Answer:
In "The Hypocrisy of American Slavery," delivered on July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass's position is one of criticism and condemnation towards the institution of slavery in America and the hypocrisy of celebrating Independence Day while millions of enslaved people remain in bondage. Douglass reveals his viewpoint through a powerful and impassioned argument, using rhetorical strategies such as irony, sarcasm, and vivid language to make his point.
Douglass begins by acknowledging the significance of the Fourth of July to Americans, but quickly shifts to exposing the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while denying it to millions of enslaved people. He argues that the Declaration of Independence, with its emphasis on liberty and equality, is a mockery when applied to the situation of enslaved people in America. He states, "What, to the American slave, is your Fourth 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."
Douglass also addresses the argument that slavery is justified because it is sanctioned by the Bible and supported by the Constitution. He argues that both of these arguments are flawed, and that the true principles of Christianity and the Constitution demand the abolition of slavery. He says, "I know of no one single good thing that is to be said for slavery, from beginning to end. It is not that the slave is merely held in bondage, it is that he is compelled to labor under a lash."
Throughout the speech, Douglass uses vivid language to convey the horrors of slavery and to evoke emotions in his audience. He describes the treatment of enslaved people as "systematic robbery and wrong," and he compares the American slave system to the "man-stealing system of Africa." These rhetorical strategies help to reveal Douglass's viewpoint and to make a powerful argument against slavery and the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while denying it to millions of people.
In conclusion, Douglass's position in "The Hypocrisy of American Slavery" is one of vehement opposition to slavery and the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while denying it to millions of enslaved people. He reveals his viewpoint through the use of powerful rhetorical strategies and vivid language that evoke strong emotions and make a convincing argument against the institution of slavery.