Slavery Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on slavery.

Slavery is a term that signifies the injustice that is being carried out against humans since the 1600s. Whenever this word comes up, usually people picture rich white people ruling over black people. However, that is not the only case to exist. After a profound study, historians found evidence that suggested the presence of slavery in almost every culture. It was not essentially in the form of people working in the fields, but other forms. Slavery generally happens due to the division of levels amongst humans in a society. It still exists in various parts of the world. It may not necessarily be that hard-core, nonetheless, it happens.

Slavery Essay

Impact of Slavery

Slavery is one of the main causes behind racism in most of the cultures. It did severe damage to the race relations of America where a rift was formed between the whites and blacks.

The impact of Slavery has caused irreparable damage which can be seen to date. Even after the abolishment of slavery in the 1800s in America, racial tensions remained amongst the citizens.

In other words, this made them drift apart from each other instead of coming close. Slavery also gave birth to White supremacy which made people think they are inherently superior just because of their skin color and descendant.

Talking about the other forms of slavery, human trafficking did tremendous damage. It is a social evil which operates even today, ruining hundreds and thousands of innocent lives. Slavery is the sole cause which gave birth to all this.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Aftermath

Even though slavery was abolished over 150 years ago, the scars still remain. The enslaved still haven’t forgotten the struggles of their ancestors. It lives on in their hearts which has made them defensive more than usual. They resent the people whose ancestors brought it down on their lineage.

Even today many people of color are a victim of racism in the 21st century. For instance, black people face far more severe punishments than a white man. They are ridiculed for their skin color even today. There is a desperate need to overcome slavery and all its manifestations for the condition and security of all citizens irrespective of race, religion , social, and economic position .

In short, slavery never did any good to any human being, of the majority nor minority. It further divided us as humans and put tags on one another. Times are changing and so are people’s mindsets.

One needs to be socially aware of these evils lurking in our society in different forms. We must come together as one to fight it off. Every citizen has the duty to make the world a safer place for every human being to live in.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Lesson plans

Learning About Slavery With Primary Sources

In this lesson, students will use primary sources from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to better understand the history of slavery in the United States.

sample essay on slavery

By Nicole Daniels

Find all our Lessons of the Day here.

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: “ A Brief History of Slavery That You Didn’t Learn in School ”

In August 2019, The New York Times Magazine published The 1619 Project , an ongoing initiative that aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.

In this lesson, you will read an essay that uses primary sources as a point of entry to making sense of the history of slavery in the United States. The primary sources were selected by Mary Elliott, a curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The featured article was written by both Ms. Elliott and Jazmine Hughes, a New York Times writer and editor.

Note : If you are looking for more teaching resources related to The 1619 Project, The New York Times Magazine partnered with the Pulitzer Center to create a free curriculum that includes a reading guide, extension activities and other curricular resources.

The article uses primary sources to tell the story of slavery from 1619 to 1865. To begin thinking critically about primary sources, look at the cover image for the article, which uses this broadside from the museum’s collection . As you look closely at the image, make some observations about what you notice, wonder and feel. You can share in small groups or in a larger class discussion, “I notice…,” “I wonder …” and “I feel …” Or, you can create a chart with three columns to record your observations and reactions.

Then, if you would like to further investigate the broadside from a historical lens, you can use a document analysis worksheet from the National Archives. There are two worksheet options for written documents: one for secondary students and one for younger students and English-language learners .

If you would like more background, take some time to read the two-paragraph introduction to the article, either to yourself or aloud as a class.

Why do you think Ms. Elliott and Ms. Hughes chose to start their exploration of primary sources with these words? What drew you into the text? How did their use of language and imagery affect your reading experience?

According to the authors, why was the moment in August 1619 significant? How was the arrival of “20 and odd Negroes” different from the earlier presence of people of African descent in North America?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Note to Teachers: Given the length and structure of the featured article , we have created questions for each of its three sections. Depending on how much time you are able to dedicate to this lesson, it may be most effective to have students work in small groups, with each group focusing on one section and then sharing their findings with the class.

No. 1: Slavery, Power and the Human Cost, 1455-1775

What is the connection between the Roman Catholic Church, colonialism and slavery?

How does the painting “Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam” illustrate the relationship between the slave trade and wealth and power? Use both the authors’ text and the image to explain the connection.

In what ways was race encoded into law? Use historical examples from the text to support your answer.

What acts of resistance did you find most powerful to read about? What role did memory play in the lives of enslaved people? Do you think the act of preserving memories was a form of resistance? Explain.

No. 2: The Limits of Freedom, 1776-1808

The text of this section begins with the following lines:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So begins the Declaration of Independence, the document that eventually led to the creation of the United States. But the words point to the paradox the nation was built on.

How would you describe that paradox in your own words, citing laws and beliefs from that period?

In what ways did enslaved people fight for their freedom?

What role did religion and churches have in resistance, advocacy and community?

What was the connection between westward expansion and the trans-Atlantic slave trade? How did the country respond to the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, which took effect in 1808?

No. 3: A Slave Nation Fights for Freedom, 1809-1865

Why do you think Ms. Elliott chose to feature the portraits of Rhoda Phillips and Sgt. Jacob Johns? What do their stories illustrate about emancipation and the fight for freedom?

How were enslaved women and their children central to slavery? The article states, “there was no alliance of sisterhood among slave mistresses and the black mothers and daughters they claimed as property.” Why do you think the authors chose to emphasize that point?

In the wake of slave revolts, such as Nat Turner’s rebellion, white people became more fearful of slave uprisings and resistance. What new forms of surveillance did fearful white people instill? What was the Fugitive Slave Act? How did it expand the surveillance of slaves?

What does Joseph Trammell’s method for storing his freedom papers illustrate about the nature of freedom for free black people?

Going Further

In the featured article, Ms. Elliott selected 13 artifacts from the museum’s collection to tell the story of slavery. Based on what you have read and heard presented by your classmates, what artifacts would you choose to tell the story of slavery?

Take on the role of curator and choose three artifacts from the article that you believe are key to telling the story of slavery in the United States.

If you were to summarize slavery in the United States, what would be the three most important points for someone to walk away with? Do any objects from the article correspond to those points?

What objects do you find most visually compelling in the article? Are there objects that you think relate to one another naturally or that help to weave a narrative together?

Once you have selected three artifacts, decide how to present them — for example, digitally, on paper or as a gallery exhibit. Can you enhance your narrative by arranging your artifacts in a specific way? What happens if certain artifacts are placed close to one another or far apart? What about lower or higher on a wall?

Then, write a paragraph of no more than 200 words to accompany your three images. Use the text from the article as inspiration and try to find ways to draw the reader in by making meaningful links between your selected artifacts.

If you are in classroom, take a gallery walk to see your classmates’ work. What is similar or different in your interpretations and curatorial choices?

If you have additional time, browse the museum’s digital slavery collection and choose one additional source to add to your curation. You may want to pick an image that enhances one of the artifacts you already selected. Or you may want to select something that sheds light on a different element of slavery discussed in the article.

Nicole Daniels joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2019 after working in museum education, curriculum writing and bilingual education. More about Nicole Daniels

👳🏿 Slavery Essays

Voyage 45, s rosa (1817).

Part 1 The Trans-Atlantic slave trade is associated with forced migration of over 10 million Africans to the western hemisphere. The Trans-Atlantic trade did not…

The Debate over Slavery

The 1820’s, 1830’s and 1840’s saw a movement that sought to liberate the blacks from the bondage of slavery. The Second Great Awakening was a…

The Anti-Slavery Movement in the United States: Contributions of Fredrick…

American history has been aptly narrated in not only history books but in literary works too. Looking back at different events that took place in…

Slavery and the Cotton Gin

Before the discovery of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney, the harvesting and cleaning of cotton was a slow-moving and was a labor rigorous task….

The ways American politicians dealt with the issue of slavery…

Slavery is an issue that has been a major thorn throughout American history. However, after gaining independence from the British rule, America came face to…

sample essay on slavery

American political memo

Summaries Acharya, Blackwell, & Sen (2014) reveals that because of the war, the southern whites faced both economic and political incentives to reinforce racist institutions…

Trickster Characters

This essay explores the life of trickster characters in two novels to identify the motivation behind their use of tricks. In the Life of Lazarillo…

Civil War Video Review

What are the main points of the video? The video outlines some of the main events in the American history that contributed to the rise…

How the Civil War Changed United States

The American civil war was fought between the Union (The United States) and the South(Confederacy), which comprised of states that seceded. The attack on April…

Abraham Lincoln Biography

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. Lincoln’s family background was not wealthy, and he had to work hard to climb up the ladder…

The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker

Historical evidence provides that the radicalized chattel slavery played an important role in the rise of capitalism. Several theories in support of capitalism disregard slavery…

Scott v. Sandford

Historical event The 1857 case of Dred Scott v Sandford was delivered by Roger Taney who was the then Chief Justice. According to the court’s…

Ida Lee and Uncle Tom

Ida and the Bees is a 1970s story by George Rawick while Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a novel by Harriet Beecher from mid 19th century….

Sex Films Essay

Selling the Girl Next Door The documentary explores the dark world that is the selling of underage girls for sex. It starts with the story…

Lincoln`s View on Slavery

The fight for freedom for the Negros has not been easy, especially in the New World (America). The United States had been the destination for…

The Key Elements of the Slave Community

Introduction The slave community has been a subject of study for many historians. There has been an undying interest on the need to understand the…

Could have the American Civil War been avoided?

The debate over the American Civil War continues even today, and emotions are just as charged if one knows where to look. This complex situation…

Emancipation proclamation

The Emancipation was issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The emancipation was issued after the Union Victory in the battle of Antietam. The declaration of…

From first contact to the Civil war

The first group of slaves captured from Africa arrived in America in 1619 after being captured by the Dutch. This formed the genesis of the…

Nat Turners’ rebellion

This rebellion is also known as the Southampton Insurrection.  Nat Turners’ rebellion was a slave rebellion, which took place in August 1831 in Virginia of…

What is the best site to search for quality Slavery paper samples?

The Grademiners database is the best place to look for well-written, informative slavery essay examples, as you can find many topics and insightful arguments to use in your project.

How to use Slavery essay samples to create my own paper?

You can apply our samples in a variety of ways: study their structures and arguments, pick some credible sources, or use them as your topic prompts.

Is it allowed to submit your samples as mine?

We strongly discourage students from copy-pasting any fragments of papers on slavery they find here, as all texts have been indexed by Google and will be highlighted as plagiarism in Turnitin.

How many college paper and essay samples can I access here?

We have dozens of slavery papers in our database and cover many more academic subjects and disciplines. Look through our categories to see the universal coverage of the Grademiners sample bank.

If you’re studying History or Social Sciences, sooner or later, you’ll receive an assignment to compose an essay about slavery. This was a dark page in American history that lives in the hearts and memories of all Americans, black and white, and continues troubling people in modern times. Those who find it hard to narrow the scope and find a workable topic can use our database. Grademiners will come to your rescue with well-written essay samples illustrating how top-tier writing on slavery should be done.

What Should an Essay on Slavery Contain?

So, what to include in your American slavery essay? How to cover this sensitive subject with historical objectivity and avoid judgmental statements that may offend somebody in your class? First of all, it’s imperative to understand the whole picture of slavery, racism, and the slave trade that used to dominate in the United States several centuries ago. You can touch upon the subjects of labor and violence, the absence of rights and justice for enslaved people in America, and how Civil War started because of the nation’s divide on slavery. You can also cover the biographies and contributions of famous fighters for liberation – Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Find Your Ideal Sample Slavery Essay in Our Database

However, even with adequate knowledge of history, you may find it hard to compose a well-structured and informative research paper on slavery. Use our database to overcome writer’s block and produce a brilliant piece.

Top Quality Essay Samples

You’ll never go wrong by using one of our samples’ content and ideas. All texts have been composed by qualified authors with years of writing experience. So, they follow all academic conventions and are cohesive, coherent, and logically flowing.

Topic and Structuring Prompts

Our authors have examined the topic of slavery from various angles, thus offering you an informed perspective on this historical period. Every writer employed in our company relies only on credible resources and uses peer-reviewed journals and books in research. Therefore, you can pick any topic and borrow the hand-picked references for your own writing project without the risk of losing grade points for dubious evidence or wrong research focus.

Competent Writers

Some students use our database as the portfolio of writers employed at Grademiners. It’s a wise approach that allows everyone to assess the authors’ expertise and find a competent writer meeting their quality and style criteria. You can also review several samples in our database to ensure that we treat all papers with a commitment to excellence.

We’re Ready to Craft Your Paper on Slavery

Are you stuck with essays on slavery in America and have no inspiration or resourcefulness to complete your assignment? We’re here to help you close this academic gap easily. Contact us with your task and team up with the top slavery writer in our company; you’re sure to get an A+ for a well-researched essay with insightful comments and arguments.

  • American Imperialism
  • American Revolution
  • Columbian Exchange
  • I Have a Dream
  • Jim Crow Laws
  • Manifest Destiny
  • Native American
  • Pearl Harbor

sample essay on slavery

Home / Essay Samples / History / Slavery

Slavery Essay Examples

How slavery caused the civil war.

The American Civil War, a defining moment in the nation's history, was rooted in complex political, economic, and social factors. However, at its core, the Civil War was fundamentally driven by the institution of slavery. In this essay, we will delve into the role of...

The Jim Crow Laws: a Legacy of Slavery

The Jim Crow Laws, a system of racial segregation and discrimination that prevailed in the United States from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, are inextricably linked to the history of slavery. This essay explores the historical context, development, and impact of Jim...

Frederick Douglass: Learning to Read and Write

Frederick Douglass, a prominent African-American abolitionist, vividly documented his journey from slavery to freedom in his autobiographical narrative. A significant chapter of his narrative recounts his determination to learn how to read and write despite the oppressive circumstances of slavery. This essay explores Douglass's pursuit...

Analysis of Frederick Douglass' Passages on the Impact of Slavery

Throughout Frederick Douglass rhetorical analysis essay Douglass is referring to the women at his new plantation, or his new “home”. He portrays the idea that slavery truly does have a very impactful and large effect on everyone who witnesses it or is involved with it,...

Animalistic Effect in 'Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas'

In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Fredrick Douglass argued that slave institutions dehumanize slaves as well as slave owners. Slave institutions were founded on the basis of cruelty, brutality, and getting the most labor from a human as possible....

Truth About Slavery in 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass'

In the book titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, I agree with Frederick Douglass that slavery is damaging to the slave owners. In the Narrative, Douglass says that slave owners have too much power and slaves have too little power. Douglass also says...

Frederick Douglass: Escape from Slavery

To start with this is Frederick Douglass escape from slavery essay in which we will analyse his biography using the book review. Frederick Douglass is a well known figure in African American history notable for his courage and desire to be a free man. Douglass...

Should the Electoral College Be Abolished

In 1787, the Framers devised a voting system which was, in the words of Alexander Hamilton: “If not perfect, then at least excellent”.In this system, called the Electoral College, voters vote for electors who then cast their votes in a secret ballot on the first...

Military Bearing: Why We Need to Talk About It

“No one is more professional than I,” often uttered by many non-commissioned officers and countless soldiers in basic leaders’ course alike. That phrase sets the tone of your future leadership style to come. When said appropriately, it injects confidence, purpose and engraves an impression into...

Learning How to Read and Write: Frederick Douglass' Life

This is learning to read and write Frederick Douglass summary paper in which his life story is analysed. To start with, without scholarly the slaves were not treated equal to the masters as the slave owners whom had high quality literacy.  Frederick Douglass knew education...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

  • Frederick Douglass
  • Human Trafficking
  • Child Labour
  • Jim Crow Laws
  • Sex Trafficking
  • Slave Trade
  • Abolitionism
  • History of China
  • Mesoamerica
  • Colonialism
  • Russian Empire
  • Roman Empire

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->