Argument for Enfranchisement
What tone does Douglass use throughout the speech?
A) Pessimistic and resigned.
B) Hopeful yet urgent.
C) Angry and confrontational.
D) Indifferent and detached.
B) Hopeful yet urgent.
What does Douglass say about the future of Black Americans?
A) It will be filled with despair.
B) It is uncertain and hopeless.
C) It can be improved through suffrage.
D) It will be determined by white leaders.
C) It can be improved through suffrage.
In Paragraph 5, Douglass claims that the formerly enslaved “stand before Congress and the country, not complaining of the past, but simply asking for a better future.” What is the purpose of this statement?
A. To evoke pity by highlighting the suffering of enslaved people
B. To illustrate that Black Americans are not seeking revenge, but rather fairness
C. To suggest that Congress is responsible for the pain endured in the past
D. To emphasize that the history of slavery is irrelevant to the current issue
B. To illustrate that Black Americans are not seeking revenge, but rather fairness
What does Douglass mean by "peace to the country has literally meant war"?
A) Peace agreements are always broken.
B) The absence of war leads to violence against Black men.
C) Peace is unattainable without justice.
D) The government prioritizes peace over rights.
C) Peace is unattainable without justice.
In Paragraph 6, Douglass says, “Impartial history will paint them as men who deserved well of their country.” How does this statement help develop the speech’s central idea?
A. It implies that history will eventually forgive the wrongs committed against Black Americans.
B. It emphasizes the importance of public recognition of Black Americans' contributions to the Union's victory.
C. It highlights Douglass’s belief that history will remember the actions of all soldiers equally.
D. It suggests that future generations will recognize the failures of Reconstruction.
B. It emphasizes the importance of public recognition of Black Americans' contributions to the Union's victory.
What argument is Douglass making in the sentence, “If black men have no rights in the eyes of white men, of course the whites can have none in the eyes of the blacks” (Paragraph 1)?
A. It is impossible for Black and white people to live peacefully together.
B. Black people will rebel if they are not granted rights.
C. Both races should acknowledge each other’s mutual humanity.
D. White people are unaware of how Black people view them.
C. Both races should acknowledge each other’s mutual humanity.
How does Douglass's speech reflect the attitudes of the time towards Black Americans?
A) It portrays them as equals.
B) It highlights their struggles for rights.
C) It shows they were well-accepted.
D) It emphasizes their need for guidance.
B) It highlights their struggles for rights.
The phrase "It may be 'traced like a wounded man through a crowd, by the blood'" is an example of which rhetorical device?
A. Alliteration
B. Metaphor
C. Simile
D. Hypophora
C. Simile
What does Douglass mean by "the work of destruction has already been set in motion"?
A) It warns that the violence and instability in the South will worsen unless Black Americans are empowered with the right to vote.
B. It suggests that the South cannot rebuild without significant economic reforms.
C. It implies that granting suffrage to the Black population will cause the Southern White population to riot even more.
D) It harshly condemns the US government for failing to protect all their citizens.
A) It warns that the violence and instability in the South will worsen unless Black Americans are empowered with the right to vote.
How does Douglass challenge the notion of inferiority among Black men?
A) By highlighting their contributions to society.
B) By ignoring the argument entirely.
C) By emphasizing their need for guidance.
D) By claiming they are better than white men.
A) By highlighting their contributions to society.
Which of the following best states the central idea of Douglass's speech?
A. Black Americans should be recognized for their contributions to society during the Civil War.
B. The right to vote should be extended to Black Americans to ensure fairness and equality.
C. The history of slavery in America must be addressed to promote healing in the nation.
D. Education is essential for all citizens, regardless of their background.
B. The right to vote should be extended to Black Americans to ensure fairness and equality.
How does Douglass address the idea of racial divisions?
A) He believes they should be embraced.
B) He argues they are harmful to society.
C) He sees them as natural.
D) He ignores them entirely.
B) He argues they are harmful to society.
In Paragraph 2, Douglass argues that granting suffrage to Black Americans would act as a “shield to break the force of a blow already descending with violence.” This phrase is an example of which rhetorical device?
A. Polysyndeton
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Allusion
C) Metaphor
How does Douglass’s reference to Black soldiers aiding the Union in the Civil War (Paragraph 6) support his overall claim?
A. It argues that loyalty in times of war should be rewarded with land ownership.
B. It implies that only Black soldiers, not civilians, should be granted suffrage.
C. It contrasts the actions of Black soldiers with those of the Union’s political leaders.
D. It shows that Black Americans have already proven themselves to be responsible citizens who deserve equal rights.
D. It shows that Black Americans have already proven themselves to be responsible citizens who deserve equal rights.
Douglass claims in Paragraph 7, “A character is demanded of him, and here as elsewhere demand favors supply.” How does this statement reflect his overall argument about granting suffrage to Black Americans?
A. It suggests that the responsibility of voting will encourage Black men to rise to societal expectations.
B. It argues that voting rights should only be given to those who already possess noble character.
C. It asserts that demand for enfranchisement will naturally decrease over time.
D. It implies that Black men need further education before being granted voting rights.
A. It suggests that the responsibility of voting will encourage Black men to rise to societal expectations.
What is the central idea of the first paragraph?
A) The importance of manhood in voting rights.
B) The necessity of abolishing slavery.
C) The need for economic stability.
D) The benefits of education for Black men.
A) The importance of manhood in voting rights.
What role did Black men play during the Civil War according to Douglass?
A) They were mostly passive observers.
B) They fought valiantly for the Union.
C) They were mainly used as laborers.
D) They supported the Confederacy.
B) They fought valiantly for the Union.
In the sentence, "Their history is parallel to that of the country; but while the history of the latter has been cheerful and bright with blessings, theirs has been heavy and dark with agonies and curses," which rhetorical device is used to contrast the two histories?
A. Antithesis
B. Polysyndeton
C. Alliteration
D. Hyperbole
A. Antithesis
Which sentence from Paragraph 6 provides the best textual evidence for the claim that Black Americans were critical to the Union’s success in the Civil War?
A. “They fought side by side in the loyal cause with our gallant and patriotic white soldiers.”
B. “They were almost the only reliable friends the nation had throughout the whole tremendous war.”
C. “But for their help…the Rebels might have succeeded in breaking up the Union.”
D. “Impartial history will paint them as men who deserved well of their country.”
D) By reducing economic disparities.
C) “But for their help…the Rebels might have succeeded in breaking up the Union.”
What qualities does Douglass attribute to Black Americans despite their suffering?
A) Hopefulness and forgiveness.
B) Anger and bitterness.
C) Ignorance and despair.
D) A desire for revenge.
A) Hopefulness and forgiveness.
What is Douglass's main argument for the enfranchisement of Black men?
A) They are entitled to their own land.
B) They are men and deserve equal rights.
C) They fought in the Civil War.
D) They contribute to the economy.
B) They are men and deserve equal rights.
What historical events influenced Douglass's speech?
A) The American Revolution.
B) The Civil War and Reconstruction.
C) The Great Depression.
D) The Civil Rights Movement.
B) The Civil War and Reconstruction.
What rhetorical appeal does Douglass mainly use in paragraph 1?
A. Ethos
B. Pathos
C. Logos
C. Logos
How does Douglass relate suffrage to the ongoing conflict in the South?
A) He believes it will escalate the conflict.
B) He sees it as a means to restore peace.
C) He argues it is irrelevant to the conflict.
D) He thinks it will lead to more violence.
B) He sees it as a means to restore peace.
How does Douglass depict the character of Black Americans?
A) As weak and submissive.
B) As strong and resilient.
C) As rebellious and angry.
D) As ignorant and uneducated.
B) As strong and resilient.