Abolition, or the abolitionist movement, was a movement that sought to end slavery. After Douglass escaped to the North, he became a prominent abolitionist, advocating for the end of slavery. His autobiography was one of the methods he used to promote the abolitionist cause.

Douglass worked as a caulker in the Baltimore shipyards. To caulk is to waterproof something, in this case ships. When he arrived in New Bedford, Douglass could not find work as a caulker because of racism.

Chattel refers to human beings who are considered property or personal possessions. Enslaved people were considered the chattel of enslavers.