonstrate the enormity of the injustice, and also uses historical examples to show that slavery is not in line with the principles of democracy, liberty, and equality on which the country was founded.
Another rhetorical device Douglass uses is metaphor, where he compares the 4th of July to "a sham, a delusion, a snare, a trap and a cruel mockery." This metaphor conveys the idea that the 4th of July, which is celebrated as a day of freedom and independence, is actually a reminder of the hypocrisy of the nation that allows slavery to exist.
In conclusion, Douglass uses a variety of rhetorical appeals and devices in his speech to make a powerful argument against slavery and the hypocrisy of celebrating American independence while still tolerating the existence of slavery. He uses vivid language and personal anecdotes to appeal to the emotions of his audience, presents logical arguments and historical examples to appeal to reason and uses metaphor to convey the idea that the 4th of July is a cruel joke for enslaved people. These devices helps Douglass to deliver a powerful message that had a significant impact on the abolitionist movement and the fight for freedom and equality.