What was the significance of Frederick Douglass?

Answer 1

Frederick Douglass was a former slave who played a major role as civil rights activist both before the US Civil War, during it and after the war when the Reconstruction Era followed. His experience as a former slave enabled him to gain sympathy for his cause, and he was very influential int he attainment of rights for African Americans. A great orator, his speeches had a great impact on abolitionists and further inspired them to fight for the freedom and equality of blacks.

As an aside, his fame was national. Abolitionists John Brown tried to recruit Douglas for Brown's slave revolt but Douglas advised him against it. In 1864, he attended the ball after Lincoln's second inaugural address.