138 Slavery Essay Topics & Examples

Slavery has been an important human rights issue throughout human history. Various forms of oppression and exploitation are continuing to exist in modern times. Despite the global efforts to get rid of slavery, it remains a significant problem in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Americas. This article contains slavery essay topics, titles, and ideas to write about, as well as A+ slavery essay examples. These materials aim to shed light on various aspects of slavery: its history, root causes and consequences, and the efforts to combat it. The topics explore the complex nature of slavery, and the way it intersects with other issues: globalization, poverty, technology, and social inequality. There is also a list of good hooks for slavery essays as a bonus.

📝 Slavery Essay Examples

1. The American Revolutionary War - US Military History
   The American Revolutionary War transpired between 1775 and 1783. During this period, there were constant conflicts between the American states and the British Crown.
2. The American Civil War Outbreak
   During the 1860s, the US faced a civil war that threatened to lead to the total collapse of the country. The civil war led to the death of more than 600,000 people.
3. Discrimination of African-Americans
   To preserve the rights of people in a democratic nation, the United States can resolve to enhance the affirmative action as a set of policies that help redress racial discrimination and prejudice.
4. Human Trafficking and Combatting Efforts
   Many analysts and scholars have indicated that human trafficking is the third-largest kind of crime in the world today.
5. Edmund Morgan: The Views of American Democracy
   One of the evidence in the American history is that freedom and slavery expanded simultaneously, which is not possible under normal conditions.
6. Abraham Lincoln: American President’s Series
   Abraham Lincoln is well known for his efforts to preserve the Union at the time of the American Civil war and emancipation of slaves.
7. The Emancipation Proclamation Effects on the Economy
   In order to understand the economic impact of the emancipation proclamation, it is necessary to examine the economic framework that was in place during the mid 1800s.
8. Human Trafficking as a Modern Day Slavery
   Human trafficking refers to the transportation, recipient as well as conscription of persons through the means of force, threat, abduction, fraud and deception.
9. Racial and Ethnic Relations in America
   In the US, in the 17th century, a series of laws made by the rulers of each colony led to the establishment of racial slavery. This gave rise to the idea of race and racial identities.
10. Short- and Long-term Causes of the Civil War
    What were the long-term causes of the Civil War? Find the answer here! This essay focuses on the long- and short-term causes of the Civil War in America and looks at its immediate effects.
11. Post-Civil War Political, Economic, Social Changes
    The greatest achievements of the Civil War were the abolishment of the slavery, as well as, giving of equal rights to all American citizens.
12. How Women Are Equated to Asians in America?
    This paper draws examples from various American histories to show how women are equated to Asians in America. Examples will be cited with respect to time, region, and representation.
13. Ending Human Trafficking: Challenges and Solutions
    The culture of slavery began long ago. Women, men, and children were forcefully transported to different parts of the world to operate as laborers, warriors, or sex slaves.
14. Civil War History: "A Year in the South" by Ash
    In "A Year in the South," Ash provides an intriguing insight into the lives of four ordinary individuals who had to adjust to a new reality after the Civil War was over.
15. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
    Harriet Jacobs portrays that a slave black women cane be virtuous because of her inner strength and strict religious beliefs she follows all her life.
16. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain: Injustice of Slavery and Racism
    Twain depicts the gross injustice of slavery and racism by portraying the relationship between a young white boy and a black slave.
17. The Enslaved Blacks and Free Blacks During the American Civil War
    This paper intends to analyze the life of the enslaved blacks and compares it with those who lived as free blacks, see how different or similar was life in the different lives.
18. States’ Rights as the Main Cause of the Civil War
    Although slavery played an important role in leading up to the Civil War, the most disputable issue at the time stated' rights, which was the core reason why the war was initiated.
19. Racism in Huckleberry Finn Essay
    This paper analyzes the theme of racism in Huckelberry Finn. It provides the novel’s summary and critical analysis. Get inspired to write your own racism in Huckleberry Finn essay by reading this sample.
20. E. Knight's and Y. Komunyakaa's Poems Comparison
    The writing presents a description of Poems “Hard Rock” by Ethridge Knight and “Tu Do Street” by Yusef Komunyakaa and compares their main themes.
21. Developing Better Indicators of Human Trafficking
    Human trafficking has become an impending problem for the United States and the European countries and has emerged as a major concern for both the government and the non-government organizations.
22. Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller Summary & Themes
    This essay contains a summary and analysis of Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller. It focuses on sexual abuse as a one of the key themes in Keller’s Comfort Woman.
23. African Americans' Impact in the Civil War
    The basic foundation of African American involvement in the American civil war had begun 100 years prior to the civil war.
24. Social Inequality and Minorities in the United States
    The nation that is today referred to as the United States of America has a varied population made up of different groups and individuals.
25. Triangular Slave Trade
    The expanding European Empire had a shortage of labor force and this compelled them to look for alternatives outside their continent and this included capturing of slaves in Africa for them to improve their labor force.
26. Struggle of African Americans in America
    The history of African-Americans in America makes them aliens in the American continent. History says that the ancestors of African Americans were the slaves, who were enslaved from Africa.
27. African American Studies Analysis
    Origins of Black Capitalism can be observed in the lives of "Free Negroes" throughout periods of the American Enslavement.
28. Position of Free Blacks and Slaves Compared
    The current paper focuses on these aspects and explores the differences and similarities between the free blacks and the slaves.
29. Slavery in the United States
    The most convincing evidence to the fact that African Americans ended slavery in the United States is that they themselves stood up for their freedom and social equality.
30. Slavery Was Not the Cause of the Civil War
    It is evident that slavery and its abolition were the main causes of the war and thus the abolition of slavery catalysed the eruption of the war.

👍 Good Slavery Essay Topics to Write About

1. History of Slavery in the United States of America 1619
   The first step on the road of slavery took place by the arrival of 20 Africans to Jamestown in 1619 ("Timeline"). They were transported by a Dutch ship all the way from Africa.
2. American History: The Compromise of 1850
   The late 1840’s were difficult times in American history given the civil war. The 1850 Compromise was therefore the only remedy according to Senator Henry Clay.
3. Factors that Led to the Civil War in America
   Between 1861 and 1865 a civil war was experienced between the north and the south states. More than 620000 casualties were received as a result of that war.
4. Differences in Women Based on Race
   Up to the end of the twentieth century the role of women in any society was insignificant and women’s rights were often violated.
5. How Slavery Has Shaped the Lives of African Americans
   Slavery had cultural, political, social as well as economic effects on the lives of Africans. Those effects have consequently shaped the lives of African Americans up-to-date.
6. Did Abraham Lincoln Free the Slaves?
   During the American Civil War, the country experienced considerable events and changes. The U.S. saw the abolition of slaves and the governance of the president Abraham Lincoln.
7. American Society in the Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
   Mark Twain’s "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" depicts American society in the middle of the nineteenth century, showing its low and middle class, and the problem of slavery.
8. Abraham Lincoln's Legacy for the United States
   In discussing the true legacy of Abraham Lincoln, I believe that there should be no debate – as a cultural symbol in the American consciousness.
9. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
   Frederick Douglass is one of the slaves who managed to escape the oppression of slavery. In his narrative, he narrates his experience from childhood to adulthood.
10. Lincoln's Efforts to Emancipation of Slaves
    In the spring of 1862, Lincoln recommended that the US government should work with any state plan to eventually emancipate slaves and look for ways to compensate slave owners.
11. Why Slave Trade Defined Transatlantic Commerce
    The Atlantic slave trade has a history in global development and societies. The colonial territories scrambled for colonies to capture labor and supply their goods.
12. Slavery, Three Fifths Compromise and U.S. Constitution
    In the history of the U.S, the institution of slavery has always been addressed to Africans who had fallen victim to the slave trade.
13. Abraham Lincoln and the Abolition of Slavery
    Lincoln's effort to forbid the growth of slavery was for the advantage of the high-class whites and was not a primary stride in the direction of Negro freedom and release.
14. Abraham Lincoln as a Genuine Abolitionist
    Abraham Lincoln is considered a great emancipator who abolished slavery and gave freedom to the black population.
15. George Washington: Life, Presidency, Challenges as a Commander
    George Washington was one of the greatest leaders in America. He was the commander in the American army, before becoming the president of America.
16. American History: The Civil War and Reconstruction
    The paper states that President Lincoln’s main message, delivered in his first inaugural address, was that the Union would not be divided.
17. "Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" by Frederick Douglass
    In this book he reveals the story of his life which he started as a slave and finished as orator, politician, journalist, and one of the greatest fighters for the slavery abolition
18. The Motives of Individual Soldiers Who Fought in the Civil War
    The paper compares McPherson's conclusions in the book "For Cause and Comrades" with an analysis of primary documents from the period.
19. Discrimination Based on Race in the United States
    While the end of slavery and the Jim Crow era, and the election of Barack Obama, led some optimists to believe that racism had ended in the United States, it is far from reality.
20. Did Soldiers Fight the Civil War Over Slavery?
    When the United States was experiencing tremendous economic growth, both the North and the South pursued different economic agendas.
21. U.S. History: Manifest Destiny Timeline
    This paper discusses Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, Missouri Compromise, Monroe Doctrine, Jacksonian Democracy, War in Mexico in 1846-1848, and Seneca Falls Convention in 1848-1848.
22. The Economics of the Civil War
    The paper pursues a twofold goal: the economic costs of the Civil War and the mechanism through which the war impacted the American economy.
23. Why Life and Times of Douglass Frederick Is Important
    Life and Times of Douglass Frederick is vital because the book offers something to connect with and gives ideas on living in the past and slavery.
24. Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator
    This paper will seek to investigate the role of Abraham Lincoln as "The Great Emancipator" and determine whether his legacy matches that of historical reality.
25. The Evolution of Partisan Politics and the American Civil War
    The key issues that contributed to the Civil War were slavery, states' rights, and Western expansion. The economy in the South depended on agriculture.
26. Lincoln’s Views on Violence in Fight Against Slavery
    The paper states that despite their shared goal of abolishing slavery in the mid-19th century, John Brown and Abraham Lincoln had different approaches.

💡 Slavery Titles for Essay

1. Slavery and Colonial Rule During Colonialism
2. Slavery and Economic Policies as Causes for the Civil War
3. Pre-Slavery and Post-Slavery America and Religion
4. Abolition of Slavery and the United States of America
5. Race Relations, Slavery, and the U.S. Civil War
6. Racial Equality and the Abolition of Slavery in France
7. Slavery and Indentured Servants of British North America
8. Sectional Challenges and Congressional Challenges to Slavery
9. George Washington and Slavery of the Allegheny River Valley
10. Counseling Sexually Trafficked and Exploited Survivors
    Human trafficking affects millions of people throughout the world. Hundreds of thousands of people are victims of human trafficking in the United States.
11. Colonial Cuban Sugar Production: Impacts on Slavery and World Relations
12. Frederick Douglas and the Effects of Slavery on Society
13. Prison for Profit: Modern-Day Slavery
14. Racial Issues and Slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
15. Frederick Douglass and His Movement Against Slavery
16. Abraham Lincoln’s Opinion and Action on Slavery
17. Religious Slavery and Freedom of Personality in the Brothers Karamazov
18. President Abraham Lincoln and His Great Effect on Slavery
19. Human Trafficking and 19th-Century American Slavery
20. The Christian Principle and Views Against Slavery
21. Reasons, Causes, and Details of Plantation Slavery
22. Black Families During Slavery and the Role of Black Women

👨🏿‍🌾 Slavery Research Paper Topics

1. Abraham Lincoln and Slavery During the Civil War
2. Legitimating Conquest and Slavery in the New World
3. Mr. President and the Slavery of Our Children
4. American Slavery and Its Impact on American History
5. Holy Warriors: The Abolitionists and American Slavery
6. Abraham Lincoln’s Political and Moral Slavery Dilemma
7. Black Slavery Among the Cherokee Indians
8. Relationship Between Black Slavery and White Freedom
9. Colonialism and Slavery During the Times of Slavery
10. Abolitionists and Their Plea to End Slavery
11. The Cause and Effect of Slavery in the United States
12. Libertarianism, Slavery, and Just Taxation
13. Slavery and Emancipation: Identifying Republican and Liberal Discourses
14. George Washington’s Feelings About Slavery
15. Slavery and Political Systems of the Romans
16. George Washington: Slavery and the Hypocrisy of the War for Liberty
17. Relationship Between Christianity and Slavery in America
18. Cotton Gin and Perpetuation of Slavery in the U.S.
19. Abraham Lincoln Slavery Congress President

❓Slavery Research Questions

1. How Conspiracy Theorists Are Disrupting Efforts to Child Sex Slavery?
2. How Has Slavery Impacted the Culture of My Family?
3. What Was the Oppression of Slavery in the 19th Century?
4. What Was Slavery Like and How Is It Today?
5. What Does Voluntary Child Labor Constitute Slavery?
6. Was Slavery the Main Cause of the Civil War?
7. What Were the Differences Between Indentured Servitude and Slavery?
8. Did Slavery Create More Benefits or Problems for the Nation?
9. How Did Music Enhance the Experience of Slavery?
10. What Created the Differences Between the North and South With Respect to Slavery?
11. How Did American Slavery Begin?
12. What Historians Can Learn From Slavery?
13. How Did Race Translate Into Political Power During Slavery?
14. How Were African Americans Treated During the Slavery Period?
15. What Degree Did Slavery Really Play in the Civil War?
16. Did Slavery Destroy the Black Family?
17. How Did African American Slavery Help Shape America?
18. What Impact Did Slavery Have On 19th Century America?
19. Did Racism Precede Slavery?
20. How Slavery Was Abolished in Law but Not in Practice?
21. How Slavery Impacted the Development of the United States?
22. Has Slavery Changed Since Ancient Times?
23. How Did Slavery Affect the Spirit of the Enslaved the Enslavers?
24. Was the Civil War Fought Over Slavery?
25. Was Slavery Reason for Civil War?
26. How Did Colonization Along the Atlantic Contribute to Slavery?
27. How Slavery Improves the Condition of Women?
28. What Are the Characteristics of Slavery in the New York?
29. Have Historians Over-Emphasised the Slavery Issue as a Cause of the Civil War?
30. How Did African American Women Deal With and Survive Slavery?
31. Did Thomas Jefferson Want to End Slavery?

⛓️ Modern Slavery Essay Topics

1. The role of globalization in the proliferation of modern slavery.
2. The impact of technology on modern slavery and human trafficking.
3. The relationship between poverty and modern slavery.
4. The role of government and law enforcement in combating modern slavery.
5. The impact of consumer demand on modern slavery and supply chains.
6. The use of social media and the internet in modern slavery and human trafficking.
7. The role of international organizations in addressing modern slavery.
8. The intersectionality of modern slavery with other forms of oppression, such as racism and sexism.
9. The impact of colonialism and imperialism on modern slavery.
10. The role of education in preventing and combating modern slavery.

🪝 Good Hooks for Slavery Essays

It is a good idea to start your essay on slavery with a catchy phrase, famous quote, or a stat. Find some good hooks for slavery essays below.

• Slavery was not just a system of labor; it was a tool of oppression that dehumanized an entire race of people.
• The legacy of slavery still affects us today, as seen in the ongoing struggles for racial justice and equality.
• Slavery was a barbaric practice that stripped enslaved people of their basic human rights and dignity.
• The economic benefits of slavery for the wealthy slave-owners came at the expense of the physical and emotional suffering of the enslaved.
• “The only way to deal with fear is to face it head on.” – Frederick Douglass
• “Slavery is theft – theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any property or produce, theft even of one’s own offspring.” – James Baldwin
• The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of modern slavery worldwide.
• The majority of modern slavery victims are in the Asia-Pacific region (29.8 million), followed by Africa (7.6 million) and the Americas (1.4 million).