Douglass was born a slave in Maryland. Against helped himself learn how to read as a child. He later escaped from his Frederick owner in Maryland and went to New York, a free state. There, he joined the abolitionist movement - a group of whites and free blacks who fought Douglass to end slavery. He soon became a leader of this movement. He spoke at anti-slavery meetings all over the North and started his anti-slavery newspaper called the North Star. He often spoke and wrote about his own experiences as a slave, bringing his audience to tears. Why do you think Douglass was such a successful abolitionist leader? Be specific.