In Douglass' memoir learning to read and write, the thing he values the most are his literacy capabilities.  Although in life I value things such as these things very much,  the one thing I value the most by far are my personal freedoms.  Without liberty, a society cannot function properly as people become less productive and happy.  For example, look at a state such as North Korea where people have almost no rights and are restricted with ridiculous rules such as assigned government haircut styles.  Because of this lack of personal freedom,  North Korea is one of the most underdeveloped nations in the world with famine and hunger killing hundreds of thousands of people.  This is in stark contrast to their southern neighbour with a very similar geography.

This goes to show that freedom is one of the most important factors in the success of a society and our overall success as a human race. Personal freedoms allow people to rise up out of their current situation and make a better life for themselves.  Things such as social and economic mobility, human rights and happiness of a society all go hand in hand with freedom.  This also relates to Frederick Douglass' situation as if he, as a slave, was given his freedom, his ability to read and write wouldn't be a privilege, it would be a right.  Abolitionist such as Douglass' views are very libertarian and are centred around the idea of freedom.  The desire to choose what kind of life you want to live was the main factor in motivation for slaves to fight for their rights.  How can people succeed if they are constantly restrained by the rules of society?   A society without personal freedoms is a society that will not stand the test of time, this is why freedom is my most important value.