sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud , deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour. Douglass advances his primary argument by Choose 1 answer: A providing examples of the diverse ways in which the Fourth of July is celebrated by both free and enslaved Americans. B contrasting the significance of the Fourth of July for enslaved Americans with its significance for free Americans. C focusing on how an understanding of the history ofthe Fourth of July can unite all Americans. D detailing the physical suffering of enslaved Americans on the (D) Fourth of July.

## Step 1<br />The problem is a comprehension question based on a passage from Frederick Douglass's speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?". The passage is a critique of the Fourth of July celebrations in the United States, particularly in the context of slavery.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The passage describes the Fourth of July celebrations as "mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy", and contrasts them with the "shocking and bloody" practices of the people of the United States.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The question asks us to identify the primary argument that Douglass is advancing in this passage. The options provided are:<br />A. Providing examples of the diverse ways in which the Fourth of July is celebrated by both free and enslaved Americans.<br />B. Contrasting the significance of the Fourth of July for enslaved Americans with its significance for free Americans.<br />C. Focusing on how an understanding of the history of the Fourth of July can unite all Americans.<br />D. Detailing the physical suffering of enslaved Americans on the Fourth of July.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />By analyzing the passage, we can see that Douglass is not providing examples of the diverse ways in which the Fourth of July is celebrated (Option A), nor is he focusing on how an understanding of the history of the Fourth of July can unite all Americans (Option C). He is also not detailing the physical suffering of enslaved Americans on the Fourth of July (Option D).<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Instead, Douglass is contrasting the significance of the Fourth of July for enslaved Americans with its significance for free Americans (Option B). He is highlighting the hypocrisy and impiety of the celebrations, especially in the context of slavery.