Frederick Douglass: Chapter 4
Chapter 4: New Beginnings
New Bedford is a coastal town nestled along the southern shore of Massachusetts. Its history dates back to 1652 when English colonists bought about 115,000 acres of land in that region from the Wampanoag Native Americans and began settling in the area. Among the people moving in were the Quakers, who were fleeing England for the colonies due to religious persecution.
The Quakers, amongst their values and principles, believed in egalitarianism. As they settled the region, that ideology became one of the core cultural tenets of the then-nascent New Bedford. As the town grew over the years and as debates around the country about slavery intensified, New Bedford followed its egalitarian roots and became a hub for abolitionist activity. It developed a reputation as a relatively supportive environment for newly freed black Americans who often worried about being discovered and kidnapped back to the South.
When Frederick and Anna arrived, New Bedford was also a place with a booming economy. Masts of whaling ships punctuated the city skyline while the harbor teemed with activity. The city was at the center of a flourishing whaling industry, and elegant homes and bustling markets reflected the prosperity and economic vitality of trade profits. The industry was so profitable that by the mid-1850s, New Bedford was the wealthiest city in the U.S. when measured per capita.1
A stunned Frederick wrote of the success he saw here,
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Historical Snapshots to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.