slavery essay prompt

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203 Slavery Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on slavery, 👍 good slavery research topics & essay examples, 🔎 easy slavery research paper topics, 🎓 most interesting slavery research titles, 💡 simple slavery essay ideas, 🌶️ hot slavery ideas to write about, ❓ slavery research questions.

• Toni Morrison’s Novel “Beloved”: Slavery Theme
• The History of Slavery: Impacts on Contemporary Society
• Slavery in “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler
• The Machiavellianism Theory’s Application to Slavery
• The Theme of Slavery in Poetry
• “Up from Slavery” by Booker T. Washington Analysis
• Race and Slavery in the “Clotel” Novel by Brown
• “The Escape, Or: A Leap for Freedom”, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”: The Need for Social Action on Slavery Stowe and Brown wrote plays with different intentions, but both shared a single purpose – to convince their white audiences that the practice of slavery was an inhuman practice.
• Slavery in the Novel “Satyricon” by Gaius Petronius The excellent Roman novel, Satyricon, by Gaius Petronius, offers modern readers a way to delve into the class structure in the twilight of Roman society by depicting characters from all levels.
• Human Trafficking – Modern-Day Slavery Modern-day slavery is one of the outcomes of globalization; it affects millions of people and brings immense revenue to the criminals.
• The Sexual Abuse of Black Men Under American Slavery The thesis of this article is that violence has no face, race, or gender. The times of slavery left a large number of people disfigured and offended, including men.
• Narrative of Henry Box Brown, Who Escaped from Slavery Henry Brown was born in Louisa County, Virginia, in 1816 and became known as Henry “Box” Brown after the box he used to escape slavery.
• Injustices Faced by African American People Since Slavery The paper states that African Americans experienced a great deal of racial discrimination, which diminished their confidence among whites.
• Slavery and Human Rights Violation The work presents three stories from various time periods and places, but they are common in the fact that, due to greed, some people are ready to sacrifice all human qualities.
• Comparison of the Slavery Systems in Ancient Rome and Ottoman This research defines how slavery was carried out in the two empires and compares and contrasts some of the activities that were involved in the practice of slavery in the two empires.
• Economics and Slavery in Frederick Douglass’ Narrative This work discusses Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave and the author’s view on the way economics affects slavery.
• Slavery in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” the Novel by Mark Twain Mark Twain was a true trailblazer of his era by writing a bold and courageous novel about the problems of slavery.
• Gender Dynamics in American Slavery This study explores the gendered experiences of slavery in the US, highlighting the challenges faced by women in daily life.
• Indentured Servitude and Slavery in the American Colonies The main difference between indentured servitude and slavery in the American colonies was the duration of service.
• Slavery’s Legacy in Kindred by Octavia Butler “Kindred” offers a thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of slavery. Octavia Butler examines power, control, and the ramifications of one’s choices in chapters 7 and 8.
• Pre-Civil War Slavery and Black Women The pressing issue of enslavement of African-American individuals had been apparent in the United States for a long time.
• Whigs’ vs. Democrats’ Views on Slavery and Race The political life of America in the 1830s – early 1850s was largely determined by the rivalry between Whigs and Democrats.
• How the White Southerners Justified Slavery White Southerners are thriving members of the society living in the Southern parts of the USA. Typical white southerners were yeomen who cultivated small portions of land.
• Slavery Experiences Depicted in Primary Documents Women were among the most vulnerable slaves who suffered from psychological and physical torture during slavery.
• Slavery in The American South: Slavery and Southern Society Many masters did not provide a comfortable life for their slaves. Black people were often exploited and sold into slavery in the American South.
• The History of African American Slavery The fact that African Americans were taken captive and brought to America as enslaved gave them an unfair start in the country.
• The Phenomenon of Slavery and Its Abolition The paper states that revolutions and amendments ensured the actualization of the abolition of slavery and created equality between the various races.
• The Invention of the Cotton Gin and Its Impact on Slavery The invention of the cotton gin in the US allowed the planters to increase production, which led to a dramatic increase in the number of slaves working in the fields.
• African Kingdoms, Atlantic Slave Trade, and New World Slavery The connections between African kingdoms, the Atlantic slave trade, and the new world slavery are shown in this paper.
• The American Yawp: Poking the Slavery Epoch This paper examines the troubling history of slavery in the US and the justifications used by American elites to perpetuate racial subjugation and enslavement of Africans.
• Women’s Rights, Abolition of Slavery, and Nationalism in the US This paper examines such important events in the US history as women’s rights convention, the abolition of slavery, and nationalism development.
• Slavery and Democracy in the United States On the road to progress and enlightenment, virtually all races have resorted to such a terrible form of social development as slavery.
• The Ideas and Perspectives of Literary Works About Slavery and Racism The essay aims to provide insights into opinions about the ideas and perspectives of literary works about slavery, racism, and the oppression of African-Americans.
• The Reconstruction Amendments: Abolishing Slavery The current paper states that the Reconstruction Amendments aimed to protect rights by abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude.
• Slavery as a Human Rights Issue The paper argues slavery in underdeveloped countries, especially Africa, continues to be a pressing and contemporary problem.
• The Haitian Revolution and Slavery The Haitian Revolution is intertwined with the ideas of enslaved people’s desires for freedom, social justice, and equity.
• The Impact of Slavery on Society Slavery is a tragedy in human history due to its cruel barbarism, scale, organized nature, and denial of the victims’ essence.
• Frederick Douglass’ Illustrations Concerning Slavery Frederick Douglass provides insightful and educative illustrations concerning slavery and its severe negative impacts that suggest that it should be eradicated.
• Racial Ideology and Slavery in the United States This paper examines the concept of race and how previous racial ideologies contributed to the expansion of racial slavery in the United States.
• Historical and Modern-Day Slavery In this paper, the concept of modern-day and historical slavery will be compared and contrasted, exemplifying the similarities between the notions.
• Westward Migration and Expansion of Slavery The Westward expansion began in 1803 with the purchase of land that doubled the territory of the United States. The Louisiana purchase sparked the interest of Americans.
• Civilizations and Their Thinkers’ Views on the Subject of Slavery Different people throughout the years had different views on slavery, and depending on their living conditions, philosophy, and ideas, their treatment of slaves changed.
• The History of Slavery Impact Analysis The history of slavery is one of the most complex and debated topics in modern research because the issue of human trafficking and enslavement is still relevant.
• Analysis of Slavery and Resistance Slavery was the most abhorrent practice in both American and world history because violated every connotation and notion of human decency, right, freedom, and justice.
• The Abolition of American Cotton Slavery The abolition of slavery became possible and necessary as America’s cotton monopoly met intense competition from India, Egypt, Brazil, and other countries.
• Civil War: The Legacy in Ending Slavery The Civil War was among the worst wars that happened in America. However, it also left a legacy that caused the ending of slavery.
• New World Slavery and Racism in Society The effects of slavery and racial ideology can be observed even after the official abolition of this policy. There is racial discrimination in labor and health care.
• The Struggle Against Slavery Was for All The paper indicates that the fight against slavery was a fight for humanity that took a long but eventually bore incredible fruits.
• Supply Chain Slavery and Exploitation Modern-day slavery is no different from the historic term due to similarities when it comes to exploitation, abuse, and entrapment of vulnerable individuals.
• Slavery in the American Colonies This paper aims to discuss the institution of slavery established in the American colonies and the impact of the American revolution on slavery.
• American History: Reconstruction Era, Slavery, Indian Wars This period was characterized by attempts to rectify the inequities of slavery and its political, social and economic legacy left by the American Civil War.
• Slavery in the Texas: Declaration of Causes and Address by Sam Houston The first document under review is titled “Texas Declaration of Causes”. This piece of writing represents an account of the grudge.
• African American Slavery in Case of Harriet Jacobs This paper reviews life for Harriet Jacobs and other slaves, how African Americans were treated, and how Harriet Jacobs and other slaves coped with the bondage.
• Haiti’s and Cuba’s Independence Movement and Slavery The independence movements in Latin America and the Caribbean, as can be seen from the Cuban and Haitian experiences, were mostly guided by the problem of slavery.
• Slavery and Racism: History and Linkage Slavery has changed over time; this institution in the ancient world was different from its modern forms; in particular, the Atlantic slave trade added a racial aspect to it.
• Stowe and Douglass’s Depiction of Slavery In this work, the messages of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” will be discussed.
• History of African American Slavery Before the introduction of the slave trade, Africans who lived in West Africa had diverse and rich histories of their culture.
• Slavery Abolishment and Underlying Reasons We should understand the value of human life, and liberating slaves will permit the States to advance as a country with high ethics and solid equity.
• Slavery: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” depicts and illustrates the author’s life and his journey from being a slave to becoming a free and independent man.
• The Role of Religion in Propping-Up Slavery The article discusses that Christianity and its principles contributed to the propping up of the slavery system.
• What Is More Impactful: Freedom or Slavery? In modernity, the history of slavery in the United States can primarily be contextualized as the history of abolition.
• Slavery in Colonial America The paper discusses slavery. It is different from indentured servitude in many aspects. It was widely spread in many regions of Colonial America.
• Slavery in Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass Fredrick Douglas is one of the most famous Afro-American leaders of the XIX century. He was an abolitionist and one of the main figures of the anti-slavery movement in the USA.
• Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy and Tsotsi The movie’s message tells the viewer that there are many children like this, and there are many of Tsotsi nowadays.
• Slavery as a Part of America’s History More than two centuries of American history were overshadowed by such a terrible phenomenon as slavery when people were divided into white and black.
• Indentured Servitude and Slavery in Virginia in the 1600s The paper indicates that indentured servitude and slavery possessed different connotations for individuals in Virginia in the 1600s.
• James Baldwin’s Essays on Racism and Slavery By studying Baldwin’s reflection on the nature of racism, its link to slavery, and its traces in the American community, one can understand the nature of modern racism.
• Hard Questions About Living in Poverty or Slavery The paper aims to find the answers to several questions, for example, how to remain human while living in the conditions of extreme poverty or slavery.
• Post-Slavery African-American Exploitation The central theme of the paper is the oppressive laws adopted in the southern states after the abolition of slavery.
• The Abolition of Slavery After the Civil War This essay covers topics directly addressing the racial problems from Reconstruction when the civil war between the North and the South pushed society to critical changes.
• Dew’s View of Slavery: Debate in the Virginia Legislature “Review of the Debate in the Virginia Legislature of 1831 and 1832” argues that the New Testament not only justifies slavery but even encourages it.
• DuBois’ and Tocqueville’s Perspective on Legacy of Slavery The plight for equal rights for racial and ethnic minorities has been one of the most long-standing issues in world history, with the history of slavery in the U.S.
• Indentured Servitude and Slavery: Similarities and Differences The current paper aims to discuss indentured servants and slaves. They were brought from outside America to work in plantations in the colony.
• Features of Slavery in South America Slavery was crucial in creating the Southern mentality and worldview and significantly formed the social background.
• The Significant Events Leading to the End of Slavery This essay looks at some of the significant events leading to the end of slavery by reviewing David Wyatt’s opinion on how slavery died out according to history.
• Slavery and the Civil War: Reasons and Outcomes Slavery stressed the issue of freedom in America and led to effective national changes in its legislation, economy, policy, and social structure.
• Slavery vs. Indentured Servitude The paper explains how and why slavery developed in the American colonies and describes how the practice of slavery differed between each colonial region.
• From Slavery to Racism: Historical Background Racism did not spur slavery or encourage it; instead, it was used to justify a phenomenon that would exist nonetheless due to the economic situation in the world at the time.
• Slavery and Slaves in the United States of America The article analyzes the Garnet speech where he proclaimed the time for slaves to start fighting for justice and freedom for the sake of past and future generations.
• Slavery and Discrimination: The Foundations of the Problem This work explores the roots of the slavery problem and raises the question of whether discrimination would be so intense in the modern world if only white people were slaves.
• Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass: Slavery and Christianity Douglass distinguishes between the truthful and hypocritical versions of Christianity. He demonstrates how the slaveholders’ beliefs do not adhere to religious doctrine.
• Slavery Institution as a Source for Victimization In conclusion, the slavery institution as a concept was harmful not only to slaves but also to slaveholders. This practice degrades the common values.
• Slavery and the Compromise of 1850 The Compromise of 1850 gave the US a temporary respite but did not and could not solve the problem of slavery.
• Gendered Aspects of Slavery in American History The US social, political, and economic development is significantly shaped by slavery among African Americans.
• Eric Williams: Slavery Was Not Born Out of Racism In “Capitalism and Slavery,” Williams writes: “Slavery was not born out of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery”.
• History of Texas: Colonization and Slavery Texas has a rich history characterized by its unintended colonization by the Spaniards and the ultimate widespread African slavery.
• Plantation Slavery in Louisiana The period of slavery in the US is one of the darkest periods in the history. The purpose of this essay is to study the stories of former slaves to get an idea of slavery in Louisiana.
• The Birth of Slavery in America Indeed, all thirteen of the original states actively practiced slavery, but the same patterns of using cheap labor differed markedly.
• Haratins: Slavery in Mauritania Yesterday and Today The article provides a detailed analysis of how the situation with slavery in Mauritania has changed over time and how things are now.
• Antebellum Period Southerners and Slavery The South relied on slavery for economic prosperity and used the wealth acquired from plantations with slaves as laborers to justify slavery and the slave trade.
• To Right the Wrongs: Reparations for Slavery The former colonial powers must repair the damage caused by centuries of violence and discrimination. The total number of victims of the slave trade is difficult to estimate.
• The Role of Christianity in Slavery: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Religion is an efficient tool of persuasion. The owners used faith to control the workers and claimed to be virtuous since they prayed regularly.
• Changes in the Character of Slavery in North America Colonial North America became the first continent on which the slave system took root and developed on a colossal scale.
• Haiti: From Slavery to Emancipation The Haitian Revolution had a significant impact on the African American movements and the subsequent abolition of slavery in many countries of America.
• Douglass’s Arguments on Slavery Abolition The cotton culture became not only the basis for international trade and violence of Native Americans but also the desire for social justice.
• Impacts of Slavery on the Antebellum USA This article is about the impact of slavery on the American economy, society, and politics before the Civil War.
• Treatment of Women During Slavery in the North American Colonies Slave reproduction was considered to be good in the North American colonies, the region where the greatest slave population growth was recorded.
• Geography of Slavery in Virginia One of the prime examples of slavery’s impact on the lives of human beings is the slavery patterns in Virginia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• White Slave Owners and the Tyranny of Slavery in Phillis Wheatley’s Poetry Published in 1773, Wheatley had an opportunity to speak out on the tyranny she and her race faced from day today.
• The History of Slavery: Its Formation and Development Historically, slavery was spread across the world, taking many forms, nowadays it is seen as a quintessence of injustice, which brought suffering to many people, and is forbidden.
• History of Slavery and Contemporary Society The study should provide comprehensive information on the influence of slavery and its history on the contemporary world and its people.
• Rise of Slavery and Slave Trade Main Reasons In the Atlantic Ocean Basin Between 1400 and 1750 The main reason for the rise of the Atlantic slave trade between 1400 and 1750 was the importance of colonies for the development of the economy of European countries.
• Southern Whites Defending Slavery Analysis This paper will attempt to explore the common moral justifications of slavery and the reasons why they appeared.
• At-Will Employment: The 21st Century Form of Slavery At-will employment is defined as such relationships between an employer and employee in which the latter could be dismissed without any warning or valid reason.
• Fight Over Slavery of the Southern Population An increasing number of anti-slavery politicians and supporters of emancipation contributed to the paranoia among the Southern population.
• History of Slavery: Slaves and Servants in Virginia The history of slavery in Virginia traces back to the 1600s, as it was found as the colony of the English through the London Virginia Company.
• Slavery vs. Indentured Servants The main difference between slaves and indentured servants is that while slaves were not free as they were their masters’ property, indentured servants enjoyed some freedom.
• Post-Slavery Abolishment United States This paper discusses the post-Civil war period’s issues with the South, paces of industrialization and business development, and expansion to the West after slavery abolishment.
• America: A Culture Around Slavery American cultural background, reflected in the practice of sending Africans and blacks into slavery, as well as the position of women in slavery and the sale of their bodies.
• Sectionalism and Slavery in American History Sectionalism and slavery are important topics in American history. Sectionalism refers to the divide that was created between the northern and southern territories.
• Slavery Operation Institution and Its Impacts to Slaves Slavery was indeed the worst crime against humanity in that era, a lot of people suffered from mistreatment some even dying.
• Child Slavery and Sexual Trafficking Child slavery is a business, which brings milliards of dollars to its owners, a reality of our world. Many people believe that it happens somewhere far away and not in our community.
• Abraham Lincoln’s Policies on Slavery in 1861-1863 Abraham Lincoln was one the most powerful presidents of the United States. The essay explains the evolution of Lincoln’s policies on slavery from July 1861 to November 1863.
• Readings on Slavery and Racial Segregation in the US Certain themes expressed in the readings are too surprising to be true. Many years after slavery was abandoned, the black generation still suffered its consequences.
• Slavery as a Peculiar Institution When slavery was defined as a peculiar institution, it was thought to mean a distinctive aspect of the people of the US who had embraced it.
• Slavery in the South: Definite or Indefinite? This paper will try to explore what doomed slavery in the South by the eve of the Civil War. It will try to discuss whether the institution could have been maintained indefinitely.
• The North and South of America and a Slavery Revealition of the sub-regional diffrences between the North and the South due to the opposing points of view as to abolishment of slavery.
• The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery Abolishment Slave trade carried out mostly in the 17th-18th centuries encompassed the capturing, selling, and purchase of people for the sole purpose of forced labor.
• International Child Trafficking: The Modern Slavery The modern-day slavery represented by the millions of children who cross borders as sex slaves should turn the blot into a wound.
• Labor Exploitation and Slavery Employment mistreatment is associated with remorseless communal relations where a fastidious cluster is treated unjustly to profit the other revelry.
• Slavery and Literacy. The Triumph of a Poor Slave Olaudah Equiano begins his story by telling readers how he was being kidnapped by the members of rivaling tribe in his native Africa while still a child and turned into a slave.
• Major Slavery Events Between 1850-1860 The essay describes the crucial historical events that caused the complete slavery abolition that took place between 1850 and 1860.
• The Slavery Debate Between 1820 and 1850 The work is aimed to provide a historical overview of the slavery debate between 1820 and 1850, which meant the conflict between North and South of the USA.
• Transnational Labour, Slavery, and Revolt Nowadays The theory of class conflict paints history as a never-ending series of struggles between different classes in order to achieve political and economic dominance.
• Slavery in Hispaniola and Mexico This paper analyzes the history of slavery in Hispaniola and Mexico, its evolution, abolition, and similar malpractices encountered in the region today.
• Slavery and Its Religious and Moral Aspects The letter by Foster included in “The Brotherhood of Thieves” and the work “Slavery and the Bible” by an unknown author discuss the religious and moral aspects of slavery.
• Slavery and Its Impact on Modern Social Relations Slavery used to be a part of the history of many countries. This paper aims at investigating the history of slavery and its influence on modern social relations.
• Impact of Slavery on Modern Society Slavery casts a dark shadow on the history of the United States, and knowing about the devastating impact it had on generations of people is fundamental.
• Transformations in Slavery and Effects of Slavery on Society In order to provide an adequate periodization of slavery, it is critical to distinguish between incidental and systematic slavery.
• Concepts of Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery Fighting class inequality is one of the most controversial topics in American history, and the role of some human rights defenders in eradicating this dangerous trend is significant.
• Slavery Concepts in Africa Slavery existed in Africa in the form of servitude long before Europeans landed on the continent and commercialized the practice.
• Slavery vs. Indentured Servitude in North America The first Europeans settled in North America began to buy Africans in order to provide farm labor. Such individuals or plantation owners treated them as servants.
• Slavery Impact on Modern American Society Slavery casts a dark shadow on the history of the US, and knowing about the devastating impact is fundamental. The paper investigates the impact of slavery on modern society.
• Slavery in Africa After European Colonization Slavery existed among most modern societies, including African. Even before the European colonization and the onset of the slave trade, it was a part of the culture.
• Slavery in Africa and British American Colonies In the middle of the seventeenth century, the British American colonies were strongly connected to and ruled by the motherland.
• Slavery Practices of Africans vs. Europeans Even though slavery had existed among African peoples prior to the European slave trade, its conditions were significantly different when comparing these two regions.
• Slavery in African vs. European Countries In historical time, slavery in Africa had various forms which sometimes did not correspond to the concept of slavery adopted in the rest of the world.
• History: Transnational Labor, Slavery, and Revolt Slavery is a tragedy and one of the darkest pages of human history. At present, slavery is officially prohibited in all countries of the world.
• Slavery in “The Satyricon” Novel by Petronius The excellent Roman novel, Satyricon, by Gaius Petronius, is a suitable platform, from which the subject of slavery gets a different approach.
• The Impact of Slavery Slavery had a massive impact upon the development of the United States of America and on the transformation of the African-American ethnic group into the way it currently is.
• Colonialism and Slavery in American History This essay discusses reasons for colonization by the European countries and compares the slave experience in the upper South and the lower South.
• Slavery and Civil War: American History American history is defined by slavery. The founding fathers of America, in the 17th and 18th century, grew the economy through slave labor.
• How Frederick Douglass Escaped Slavery? When Douglas managed to escape from slavery and safely landed in New York, he felt that he had come to a completely new world. He compares a day in New York to a year in slavery.
• The Issue of Slavery and the State’s Rights This paper seeks to find out whether the issue of slavery and the state’s rights were important in the secession process and the role of the northern abolition movement.
• The History of Slavery and Its Impacts This paper argues that a majority of the stated discriminatory issues that are witnessed in contemporary society are the effects of slavery.
• The Impact of Slavery on the Development of the USA In this paper, the researcher analyzes the history of slavery in order to identify the impact it had on the development of the US. Slavery is an alien concept to the modern citizens of the USA.
• Thomas Jefferson and the Concept of Slavery Jefferson stated that Native Americans were unspoiled by the sins of the developed world despite advocating for their extinction.
• The Slavery Question: Destiny and Sectional Discord The nation was split into those who believed that the slavery question had been successfully resolved and those who saw its threat to American society.
• Development of the Northern Slavery System in America In one form or another slavery had been existing in any part of the world. There is hardly a nation that has managed to avoid this terrible form of a social development.
• Slavery Impact on the United States’ Development Slavery is an alien concept to the modern citizens of the United States of America. Since late 19th century, this undemocratic institution has been abolished in the US.
• Slavery’s Impact on Contemporary Society This study reveals that the history of slavery influences the politics of the United States, the identity of African-Americans, and the education system.
• Slavery in Different Periods of American History The paper investigates the history of slavery in the United State by analyzing E. Berenson’s textbook, Cabet’s voyage to Icaria, and K. Marx ‘The American Civil War’.
• Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Poverty Be it through the sexual enslavement of girls or trafficking of males for forced labor, slavery has had a tremendous impact on modern society.
• Modern Slavery, Its Consequences and Countermeasures The relevance of the problem of slavery is statistically confirmed, and certain measures and interventions can help society to stop this danger.
• Contemporary Slavery: Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking is an outlawed business practised by several countries around the globe. Sex trafficking immensely contributes to both local and international migrations.
• History of Slavery and Its Impacts The concept of slavery in the contemporary society has undergone a gradual transformation. Modern forms of slavery include forced labor, child exploitation, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
• The History of Slavery and Contemporary Society Slavery is one of the most harmful concepts devised by humans. This paper will provide an overview of the history of slavery, as well as the effects it has on modern society.
• History of Slavery and Its Impact on Contemporary Society Slavery is the period that cannot be forgotten, and the relations that were developed between people during the slavery period influenced the way of how people treat each other today.
• History of Slavery and Its Impacts on Society The role of the history of slavery cannot be neglected. It introduces several lessons and much information about the mistakes that have been already made and the opportunities.
• History of Slavery and Its Impact on the Society Slavery emerged together with the rise of the first civilization as the most primitive form of relationships between different members of the ancient society.
• Slavery in Women’s and Men’s Narratives H. Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” tells one of the perverted cases of sexual harassment. F. Douglas wanted to shoot down some pro-slavery arguments.
• William Lloyd Garrison and Slavery in America William Lloyd Garrison made a significant contribution to the anti-slavery movement through his idealism. Garrison took both moral and practical approach to issues.
• Slavery in the American Society Slavery is one of the historical events that characterize the American society since many people lost their lives in trying to prevent it while others decided to shift to other places.
• Slavery Emancipation in Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil Slavery was viewed as both an infringement of human rights in addition to the existence of forced labor. Numerous differences existed in the manner in which slaves were treated across the globe.
• Views on Slavery by F.Douglass and B.Washington Douglass and Washington draw the readers’ attention to the fact that their situations and descriptions of slave life are the reflections of the conditions typical for the period.
• Defending Slavery: Termination of Slavery and Slave Trade in South America The United States amended its constitution in 1865 in an attempt to abolish the slave trade. However, the amendment only led to a decline in slavery.
• Documentary: Slavery and the Making of America by Betty Wood Slavery and the making of America (2013) is an interesting documentary which tells different stories. Thus, it depicts the way people became slaves and the way they were sold and resold.
• When Did Slavery Start in History?
• Who First Started Slavery in Africa?
• Did Racism Precede Slavery?
• Did Slavery Create More Benefits or Problems for the Nation?
• Did Southerners Favor Slavery?
• Who Ended Slavery?
• Who Abolished Slavery First?
• Did Thomas Jefferson Want to End Slavery?
• When Did Slavery End in Africa?
• What Country Still Has Slavery?
• What Were the Main Causes of Slavery?
• Have Historians Over Emphasised the Slavery Issue as a Cause of the Civil War?
• Is Slavery Still Legal in Texas?
• How African Americans Were Treated During the Slavery Period?
• Why Did the North Not Support Slavery?
• How Did Slavery Start the Civil War?
• How Did African American Slavery Help Shape America?
• How Did African American Women Deal With and Survive Slavery?
• Is Slavery Legal in Canada?
• What Explains Slavery Was Milder in the North?
• How Does the Legacy of Slavery Continue to Impact Both Blacks and Whites?
• What Were Abraham Lincoln’s Feelings About Slavery?
• What Contributed to the Spread of Slavery in the Southern American Colonies Between 1607 and 1775?
• What Are Edmund Morgan’s Thesis and Argument About Slavery?
• What Is a Modern Day Example of Slavery?
• Where Is Slavery Most Common Today?
• Does Slavery Still Exist in Today’s World?
• What Are the Characteristics of Slavery in New York?
• Is Slavery Illegal in the World?
• What Created the Differences Between the North and South Concerning Slavery?

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This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

Research Paper Topics About Slavery: Know Your Enemy

When we recall the most crucial issues of the modern world, we think of global warming, wars, hunger, environmental pollution, and many other problems. But we never associate modern society with slavery. Unfortunately, we still should. It’s not as bad as it used to be. However, this horrifying form of inhumanity still exists. We’ve decided to follow the rule “know your enemy.”

Below, you’ll find an impressive list of research paper topics on slavery. We’ve also placed here a few links to our samples on slavery topics. Moreover, you can check out our business research paper topics or music research topics if you can’t figure out what to write about. Learn more about this global issue and get prepared for any type of debate on the topic! With such a list on hand, writing a slavery or a death penalty research paper will get much easier. 

Below, you’ll find an impressive list of research paper topics on slavery. We’ve also placed here a few links to our samples on slavery topics. Learn more about this global issue and get prepared for any type of debate on the topic!

Argumentative topics about slavery

• Does slavery still exist?
• Is racial inequality in the criminal justice system inherited from slavery?
• Why is slavery immoral?
• Was the impact of slavery on women of color different from the impact on men?
• Did slavery have any positive effects? Exemplify your answer.
• Why were peaceful means against slavery ineffective?
• Why did slavery as a massive phenomenon last so long?
• What type of rehabilitation for ex-slaves should exist?
• Can addictions be considered a form of slavery?
• Was slavery inevitable after all?
• Why are discussions about slavery important for modern students around the world?
• For whom was the idea of slavery the most beneficial when it appeared?
• What is the most destructive aspect of slavery?
• Is slavery the most essential reason for racism in American society?
• Reparations for slavery: are they possible?

Compare and contract slavery topics

• Compare and contrast bullying and slavery.
• Compare and contrast slavery in Cuba and in the USA.
• Compare and contrast serfdom in Russia and slavery in the Americas.
• Compare and contrast the economic gain for the USA from the African American sharecropping system and the bracero program.
• Compare and contrast the Dutch form of slavery and those of other places in Europe.
• Compare and contrast “de facto” and “de jure” slavery in the 17th century.
• What were the main differences between indentured servants and slaves?
• Differences and similarities between American and Middle Eastern slavery systems.
• Compare and contrast the representation of slavery in English and American literature.
• Compare and contrast the participation of white and black women in the feminist movement in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Definition research paper topics on slavery

• Define the term “abolitionism.”
• Define the term “genocide slavery.”
• Define the term “sex trafficking.”
• Define the term “psychological slavery.”
• Define the term “slave narrative.”

Topics about slavery in art and literature

• Why does the slave narrative “Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House” by Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley have great historical value?
• Why was the novel “Clotel” by William Wells Brown important for the abolitionist movement?
• How did the novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe help to make public the issue of slavery?
• The arguments against individual freedom in the novel “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley.
• What struggles of female slaves are shown in the autobiography “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet Jacobs?
• In the slave narrative “In My Bondage and My Freedom,” Frederick Douglass states that slavery makes victims out of everyone: slaves, slavers, and non-slave holding whites. Do you agree or disagree? Defend your viewpoint.
• Does the movie “Spartacus” (1960) portray a slave revolt accurately?
• The issue of slavery in the novel “Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd.
• Pro-slavery arguments in the book “Defending Slavery” by Paul Finkelman.
• Antislavery motives in the novel “Oroonoko” by Aphra Behn.
• What forms of slavery does Margaret Atwood depict in her dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• Religious worldview on slavery in works by Julia Ward Howe.
• The quest for freedom in the movie “Twelve Years a Slave.”
• Can marriage in the 19th century be suggested as a form of slavery taking into consideration female portrayal in literature?
• Is the movie “Free State of Jones” directed by Gary Ross historically accurate?

Research paper topics on slavery in world history

• Domestic slavery in Medieval Florence.
• The history of slavery in Latin America.
• Was the policy of colonialism the main reason for slavery?
• The impact of the Haitian Revolution on slavery in the Caribbean.
• What were Aristotle’s beliefs regarding slavery?
• What was the social structure in Ancient Egypt? What role did slaves play in its society?
• How was the women’s rights movement related to the antislavery movement in the 19th century?
• What factors caused the development of indentured servitude?
• The role of the Atlantic slave trade in the world economy.
• The evolution of slavery from inception to abolition.
• Why was slavery considered normal in Ancient Greece?
• Was the formation of the Roman Empire possible without slavery?
• What was the most effective form of slave resistance in history? Why?
• Did the ideas of the Enlightenment confront slavery?
• What was Adam Smith’s view on slavery and how did he represent it in his works?

Topics about slavery in US history

• What was Lincoln’s policy toward slavery?
• American politics on slavery in the 19th century.
• How did slavery affect the modern labor politics in the USA?
• Why was the attitude toward slavery different in the northern and in the southern states?
• Mason’s and Dixon’s line as a boundary between the North and the South.
• Is American capitalism rooted in slavery?
• How did slavery form the political landscape in the USA before the Civil War?
• Was the conflict over slavery the only reason for the Civil War?
• What arguments were used by the Confederates to defend slavery?
• What role did slaveholders play in the Texas Revolution?
• Why was the passage on slavery deleted from the Declaration of Independence?
• Why was slavery more important for agricultural regions than for industrial regions?
• The Dred Scott decision and its influence on the beginning of the Civil War.
• How did the Civil War end up with the abolition of slavery?
• What Bible passages did the southerners use to justify slavery?
• Did slaves help the North to win the Civil War?
• What problems did former slaves face after the Civil War? How did Congress help them to solve those problems?
• What was the connection between the enslavement of the indigenous population and African slavery in the Americas?
• How did slavery influence the formation of jazz?
• The British government at the end of the 18th century was both seen as a liberator by African Americans and as a potential enslaver by white Americans. What was the reason for such a difference in their beliefs?
• How did Lincoln’s election affect slavery in the USA?
• What were the main goals of the Abolitionist movement?
• Will legalizing prostitution reduce sex slavery in the USA?
• Why did the slavery system last even after the American industrial revolution?
• Why did white families in the South defend slavery even though not all of them had slaves?

Topics about slavery today

• Nigeria’s policy toward slavery and human trafficking.
• Why does slavery still exist in modern society?
• Why is stopping modern-day human trafficking difficult?
• What agricultural crop is connected with slavery the most?
• What aspects of slavery are different for men and women?
• Does child slavery in China exist?
• The issue of sex slavery in Ghana.
• Can slavery be beneficial in some modern countries? Why or why not?
• How do GCC countries fight slavery now?
• What are the modern forms of slavery?

Paper samples on slavery

As we’ve promised, there are two samples on slavery topics from our writers:

• What was the role of slavery and slave rebellions in Jamaica’s past?
• The antislavery appeal sample .

We hope that our list of research paper topics on slavery along with these samples will help you with composing your piece of writing on this topic. Check out topics for essays about sharks as well. 

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9 thoughts on “ Research Paper Topics About Slavery: Know Your Enemy ”

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The Narrative Matters: Guidelines on Writing about Slavery

January 25, 2016 Cazzie Reyes Opinion  News

Earlier this week, one of the headlines in The Guardian posed the question: What happens when children’s books fail to confront the complexity of slavery? Referring to the controversial cover of  A Birthday Cake for George Washington  depicting a smiling black cook and his daughter baking a cake for the president, the article’s author posits that keeping the narrative about chattel slavery honest is constant work.

In addition, it’s not just representations in popular media and creative mediums that more or less water down the history of slavery. Textbooks such as the one published in Texas saying ‘The Atlantic Slave Trade between the 1500s and 1800s brought millions of workers from Africa to the southern United States to work on agricultural plantations’ wrongly suggests that slavery was some form of voluntary migrant work. Historic sites and house museums referring to slaves as “servants” in order to dissuade visitors’ discomfort do so at the risk of minimizing the abuses faced by slaves.

Challenges and problems with portrayals of slavery continue on to the present. We’ve already talked about the visual stereotypes for human trafficking . This post discusses points to keep in mind when writing or talking about human trafficking today.

When referring to a person who is or was trafficked, ask what they’d prefer to be called whenever possible. Some want to be identified as victims, while others want to be called survivors. Moreover, there are people that don’t want to be forever associated with those two terms and would like to be acknowledged by the life and work they’ve carried out after their trafficking ordeal.

Next, use adjectives carefully. When describing those in slave-like conditions, it’s easy to see the despair and only call them helpless, hopeless or powerless. However, these words create a savior mindset and ignore the fact that trafficked people have the agency and ability to make choices and be active participants in their own recovery. On that note, avoid infantilizing trafficked people. For example, don’t call women “girls.”

Last, check the text throughout the story to see how individuals are framed. Is the narrative overemphasizing the fact that a trafficked person is also an illegal immigrant? Is the prostituted person called a stripper or a sex worker? Doing so creates bias against him or her, suggests complicity and assigns culpability.

Cite peer reviewed articles and use statistics from reputable sources, but be transparent about the limitations of these studies. Furthermore, be aware of the possibility that what might be true for one group of people might not be true for an individual.

Additionally, try to be inclusive and to reflect the global distribution of human trafficking. Oftentimes, men, boys, women and transgendered people are left out because popular discourse is completely focused on girls forced into prostitution.

To close, just as mentioned in the visual stereotypes post, avoid telling sexualized and graphic stories if the only purpose is to sensationalize or trivialize someone’s experience. There are times when people who survived trafficking wish to disclose all that happened to them, and yes, absolutely give them the space to do that. But, be mindful of how you use their narratives in the future.

Amidst the controversy and social media backlash, Scholastic stopped distributing A   Birthday Cake for George Washington . This instance is a reminder of how differently we all interpret and think of slavery. It is also an opportunity for us to reevaluate the way we talk about human trafficking and slavery. After all, the stories that we tell are pivotal to the way that people today – and generations from now – understand slavery, both chattel and its more modern forms.

Topics: News

About the Author

Cazzie Reyes

Cazzie reyes graduated from bradley university with a bachelor's degree in international studies and a minor in women's studies. , related posts.

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Writing Prompts about Slavery

• 🗃️ Essay topics
• ❓ Research questions
• 📝 Topic sentences
• 🪝 Essay hooks
• 📑 Thesis statements
• 🔀 Hypothesis examples
• 🧐 Personal statements

🔗 References

🗃️ essay topics about slavery.

• The history and origins of slavery.
• Abraham Lincoln, slavery and the Civil War.
• Slavery in Ancient Greece and Rome.
• The role of slavery in the American Revolution.
• The impact of slavery on the development of American capitalism.
• The role of slave rebellions in ending slavery.
• An essay on Thomas Jefferson’s notes on the state of Virginia.
• The impact of slavery on American culture and society.
• The psychological effects of slavery on enslaved individuals.
• The role of women in slavery.
• The impact of slavery on Native American communities.
• Social and personal responsibility in the Movement.
• The role of Christianity in justifying and opposing slavery.
• The portrayal of slavery in film and media.
• The history and legacy of slavery in the Caribbean.
• The role of slavery in the Haitian Revolution.
• The legacy of slavery in the criminal justice system.
• Human trafficking research paper.
• The intersection of slavery and capitalism in the global economy.
• The relationship between slavery and modern-day human trafficking.
• The role of slavery in the Civil War.
• The impact of slavery on the development of the American South.
• The role of education in the fight against slavery.
• The American Civil War causes.
• The impact of slavery on modern-day labor practices.

❓ Research Questions on Slavery

• How did the concept of slavery develop throughout history?
• How did the abolition of slavery impact the lives of formerly enslaved individuals?
• What were slavery’s various forms and manifestations?
• What were the main similarities and differences between different forms of slavery?
• How did slave resistance ashape the decline of slavery?
• How did the institution of slavery contribute to the development of racial hierarchies and ideologies?
• What was the role of gender in the experience of slavery?
• How did slavery shape the development of the plantation system?
• How did the institution of slavery contribute to the development of colonialism and imperialism?
• How did the legacy of slavery impact the development of race relations?
• What were the main economic, social, and cultural factors that contributed to the decline of slavery?
• What were the key legal battles that contributed to the abolition of slavery?
• How did the institution of slavery contribute to the development of cultural and artistic forms?
• How did slave resistance and rebellion shape the course of slavery in different regions?
• How did the institution of slavery shape the economic, social, and political development?

📝 Topic Sentences about Slavery

• The institution of slavery played a critical role in shaping the economic, social, and political development of the United States, and its legacy continues to be felt in contemporary society.
• The legacy of slavery continues to be felt in contemporary American society, as issues of race, inequality, and social justice remain central concerns for many individuals and communities.
• Enslaved individuals used a variety of strategies, including resistance, rebellion, and cultural expression, to assert their humanity and dignity in the face of the dehumanizing system of slavery.

🪝 Best Hooks for Slavery Paper

📍 definition hooks for essay about slavery.

• According to the United Nations, slavery is defined as “the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised.” This definition encompasses a range of historical and contemporary forms of slavery, including debt bondage, forced labor, and human trafficking.
• Scholars have offered a range of definitions of slavery over time, from the classical idea of a slave as a “living tool” to the more recent concept of “modern slavery” as a global phenomenon that encompasses a range of exploitative labor practices. Despite these different definitions, what remains constant is the fundamental injustice and dehumanization of individuals who are subjected to such systems.

📍 Statistical Hooks about Slavery for Essay

• According to the International Labour Organization, there are an estimated 40.3 million people living in some form of modern slavery around the world, with the highest prevalence found in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region.
• The end of slavery in the United States did not lead to immediate equality for African Americans, as many were subjected to sharecropping, Jim Crow laws, and other forms of institutionalized discrimination that persisted well into the 20th century.

📍 Quotation Hooks for Essay on Slavery

• “Slavery is theft – theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any property or produce, theft even of the children a slave might have borne.” – Kevin Bales, Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy.
• “Slavery was not the peculiar institution of the South. It existed in every state of the Union, and was as firmly established in Massachusetts as in Georgia.” – Frederick Douglass

📑 Best Slavery Thesis Statements

✔️ argumentative thesis on slavery.

• Although slavery was formally abolished in the United States over 150 years ago, its legacy continues to shape the racial and economic inequalities that persist today, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to address the systemic injustices that underlie our society.
• The legacy of slavery in the United States has created a system of institutionalized racism that continues to perpetuate inequality and discrimination against Black Americans, necessitating both reparative justice and systemic change in order to dismantle the structures that uphold this injustice.

✔️ Analytical Thesis Samples about Slavery

• By analyzing the narratives of enslaved individuals, this study aims to uncover the ways in which slavery impacted not only the physical bodies of those subjected to it, but also their psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being, highlighting the resilience and resistance of those who survived.
• The legacy of slavery in the United States continues to shape the country’s social, economic, and political landscape, as evidenced by persistent racial disparities and the ongoing struggle for reparations and racial justice.

✔️ Informative Thesis Examples on Slavery

• An exploration of the history of slavery in the United States reveals a complex and multi-layered system of exploitation, resistance, and cultural exchange that had a profound impact on American society, shaping both its economy and its cultural identity.
• Slavery, a system of forced labor prevalent in many societies throughout history, had a profound impact on the economy, politics, and culture of the countries that practiced it, leading to long-lasting consequences for enslaved individuals and their descendants.

🔀 Slavery Hypothesis Examples

• The prevalence of slavery in the agricultural industry had a significant impact on the development of early American capitalism.
• The abolition of slavery in the United States was not solely the result of moral or ethical concerns but rather was driven by economic and political factors.

🔂 Null & Alternative Hypothesis on Slavery

• Null hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between the legacy of slavery and the contemporary racial disparities in the United States.
• Alternative hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between the legacy of slavery and the contemporary racial disparities in the United States.

🧐 Examples of Personal Statement on Slavery

• I am acutely aware of the ways in which slavery has shaped my family’s history and the larger society. Through my studies, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of this institution, its impact on individuals and communities, and the ongoing struggle for reparations and racial justice. Ultimately, I aspire to use my education to contribute to the fight against systemic racism and to promote greater social equity and inclusion.
• I am fascinated by the ways in which different societies have dealt with the legacy of slavery and other forms of oppression. Through my studies, I hope to gain a better understanding of the cultural, economic, and political factors that contribute to the persistence of these systems, as well as the diverse ways in which individuals and communities have resisted and overcome them.
• Shackled to the Past: The Causes and Consequences of Africa’s Slave Trades
• Slavery and Its Definition
• Capitalism & Slavery
• The Slave Trade and the Origins of Mistrust in Africa
• Slavery and the British Industrial Revolution

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Slavery and the Abolition of Slave Trade 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

Many historians pay close attention to the reasons why slavery persisted for a long time in some parts of the United States. Moreover, much attention is paid to the reasons why so many southerners defended this social institution, even though they did not belong to the so-called plantation aristocracy.

To a great extent, this outcome can be attributed to such factors to the influence of racist attitudes, the fear of violence or rebellion, and economic interests of many people who perceived the abolition of slavery as a threat to their welfare. To some degree, these factors contributed to the outbreak of the American Civil War that dramatically transformed the social and political life of the country. These are the main details that should be examined.

The persistent defense of slavery can be partly explained by the widespread stereotypes and myths which were rather popular in the South. For instance, one can mention the belief according to which the living conditions of slaves were much better, especially in comparison with European workers or those people who lived in the northern parts of the United States. These arguments were expressed by John Calhoun who regarded slavery as “a positive good” (1837). This statement implied that black people could even be satisfied with their subordinate status.

He said that under the rule of white people, slaves could enjoy more prosperity (Calhoun, 1837). These are some of the details that should not be disregarded. To some degree, this justification of slavery was based on the belief that black people were not self-sufficient. Therefore, one should not neglect the impact of racism on the worldviews and attitudes of many southerners who did not always question the propaganda which was imposed on them.

Overall, pro-slavery politicians such as John Calhoun believed the abolition of slavery could produce only detrimental results on various stakeholders, including black people. These are some of the main details that should be distinguished. One should keep in mind that many people living in the South did not pay much attention to the experiences of black slaves. They did not reflect on the cruel treatment of black people who were often dehumanized.

Additionally, it is important to examine the experiences of people who did not belong to the upper classes of the Southern society. Many of these people were farmers, and they were adversely affected by the competition with slave owners (Davidson et al., 2012). In many cases, their farms could be ruined in the course of this struggle. Moreover, many of them could not even afford a slave (Davidson et al., 2012). Nevertheless, they did not object to the existence of slavery as a social institution.

They believed that that the emancipation of slaves could eventually threaten their own existence. In particular, many of them were afraid of violence or rebellion. This is one of the reasons why they did not support the abolitionist movement. So, they could reconcile themselves with slavery, even though their own interests were significantly impaired. Secondly, they did not perceive black people as human beings who could deserve empathy or compassion. As a result, many of these people defended slavery and even fought for the interests of slave owners. This is one of the details should not be overlooked because it is important for understanding the cause of the civic conflict in the United States.

It should be noted that trans-Atlantic slave trade was abolished long before the Civil War in the United States (Oldfield, 2012). Moreover, they could prohibit slave trade within a state. Nevertheless, policy-makers could not easily abolish slavery as an institution, even though many people believed that this practice violated every ethical law. There were many interest groups that did not want to abolish slavery. These people believed that their investments in commerce, agriculture, or industry could be harmed by the abolition of slavery (Davidson et al., 2012).

Moreover, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were many people who owned hundreds of slaves. They believed that slavery had been critical for their economic prosperity. As a result, there was no legal support of the abolitionist movement in some parts of the United States. This tendency was particularly relevant if one speaks about the South in which the use of slave labor was often required. This is one of the details that should be distinguished.

On the whole, this discussion indicates that there were several barriers to the abolition of slavery in the South. Much attention should be paid to the influence of racist attitudes of many people who were firmly convinced that slaves could be deprived of their right to humanity. In their opinion, this practice was quite acceptable from an ethical viewpoint. Additionally, it is vital to remember about the influence about the use of propaganda that shaped the attitudes of many people. Finally, one should not forget about the economic interests of many people who regarded the abolitionist movement as a threat to their financial security. These are some of the major aspects that can be identified.

Reference List

Calhoun, J. (1837). Slavery a Positive Good .

Davidson, J., Delay, B., Herman, B., Leigh, C., & Lytle, M. (2012). US: A Narrative History Volume 1: To 1877 . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Oldfield, J. (2012). British Anti-slavery . Web.

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IvyPanda . "Slavery and the Abolition of Slave Trade." April 30, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/slavery-and-the-abolition-of-slave-trade/.

Changing Views of Slavery Mini-DBQ

Use this Lesson to h

• Students will be able to identify how attitudes toward African slavery in the United States have changed from the Founding Era to the mid-nineteenth century by a comparison reading of Thomas Jefferson’s Query XVIII from Notes on the State of Virginia (1781), Jefferson’s letter to Bishop Henri Gregoire (1809), David Walker’s An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World (1829), Sarah Moore Grimke’s “An Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States” (1836), and William Harper’s essay “Slavery in Light of Social Ethics” (1837).
• Students will analyze primary source documents by answering comprehension questions to guide them to conclusions about the arguments being presented within them.
• Students will practice writing a thesis statement for a CCOT essay.

Expand Materials Materials

Handout A: Student Documents

• Document 1: The Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Document 2: Thomas Jefferson’s Query XVIII from  Notes on the State of Virginia  (1781)
• Document 3: Thomas Jefferson’s letter to Bishop Henri Grégoire (1809)
• Document 4: David Walker’s  An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World  (1829)
• Document 5: Sarah Moore Grimké’s “An Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States” (1836)
• Document 6: William Harper’s essay “Slavery in Light of Social Ethics” (1837)

Expand More Information More Information

This lesson should follow exploration of the expansion of slavery due to the invention of the cotton gin. This lesson seeks to put into context the fundamental shift in thinking about slavery that occurred in the minds of observers of slavery as a result of its mass expansion during the early to mid-nineteenth century. Students should have the sensitivity and respect required to talk about the topic of slavery.

Expand Warmup Warmup

Students will read the excerpt from the opening of the Declaration of Independence and answer the accompanying questions. After discussing the first three questions, read the following paragraph out loud with students for emphasis (on student handout):

The Declaration of Independence was an assertion of universal natural rights for all human beings, including the idea that they are created equal and have the right to govern themselves by their own consent. At the time of the Founding, African Americans who were held as slaves were denied the inalienable rights they had according to natural law. They were viewed as property and therefore had no opportunity to enjoy those natural rights listed in the Declaration. Many Founders, even those who held slaves, shared in their public and private writings and speeches that they were troubled by slavery and saw the institution as a moral abomination and unjust because it violated the principles of liberty, equality, and consent. Even those who defended slavery argued on the grounds of economic necessity, historical precedent, and self-interest, as many recognized the hypocrisy and inconsistency of slavery with the principles they asserted. Those attitudes changed in mid-nineteenth century when some slaveholders articulated a different defense of slavery.

In the following documents, you will see evidence of changing attitudes toward slavery from c. 1780 to 1840 .

The documents students will examine in this activity shed light on how attitudes toward slavery changed over time. Note that the documents are all from the perspective of outsiders who never personally experienced slavery.

Expand Activities Activities

Have students read and answer questions for the remaining primary source documents. Students may complete this individually or in pairs as best fits your classroom. In this stage, the teacher should move about the classroom to confirm students are analyzing the documents correctly. This observation and questioning will serve as formative assessments for the lesson.

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

• What attitudes toward slavery are evident in Jefferson’s  Notes on the State of Virginia  and his letter to Bishop Henri Grégoire?
• What attitudes toward slavery are evident in Grimké’s “An Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States”? How do they compare with Jefferson in the previous document? What is significant or different about Grimké as a source compared with Jefferson?
• What attitudes toward slavery are evident in Walker’s  An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World?  How does this source compare with the previous two? What is significant or different about Walker as a source compared with Jefferson and Grimké?
• What attitudes toward slavery are evident in Harper’s “Slavery in Light of Social Ethics”?

Expand Wrap Up Wrap Up

Have each student write a thesis statement to the prompt: Explain how attitudes toward African slavery changed from the Founding Era (c. 1780) to the mid-nineteenth century (c. 1840). 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.

Related Resources

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Visiting Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion?

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Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History Essays

The transatlantic slave trade.

Necklace: Pendant

Figure: Seated Portuguese Male

Pipe: Rifle

Alexander Ives Bortolot Department of Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University

October 2003

From the seventeenth century on, slaves became the focus of trade between Europe and Africa. Europe’s conquest and colonization of North and South America and the Caribbean islands from the fifteenth century onward created an insatiable demand for African laborers, who were deemed more fit to work in the tropical conditions of the New World. The numbers of slaves imported across the Atlantic Ocean steadily increased, from approximately 5,000 slaves a year in the sixteenth century to over 100,000 slaves a year by the end of the eighteenth century.

Evolving political circumstances and trade alliances in Africa led to shifts in the geographic origins of slaves throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Slaves were generally the unfortunate victims of territorial expansion by imperialist African states or of raids led by predatory local strongmen, and various populations found themselves captured and sold as different regional powers came to prominence. Firearms, which were often exchanged for slaves, generally increased the level of fighting by lending military strength to previously marginal polities. A nineteenth-century tobacco pipe ( 1977.462.1 ) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Angola demonstrates the degree to which warfare, the slave trade, and elite arts were intertwined at this time. The pipe itself was the prerogative of wealthy and powerful individuals who could afford expensive imported tobacco, generally by trading slaves, while the rifle form makes clear how such slaves were acquired in the first place. Because of its deadly power, the rifle was added to the repertory of motifs drawn upon in many regional depictions of rulers and culture heroes as emblematic of power along with the leopard, elephant, and python.

The institution of slavery existed in Africa long before the arrival of Europeans and was widespread at the period of economic contact . Private land ownership was largely absent from precolonial African societies, and slaves were one of the few forms of wealth-producing property an individual could possess. Additionally, rulers often maintained corps of loyal, foreign-born slaves to guarantee their political security, and would encourage political centralization by appointing slaves from the imperial hinterlands to positions within the royal capital. Slaves were also exported across the desert to North Africa and to western Asia, Arabia, and India.

It would be impossible to argue, however, that transatlantic trade did not have a major effect upon the development and scale of slavery in Africa. As the demand for slaves increased with European colonial expansion in the New World, rising prices made the slave trade increasingly lucrative. African states eager to augment their treasuries in some instances even preyed upon their own peoples by manipulating their judicial systems, condemning individuals and their families to slavery in order to reap the rewards of their sale to European traders. Slave exports were responsible for the emergence of a number of large and powerful kingdoms that relied on a militaristic culture of constant warfare to generate the great numbers of human captives required for trade with the Europeans. The Yoruba kingdom of Oyo on the Guinea coast, founded sometime before 1500, expanded rapidly in the eighteenth century as a result of this commerce. Its formidable army, aided by advanced iron technology , captured immense numbers of slaves that were profitably sold to traders. In the nineteenth century, the aggressive pursuit of slaves through warfare and raiding led to the ascent of the kingdom of Dahomey, in what is now the Republic of Benin, and prompted the emergence of the Chokwe chiefdoms from under the shadow of their Lunda overlords in present-day Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Asante kingdom on the Gold Coast of West Africa also became a major slave exporter in the eighteenth century.

Ultimately, the international slave trade had lasting effects upon the African cultural landscape. Areas that were hit hardest by endemic warfare and slave raids suffered from general population decline, and it is believed that the shortage of men in particular may have changed the structure of many societies by thrusting women into roles previously occupied by their husbands and brothers. Additionally, some scholars have argued that images stemming from this era of constant violence and banditry have survived to the present day in the form of metaphysical fears and beliefs concerning witchcraft. In many cultures of West and Central Africa, witches are thought to kidnap solitary individuals to enslave or consume them. Finally, the increased exchange with Europeans and the fabulous wealth it brought enabled many states to cultivate sophisticated artistic traditions employing expensive and luxurious materials. From the fine silver- and goldwork of Dahomey and the Asante court to the virtuoso wood carving of the Chokwe chiefdoms, these treasures are a vivid testimony of this turbulent period in African history.

Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “The Transatlantic Slave Trade.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/slav/hd_slav.htm (October 2003)

Further Reading

Hogendorn, Jan, and Marion Johnson. The Shell Money of the Slave Trade . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1986.

Klein, Herbert S. The Atlantic Slave Trade . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Additional Essays by Alexander Ives Bortolot

• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Portraits of African Leadership: Living Rulers .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Portraits of African Leadership: Memorials .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Portraits of African Leadership: Royal Ancestors .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Trade Relations among European and African Nations .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Ways of Recording African History .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Art of the Asante Kingdom .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Asante Royal Funerary Arts .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Asante Textile Arts .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Gold in Asante Courtly Arts .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ The Bamana Ségou State .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Women Leaders in African History: Ana Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Women Leaders in African History: Dona Beatriz, Kongo Prophet .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Exchange of Art and Ideas: The Benin, Owo, and Ijebu Kingdoms .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Women Leaders in African History: Idia, First Queen Mother of Benin .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Kingdoms of Madagascar: Malagasy Funerary Arts .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Kingdoms of Madagascar: Malagasy Textile Arts .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Kingdoms of Madagascar: Maroserana and Merina .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Kingdoms of the Savanna: The Kuba Kingdom .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Kingdoms of the Savanna: The Luba and Lunda Empires .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Women Leaders in African History, 17th–19th Century .” (October 2003)
• Bortolot, Alexander Ives. “ Portraits of African Leadership .” (October 2003)

Related Essays

• The Manila Galleon Trade (1565–1815)
• Portraits of African Leadership
• Religion and Culture in North America, 1600–1700
• Trade Relations among European and African Nations
• Visual Culture of the Atlantic World
• Women Leaders in African History, 17th–19th Century
• African Christianity in Kongo
• The Age of Iron in West Africa
• American Federal-Era Period Rooms
• Art of the Asante Kingdom
• George Washington: Man, Myth, Monument
• Gold in Asante Courtly Arts
• Kingdoms of the Savanna: The Luba and Lunda Empires
• Kongo Ivories
• The New York Dutch Room
• The Portuguese in Africa, 1415–1600
• Ways of Recording African History
• Women Leaders in African History: Ana Nzinga, Queen of Ndongo

List of Rulers

• Presidents of the United States of America
• Arabian Peninsula, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Central Africa, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Central America and the Caribbean, 1400–1600 A.D.
• Eastern and Southern Africa, 1400–1600 A.D.
• Guinea Coast, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Guinea Coast, 1800–1900 A.D.
• Maya Area, 1400–1600 A.D.
• Mexico and Central America, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Mexico, 1400–1600 A.D.
• South Asia, 1600–1800 A.D.
• The United States, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Western and Central Sudan, 1600–1800 A.D.
• Western and Central Sudan, 1800–1900 A.D.
• Western North Africa (The Maghrib), 1600–1800 A.D.
• Arabian Peninsula
• The Caribbean
• Central Africa
• Central America
• Guinea Coast
• North Africa
• North America
• South America