DES MOINES, Iowa — President Donald Trump’s team announced on Friday that he will be visiting the Iowa State Fairgrounds in July. According to an email to supporters, Trump will be delivering a speech at the fairgrounds in July to mark the start of Independence Day celebrations. The announcement comes after it was reported that [] On Monday, July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass gave a speech to the “ Ladies of the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society, ” which arguably became his most famous public oration. Rather than a celebration of the Independence Day holiday, Douglass asked an obvious, simple and damning question: What, to the slave, is the Fourth of July? Happy Fourth of July from Savannah Speech & Hearing Center! Our occupational therapist, Heather Wilkey Woodberry, OTR/L and her clients have been feeling patriotic and working hard on a big group David Blight reflects on Frederick Douglass' famous "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech. #usconstitution #declarationofindependence #frederickd Discover the most powerful 4th of July speeches that have shaped our understanding of freedom and unity. From Frederick Douglass to Barack Obama, these speeches continue to inspire us today. Free PDF 4th of July coloring pages provide patriotic entertainment for kids. Download printable designs with flags and fireworks. Explore the speech "What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth Of July" delivered by Frederick Douglass in 1852, including full text and historical context. In the speech, Douglass lamented that Independence Day wasn’t a day of celebration for enslaved people. At the same time, he urged his audience to read the U.S. Constitution not as a pro-slavery document, but as a “GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT.” Douglass delivered this speech before a crowd in Rochester, NY on July 5, 1852. The poem at the end was written by famed abolitionist and colleague William Lloyd Garrison, and published on March 17, 1845 in the Signal of Liberty an anti-slavery newspaper. "What, to the American Slave, Is Your 4th of July?" On July 5, 1852, eminent African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered a brilliant speech to nearly six hundred people filling Rochester, New York’s Corinthian Hall, as organized by the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Sewing Society. It might surprise some people that Douglass’ line in the speech is actually, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?” This grammatical difference is in fact a central theme of Douglass’ speech, as he asks “Fellow-citizens [] why am I called upon to speak here to-day? This is the speech that Ronald Reagan gave on the 4th of July 1986 in New York City Watch Donald Trump’s powerful 4th of July 2025 speech, a bold and refined update of his impactful 2024 Independence Day address. In this electrifying Independence Day USA message, Trump The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation's history — the very ring-bolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny. Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance. On July 5, 1852, abolitionist and ex-slave Frederick Douglass gave a speech at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, held at Rochester, New York's Corinthian Hall. It was biting oratory, in which the speaker told his audience, "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." James Earl Jones Reads Frederick Douglass’s Historic Speech. Democracy Now! Support our work: We begin our July Fourth special broadcast with the words On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, marked by the Continental Congress’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In July of 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech titled “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,” a call for the promise of liberty be applied equally to all Americans. Tired of battling traffic just to see 4th of July fireworks? Discover the best spots to watch fireworks right here in the San Fernando Valley—no freeway required. From Porter Ranch to Woodland Hills to Lake View Terrace, we’ve got your local celebration covered! Play Video Introduction Independence Day, often called the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday recognizing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This guide is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Independence Day events.
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