Question

How did critics of Frederick Douglass try to discredit his inspiring anti-slavery speeches and abolitionist work? a) Spread false rumors about his personal life. b) Denied the existence of slavery. c) Ignored his speeches and work. d) Offered support for his cause.

Answer 1

Critics of Frederick Douglass spread false rumors about his personal life in an attempt to undermine his credibility and discredit his anti-slavery speeches and abolitionist work. Despite facing such criticism, Douglass continued his advocacy for the abolition of slavery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Critics of Frederick Douglass mainly tried to discredit his anti-slavery speeches and abolitionist work by spreading false rumors about his personal life. His commanding presence and powerful speeches drew attention and criticism, leading some people to publish false information about him in an attempt to undermine his credibility. They found it hard to directly refute Douglass's poignant accounts of the horrors of slavery, because he was speaking from first-hand experience, having himself been born into slavery. As a result, these critics resorted to personal attacks. Despite this, Douglass continued his work unabated, publishing his newspaper, the North Star, and advocating for the immediate end to slavery.

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