The Impact of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, had a strong impact on American and African American history through his involvement with the abolitionist movement and the establishment of the abolitionist paper called the “North Star.” As a young slave growing up Frederick Douglass had help learning how to read and how to write. When he grew older he became more interested in the abolitionist movement witch led to the establishment of his abolitionist paper called the “North Star.” Frederick Douglass was born originally Frederick Agustus Washington Bailey in February 1817,