In February 1818, Frederick Douglass, America's most famous civil rights leader, was born into one of the nation's most appalling institutions, slavery. He visualized a diverse nation, free from discrimination and hatred. Frederick became one of the best-known writers, speakers, and abolitionists. Above all, Frederick Douglass was dedicated to achieving freedom and justice for all Americans, especially African Americans. Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland. Her mother was Harriet Bailey, a black slave, and her father was Harriet's master, Aaron Anthony. Frederick was taken from Harriet and was raised by her grandmother. When Frederick was seven years old, he was sent to work in the main house of his father's plantation. As Frederick was too young to work in the fields, he was given the task of driving the cows to and from the pastures, keeping the chickens out of the garden, doing household chores and running errands. When his father died in 1826, ownership of Frederick and the other slaves went to Anthony's son-in-law, Thomas Auld. Thomas sent Frederick to work for his brother Hugh Auld and his wife Sophia, in Baltimore, Maryland. They wanted a companion for their grandson. Frédéric spent his days entertaining and caring for Thomas. Sophia taught Frederick his ABCs until her husband found out what she was doing and finished the lessons. Frederick decided that nothing would stop him from learning to read and write. He carried a Webster spelling book with him and asked the neighbors' poor white children to teach him words in exchange for bread. In 1832, Frederick returned to Thomas Auld's plantation and the realities of slavery. He was always hungry and had to endure the cruel treatment of the "negro breaker and slave-d...... middle of paper ...... Works CitedBlight, David. Frederick Douglass's Civil War: Keeping the Faith in the Jubilee. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1999. Blight, David W. “Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895.” In Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, by Charles Reagan and Ferris, William Wilson. North Carolina Press, 1989. Institute, The Lincoln. “Frederick Douglass.” www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org. 2014. (accessed March 23, 2014). Merriman, CD “The Literature Network – Biography of Frederick Douglass”. www.online-literature.com/frederick_douglass. 2008. (accessed March 25, 2014). “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Frederick Douglass. 2014. (accessed March 23, 2014). Wilson, Charles Reagan and Ferris, William. “Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895.” Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. 1989. (accessed March 23, 2014).