What was Frederick Douglas's birth name: Frederick Bailey. At what age was Douglas a slave until: 20. Who taught him how to read: The wife of a slaveholder. Where did Douglas escape to originally: New York. Why did he change his last name: To protect himself.. Where did he learn about the abolition movement: The newspaper. What was the effect of Douglas giving such a great speech at the meeting: He was offered a job.. What genre of writing did Douglas first begin writing: Autobiography. What was the newspaper called that Douglas created that talked about the antislavery cause AND inequality for women: The North Star