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Thesis Statement For Slavery

A. Thesis Statement: The reason slavery was supported is because it made the owners enormous amounts of money, but when it came to freeing them it could only be done by war. If the Slaves succeeded in rebelling against the slave owners others could have been encouraged to change the order of classes. B. Evidence Used: 1. Thousands of slaves were brought over in boats like animals. 2. If something wrong was done they would get whipped, lashes, a numerous amount of times. 3. There were so many slaves that owners feared them rebelling against. 4. Slavery was so horrible that they would have to run away and hide a great distance away. 5. The Civil War was very bloody war that in the end brought an end to slavery but not immediately. C. Important …show more content…

Thesis Statement: Through the Railroad Corporations, we once again see how the rich use force the poor into doing all of their hard work when in the end they do not get anything. This all leads the formations of acts like the Homestead Acts and the Socialist Party Acts. B. Evidence Used: 1. The 14th amendment was altered so it didn’t include the black people. 2. The U.S. Steel Corporation had been build were those who work for them were treated/paid unfairly. 3. Immigrants that were women had been treated especially rudely. 4. Haymarket Square full of people was bombed. 5. Showing the farmers alliance is formed due to banks stealing their jobs adds the thesis because I feel it really tell the struggle that the people were enduring C. Important sources and analysis: 1. a) Henry George, Progress and Poverty, book b) This source really gives an insight on his opinion about the ownership of land and how it was “becoming monopolized”. Also it brings forth the very interesting idea to put one single tax of the land owned to solve their problems. c) Other sources I would read are books that have to do with the struggles and trials that come with owning land in that time so that I could better understand where he is coming …show more content…

a) “A Negro newspaper in New Orleans”, newspaper b) This source shows what truly what is going on and what it looks like. I find that there is no one trying to make another look good or cover up the incident; it is just the plain truth and is so powerful that I can see it in my mind. c) Other sources that I would read are journals of those that were involved in incidents similar to these so that I get a better perspective of their thoughts, opinions, and what they think should be done. D. Observations/Questions: 1. How do we look back on our history, see in terror how cruel we acted, and then continue to treat those under us the exact same way? 2. Where did the racism towards blacks start from, for it has been going on for hundreds of years, but where did it all spread from

ANTHROPOLOGY 1200PEOPLES OF THE WORLD2010onlinefinal

4. Racism, race and ethnicity in contemporary United States have changed a lot in the past few centuries. Our country has had our racism problems but compared to how minorities were treated years ago you can tell that we have came a long way from how people were back then. However there are obviously more gangs and violence associated with race and ethnicity. Years ago the only problem was African Americans and now there are many people hating on each other for being middle eastern, Latino and

Heat of the Night Questions Essay

“To the Best of my Knowledge, no one has suggested that the murderer is necessarily a Negro.”

Slavery DBQ Essay

Have you ever tried to imagine slavery? Picture this, you and your family having a nice dinner and out of nowhere someone kicks in your front door and takes you away from your family. Scared and confused, you are constantly hit and yelled at but you don’t understand the language. You are loaded up on a ship as you set sail for a new world that you know nothing about. All without your permission. From reading and looking at documents A- E I’ve discovered that the European people had to fan out and search for someone who they could get labor off of while making them feel inferior, to display what would happen if they were to go rebel against their masters, and to follow the plan that God had for slaves.

Changes Throughout The Land By William Cronon

The possesion of land has proved to greatly amplify and draw out several different stereotypes and conflicts between societies in the world 's history. From Many different accounts all over the world today there has always been a dispute over land. However other disputes shadow in that of the colonial New England settlers and the Native Americans, both virtually revolving their lives around this concept of land distribution. For the settlers it meant wealth and prosperity, for the natives it meant staying alive. William Cronon 's book, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England, illustrates the differences between these two separate societies and describes what life was like during the period of exploration and settlement in the New World. There are several other facts or opinions that one could take away from this passage, but the three main points are differences in the Colonist and Native conceptions of property, as well as how cultural stereotypes and eventual conflict emerged from mutual understanding of the land and use of property by each group.

Slavery Dbq Essay

(document 7). In addition to continuous labor, the fear of being separated from family was constant source of despair. (document 4). Because slaves were thought of as property, there was little concern about any deep familial bonds that were created through marriage and children and the threat of families being torn apart was a perpetual fear. An advertisement for the sale of an estate read, “Slaves will be sold separate, or in lots, as best suits the purchaser.” (Foner p 430). Every aspect of a slave’s life was controlled by the master, from the choice of a spouse, how they spent their time, and how they could gather. Southern representatives and slaveholders justified the institution by claiming that a black person was inferior to a white person and that the “defects of his character alone justify enslaving him.” (document 12) There were claims that slavery in America actually freed people by sparing them from the chaos of free competition and the dangers of cannibalism and savagery of other slave owning nations. (document 12) There were claims that American slaves were the happiest and the freest because the women and elderly don’t do hard work and

Essay American Slavery

In addition, Kolchin gives the readers the catalysts for the events in the history of slavery. Economic,

Slavery Thesis

Your topic is good choice. Yes. It is true. It begins in 1619 to support in the production of such profitable harvests as tobacco. Slavery accompanied throughout the American colonies in the 17th century and 18th century, slaves were able to build an economy based on the new country (Slavery in America, n.d). I learn a lot of information and have wide insight through this class. Thanks.

Essay on Slavery

Slave as defined by the dictionary means that a slave is a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another; a bond servant. So why is it that every time you go and visit a historical place like the Hampton-Preston mansion in Columbia South Carolina, the Lowell Factory where the mill girls work in Massachusetts or the Old town of Williamsburg Virginia they only talk about the good things that happened at these place, like such things as who owned them, who worked them, how they were financed and what life was like for the owners. They never talk about the background information of the lower level people like the slaves or servants who helped take care and run these places behind the scenes.

Essay Colonization of America

In no time the English were in a position in which they would do whatever it took to claim as much land as they could, even if it meant fighting with hostile “Indians”. Some Englishmen thought it was wrong to claim land which was already being used, no matter what the culture of the Native Americans was. However the majorities view was that they were performing a

Hurricane Katrina Outline

B. Thesis: The government should have help Hurricane Katrina, through additional money, supplies, and community help.

Slavery Essay

     Slavery caused a great impact in the evolution of history. Slavery was the cause of many wars and disruptions along the time line that dates to the present twenty--first century. People of color were deprived of having a life of their own and going about normal ways because of the greed that consumed society. The role of slavery in society attributed to the desperation and anger the slaves felt and lead them to strike against their owners in many occasions. Despite the threats and the unfair treatment, many people of color retaliated and firmly stood up for their rights as equal human beings. It was absurd how society based their government on religion at one point and still managed to dispossess people of

Slavery And Its Effects On Slavery Essay

This was the period of post-slavery, early twentieth century, in southern United States where blacks were still treated by whites inhumanly and cruelly, even after the abolition laws of slavery of 1863. They were still named as ‘color’. Nothing much changed in African-American’s lives, though the laws of abolition of slavery were made, because now the slavery system became a way of life. The system was accepted as destiny. So the whites also got license to take disadvantages and started exploiting them sexually, racially, physically, and economically. During slavery, they were sold in the slave markets to different owners of plantation and were bound to be separated from each other. Thus they lost their nation, their dignity, and were dehumanized and exploited by whites.

Essay about Slavery In America

There has been much debate on the topic of slavery in the early times, although most of the countries considered slavery as a criminal activity. Some countries such as Myanmar and Sudan do not abolish it. They even expedite the slavery system. It is no doubt that slavery violent the human rights. However, it was commonly spread in the early times from 17th to 19th century. In this research, I will talk about the origin of the slavery, the reasons for people to becoming slave and the life of the slave.

Essay on The History of Slavery

Slavery has a lot of effects on African Americans today. History of slavery is marked for civil rights. Indeed, slavery began with civilization. With farming’s development, war could be taken as slavery. Slavery that lives in Western go back 10,000 years to Mesopotamia. Today, most of them move to Iraq, where a male slave had to focus on cultivation. Female slaves were as sexual services for white people also their masters at that time, having freedom only when their masters died.

Modern Day Slavery Essay

“SLAVERY was abolished 150 years ago, right? While it is true that slavery is illegal almost everywhere on earth, the fact is there are more slaves today than there ever were…” Despite the grim reality described in this quote, I believe Robert Alan successfully undermines a common misconception held by Americans, both young and old. Although we are brought up thinking that Abraham Lincoln with his Emancipation Proclamation along with the Civil War Amendments brought an end to the enemy known as slavery, in today’s society, however, that is sadly not the case. The harsh reality is that this problem never truly

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The Long-lasting Impact of Slavery on Society

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Published: Mar 6, 2024

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Economic disparities, systemic inequalities.

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slavery thesis statement

HIST 2320 - African American History from Slavery to Freedom

  • Getting to Know Your Topic

From Research Question to Thesis Statement

  • Finding Books
  • Finding Scholarly Journal Articles
  • Finding Primary Sources
  • Citation Help

Want to Browse Books for Inspiration?

Not sure what you want to investigate yet? Browsing the shelves can be a good way to find that first spark of inspiration. Below are the general history call numbers to get you started. However keep in mind that history can be a highly interdisciplinary subject, so once you get started with the research process don't worry if your work takes you away from these numbers.

If this is your first time using the Library of Congress call numbers don't hesitate to ask a librarian for help. 

C - Auxiliary Sciences of History

D - World History and History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

E - History of the Americas

F - History of the Americas

  • What is a Research Question
  • Put your Question to the Test
  • What is a Thesis Statement
  • Tips for Writing/Drafting Thesis Statements

A research question is the question around which you center your research. It should be:

  • clear : it provides enough specifics that your audience can easily understand its purpose without needing additional explanation.
  • focused : it is narrow enough that it can be answered thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.
  • concise : it is expressed in the fewest possible words.
  • complex : it is not answerable with a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires synthesis and analysis of ideas and sources.
  • arguable : its potential answers are open to debate rather than accepted facts.

You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely curious and/or passionate about.

Unsure about your question? Put it to the test using these seven questions. 

  • Does my question allow for many possible answers? Is it flexible and open-ended?
  • Is it testable? Do I know what kind of evidence would allow an answer?
  • Can I break big “why” questions into empirically resolvable pieces?
  • Is the question clear and precise? Do I use vocabulary that is vague or needs definition?
  • Have I made the premises explicit?
  • Is it of a scale suitable to the length of the assignment?
  • Can I explain why the answer matters?

If your question didn't do so well, remember to talk to your professor before starting over. They can help enhance your question for historical exploration. 

The thesis statement is one or two sentences that states the main idea of a writing assignment and helps control the ideas within the paper.  It is not merely a topic but rather   identifies the topic to be discussed, as well as the purpose of the paper itself.

A thesis statement:

  • tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
  • is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
  • directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
  • makes a claim that others might dispute.
  • is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

Know the topic . The topic should be something you know or can learn about. It is difficult to write a thesis statement, let alone a paper, on a topic that you know nothing about. Reflecting on personal experience and/or researching will help you know more information about your topic.

Limit your topic . Based on what you know and the required length of your final paper, limit your topic to a specific area. A broad scope will generally require a longer paper, while a narrow scope will be sufficiently proven by a shorter paper.

Brainstorm . If you are having trouble beginning your paper or writing your thesis, take a piece of paper and write down everything that comes to mind about your topic. Did you discover any new ideas or connections? Can you separate any of the things you jotted down into categories? Do you notice any themes? Think about using ideas generated during this process to shape your thesis statement and your paper.

Topic to Research Question

Every research project starts with a question. Your question will allow you to select, evaluate and interpret your sources systematically. The question you start with isn’t set in stone, but will be revisited and revised as you read and interact with the sources. 

Robert C. Williams suggests that  a research question might:

  • "ask  how or why  an event happened (causation, explanation)"
  • "ask what  the consequences  were of a particular event"
  • "discuss  the intellectual origins  of a particular idea"
  • "ask what  the cultural context  of an event was";
  • "ask  whether or not an individual was responsible  for a certain act"
  • "ask about  the social history  of a political event"
  • "quantify  broad trends in a society  at a particular time" (52)

Source: Williams, Robert C.  The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History . Second ed. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 2007.

Helpful Resources: 

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Student Question

What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?

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Cite this page as follows:

Tracy, Trinity. "What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 23 Aug. 2011, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/president-lincoln-slavery-thesis-statement-389275.

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In response to #4 - Thank you for digging a bit deeper and getting to the truth.  Many textbooks simply are too cursory and leave teachers and students with erroneous cause and effect relationships.  Lincoln did not oppose slavery.  Lincoln wanted the Union intact -- either with or without slavery, either with the South functioning or destroyed. Read his second Inaugural Address (1864) to see what he thought about continuing the war, and his reasons for continuing the fight. Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863) was a brilliant political move on his part, and his primary reason for issuing it was to keep Britain from recognizing the Confederacy -- they had already supplied the South with munitions, and once recognized, Lincoln would have to consider a Northern invasion from Canada and a British blockade off the East Coast.  Keeping Europe out of the South was one of, if not the key reason the North won the war.  Having made the war about slavery, Lincoln took the "high moral ground" and effectively shamed Britain --How could they aid the South, having banished the institution of slavery in the Empire in the 1830's?

It's important to understand historical events in the context they happened, and not look back from our own time and project our values and our concepts of cause and effect upon those events.

Conte, Chris. "What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 17 Jan. 2009, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/president-lincoln-slavery-thesis-statement-389275.

747 answers

I've taught English and social studies for 18 years in a middle school setting.

When Abraham Lincoln was running for the Senate in 1858, he made the famous speech in which he stated that "A house divided against itself cannot stand.  I believe that this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free.  I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. . .but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other."  Although Lincoln lost his bid for the Senate, two years later he became President of a nation soon to be at war with itself, and his goal, first and foremost, was to save the Union.  In a letter to Horace Greeley written in 1862, Lincoln stated in no uncertain terms that "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union. . .If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save the Union by freeing all the slaves, I would do it. . . ."    The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation a year later, while hailed by slaves and abolitiionists as the official freeing of those held in bondage, was actually a political move garnered to gain support from England, or at the least, keep England from joining on the side of the South.  The Emancipation Proclamation changed the game, because now the war was about slavery.  The document freed slaves only in those states still in rebellion, and in practice, it didn't actually free a single slave.  However, the focus had changed from saving the Union to eradicating slavery, and by changing that focus for the soldiers, and the world at large, Lincoln galvanized support from Europe, energized the Northern troops, and put the Confederacy even more on the political defensive than it had already been.  

Campbell, Lee. "What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 17 Jan. 2009, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/president-lincoln-slavery-thesis-statement-389275.

Educator since 2009

2,148 answers

I have a Master of Arts degree in English and taught college-prep high school English literature and composition.

President Lincoln believed very strongly that in order for the Union to survive and to achieve greatness, the institution of slavery must be eradicated throughout the entire country. So long as slavery existed in the country, Lincoln felt, the promise of America could not be realized. A clear statement of his political philosophy is Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1862 while the Civil War still raged.

Interestingly, it seems that Lincoln's views on slavery changed during his political career. As he became older, his anti-slavery views became even stronger.

In regard to your thesis statement, it needs to be somewhat general in nature. It needs to be a statement you believe you can explain and support with information discovered through research of your subject.

Here are a few sample thesis statements that might work for you:

1. President Lincoln strongly opposed slavery within any part of the United States.

2. President Lincoln believed slavery must be eradicated in order for the United States to survive and fulfill its purpose and potential.

3. President Lincoln came to believe that eradicating slavery was both a moral and a political responsibility for the country.

4. President Lincoln's anti-slavery views became stronger during his presidency.

Hurn, Susan. "What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 16 Jan. 2009, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/president-lincoln-slavery-thesis-statement-389275.

775 answers

MSED-BA in History with minors in English and Secondary Education.

I think it is important for you write your own thesis statement, because then it belongs to you...something you can be proud of. However, I can give you a few suggestions that will help you in your task.

1. Read The Lincoln-Douglas debates. Since your paper must express Lincoln's perspective pay attention to his responses in the debate.

2. Research Lincoln's childhood, it was not uncommon for him to witness slaves chained together passing by his home as a young boy. Although subtle, these memories had an impact on him as an adult.

3. Look at his politics during the 1860 Presidential election. His views were clear, slavery was wrong however he did not advocate its immediate abolition just the spread of the institution of slavery into the west. (He was well aware of The Missouri Compromise, The Compromise of 1850, and The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The first two were nothing more than a band aid on a wound that refused to heal, the latter proved deadly)

4. 1863-The Emancipation Proclamation speech delievered by Lincoln freed all persons in bondage in the states of rebellion. First, understand the President has no legal authority to do this, however the speech was heard and printed in newspapers across the nation. His speech was successful because he sprinkled morality over the tug of war over power between the federal and state governments. Lincoln's primary goal was to keep the union together.

5. After you research one or all of these suggestions, write your statement.

Good Luck !!

Bandy, Jamel. "What was one aspect of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery?" edited by eNotes Editorial, 16 Jan. 2009, https://www.enotes.com/topics/history/questions/president-lincoln-slavery-thesis-statement-389275.

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Slavery - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Slavery involves the ownership and forced labor of one person by another. Essays on slavery could explore its historical occurrences, the impact of slavery on contemporary racial relations, or discuss the legacies and traumas of slavery. It could also delve into the various forms of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Slavery you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

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The Development of America and the Impact of Slavery

In the time that Slavery was happening before the years of the Civil War era, America had continued to develop into their own independent country from the British. Even though many factors had been involved in the growth of America, Slavery had a major role in the development of America itself. The pronounced economy, idea of liberty, and culture would develop as slavery took place in the new land. Lonnie Bunch III, director of the Smithsonian quotes, African Americans helped […]

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A History of Slavery in the United States

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Legacy of Slavery: from Juneteenth to Modern-Day Mass Incarceration

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How did Music Enhance the Experience of Slavery

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How To Write an Essay About Slavery

Understanding the history and impact of slavery.

Before you begin writing an essay about slavery, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of its history and impact. Slavery, the practice of owning and exploiting humans as property, has existed in various forms throughout history and across cultures. In your essay, focus on a specific era or type of slavery, such as the transatlantic slave trade, ancient slavery in Rome or Greece, or modern forms of slavery. Research the socio-economic and political contexts in which slavery existed, the life and treatment of slaves, and the long-term impacts on societies. Understanding the complexities and nuances of slavery will provide a solid foundation for your essay.

Formulating a Thesis Statement

A strong essay on slavery should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific angle or argument about slavery. For example, you might focus on the economic reasons behind the transatlantic slave trade, the psychological effects of slavery on individuals and communities, or the resistance and rebellion by slaves. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay and ensure that your analysis is focused and coherent.

Gathering and Analyzing Historical Evidence

To support your thesis, gather historical evidence from credible sources. This may include primary sources like slave narratives, letters, and legal documents, or secondary sources like scholarly articles and history books. Analyze this evidence critically, considering the context, perspective, and purpose of each source. Use this evidence to support your arguments and provide depth to your analysis of slavery.

Discussing the Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

In your essay, discuss the legacy of slavery and its contemporary relevance. This could include its impact on racial relations, economic structures, and cultural practices. Consider how the history of slavery continues to influence current social and political issues. This discussion will add depth to your essay, connecting historical analysis with present-day implications.

Concluding Your Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points of your analysis and restating your thesis in light of the evidence presented. Your conclusion should tie together your arguments and emphasize the significance of understanding slavery's history and impact. Reflect on the broader implications of your findings, such as the importance of historical memory and the need for ongoing dialogue and education about slavery.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, take the time to review and refine it. Ensure that your arguments are clearly articulated and supported by evidence. Check for grammatical accuracy and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Consider seeking feedback from peers, teachers, or historians to further refine your essay. A well-written essay on slavery will not only reflect your understanding of the topic but also demonstrate your ability to engage critically with complex historical subjects.

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  • How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

  • Start with a question
  • Write your initial answer
  • Develop your answer
  • Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

  • Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
  • Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
  • Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

  • Why you hold this position
  • What they’ll learn from your essay
  • The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

  • In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
  • In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

  • Ask a question about your topic .
  • Write your initial answer.
  • Develop your answer by including reasons.
  • Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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Slavery Research Paper Topics

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Explore the rich history of slavery through our comprehensive guide on slavery research paper topics . This page is designed for history students seeking in-depth insights into various aspects of slavery, including ancient, medieval, Islamic, and modern periods. We present an extensive list of slavery research paper topics categorized into 10 sections, each comprising 10 thought-provoking topics. Additionally, our article on slavery delves into the historical context, impact, and legacies of slavery, offering students a broad perspective for their research endeavors. Furthermore, we provide valuable tips on selecting and crafting compelling research paper topics on slavery, empowering students to develop well-structured and impactful papers. To support students in their academic journey, iResearchNet offers specialized writing services, featuring expert degree-holding writers, in-depth research, and customized solutions. Embrace the opportunity to excel in your history studies!

100 Slavery Research Paper Topics

In the annals of history, few topics have been as impactful and poignant as the institution of slavery. From ancient civilizations to modern societies, slavery has left an indelible mark on humanity, shaping economies, societies, and cultures throughout the ages. For students of history, delving into the complexities of slavery through research papers offers a unique opportunity to explore this dark chapter of human history and its enduring legacies. In this comprehensive section, we present a curated list of slavery research paper topics, meticulously organized into 10 categories, each encompassing 10 diverse and thought-provoking subjects. Our aim is to provide students with a wide array of historical themes and perspectives, covering ancient slavery, medieval slavery, Islamic slavery, slavery in the United States, modern slavery, slavery and human rights, slavery and economics, slavery and social movements, slavery and cultural impact, and slavery and historical memory. As we embark on this journey, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of slavery and its profound implications on the past, present, and future.

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  • The Role of Slavery in Ancient Civilizations: A Comparative Study
  • Slavery in Ancient Greece: Social and Economic Impact
  • Roman Slavery: From Captives to Household Servants
  • Slavery in Ancient Egypt: Labor and Society
  • Slavery in Mesopotamia: Legal Framework and Rights of Enslaved Individuals
  • Slavery in Ancient China: Patterns of Enslavement and Liberation
  • The Status of Slaves in Pre-Colonial Africa: A Case Study
  • Slavery in the Indus Valley Civilization: Evidence and Interpretations
  • The Treatment of Slaves in the Aztec Empire: Perspectives and Challenges
  • Slavery in the Mayan Civilization: Myths and Reality
  • Serfdom and Slavery in Medieval Europe: A Comparative Analysis
  • Slave Trade in the Byzantine Empire: Routes and Impact
  • Slavery in the Islamic Caliphates: Legal and Social Dimensions
  • The Role of Slavery in Feudal Japan: Samurai and Peasants
  • Slavery in Medieval China: Institutions and Reforms
  • The Slave Trade in Medieval Africa: Regional Variations and Consequences
  • Enslavement in the Viking Age: Raiding and Slave Markets
  • Slavery in the Middle Ages: Church, State, and Social Norms
  • The Experience of Slaves in Medieval Persia: Stories and Perspectives
  • Slave Revolts and Resistance in the Medieval World: Causes and Outcomes
  • Islamic Slavery and the Trans-Saharan Trade: Connections and Implications
  • The Role of Slavery in the Ottoman Empire: Administration and Abolition
  • Slavery in the Mamluk Sultanate: Military and Economic Contributions
  • The Treatment of Slaves in Medieval Islamic Society: Rights and Restrictions
  • Female Slaves in the Islamic World: Roles and Perceptions
  • Slavery in Medieval India: Influence of Islamic and Hindu Traditions
  • The African Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean: Trade Routes and Networks
  • Slavery and Conversion to Islam: Examining the Impact on Enslaved Individuals
  • The Experience of African Slaves in the Arab World: Cultural Identity and Resistance
  • Slavery in the Maldives: Local Practices and Global Influences
  • Slavery in the Southern Colonies: Labor Systems and Plantation Life
  • The Experience of Enslaved Individuals in the Northern States: Urban vs. Rural
  • Slave Trade and the Middle Passage: Trauma and Survival
  • The Role of Free Blacks in the Antebellum South: Rights and Restrictions
  • The Underground Railroad in the United States: Networks and Abolitionist Activity
  • Slavery and Indigenous Peoples: Interactions and Conflicts
  • The Economic Impact of Slavery on the United States: Cotton, Tobacco, and Beyond
  • Slavery and the US Constitution: Legal Framework and Political Debates
  • Slavery and the American Legal System: Court Cases and Precedents
  • The Legacy of Slavery in US Society: Racial Inequality and Systemic Racism
  • Slavery in the United States: From Colonial Times to the Civil War
  • The Abolitionist Movement in the United States: Key Figures and Campaigns
  • The Underground Railroad: Escaping Slavery and Freedom Seekers
  • Slavery and the American Civil War: Causes, Consequences, and Legacies
  • Slavery in Latin America: Plantations, Labor Systems, and Resistance
  • The British Abolition of the Slave Trade: Policy and Impact
  • The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Origins, Scale, and Aftermath
  • Slavery in the Caribbean: Plantation Economies and Cultural Heritage
  • The Impact of Slavery on African Societies: Continuity and Change
  • Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking and Forced Labor in the 21st Century
  • Slavery and International Law: From Condemnation to Enforcement
  • The Role of Slavery in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  • Slavery Reparations: Historical Injustices and Contemporary Debates
  • The Legacies of Slavery: Intergenerational Trauma and Healing
  • The Fight for Abolition: Social Movements and Civil Rights Activism
  • Slavery in Modern Literature: Representation and Cultural Memory
  • The Impact of Slavery on Identity and Belonging: Descendants of Enslaved Individuals
  • Modern Slavery and Global Supply Chains: Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
  • The Role of Museums and Memorials in Preserving Slavery’s History
  • Slavery and Memory Studies: Commemoration and Remembrance
  • The Economics of Slavery: Plantations, Labor, and Capital Accumulation
  • The Impact of Slavery on Economic Development: Case Studies and Perspectives
  • Slavery and Trade Routes: The Triangular Trade and Its Consequences
  • Slavery and Industrialization: Labor Systems and Technological Advances
  • Slavery and Urbanization: The Role of Enslaved Individuals in Building Cities
  • The Economic Justifications for Slavery: Historical Debates and Perspectives
  • Slavery and Wealth Inequality: Historical and Contemporary Patterns
  • Slavery and Globalization: Connections and Disparities
  • The Role of Slave Labor in Building Infrastructures: Roads, Canals, and Railways
  • Slavery and Economic Migration: The Movement of Enslaved Individuals
  • Slave Revolts and Rebellions: Causes, Strategies, and Outcomes
  • Abolitionist Literature: Narratives of Freedom and Empowerment
  • The Role of Religion in the Abolitionist Movement: Faith and Advocacy
  • The Underground Railroad and Its Impact on African American Communities
  • Slavery and Women’s Rights: Intersectionality and Activism
  • The Role of Free African Americans in the Abolitionist Movement
  • Slave Songs and Music: Expressions of Resistance and Identity
  • Slave Codes and Laws: The Legal Framework of Enslavement
  • Slavery and Education: Restrictions, Access, and Agency
  • The Role of International Diplomacy in Abolitionist Efforts
  • Slavery in Art and Literature: Representations and Interpretations
  • The Influence of African Cultures on Slave Communities
  • Slavery and Memory in Visual Culture: Museums, Monuments, and Memorials
  • The Impact of Slave Narratives on Cultural Awareness and Empathy
  • Slavery in Folklore and Oral Traditions: Stories of Survival and Resilience
  • Slavery and Music: Contributions of Enslaved Africans to American Music
  • The Legacy of Slavery in Language and Linguistics: Words and Expressions
  • Slavery and Food: Culinary Traditions and Adaptations
  • The Representation of Slavery in Films and Media: Stereotypes and Revisionist Narratives
  • Slavery’s Influence on Fashion and Clothing: Textiles and Identity
  • The Politics of Memory: Commemorating and Memorializing Slavery
  • Slavery and Public History: Interpretation and Controversies
  • The Role of Confederate Monuments in Shaping Historical Narratives
  • Slavery and Heritage Tourism: Ethics and Responsibilities
  • The Memory of Slavery in African American Communities: Cultural Expressions
  • The Debate over Confederate Symbols and Names: Renaming and Removals
  • Slavery and Education: Teaching Difficult Histories in Schools
  • The Role of Historical Reenactments in Representing Slavery
  • Slavery in Family Histories: Genealogy and Ancestral Connections
  • The Future of Slavery Studies: Research Directions and Challenges

This comprehensive list of slavery research paper topics serves as a gateway for students to explore the multifaceted dimensions of slavery across different epochs and societies. From ancient civilizations to the present day, slavery has been a pervasive and deeply troubling institution that has shaped human history in profound ways. By examining these carefully selected topics, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the historical, social, economic, and cultural complexities surrounding slavery. Moreover, delving into these research paper ideas opens avenues for critical thinking, fostering empathy, and raising awareness about the enduring legacy of slavery in contemporary society. As we engage with these slavery research paper topics, it is crucial to approach them with sensitivity and a commitment to shedding light on the human experience, even in the darkest chapters of history.

Slavery: Exploring the History, Impact, and Legacies

Slavery stands as a harrowing chapter in human history, marked by its profound impact on societies, economies, and the lives of countless individuals. This article delves into the complex and troubling history of slavery, tracing its origins, evolution, and far-reaching consequences on both local and global scales. Additionally, it sheds light on the enduring legacies of slavery, as its shadows continue to cast a long and influential reach into the modern world. By examining the historical context of slavery and its multifaceted impact, we can better understand the challenges faced by enslaved people and the enduring repercussions felt across generations and continents.

The Origins of Slavery: Tracing the Roots

The history of slavery can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where individuals were subjected to forced labor and bondage. Exploring the origins of slavery illuminates the early forms of human exploitation and the development of slave systems in various societies, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece and Rome. Understanding the earliest manifestations of slavery helps contextualize its transformation over time and its role in shaping societies.

Slavery in Medieval Times: Continuity and Change

As the world transitioned into the medieval period, the institution of slavery adapted and persisted. This topic examines the continuity of slavery in medieval Europe, Africa, and Asia, and delves into the changes and variations that occurred during this era. The rise of serfdom, indentured servitude, and chattel slavery all played significant roles in shaping the medieval world’s social, economic, and political landscape.

Islamic Slavery: Unraveling the Narrative

Islamic history also saw the presence of slavery, with a diverse range of experiences and practices within the Islamic world. This section explores the nuances of Islamic slavery, challenging misconceptions and providing a more nuanced understanding of its historical context. The discussion encompasses the role of slavery in Islamic societies, the treatment of enslaved people, and the Quranic teachings related to slavery.

Transatlantic Slave Trade: A Dark Era

One of the most infamous chapters in slavery’s history is the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas. This topic delves into the grim reality of the slave trade, analyzing its economic, social, and humanitarian ramifications. The harrowing journey of enslaved Africans, the brutal conditions of the Middle Passage, and the impacts on African societies are essential aspects of this exploration.

Slavery and Abolition Movements: Struggle for Freedom

The fight against slavery was met with resistance from enslaved individuals and abolition movements worldwide. This section examines the courageous efforts of abolitionists, enslaved rebels, and humanitarian activists in challenging the institution of slavery. The works of prominent figures such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, William Wilberforce, and Sojourner Truth are exemplars of the determination to end slavery.

Impact on Culture and Identity

Slavery profoundly influenced the cultural fabric and identities of both enslaved and enslaving societies. This topic investigates how cultural expressions, traditions, and identities were shaped by the institution of slavery, leaving indelible marks on the collective consciousness. From African cultural retentions in the Americas to the enduring legacy of slavery in shaping national identities, this section delves into the power of culture in preserving and challenging the past.

Slavery’s Economic Legacy: Prosperity Built on Exploitation

The economic impact of slavery cannot be underestimated, as it fueled the growth of industries and economies in different regions. This section delves into the economic repercussions of slavery, exploring its role in the accumulation of wealth and its lasting influence on global trade. The exploitative labor practices that underpinned the economies of plantation-based societies and their connection to contemporary economic systems are crucial aspects of this examination.

The Long Road to Emancipation: Legacies of Struggle

Even after the abolition of slavery, the legacy of oppression persisted through segregation, Jim Crow laws, and systemic racism. This topic examines the legacies of slavery’s aftermath and the ongoing struggles for equality and justice. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States and similar movements worldwide demonstrate the enduring efforts to dismantle the structures of racism and discrimination.

Slavery in the US: A Tumultuous History

Focusing on the United States, this category explores the unique history of slavery in the nation. From its early colonial beginnings to the Civil War and beyond, the United States grappled with the profound impact of slavery on its development. Examining slave narratives, the Underground Railroad, and the Emancipation Proclamation, this section highlights the complexities of slavery’s legacy in the US.

Slavery in the Modern World: Contemporary Forms of Exploitation

Despite its historical abolition, slavery has not been eradicated entirely. Modern slavery, including human trafficking and forced labor, continues to affect millions worldwide. This section sheds light on the modern manifestations of slavery and the challenges of combating this global issue. The examination includes efforts by international organizations, governments, and NGOs to address this ongoing human rights violation.

By examining these critical aspects of slavery, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the history, impact, and enduring legacies of this tragic institution. Through rigorous research and compassionate inquiry, we aim to honor the experiences of those who suffered under slavery while striving to create a more just and equitable world for all.

How to Choose Slavery Research Paper Topics

Choosing slavery research paper topics requires thoughtful consideration and a deep understanding of the historical, social, and cultural complexities surrounding this dark period in human history. While the topic selection process can be challenging, it is essential to find a subject that not only interests you but also allows for a comprehensive exploration of the issues related to slavery. Here are ten tips to guide you in selecting the most compelling slavery research paper topics:

  • Conduct Preliminary Research : Before settling on a specific topic, conduct preliminary research to familiarize yourself with various aspects of slavery. Read books, scholarly articles, and historical accounts to gain insight into different angles and perspectives. This will help you identify gaps in the existing literature and potential areas for further exploration.
  • Define Your Scope : Given the vastness of the subject, it is crucial to define the scope of your research paper. Consider the time period, geographic location, and specific themes you want to delve into. Whether you choose to focus on a particular region, a specific era, or a comparative analysis of different slave systems, defining your scope will provide clarity and direction.
  • Explore Different Perspectives : Slavery has left an indelible mark on various societies and individuals. Consider exploring different perspectives, such as the experiences of enslaved individuals, the role of slaveholders, the impact on economies, and the cultural and social repercussions. This multi-faceted approach will enrich your research and foster a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
  • Select a Specific Theme or Question : Rather than opting for a broad topic, narrow down your focus by selecting a specific theme or research question. For instance, you could investigate the resistance strategies employed by enslaved people, the economic motivations behind the transatlantic slave trade, or the role of women in slave societies. A focused approach will allow for in-depth analysis and a more cohesive research paper.
  • Consult with Your Instructor or Advisor : If you are struggling to choose a research paper topic, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your instructor or academic advisor. They can offer valuable insights, suggest potential slavery research paper topics, and provide feedback on the feasibility of your ideas.
  • Consider Understudied Topics : Exploring less-discussed or understudied topics can be a rewarding endeavor. Look for aspects of slavery that have not received as much scholarly attention and consider shedding light on these lesser-known areas. This can contribute to the broader understanding of the subject and make your research paper stand out.
  • Use Primary Sources : Incorporating primary sources in your research can add depth and authenticity to your paper. Letters, diaries, interviews, and official documents from the time of slavery provide firsthand accounts and perspectives, enriching your analysis and providing a more nuanced understanding of historical events.
  • Stay Ethical and Sensible : Slavery is a highly sensitive and traumatic subject. When choosing a research paper topic, ensure that you approach it with sensitivity and respect for the individuals who suffered under this institution. Avoid trivializing the experiences of enslaved people or using offensive language in your research.
  • Consider Comparative Studies : Comparing the experiences of enslaved people in different regions or exploring how slavery intersected with other historical events can yield fascinating insights. Comparative studies can highlight similarities and differences, providing a broader context for understanding the complexities of slavery.
  • Follow Your Passion : Ultimately, choose a slavery research paper topic that genuinely interests you. A passionate approach to your research will drive your motivation, commitment, and enthusiasm throughout the writing process. Embrace a topic that ignites your curiosity and allows you to make a meaningful contribution to the field of historical research.

In conclusion, selecting a research paper topic on slavery requires careful consideration of various factors, including scope, perspective, and sensitivity. By conducting thorough research and defining a focused theme or question, you can explore the depths of this complex historical period and contribute to a deeper understanding of the enduring legacies of slavery. Remember to seek guidance from your instructor, utilize primary sources, and stay passionate in your pursuit of knowledge. With these tips, you can embark on a compelling research journey that sheds light on the history, impact, and ongoing relevance of slavery in our world.

How to Write a Slavery Research Paper

Writing a slavery research paper requires careful planning, extensive research, and a thoughtful approach to address the complex historical, social, and cultural dimensions of this topic. Here are ten essential tips to guide you through the process of writing an engaging and well-structured slavery research paper:

  • Develop a Strong Thesis Statement : A compelling thesis statement is the foundation of your research paper. It should present a clear argument or claim that you will explore and support throughout your paper. Your thesis statement should be specific, concise, and indicative of the main focus of your research.
  • Conduct In-Depth Research : Thoroughly research your chosen topic using both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include historical documents, letters, diaries, interviews, and other firsthand accounts from the time of slavery. Secondary sources encompass scholarly books, articles, and analyses that provide context and interpretations of historical events.
  • Organize Your Research : Organize your research material systematically to facilitate a coherent and logical structure for your paper. Create an outline that outlines the main sections and arguments you plan to cover. This will help you maintain a clear flow of ideas throughout your research paper.
  • Provide Historical Context : Begin your research paper by providing essential historical context. Explain the background of slavery, its origins, evolution, and global impact. Offer insights into the economic, social, and political forces that influenced the growth and sustenance of slavery in different regions.
  • Explore Various Perspectives : Dive into the multifaceted perspectives related to slavery. Consider the experiences of enslaved individuals, slaveholders, abolitionists, and the broader society. By exploring diverse viewpoints, you can present a well-rounded analysis of the complex issues surrounding slavery.
  • Analyze Primary Sources Critically : When using primary sources, analyze them critically to identify biases, gaps, and limitations. Interrogate the perspectives of the authors and the context in which the sources were created. Critical analysis of primary sources strengthens the authenticity and credibility of your research paper.
  • Utilize Comparative Analysis : Consider adopting a comparative approach to enrich your research. Compare and contrast different forms of slavery in various regions or analyze the impact of slavery on different social groups. Comparative analysis enhances the depth of your research and offers valuable insights.
  • Address the Legacy of Slavery : Acknowledge the ongoing implications of slavery in the modern world. Examine how slavery has shaped contemporary social, economic, and political structures. Addressing the legacy of slavery demonstrates the relevance of this historical topic in today’s society.
  • Cite Sources Properly : Ensure that you cite all your sources properly and adhere to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Accurate citation gives credit to the original authors, validates your research, and helps avoid plagiarism.
  • Revise and Edit Thoroughly : The final step is to revise and edit your research paper thoroughly. Review the content for coherence, clarity, and logical flow of ideas. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors to gain different perspectives on your work.

In conclusion, writing a slavery research paper demands meticulous research, critical analysis, and careful consideration of the historical context and its impact on contemporary society. By developing a strong thesis statement, organizing your research, and exploring various perspectives, you can create an engaging and comprehensive research paper on this crucial aspect of human history. Remember to acknowledge the ongoing legacy of slavery and cite your sources accurately. With dedication and attention to detail, you can produce a research paper that sheds light on the complexities of slavery and its enduring significance.

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slavery thesis statement

slavery thesis statement

Methods of Slave Resistance DBQ

Use this Lesson to h

  • Examine the various ways enslaved men and women resisted the conditions of slavery by analyzing primary source excerpts dating from c. 1780 to 1850.
  • Systematically analyze primary sources by answering comprehension questions for each document.
  • Write a thesis statement that responds to a document-based question prompt.

Expand Materials Materials

  • Handout A: Student Document Packet

Expand More Information More Information

Students should have prior knowledge of how to approach primary sources, and the sensitivity and respect required to talk about the topic of slavery. The conditions of slavery described in some of these documents are painful and upsetting. Reflective questions are suggested for discussion after students have finished working through the documents to address the sensitivity of the topic.

Expand Warmup Warmup

Lead students in a brief discussion or quick written response to the following prompt: How do you react when you are put in a situation you find unfair, unjust, and/or morally wrong? What are your options? How can you respond? Guide students to think about the ways in which someone can “fight back” and address a wrong (e.g., due process, seek out like-minded individuals and work for change, use force or violence, run away, create coping mechanisms). Transition the conversation to the topic of slavery. The key point about slavery is that it was a power relationship in which enslaved individuals did not have power, and this was enforced by law and by violence. Students might find a grade or curfew unfair, but in comparison to having no power over your person, this is trivial. Remind students that as early as 1688 and throughout the Founding era, groups publicly condemned the institution of slavery (see the  Germantown Friends’ Antislavery Petition, 1688  Primary Source in Chapter 2). Enslaved individuals also spoke or acted out in various ways to affirm their own humanity and call attention to the brutality of the institution of slavery. In this activity, students will consider those responses.

Expand Activities Activities

Distribute the document packet for the lesson. Have students work individually, with a partner, or in small groups to read each source in sequence and answer the accompanying questions.

After students have worked through the documents, invite them to come back together to synthesize the content by leading a class discussion on the following reflective questions. Students may respond orally to each question or write their responses to each question, as best fits your classroom.

1. What patterns did you see in the ways enslaved individuals resisted their fate? Point to specific pieces of evidence from the documents to support your answer.

2. What was most shocking to you in these documents?

3. Why is it important to thoroughly examine painful subjects in American history?

Expand Wrap Up Wrap Up

Have each student write a thesis statement to the DBQ prompt: Analyze the methods of resistance used by enslaved Africans in the United States c. 1780–1865.

You may solicit volunteers to share their thesis and workshop several using the following questions, or have students share with a partner and provide feedback on the following questions:

  • Does the thesis answer the question without restating the prompt?
  • Does the thesis make sense?
  • Is the thesis historically accurate?
  • Does the thesis provide clear and cohesive reasoning?
  • Does the thesis provide a road map or “table of contents” for an essay?

Thesis statements can be collected and assessed using the  criteria from the College Board  for a successful thesis statement, or with an individual class rubric.

Depending on where students are in their understanding of the DBQ essay, have students outline their response or write a full essay, as best fits your teaching situation.

Related Resources

slavery thesis statement

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

In our resource history is presented through a series of narratives, primary sources, and point-counterpoint debates that invites students to participate in the ongoing conversation about the American experiment.

Slavery Effects on Enslaved People and Slave Owners Essay

  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Effects of slavery on enslaved people, effects of slavery on slave owners, works cited.

Slavery had many negative effects on the enslaved people as discussed by Douglass in the book, “ Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass” and McPherson in the book, “ What they fought for 1861-1865” . Reflecting on the life of Douglass Frederick and written in prose form, the narrative defines the thoughts of the author on various aspects of slavery from the social, economic, security, and the need for appreciation of human rights perspectives.

On the other hand, the book, “ What they fought for 1861-1865” is vital in understanding history of America and how wars change the social and political systems. Thus, this analytical treatise attempts to explicitly compare and contrast the views of Douglass and McPherson on effects of slavery on enslaved people and slave owners.

Across the first six chapters, Douglass explores several instances when slavery created an unequal social and economic environment between the slaves and those who enslaved them. To begin with, unlike the white children, Douglass and other blacks were not allowed to know their date of birth.

The children of the slaves were separated from their mothers by the slave owners at a tender age. The female slaves were subjected to sexual abuse by their owners and the children, out of these sexual exploits, were forced by the law to become slaves (Douglass, 13).

The slaves were subjected to vicious attacks by their mean masters. For instance, Aunt Hester was violently whipped by the Captain in what Douglass described as a hellish encounter. Besides, Mr. Gore, who is a ranch foreman, promptly shot a slave called Demby for refusing to vacate the creek after enduring physical attack by the mean and proud supervisor (Douglass, 31).

The slaves were never given beds and had to survive on bare minimal allowances consisting of a single piece of linen, pork and hardly enough corn. The freedom of speech and expression were not part of the master-slaver relationship. For instance, Colonel Lloyd was very mad at the honesty of one of the slaves that he had to sell him for speaking the truth.

Same as Douglass’ views on the effects of slavery on enslaved people, McPherson’s book defines the American conflict as greatly contributed by the inhuman treatment of slaves. He states that the “confederates fought for independence, for their property and way of life, for their survival as a nation” (McPherson, 27).

McPherson captures the memoirs of the soldiers and their resentments on brutality, sexual harassment, and denial of freedom of expression as the underlying factors which inspired them to go into the battle field.

McPherson underlines the ideological commitment and patriotism of the soldiers as a result of deep convictions to seek independence, freedom, and basic human rights for the slaves. Reflectively, “a large number of those men in blue and gray were intensely aware of the issues at stake and passionately concerned about them” (McPherson, 4). The author represents human interaction and belonging to a particular ideology as elevating visions of human society as free of slavery.

Due to unstructured relationship between the slaves and their masters, harmony balance was threatened by sudden changes in the social systems as influenced by the capitalist oriented slave owners. This brought questions on how people need to stay together and to attain their needs equitably, without involving in overindulgence, selfishness, and myopia.

Many soldiers endeavored to comprehend the revolutionary implications of the conflict as it continued to evolve in an ordinary arena of ideological expression within their scope of view (McPherson, 31).

Understanding the position of the slaves, in the then human society, requires critical analysis of cognitive values attached to practices, beliefs, and social dynamics which controlled and aligned the society towards astute of simultaneously interacting functions.

State of anarchy as a result of the conflict brought threat to the peaceful coexistence as a result of life interference brought about by slavery. Unlike Douglass who lived through the experience, McPherson adopted the passive voice in reporting the thoughts and views of the soldiers on slavery (Henretta and Brody, 21).

Douglass reflects on cheap labor, abuse of power, exploitation of humanity, expansion of profits, and entertainment as the benefits that slave owners had. To begin with, the slaves were treated as a commodity and provided cheap and abundant labor to the slave owners operating as a human exploitation cartel.

Captain Anthony, Gore, and other slave owners become very successful since they expanded their farms by exploiting the free labor provided by the slaves. The slaves were also objects of entertainment, sexual exploits, and part of assets which would quantify a slave owner’s wealth. Douglass, Demby, and other slaves are reminded of their position as servants of the powerful slaver owners (Douglass, 21).

The author identifies the need to expand dominance as factor which influenced the slave owners to buy slaves for their expansive ventures. Douglass is successful in linking the social, economic, and cultural elements of the slave owners to the establishment of a tight system of selling and buying slaves at will, irrespective of age or choice.

The growing interest from both ends of the divide spurred the slave trade relationship. This trade was protected from external interferences by the laws that slave owners and other agencies quickly created, especially when a situation demanded for such (Douglass, 21).

On the other hand, McPherson highlights the great economic leap experienced by the slave owners who capitalized on weak laws, influential organizations, and intimidation to reap maximum benefits, without having to incur any major costs of production. He explores the social class structure and how economics influenced the nature of the relationship the soldiers had with past experiences.

The author is successful in establishing the basic elements of social class structure as determined by the ability to organize unwilling human beings as commodities of sale in the form of slaves (McPherson, 23).

In unison, Douglass displays the ungratefulness and cunning nature of the slave owners towards their slaves despite getting free labor and maximum returns (Douglass, 31). Excessive harassment by the slave owners spilled into conflict as the soldiers were determined to restore their lost right (McPherson, 13).

The authors display a ferocious literature that identifies the aspects of racism and stereotyping in the early society of America as a result of slavery and slave trade. Slavery is presented as having imprisoned the blacks and half casts who are traded in the labor market as a commodity. The unfair treatment of slaves by the slave owners inspired conflict as the soldiers were determine to restore their rights and those of the slaves.

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass . New York, NY: Harvard University Press, 2009. Print.

Henretta, James, & Brody David. America: A Concise History. New York, NY: Bedford, 2009. Print.

McPherson, James. What they fought for 1861-1865 . New York, NY: Anchor Books, 1995. Print.

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  • Chicago (A-D)
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Thesis Statement On Slavery

• A. Hook: Slavery is the most horrible thing to do to a child. Slavery is people making kids do what they want them to do no matter what. Slavery started when they brought the first american colony to the united states. Slavery was practiced through the american colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. Slavery means to get bullied and bossed around about somebody. When somebody doesn 't do the right they get hit with a whip till they do what is told. Slavery is nothing like doing chores for your parents it 's worse you can 't take a break until you are done you have to keep working until they tell you when your done, and you barely get paid for it. • B. Background information: There has been a lot of injustice in society in slavery like beating up up someone when they don 't do the right thing for the job. slavery isn 't there choice they have to do it for them not for …show more content…

• C. Background information on topic: Slavery started December 6, 1865, it started because the first african american were brought to the north american colony of jamestown, Virginia in 1619, to aid in the production of such lucrative crops as tobacco. • D. THESIS STATEMENT: Slavery means the state of being a slave. Kids that are slaves usually die at young age, slavery is for money not just anything they do it so they aren 't so poor in their

Chapter Summary: The View From The Bottom Rail

After reading “The View From the Bottom Rail,” explore the CD-ROM on that chapter. Write one or two paragraphs about any insight, discoveries, or items of interest in relation to the topic of slavery. In addition, write another paragraph about the methodological challenges of doing interviews and the things one must keep in mind when reading history that includes interviews. Provide feedback to at least two classmates’ responses. I found it interesting that analogy that there are a top and bottom rails of society.

A Lesson Before Dying Personification Analysis

By using this reference, it illustrated the severity of the alienation of blacks in the Southern United States. In 1619, a Dutch ship “introduced the first captured Africans to America, planting the seeds of a slavery system that evolved into a nightmare of abuse and cruelty that would ultimately divide the nation”. The Africans were not treated humanely, but were treated as workers with no rights. Originally, they were to work for poor white families for seven years and receive land and freedom in return. As the colonies prospered, the colonists did not want to give up their workers and in 1641, slavery was legalized.

Southern Slavery Research Paper

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Frederick Douglass Rebunk The Myth Of Slavery

In the 1700-1800’s, the use of African American slaves for backbreaking, unpaid work was at its prime. Despite the terrible conditions that slaves were forced to deal with, slave owners managed to convince themselves and others that it was not the abhorrent work it was thought to be. However, in the mid-1800’s, Northern and southern Americans were becoming more aware of the trauma that slaves were facing in the South. Soon, an abolitionist group began in protest, but still people doubted and questioned it.

Missouri Compromise Essay

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Theme Of Abuse In Frederick Douglass

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Frederick Douglass Literary Analysis

Slavery is wicked and gory and monstrous and that is well known today but during the time it was well known. In Frederick Douglass’s, Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass tries to persuade everyone to stop the madness and recognize how awful slavery is; to do this he uses comparison and realization leading to the reader being blown away by this one slave’s life story. The goal of Douglass’s writing makes the reader see slavery in a different light. This is why Douglass’s writing is such a heavy read. To get his point across he talks about how monstrous his whole life is, starting for the very beginning when “... the child has reached its twelfth month, its mother is taken from it” (Douglass 1.4) Douglass had to go through

Literary Devices In The Underground Railroad

From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped.

The Importance Of Slavery

In the 21st century people believe that slavery is a historical relic, but the truth is history always finds a way to repeat itself. Slavery is not something only from the past, across the world its estimated by International Labour Office in 2016 that 40.3 million people are enslaved today. Plus 10 million from that number are children, and 4.1 are being expiate by the government. Consequently, modern slavery is a truly a tormenting phenomena of this period of time and equivalent to slavery, and it is an umbrella term, due to the fact that it isn’t really defined with a term by the law. But it can be seen and insinuate to as human trafficking, forced and bounded labor, child labor and child soldiers, forced prostitution and forced

Slavery In Colonial America Essay

Slavery began long before the colonization of North America. This was an issue in ancient Egypt, as well as other times and places throughout history. In discussing the evolution of African slavery from its origins, the resistance and abolitionist efforts through the start of the Civil War, it is found to have resulted in many conflicts within our nation. In 1619, the first Africans in America arrived in Jamestown on a Dutch ship.

Abolitionist Movement Thesis

hroughout the mid-nineteenth century in the United States, the reform movements that swept through the nation led to a great expansion of democratic ideas through increased rights and the betterment of the quality of life. Since the birth of the US through the early nineteenth century, the primary goal of all citizens and governmental leaders was to establish a solidified nation and to secure the laws and rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence and later, the US Constitution. Jumping forward to the 1820s, the young country faced numerous challenges to the prosperity of its citizens, bringing forth a slew of reform movements to do just that. One of the main reform movements to ravage the country was that of civil rights. As slavery

Slavery Reparation Thesis

As we examine the mending topic of slavery reparations, it is essential remember the reason why repairing the negative consequences done to the all the different minorities who have experienced discrimination can do more harm than good. The best method is to help set up a better future for by insuring that money is spent on improving their lives through education and job opportunities. Not only this will guarantee the increased well-being of everyone who felt these effects, but this will also set equality between the different racial groups in

Essay On Resistance To Slavery

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Slavery Argumentative Essay

In the minds of many Southerners, without slavery, the South and America as a whole, wouldn’t continue to be a growing economic powerhouse, and would lose its culture as a nation where White Christian, males, ruled society. For many, there was no South, no America, without slavery. History has shown time and time again that power corrupts. To hold onto their power, slave owners made sure their slaves were kept uneducated.

Essay On The Abolition Of Slavery

Slavery in the US was firstly introduced in 1619 when tobacco and crops had to be grown effectively. Such people were discriminated and forced to work under strict regulations after being insufficiently paid. This was carried out both in the 17th and 18th Century until America literally divided into two parts leading to a tremendous, violent war named the American Civil War, which

More about Thesis Statement On Slavery

The University of Liverpool Repository

Exploring modern slavery and the modern slavery act 2015: how does the framing of modern slavery limit the efficacy of legal and policy responses to human trafficking and slavery..

slavery thesis statement


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In recent years interest in the issues of slavery and human trafficking has converged with the emergence of the concept of ‘modern slavery’. This thesis seeks to address the complex phenomenon of ‘modern slavery’ and analyse the effect it has on legislative responses to slavery and human trafficking, with a particular focus on the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It begins by locating the problem historically through its foundations in slavery and human trafficking and explores the incomplete nature of the abolition of the practices. These observations provide the context for analysis of the existing international anti-slavery and trafficking legal frameworks, the emergence of the concept of ‘modern slavery’ and the subsequent blurring of the legal boundaries between the practices. The complexity of the concept of ‘modern slavery’ is reflected in the variety of practices included within its scope and the lack of consensus among stakeholders concerning the meaning of the term. This thesis examines the phenomenon of ‘modern slavery’ and the conflation of human trafficking and slavery underneath the umbrella of ‘modern slavery’. It demonstrates that the shortcomings of the existing models of ‘modern slavery’ are themselves evident in the legal and policy responses to slavery and human trafficking. The overall effect of the uncritical use of the concept is a negative impact on potential victims of human trafficking and slavery, but also other exploitative practices. These observations are supported by doctrinal analysis of i) historical anti-slavery and trafficking movements ii) international frameworks and definitions of slavery and trafficking iii) existing academic literature examining the concept of ‘modern slavery’ and iiii) The Modern Slavery Act 2015. This thesis extends the existing literature by investigating how different conceptualisations of slavery impact the efficacy of anti-slavery legislation, specifically the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The thesis explores the disconnect between different sections of the literature of slavery and trafficking. The thesis argues in conclusion that the development of the concept of ‘modern slavery’ and the subsequent collapse of the legal boundaries between human trafficking and slavery has a potential threefold effect, which limits the utility of current anti-slavery/trafficking legal and policy responses.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Divisions: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice
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Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2019 12:27
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 01:04
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Slavery Thesis Statement

Slavery Thesis Statement

Slavery is a social state defined by law and customs as the most absolute involuntary form of human servitude. A slave is characterized because his work or his services are obtained by force and his physical person is considered as property of his owner, who disposes of him at his will.

Essay about slavery history

From the earliest times, according to the thesis statement about slavery, the slave was legally defined as a commodity that the owner could sell, buy, give away or exchange for a debt, without the slave being able to exercise any right or personal or legal objection. Most of the time there are ethnic differences between the slave trader and the slave, since slavery thesis statement is usually based on a strong racial prejudice, according to which the ethnic group to which the trafficker belongs is considered superior to that of the slaves. It is very rare that slaves are members of the same ethnic group as the owner, but one of the few exceptions occurred in Russia during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The practice of slavery dates back to prehistoric times, although its institutionalization probably occurred when agricultural advances made possible more organized societies that required slaves for certain functions. To obtain them other peoples were conquered; however, some individuals sold themselves or sold their family members to pay outstanding debts; Slavery was also the punishment for those people who committed some crime.

Page Contents

Antiquity thesis about slavery

Slavery was an accepted and often essential situation for the economy and society of ancient civilizations. In ancient Mesopotamia, India and China slaves were used in households, in commerce, in large-scale construction and in agriculture. The ancient Egyptians used them to build royal palaces and monuments. The ancient Hebrews also used slaves, but their religion forced them to release those of their own people on certain dates. In the pre-Columbian civilizations (Aztec, Inca and Mayan) they were used in agriculture and in the army. Among the Aztecs, practitioners of various trades bought slaves to offer them in sacrifice to their patron god.

In Homer’s epic poems, slavery, as a thesis on slavery, is the logical fate of prisoners of war. Greek philosophers did not consider slave status morally reprehensible, even though Aristotle proposed freeing faithful slaves. In ancient Greece, slaves, with rare exceptions, were treated with consideration. However, the helots of Sparta (descendants of a people conquered and forced to work hard in the countryside and fight in the Spartan armies) were treated with great severity, mainly because their population was greater than that of their rulers.

In general, slaves were used as domestic workers, in urban and field jobs, in the navy and transport. Domestic slavery, in general, was less harsh, since the treatment they received was usually very familiar. Roman slavery differed from Greek slavery in several aspects. The Romans had more rights over their slaves, including life and death. Slavery was much more necessary in Rome for the economy and the social system than in ancient Greece, especially during the Empire. The well-off Romans, who owned large mansions in the city and in the countryside, depended on a large number of slaves to maintain their homes and agricultural properties.

The imperial conquests decimated the Roman armies, so that it became necessary to import a large number of foreign slaves to carry out the work of the field. The main source of slaves was war: tens of thousands of prisoners were taken to Rome as slaves; however, all those convicted of serious crimes and debtors, who sold themselves or sold their family members to pay their debts, became slaves.

Middle Ages

The adoption of the Christian religion as an official religion by the Roman Empire and its later spread during the Middle Ages in Europe and part of the Middle East, was an attempt to improve the conditions of slaves, but failed to eliminate the practice of slavery. After the fall of the Roman Empire, during the barbarian invasions between the 5th and 10th centuries, the institution of slavery became a less binding system: serfdom. Islam in the seventh century recognized from its origins the institution of slavery, although the Prophet Muhammad exhorted his followers to keep a correct deal with them. In general terms, the slaves of the Arabs, who mostly carried out domestic work, were treated with greater respect.

Slavery and Freedom

The exploration of the coasts of Africa, the discovery of America in the fifteenth century and its colonization in the following three centuries boosted considerably the modern slave trade. From the mid-fifteenth century until the 1870s, between 11 and 13 million Africans were exported to America; between 15 and 20% died during the voyages and around 10 million were enslaved in the countries of destination. Portugal, which needed workers for the countryside, was the first European country to cover its demand for work with the importation of slaves. The Portuguese started this practice in 1444, and in 1460 each year they imported 700 to 800 slaves from different parts of the African coast. These were captured by other Africans and transported to the west coast of Africa.

Soon Spain imitated this practice, although for more than a century Portugal continued to monopolize trade. During the 15th century, Arab traders from North Africa sent slaves from central Africa to the markets of Arabia, Iran and India. In the sixteenth century, the Spanish conquistadors forced the indigenous youth to cultivate large plantations and work in the mines. The Indians were not used to living as slaves and could not survive in these conditions, partly because of their lack of immunization against European diseases and harsh working conditions.

The collapse of the indigenous populations, total in the Antilles and partial in the American continent, caused the increase in the number of slaves. There were many indigenous young people who died because of the rudeness of the work, so it was decided to import to the Spanish colonies African slaves that were believed to be better able to withstand forced labor. The King of Spain Carlos I established in 1517 a system of concessions to individuals to introduce and sell African slaves in America. In the mid-sixteenth century, indigenous slavery as a legal institution disappeared in New Spain. Other modalities emerged, such as indebtedness or encomienda. Slavery thereafter would affect only African blacks.

As we can read in essay about slavery and freedom, the massive arrival of African slaves in Brazil began in the second half of the sixteenth century, but already in 1501 their presence was recorded in Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Jamaica, where about 4,000 Africans entered the year. The granting of rights in the slave trade was always a real prerogative. In the late sixteenth century, the United Kingdom began to compete for the right to supply slaves to the Spanish colonies, held until then by Portugal, France, Holland and Denmark. In 1713, the British South Sea Company secured the exclusive right to supply slaves to these colonies.

The first African slaves arrived at Jamestown (Virginia) in 1619 from the hands of the first English corsairs; the slaves were subject to the so-called “limited servitude,” a legal situation proper to white, black and indigenous serfs, which was a precursor to slavery in most English colonies in the New World. With the development of the plantation system in the southern colonies, the number of imported African slaves, in line with thesis statement on slavery, increased considerably in the second half of the seventeenth century. As they became more relevant (especially in the South, where they were considered fundamental for the economy and society) it became necessary to modify the corresponding legislation. During the American War of Independence (1776-1783) they were slaves in the broadest sense of the word, with legislation that clearly defined their legal, political and social situation.

Abolition of slavery

Denmark was the first European country to abolish the slave trade in 1792, followed by the United Kingdom in 1807 and the United States in 1810, although the latter had to wait until the Civil War (1865) ended so that it would be definitively abolished the whole country. According to the essay topics about slavery, in the Congress of Vienna of 1814, the United Kingdom tried to convince other countries to adopt similar policies, getting almost all European countries to adopt a regulation on the matter or to sign a treaty that would prohibit this type of traffic.

The Treaty of Ashburton of 1842 between the United Kingdom and the United States established the maintenance of forces on the African coast to monitor compliance with the law. In 1845, the collaboration of the naval forces of the United Kingdom and France was replaced by the mutual right of ship inspection to monitor compliance with current regulations. The limitation of the number of slaves led to an improvement in their living conditions. The slaves of the French Antilles obtained freedom in 1848 and in the Netherlands in 1863.

In America, the emancipation and birth of the new republics led to the abolition of slavery: Mexico abolished it in 1813, Venezuela Colombia in 1821, and Uruguay in 1869. Only in Brazil slavery last until 1888. In the wars of independence, the black population of some countries simultaneously aligned with the Creole patriots.

According to the essay about Frederick Douglass slavery, Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist who altered America’s views of slavery through his writings and actions. Frederick’s life as a slave had the greatest impact on his writings. Through his experience as a slave, he developed emotion and experience for him to become a successful abolitionist writer. He experienced harsh treatment and his hate for slavery and desire to be free caused him to write Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

Twentieth century: essay about slavery in the United States

The International Convention on Slavery, held in Geneva in 1926, and in which the 38 countries of the League of Nations participated, approved the abolition and prohibition of the slavery thesis trade and the total abolition of all forms of slavery. The proposals arising from this convention were confirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 1948]. In 1951, the UN Committee on Slavery reported that this practice was rapidly decreasing and that only vestiges remained in some parts of the world (Mauritania was the last country to abolish it in 1980).

The Committee also reported that a large number of people still lived under bondage-like servitude. These types of servitude included peonage, child abuse and the involuntary surrender of women in marriage. In 1956, and on the recommendation of the Committee, a new conference was held in Geneva, attended by 51 countries. This conference decided to hold an additional convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery. This new convention condemned servitude-like forms of slavery and established penalties for the slave trade. From that moment, any breach of its resolutions would pass to the international courts of justice.

Wyzant

Thesis Statement (History)

I'm struggling to come up with a thesis statement surrounding slavery, that also connects to the unit question 'What is worth fighting for?'. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Christopher F.

4 Answers By Expert Tutors

slavery thesis statement

Lisa F. answered • 01/01/23

Dedicated writing tutor for English and multiple subjects (PhD)

Hi, Holly, coming up with thesis statements are usually a major step in getting your paper started. Try thinking about the thesis you need to write as the way you would respond to your instructor's prompt or question. In any material you read about slavery, what did you see that was worth fighting for? You could also think about the different groups involved in slavery, both those for it and those opposed to it. What did these different groups feel was worth fighting for? Which group's actions do you feel strongly about? If you create a thesis you feel strongly about, it will help your motivation on the assignment. If you 'd like help on the assignment, I'd be happy to help you. Just message me.

slavery thesis statement

Stephanie B. answered • 01/01/23

English Major Who Loves Literature

Thesis statements can be overwhelming, but try and think of it more as an answer to a question. What might someone ask when it comes to slavery and what is worth fighting for? What might the slaves have been fighting for?

Think of major people or events and what they were fighting for. For example, when Harriet Tubman led slaves to freedom at the risk of her own life. What was she fighting for?

Once you decide that, you can create a thesis statement with supporting points that you will detail further in your paper.

I am happy to work further with you on this—feel free to message me.

slavery thesis statement

Jacob D. answered • 12/31/22

Your personal reading/writing tutor

This question is vague, it would help to understand the context of your research. I would start with something like "The cost of the Civil War and why America needed to pay it."

Cost can be evaluated in many different facets. Do you mean monetary cost? Bloodshed? Dividing the union?

slavery thesis statement

Barbara T. answered • 12/31/22

Experienced Writing Professor / College Prep Coach

You don't say what kind of slavery, who is being enslaved, what gender, class, race, what country you're studying or what time period. But I would assume that stopping slavery in any century or country is definitely worth fighting for.

A thesis can also be called an argument. You're putting together a set of ideas and trying to convince someone (a reader) to see your ideas and understand them. Try to think about what matters to you - what to you is worth fighting for. If having freedoms, not hurting people, not treating them terribly, not physically abusing them, or selling them off to the highest bidder is worth fighting for, then you know what you would want to say about enslaving people or slavery, in general.

Think about what you've learned concerning slavery and what matters to you. Then you need to come up with the WHY of this - why is it important to fight against slavery? Or why was it important in the past to fight against slavery. Or what is the purpose of fighting for the rights of people? Or fighting for people's freedoms? Or their ability to live their lives as they see fit instead of being told how to live their lives under a master? The WHY is your thesis or argument that you will use to discuss further ideas in the body of your paper.

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University Statement

February 16, 2024

Dear Members of the Yale Community,

Several years ago, we embarked on a journey to understand better our university’s history—specifically Yale’s formative ties to slavery and the slave trade. We chose to do this because we have a responsibility to the pursuit of truth and the dissemination of knowledge, both foundational to the mission of our university. Confronting this history helps us to build a stronger community and realize our aspirations to create a better future.

Today, on behalf of Yale University, we recognize our university’s historical role in and associations with slavery, as well as the labor, the experiences, and the contributions of enslaved people to our university’s history, and we apologize for the ways that Yale’s leaders, over the course of our early history, participated in slavery. Acknowledging and apologizing for this history are only part of the path forward. These findings have propelled us toward meaningful action to address the continued effects of slavery in society today.

Since October 2020, members of the Yale and Slavery Research Project have conducted intensive research to provide a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the university’s past. The Research Project included faculty, staff, students, and New Haven community members, and it was led by David W. Blight, Sterling Professor of History and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale. Members of the group shared their results publicly as they did their work, and the university has steadily launched programs and initiatives in response.

The full findings from this project are now published by Yale University Press in a scholarly, peer-reviewed book authored by Professor Blight and members of the Yale and Slavery Research Project. Key findings and the full book are available to all online .

Yale and Slavery Research Findings

The Yale and Slavery Research Project has deepened greatly our understanding of our university’s history with slavery and the role of enslaved individuals who participated in the construction of a Yale building or whose labor enriched prominent leaders who made gifts to Yale. Although there are no known records of Yale University owning enslaved people, many of Yale’s Puritan founders owned enslaved people, as did a significant number of Yale’s early leaders and other prominent members of the university community, and the Research Project has identified over 200 of these enslaved people. The majority of those who were enslaved are identified as Black, but some are identified as Indigenous. Some of those enslaved participated in the construction of Connecticut Hall, the oldest building on campus. Others worked in cotton fields, rum refineries, and other punishing places in Connecticut or elsewhere, and their grueling labor benefited those who contributed funds to Yale.

We also know that prominent members of the Yale community joined with New Haven leaders and citizens to stop a proposal to build a college in New Haven for Black youth in 1831, which would have been America’s first Black college. Additional aspects of Yale’s history are illuminated in the book’s findings, including the Yale Civil War Memorial that honors those who fought for the North and the South without any mention of slavery or other context.

Our Forward-Looking Commitment

Today, we announce actions based upon the Research Project’s findings and our university’s history by focusing on systemic issues that echo in our nation’s legacy of slavery—specifically, increasing educational access and expanding educational pathways for local youth in the New Haven community. These build on the initiatives and programs we have launched throughout the past few years as members of the project shared their research.

The new work we undertake advances inclusive economic growth in New Haven. Aligned with our core educational mission, we also are ensuring that our history, in its entirety, is better reflected across campus, and we are creating widespread access to Yale’s historical findings. We highlight some of our commitments below. The full details of the university’s response are available on the Yale and Slavery Research Project website .

Increasing Educational Access and Excellence in Teaching and Research

The lost opportunity to build a college for Black youths in New Haven in 1831 prompts us to strengthen our partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( HBCU s) across the country today and expand educational pathways for young scholars in our home city.

  • New Haven School Teachers: New Haven, as well as the rest of the country, is dealing with an acute and ongoing teacher shortage; in our city, there were eighty teaching positions that went unfilled during the last academic year. There are many reasons for this shortage, including the high costs of acquiring certification and a Master’s in Teaching degree, compared to the relatively modest compensation in the profession. We are partnering with the New Haven Public School system, New Haven Promise, and Southern Connecticut State University to design and implement a new residency fellowship program to provide funding to aspiring teachers, so they can attain a Master’s in Teaching degree in exchange for a commitment of at least three years of service in the New Haven Public School system. Once launched, this fellowship program aims to place 100 teachers with master’s degrees into the city’s schools in five years. 
  • Yale and Slavery Teachers Institute Program: Yale is launching a four-year teacher’s institute in summer 2025 to foster innovation in the ways regional history is taught. This program will help K-12 teachers in New England meet new state mandates for incorporating Black and Indigenous history into their curricula. Each year, a cohort of teachers will engage with partners within and outside of the university community to study content and methods related to a particular theme, using the book Yale and Slavery: A History as a springboard. The first year of the program will focus on Indigenous history, followed by slavery in the north, and Reconstruction and the Black freedom struggle. Led by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at the Yale MacMillan Center, the program will provide a platform for teachers in New England to co-develop curricular materials, in collaboration with scholars, public historians, Native communities, and other groups. The pedagogical materials and methods created through the program will be disseminated broadly for the benefit of students, educators, and the general public throughout the region.
  • HBCU Research Partnerships: We continue to expand our research partnerships with HBCU s across the country with pathways programs for students, opportunities for faculty collaboration, and faculty exchange programs. The university will announce a significant new investment in the coming weeks.
  • New Haven Promise Program: In January 2022, Yale expanded its contribution to New Haven Promise , by 25 percent annually, from $4 million to $5 million, and extended its commitment through June 2026. New Haven Promise has supported more than 2,800 New Haven Public School students through scholarships and career development programs.
  • Pennington Fellowships: In December 2022, Yale launched a new scholarship to support New Haven high school graduates to attend one of our partner HBCU institutions (Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Spelman College). The program is designed to help address historical disparities in educational opportunities for students from New Haven and will grow to include forty to fifty Pennington scholars at any given time, supporting students in their academic, financial, and career entry success.
  • Law School Access Program: Yale Law School’s pipeline program serves first-generation, low-income, and under-represented students from New Haven. The program invests in a class of up to twenty fellows who are passionate about uplifting their local communities in New Haven and Connecticut. Yale began centrally co-funding the program with the Law School in 2024 to ensure its long-term stability.
  • K-12 Educational Outreach in New Haven: Yale supports many programs for youth in New Haven and surrounding communities, and thousands of public school children take part in Yale-funded academic and social development programs . These include Yale’s Pathways to Science and Yale’s Pathways to Arts and Humanities programs.

Advancing Inclusive Economic Growth in New Haven

We remain committed to partnering with our home city of New Haven to create vibrant shared communities with increased economic opportunities. This builds on our ongoing work with the New Haven community, which includes increasing what was already the largest voluntary payment by a university to its host city in the country to approximately $135 million over six years and the creation of a new Center for Inclusive Growth to develop and implement strategies to grow the city economically.

  • Dixwell Plaza: Yale recently signed a ten-year letter of intent for space at Dixwell Plaza to support the development of a state-of-the-art mixed-use retail, residential, and cultural hub in Dixwell’s historically Black community center that is rooted in restorative economic development. Yale is working on this initiative with the Connecticut Community Outreach and Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), a local organization whose mission is to provide opportunities to New Haven’s underserved residents.
  • Community Investment Program: Yale’s community investment program works with independently owned retail businesses. Most recently, University Properties has supported a growing number of locally owned brick-and-mortar businesses, including restaurants and retail clothing stores. This program brings jobs to New Haven residents and expands the city’s tax base.

Acknowledging Our Past

The research findings make clear that Yale’s foundations are inextricably bound with the economic and political systems of slavery. That history is not fully evident on our campus, and we are working to ensure that our physical campus provides members of our community with a more complete view of the university’s history.

  • Transforming Connecticut Hall: Connecticut Hall, constructed in the mid-eighteenth century using in part the labor of enslaved people, is being reconstituted as a place of healing and communion as the new home of the Yale Chaplaincy. The Yale Committee for Art Representing Enslavement will make recommendations for how the building’s history with slavery can be acknowledged and made evident through art. The renovated building is currently slated to be reopened in summer 2026.
  • Civil War Memorial: Yale’s Civil War Memorial, located in Memorial Hall and dedicated in 1915, is a “Lost Cause” monument. However, the purpose and meaning of the memorial are largely unknown to most who walk past it. Recently, an educational display was installed near the memorial to inform visitors about its history and provide additional resources.
  • Committee for Art Recognizing Enslavement: In June 2023, we launched the Yale Committee for Art Recognizing Enslavement , which includes representatives from both the Yale and New Haven communities. The committee is working with (and soliciting input from) members of the campus and New Haven communities to commission works of art and related programming to address Yale’s historical roles in and associations with slavery and the slave trade, as well as the legacy of that history.
  • M.A. Privatim degrees: In April 2023, the Yale board of trustees voted to confer M.A. Privatim degrees on the Reverend James W. C. Pennington (c. 1807-1870) and the Reverend Alexander Crummell (1819-1898). Both men studied theology at Yale, but because they were Black, the university did not allow them to register formally for classes or matriculate for a degree. On September 14, 2023, the university held a ceremony to honor the two men and commemorate the conferral of the degrees.

Creating Widespread Access to Historical Findings

Yale and Slavery: A History provides a more complete narrative of Yale’s history and that of New Haven, Connecticut, and our nation. Aligned with our core educational mission, we will provide opportunities for communities within and beyond Yale’s campus to learn from the findings.

  • New Haven Museum Exhibition: Today, we open a new exhibition at the New Haven Museum, created in collaboration with the Yale University Library, Yale and Slavery Research Project, and the Museum. On view through the summer, the exhibition complements the publication of Yale and Slavery: A History and draws from the research project’s key findings in areas such as the economy and trade, Black churches and schools, the 1831 Black college proposal, and memory and memorialization in the 20th century and today. The exhibition has a special focus on stories of Black New Haven, including early Black students and alumni of Yale, from the 1830s to 1940. There is no admission fee for viewing the exhibition.
  • Book Distribution: We are providing copies of the book, Yale and Slavery: A History to each public library and high school in New Haven, as well as the local churches and other community organizations. We also have subsidized a free digital version that is available to everyone.
  • DeVane Lecture in Fall 2024: Professor Blight will teach the next DeVane Lecture in the fall 2024 semester. Students can take the course for credit, and the lectures are free to attend for New Haven and other local community members. His course will cover the findings of the Yale and Slavery Research Project and other related scholarly work. The lectures will be filmed and made available free online in 2025.
  • App-Guided Tour: A new app includes a map of key sites on campus and in New Haven with narration, offering users the opportunity to take a self-guided tour. The nineteen points of interest on the tour start with the John Pierpont House and end at Eli Whitney’s tomb in the Grove Street Cemetery.
  • Campus Tours: With a more accurate understanding of Yale’s history, we are updating campus tours so that they include the key findings from the Yale and Slavery Research Project, particularly concerning the Civil War Memorial and Connecticut Hall.

Working Together to Strengthen Our Community

Our commitments are ongoing, and there remains more to be accomplished in the years ahead. We have established the Committee on Addressing the Legacy of Slavery to seek broad input from faculty, students, staff, alumni, New Haven community members, and external experts and leaders on actions the university can take to address its history and legacy of slavery and create a stronger and more inclusive university community that pursues research, teaching, scholarship, practice, and preservation of the highest caliber. Secretary and Vice President for University Life Kimberly Goff-Crews will chair this committee.

We invite members of the Yale and New Haven communities to read the book and share with us their comments . The Committee on Addressing the Legacy of Slavery will review all input and consider future opportunities—with New Haven, other universities, and other communities—to improve access to education and enhance inclusive economic growth. The committee will report to the president. In the coming weeks, the committee will host listening sessions for faculty, students, staff, and alumni. The Committee for Art Recognizing Enslavement will also host forums for members of the community. These sessions will be posted on the Belonging at Yale calendar and the Yale and Slavery Research Project’s community input webpage . 

The Yale and Slavery Research Project has helped us gain a more complete understanding of our university’s history. The steps and initiatives Yale has established in response to the historical findings build on our continued commitments to the New Haven community and our ongoing Belonging at Yale work to enhance diversity, support equity, and promote an environment of welcome, inclusion, and respect.

Today, we mark one milestone in our journey to creating a stronger and more inclusive Yale and to confronting deeply rooted challenges in society to do our part in building “the beloved community” envisioned by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our work continues, and we welcome your thoughts and hope you will engage with our history.

Peter Salovey, ’86 PhD President Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Management, and Sociology

Josh Bekenstein, ’80 BA Senior Trustee, Yale Corporation  

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How to Write a Modern Slavery Statement – 6-Step Guide

In 2015, the UK government introduced the Modern Slavery Act, giving law enforcement greater tools to identify and apprehend anyone involved in enslavement or human trafficking.

You might not think slavery an issue UK organisations need to be concerned about.

Unfortunately, that’s not true.

The UK saw 16,938 modern slavery referrals in 2022 – a 419% increase on 2015, when the Act was passed. The Home Affairs Committee also estimates at least 100,000 victims of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK.

Many UK organisations unknowingly work with third parties involved in modern slavery. This most commonly occurs with forced labour in:

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing

However, any industry driven by a demand for cheap products and services is susceptible through its supply chain.

If the UK is to eliminate the threat, organisations must not remain silent. They must take action to identify and report any suspicious behaviour associated with slavery.

In this blog

Addressing modern slavery begins with a modern slavery statement. This blog covers:

  • What a modern slavery statement is
  • Who must create a modern slavery statement
  • Six topics to include in a modern slavery statement

What is a modern slavery statement?

Whenever an organisation is subject to any regulation, it should create a statement outlining:

  • Its responsibilities; and
  • The steps it must take to achieve compliance.

You probably have a data protection statement , for example, which outlines the above.

A modern slavery statement is much the same.

The statement must acknowledge the risks of modern slavery and your role in preventing it. You should also outline the policies you’ve introduced to mitigate the threat.

Who requires a modern slavery statement?

According to the UK government , commercial organisations must publish a modern slavery statement if they:

  • Supply goods or services;
  • Carry on (part of) of a business in the UK;
  • Have an annual turnover* of at least £36 million; AND
  • Are a ‘body corporate’ or partnership, wherever incorporated or formed.

*Turnover encompasses the income of the organisation and subsidiary undertakings, including those operating wholly outside the UK.

What to include in a modern slavery statement

The Modern Slavery Act doesn’t give specific guidance on what a statement should cover or how to structure it.

However, it does include examples of information to potentially include, and how to write the statement.

For example, as a public-facing document, it should:

  • Provide information you believe of interest to customers and other stakeholders;
  • Not include confidential information about how your business operates; and
  • Use simple language to make it easy to understand.

But what about specifics?

Here are six topics to include in every modern slavery statement:

1. Organisational structure and supply chains

Your modern slavery statement should begin with an introduction to your organisation, listing:

  • Your location, and that of your customers and suppliers (no need to name them!);
  • Whether you have a parent company or subsidiaries; and
  • Your products and/or services.

Also state your commitment to social responsibility and the eradication of slavery.

Ideally, reference the Modern Slavery Act by name, and explain that your statement and overall policies comply with the Act’s requirements.

2. Policies in relation to slavery and human trafficking

Next, state that you’ve created policies to tackle slavery and human trafficking.

You can describe those policies in broad terms, but don’t need to go into depth. (Because policies are subject to change – so, if altered, you’d need to rewrite your statement.)

If you do describe your policies, focus on objectives rather than actions. For example, that you’re strengthening your supplier engagement process, or establishing a framework to easily enable people to report slavery.

Alternatively, you can direct readers to another document where they can review your policies. This can be, for example, a page on your website.

3. Due diligence processes

Again, you’re mostly exposed to slavery through your supply chains.

Acknowledge this in your statement, and that you perform due diligence checks on potential partners to identify suspicious activity.

4. Risk assessment and management

As with due diligence checks, recognise the importance of risk assessments and state the steps you take to manage third parties.

While due diligence is more about future or ongoing activities, this section should also detail steps already taken to identify risks. This might include:

  • On-site audits of organisations in your supply chain;
  • Employee interviews within the supply chain; and
  • Annual questionnaires for suppliers to complete.

If you haven’t yet performed any of these activities, use this section of your statement to declare your intention to carry out checks. However, avoid listing specific examples of things you haven’t done yet.

5. Key performance indicators

Use KPIs (key performance indicators) to assess the effectiveness of your anti-slavery measures, such as:

  • Staff training levels; and
  • The number of reports on suspicious activity.

Document those KPIs in your statement. However, you don’t need to publish your findings.

6. Training on modern slavery and trafficking

Finally, address the steps you’re taking to educate employees on modern slavery.

This should include a summary of online and in-person training courses you provide to staff. You can also run awareness campaigns, seminars and other appropriate activities.

Some organisations also provide dedicated training and resources page on their website, which employees can view to learn about modern slavery and how to report incidents.

Do your staff know the risks of modern slavery?

slavery thesis statement

If you’re looking to demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to eradicating slavery and human trafficking, our  Modern Slavery Staff Awareness Elearning Course  can help.

This contains everything you need to identify and eliminate the threat of forced labour. Show staff:

  • What modern slavery looks like in the UK; and
  • What role they can play in creating a safe and equitable work environment.

The course also explains the Modern Slavery Act requirements, and how they work alongside ESG (environmental, social and corporate) governance.

Interested in more business essentials topics, like environmental sustainability (ISO 14001), unconscious bias and anti-bribery? Check out our Business Essentials Staff Awareness Elearning Suite for a more cost-effective option.

slavery thesis statement

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Augustine and slavery

Saint Augustine of Hippo. Detail of engraving. Source: Wellcome Images via Wikimedia Commons.

Augustine and slavery

By Toni Alimi September 04, 2024

Slaves of God

Augustine and Slavery

Augustine is America’s public theologian again. Joe Biden invoked him in his inaugural address. Prominent conservatives, including J.D. Vance and Josh Hawley, cite him as an influence. Vance called Augustine instrumental to his conversion to Catholicism and chose him as his patron saint. Hawley claims that only a return to Augustinian Christian Nationalism, expressed most saliently (in his view) by the Puritans, can “save America.” [1]

Issues abound in Hawley’s framing. He sharply contrasts Christian Nationalism against “bloodthirst and conquest,” “ethnic hatred,” and “blood and soil nativism.” But this is ahistorical. Catholic Portugal, Spain, and France, and Protestant Britain, the Netherlands, the United States, and Denmark drove the Atlantic slave trade. The British empire colonized one-quarter of the world’s population. Catholicism was the state religion of Fascist Italy. Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht soldiers wore belt-buckles reading, “Gott mit uns.” Christian nationalism has not been innocent of bloodthirst, conquest, ethnic hatred, or nativism.

However, even if we grant Hawley’s framing, digging deeper into Augustine’s thought reveals why Augustinian Christian Nationalism is unviable. Doing so will also surface other aspects of Augustine’s thought that chasten the triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism that characterize not just Christian Nationalism but most contemporary politics. 

Hawley ignores Augustine’s endorsements of slavery and religious coercion. Central to Augustine’s justification of chattel slavery was his idea that all humans are slaves of God. Some of God’s slaves are faithful; others are runaways. God allows his runaways to fall into chattel slavery, through which masters are to help their slaves return to God’s service. Chattel slavery’s core theological purpose is to help slaves become Christian.

Many Puritans echoed this reasoning, including Cotton Mather in his essay, The Negro Christianized . [2] Against theologians who argued that Christians may not own one another as slaves, Mather insisted that converts make the best slaves. Christian slaves take obedience to earthly masters as their heavenly duty. [3]   Augustine would have agreed. Christ, he said, “did not make slaves free, but bad slaves good.” [4]

Augustine defended religious coercion in a similar way. During his last two decades his political preoccupation was soliciting imperial power against a Christian sect called the Donatists. The Donatists held that law cannot and should not aim to compel piety. Augustine responded that coercion could disrupt people’s slavery to false religion and encourage them in faithful slavery to God. Along similar lines, the Puritans coerced Native Americans, hung “witches,” and expelled religious dissenters.

Critics worry that Christian Nationalism legitimates domination and religious coercion. If Christian Nationalism is rooted in Augustine and exemplified by the Puritans, they are right to worry. 

But this is only half of the story. Animated by the idea that all humans are slaves of God, Augustine’s politics also chastens common political excesses. His inheritors too often fail to heed his warnings. Let’s consider three: Augustine against triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism.

Triumphalism

Augustine wrote City of God to refute those who blamed Christianity for the fall of Rome. Often overlooked, however, is his concession that Christianity didn’t save Rome from falling. This is because no earthly city is Christianity’s ultimate concern. Some Christians, such as Eusebius and Orosius, thought that Christianity did and would continue to secure Roman triumph. However, Augustine sought to redirect Roman attentions towards the heavenly city. He is no ally of those who hope that Christianity will save America.

Indeed, he is no ally of those who take their political community to be integral to world history. Augustine denied that God’s plans in human history guarantee any particular community’s flourishing. Twentieth-century Augustinian theologian Reinhold Niebuhr criticized American messianism on these grounds. History may progress without America. [5]

This might distress people accustomed to the language of America as leading the free world. Such language is invoked not only by political conservatives, but also by liberals like Biden and Barack Obama. [6] Romans, who had for centuries seem themselves as the centerpiece of civilization, were similarly distressed by Rome’s sacking in 410. Augustine’s counsel to those unmoored by Rome’s fall was clear: look beyond earthly cities towards the heavenly city. [7]

Materialism

In City of God  15.5, Augustine argues that only a city whose shared loves are noncompetitive goods can be stable.

Why? A good is competitive if increasing the number of people sharing in it decreases each person’s share. Material goods are typically competitive: the more money (as share of a currency) one person has, the less everyone else has. A good is noncompetitive if increasing the number of people sharing in it does not diminish each person’s share. Noncompetitive goods tend to be immaterial. You can have more peace without my having less. For Augustine, the most perfectly noncompetitive good is goodness itself. Paradoxically, as more people share it, each person’s share increases . [8]

Political communities typically value material resources – land, water, minerals – and other competitive goods – power, authority, glory. One person cannot have more of such goods without others having less. Augustine warned that communities organized around competitive goods generate factions that battle for an increasing share at others’ expense.

This is one reason that contemporary Christian nationalists are so often racist and nativist; they aim to secure material and other competitive goods for white Christians at the expense of racial and religious minorities. However, Augustine’s anti-materialism poses a challenge to everyone, not only Christian Nationalists. One Augustinian, Martin Luther King Jr., recognized that materialism “blinds us to the human reality around us and encourages us in the greed and exploitation which creates the sector of poverty in the midst of wealth.” [9] Racism places the costs of materialism disproportionately on racial minorities. And so, King claimed, racism and materialism travel together.

Imperialism

King identified a third “triplet” that goes with them. He called it militarism. Augustine might have called it imperialism.   A city organized around competitive goods will be driven to expand and capture more of them to maintain or increase the amount each citizen enjoys, even at outsiders’ expense. [10] So Augustine explained Roman imperialism. So Simone Weil inveighed against French colonialism: “how many men have we deprived of a fatherland whom we now compel to die in order to preserve ours?” [11] And so can we diagnose the slave trade, manifest destiny, hegemony.

A city whose shared loves are competitive is willing to exploit outsiders. By contrast, a city whose shared loves are noncompetitive invites outsiders to share in its goods. For Augustine, just cities are anti-imperial, refusing to expand in ways that harm others even when doing so would be profitable. [12]

Augustine understood how difficult it is to imagine an earthly politics that avoids triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism. He rooted this difficulty in human resistance to divine mastery. Only a community that prefers suffering injustice to inflicting it will avoid these wrongs. And only a community that accepts its slavery to God will have such preferences.

Conclusions

You will have noticed a tension in Augustine. His arguments against triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism, and his arguments for slavery and religious coercion are of a piece. Central to both sets of arguments is his thesis that all humans are slaves of God.

Christian nationalists who claim Augustine’s authority fail to appreciate this. They typically embrace the triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism he criticized, ignore the slavery he endorsed, and wink and nod towards the religious coercion he advocated.

Modern thinkers like Niebuhr, King, and Weil have looked to Augustine for ways beyond triumphalism, materialism, and imperialism. But neither they nor their inheritors sufficiently attend to slavery’s entanglements with the better parts of Augustine’s thought. Political Augustinians are surely right that Augustine has much to teach us. But he also leaves us much disentangling work to do.

Toni Alimi is assistant professor in the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell University.

 Notes

[1] https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/07/09/sen-josh-hawley-america-founded-on-christian-nationalism/ [2] Mather, The Negro Christianized,  9. [3] Mather, The Negro Christianized,  13. For more on slavery among the Puritans, see Wendy Warren, Slavery in Puritan New England . [4] Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms  124.7 [5] Niebuhr, The Irony of American History . [6] https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2017/01/19/thank-you , https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/07/24/remarks-by-president-biden-in-statement-to-the-american-people/ [7] Augustine, “Sermon: The Sacking of the City of Rome.” [8] City of God  15.5 [9] King, “The Three Evils of Society.” [10] City of God  4.15. [11] Weil,  On Colonialism , 78. [12] City of God  4.15.

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  25. Augustine and Slavery

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