After the Dred Scott decision, Frederick Douglass said he sought to have Americans live up to the principles of the constitution. What did he believe prevented Americans from living up to the constitution?
Frederick Douglass believed that Americans were prevented from fully living up to the principles of the constitution because of slavery and the racism and discrimination that it fostered. He argued that the institution of slavery not only violated the inherent rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, but also perpetuated a system of oppression and inequality that undermined the core values of the nation. Douglass believed that in order to truly fulfill the promises of the constitution, all Americans needed to recognize and confront the injustice of slavery and work towards equality and justice for all citizens.
