Free essays on slavery offer readers a thorough understanding of the slavery system that existed in the United States, its impact on African Americans, and the role of slavery in shaping American society. These essays explore various aspects of slavery, including its origins, evolution, and eventual abolition. They provide insights into the lives of slaves, their living conditions, and treatment by slaveholders. Furthermore, they delve into the social, cultural, economic, and political implications of slavery, examining how it affected African American communities and contributed to racial inequality in America. Overall, free essays on slavery provide valuable historical and sociological perspectives on one of the most significant and controversial issues in American history.
The Southern Colonies: Diversity, Agriculture, and Social Hierarchies
The Southern Colonies, a thriving and diversified territory that was founded in the 17th century along the southeast coast of North America, had a considerable impact on the formation of the early history of the United States. The Southern Colonies, which included Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, were notable for their emphasis on agriculture, different social structures, and the practice of slavery. Rich soil and a temperate climate in the Southern Colonies were perfect for growing cash…...
Slavery
Reconstructing Perspectives: The Successes and Failures of the Post-Civil War Era
There's an old saying: history is written by the victors. This notion can be applied to one of the most tumultuous periods in U.S. history: the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), following the conclusion of the Civil War. A time of drastic change and societal rebirth, the period marked an inflection point in the ongoing journey of the United States. And yet, over 150 years later, the verdict is still out: Was Reconstruction a success, a failure, or a complicated mix of…...
Slavery
Sailing Through Time: The Colorful Tapestry of the Chesapeake Colonies
Ahoy, history buffs! Let's set sail on a voyage through time, navigating the choppy waters of the Chesapeake Colonies. These colonies, nestled along the picturesque Chesapeake Bay, were nothing short of revolutionary in shaping the trajectory of what would later become the United States. From the fragrant tobacco fields of Virginia to the bustling ports of Maryland, the Chesapeake region is a tapestry woven with threads of enterprise, adversity, and cultural amalgamation. So, anchors aweigh as we dive into the…...
Slavery
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Exploring the Central Claim of “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass, a former slave and prominent abolitionist, delivered a powerful speech that challenged the national consciousness of the United States. His address, titled "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?", remains one of the most potent condemnations of American slavery. This post seeks to unpack the chief claim of Douglass's groundbreaking oration.At its core, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" seeks to expose the stark contradiction between the ideals of…...
Slavery
Dramatis Personae: Unfurling the Rich Tapestry of Characters in ‘Gone With The Wind’
The sweeping epic, 'Gone With the Wind,' penned by Margaret Mitchell, has captivated readers since its publication in 1936. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the novel boasts a complex cast of characters that bring to life the tumultuous times. Each character is a vibrant piece of the narrative puzzle, contributing to the vividly painted historical canvas that is 'Gone With The Wind.'The fiery and resilient Scarlett O'Hara stands at the novel's heart. Hailing…...
Slavery
The Issues in the African Blood Lines in the African Diaspora
The African slave trade is described as historically the cruelest treatment of any group. African were up rooted from their homes and societies to be taken to foreign lands. Throughout the African slave trade, the word diaspora is used to explain the spreading of blacks. The text explained the word by referencing to the scattering of Jews throughout the West. This term originated in other historical and cultural contexts-namely Jewish and Greek history. Even though diaspora was defined, the real…...
African DiasporaCultureSlavery
A History of Eli Whitney’s Invention of Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney was born on December 8th, 1765 in the town of Westborough, Massachusetts (Eli Whitney Biography Inventor (1765-1825)). He was educated at Yale university and went on to become creator of the Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney Biography Inventor (1765-1825)). The famous Cotton Gin was an invention that allowed a single worker the ability to separate up to 25 kg of cotton daily, an accomplishment that normally required several workers (Eli Whitney). As this invention became infamous throughout the nation,…...
Eli WhitneyHuman RightsSlavery
Americans Oppressing Americans in the Literary Works of Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was certainly an anomaly of her time. Having shown a keen intelligence when she was bought into the Wheatley family, Phillis, despite her slave status, was granted the right to an education, which fostered in her a love of writing and, especially, of poetry. Her writing, having emerged during colonial struggles for independence, defines Wheatley as a sympathizer to the American cause against British oppression. But, as a black servant within those very colonies that called for freedom,…...
ChristianityPhillis WheatleyPoetrySlavery
An Examination of Zora Hurston’s How It Feels to Be Colored Me
Perhaps one of the most profound pieces of African American short story literature is Zora Hurstons' How It Feels to Be Colored Me. In the conclusion of her short story, Hurston depicts her own life experiences through the personification of a brown bag and its contents. To detail my life through the mere contents of a paper bag is a difficult task, however. I am a Simple man among many, trying not to drown in an ocean of complexity more…...
CultureHow It Feels To Be Colored MeOppression
The Issue of Slavery in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
When Frederick Douglass wrote this story in 1845, he wrote it is as an autobiography, beginning at the time he was born into slavery towards his escape into the north to find freedom. Throughout the 1840s and the 1850s countless ex-slaves wrote narratives regarding their lives and journeys to freedom. Fredrick Douglass's Narrative stands apart because it addresses deeper philosophical issues. This narrative is an effective argument against slavery because instead of debating the legal status and politics of slavery,…...
Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassPhilosophySlavery
The Masters of Frederick Douglass in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
It's easy to see that the cruel institution of slavery is very corrupt indeed. This is shown especially through the life of Frederick Douglass, who recounts in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass the many different masters he had to deal with. Although at first glance, some of them seem to be more sympathetic and understanding, in the end Douglass is forced to acknowledge that simply being a single part in the grand scheme of slavery will induce moral…...
Human RightsNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassSlavery
The Importance of Knowledge in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
In this book, Frederick Douglass describes both his journey of slavery and significance or importance of knowledge versus ignorance. Frederick Douglass, a born slave, tells not only his life events and experiences in this book but also takes his readers into the mind of a child who is trying to understand what it means to be a slave. The response of critics was in words like "vivid" and "shocking" for the book, 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.' It…...
Human RightsNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassSlavery
The Tragedy in the Autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas
The tragic life of a slave is detailed in Fredrick Douglas' autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas: An American Slave. Douglas recounts many stories and details of his time as a slave. Early on, slavery flourished in the colonies, causing much harm and difficulties to African slaves. It is important to note that slavery was considered acceptable by many who benefitted from slave labor. The chance to become rich was more important than a human life. Slavery was,…...
Human RightsNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassSlavery
Imagery and Parallelism in Chapter 5 of Frederick Douglass’s Memoir
In Chapter 5, Frederick Douglass uses imagery and parallelism to describe the conditions he and the other children had suffered from, persuading the reader that the slaves were not treated fairly through shock. Douglass quotes that the living conditions were terrible as to when they get allowanced, it is not consistent. They were given food in a large tray on the floor, and Douglass explains that "The children were then called, like so many pigs, and like so many pigs…...
Human RightsNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassSlavery
Analysis of the Story of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
In the memoir Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass, Douglass manages to preserve his humanity as a slave through knowledge, in which he believed is a passage to freedom. When Douglass came to live in Baltimore as a child, he was introduced to the Auld family, and he especially took a liking to Ms. Auld, the wife of Hugh Auld. She was portrayed as a kind and sympathetic woman, and she also did…...
LiteratureNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick DouglassSlavery
Black Like Me Confronting Southern Racism
The novel Black Like Me is a fantastic book that tells how racism was in the South; and how a young man, named John Howard Griffin, had the bravery to change who he was to become a negro and experience how Negros live the South. John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of Black Like Me; is a middle-aged white man living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959. He was journalist and wanted to write about the racism between whites…...
Black Like MeCultureOppressionRacism
Challenges of a Black Man in Racist South in Black Like Me
John Howard Griffin is the author and main character of the Anisfield-Wolf Award win- ning book, Black Like Me. In the autobiography of his experience, Griffin, a middle-aged white man, details the deliberate transition and his challenges as a black man during a time of racial in- justice in the South. Obviously expecting to find bigotry, persecution, and destitution, Griffin is further shocked by the actual depth of racism upon experiencing the abysmal conditions and devastated communities of the black…...
Black Like MeOppressionPoliticsRacism
A Critique of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin by William Gilmore Simms
William Gilmore Simms did a review of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the Southern Literary Messenger of October 1852 in which he made three main attacks on Stowe’s novel. One, that the novel contained many literary faultst First he denoted that she used her great skill on an unworthy topic, then, he pointed out the fact that the stories of Uncle Tom and the Harris family are completely unrelated and the characters never meet or interact at all. Also, he believed…...
Human RightsSlaveryUncle Tom'S Cabin
Faith and Christianity in Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The epitome of the 19'” century; Uncle Tom‘s Cabin illuminated the inhumanity of slavery to the American public, leading it to eventually become the bestselling novel of that century. Stowe’s abolitionist ideals expressed through the novel stirred and boiled up emotions for people of the North, compelling them to support to the abolitionist cause. in fact, the novel brought such controversy and tension between the North and South, it eventually was poised as one of the sparks that ignited the…...
LoveReligionSlaveryUncle Tom'S Cabin
White Characters in Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Stowe focuses on developing genteel white characters in order to convey the actual types of people involved with slavery prior to the Civil War in America, Marie, Miss Ophelia, St.Clare and Shelby are examples of the different attitudes people held towards slavery. The characterizations advance the theme of good Christianity vs. bad Christianity because all of the characters are considered examples of bad Christianity; this is following the belief that slavery and Christianity are incompatible proper spheres of action for…...
CultureEthicsSlaveryUncle Tom'S Cabin
Child’s Preschool Education in the United States
Children Who attend preschool education are believed to enhance their social and cognitive development skills in a better way than those who do not attend to such teachings. Therefore, preschool knowledge is capable of laying a basis through which a young mind can make a positive contribution to the community and the society in future. This knowledge is believed to highly foster the social being of a person and economic growth in future prosperity. The children, beginning from birth to…...
ChildEducationPreschool EducationSlavery
Chasing the American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun
Dream in their own ways. When the play first opened in 1959 in New York, it received great praise from both Blacks and Whites alike. A Raisin in the Sun is arguably one of the first good plays to be written on how African-Americans live in an ideal society, and how they are treated, in a realistic manner. The pursue of the American Dream from the same African-Americans is also pointed out in the play. Considering how great the play…...
A Raisin In The SunCultureLiberty
Racism in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
There has been an uprising in the African-American community due to the Confederates waving the Confederate flag in African-American neighborhoods. Unlike the past, African-Americans now have gained civil rights; therefore, causing a riot and fighting theseConfederates. The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is set before the Civil War and in the Mississippi River. To elaborate on the issue, Black oppression was high, slavery existed, and Blacks had no rights. The novel could be interpreted differently…...
Mark TwainSlaveryThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
The Various Feelings Shown by Maya Angelou in the Poem Still I Rise
"I rise." This phrase is said in the 1978 poem, "Still I Rise," by the African American author, poet, historian, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou. In her poem, she expresses African Americans' growing indignant feelings about history and slavery, including her own. About 150 years ago, having slaves was allowed by the United States government. For this reason, African Americans had such a hard time. However, some countries still have slaves. According to the Walk Free Foundation, an organization…...
Maya AngelouRevengeSlavery
The Importance of Individuality in Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
What must one do when the very existence of their whole life is under scrutiny and perpetually abused? How do they overcome a situation from which they are powerless to the ruffians of their life? Responding to the unbounded brutality she faces, Maya Angelou paints a clear cut picture in "Still I Rise," one that illustrates persistence in the face of adversity, triumph in the face of loss, and tenacity in the face of injustice. Incorporating a variety of tones…...
HopeMaya AngelouOppression
Equality Fear in Huck Finn
People have always been judgemental. There was the prejudice views of jews in medieval times, as well as the preconceived notion that all Muslims are terrible people. In Huckleberry Finn, the major example of judgemental people is shown when people talk about humans who are different or do not share their views. Throughout the book, there were many examples of white folk thinking poorly about all slaves without knowing really "knowing" any. Without really knowing someone, how can someone base…...
Huckleberry FinnReasonSlavery
A Problem of the Exploitation of Religions’ Power
On religion seems perfect if you are good, just, and pledge your allegiance to a higher power you’ll be rewarded with salvation or reincarnation or better yet a family. Whether you live in an Orthodox Jewish community or you occasionally visit the YMCA there’s a comfort to be found in belonging to a family of like-minded individuals who believe what you believe. However, whether these ties that bind compensate for the war and hatred towards other sects that the institution…...
CultureExploitationJudaismReligion
The Issues of Sexual Exploitation and Prostitution
The sexual exploitation of children in America is a violation of several of the sexual rights listed by the WAS declaration of sexual rights. When a child enters the sex trade in the service of any other person, a pimp, a boyfriend, or any other adult, it is automatically a severe form of trafficking in persons. Unfortunately, these victims of trafficking are rarely treated as victims, Instead, they are treated as criminals many states have safe harbor laws that aim…...
ExploitationHuman TraffickingProstitutionSexuality
Marx’s Exploitation in Capital Volume I
In Capitol Volume I by Karl Marx, he explains the idea of labor as a commodity, which allows him to further develop the concept of ‘exploitation’ in capitalist societies, previously, we viewed exploitation simply as the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the working class, without necessarily associating it with a negative connotation. This was useful in helping to understand Marx’s theory of class and solidify the concept of exploitation in order to realize that the laborers were not receiving the…...
CapitalismExploitationPoliticsSocialism
The Factories During the 1831 to 1844 Period as Places of Exploitations
Use your own knowledge to assess how far the sources support the interpretation that factories in the period 1831 to 1844 were places of exploitation for all workers. All the sources have different interpretations of the extent of the exploitation of workers in the factories from 1831 to 1844. Source Bis is the most vocal in supporting the interpretation. describing the welcome of the leaders of factory Reform to Manchester. The interpretation is most strongly opposed by sources arguing that…...
ChildExploitationPsychologyReason
Lincoln’s Emancipation as Military Strategy
While the other three parties discussed, namely the military, Congress, and African Americans, played roles in emancipating slaves during the Civil War, it was essentially Lincoln who should receive most acknowledgements. Lincoln was a careful president, especially at first, and was at times criticized for not satisfying a citizenry that called for action. However, Lincoln's thought-out calculations produced an indubitable compromise: freedom for slaves as well as unity between the North and the South. Victory for the Union would inevitably…...
Abraham LincolnCivil WarEmancipation Proclamation
An Analysis of the Emancipation Proclamation Signed by Abraham Lincoln
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that stated that all slaves would be thenceforth and forever free (Modern-Day Slavery). The signing of this Act was a huge turning point in America. After this, abolitionists were under the impression that this was the end of slavery particularly in America, but also with the hope that it would have a rippling affect around the world. But au contraire! According to Anti-Slavery International, more than 200 million slaves live in the…...
Abraham LincolnEmancipation ProclamationSlavery
13th Amendment & Emancipation Proclamation
On September 23rd, 1862, Abraham Lincoln provided our wonderful nation with The Emancipation Proclamation. This speech declared all slaves free in those states still in rebellion against the United States on January 1st, 1863. The statement only applied to the states which, after that date, were under the military control of the Union Army. It did not apply to those slave states such as Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, some parts of Virginia, and Louisiana, that were already occupied by Northern…...
Abraham LincolnConstitutionEmancipation Proclamation
The Purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln
On January 1st, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation officially took effect but the ideals of the Proclamation had been create by President Lincoln many months before. The reason why President Lincoln first proposed the idea of the Emancipation Proclamation was because it helped to weaken the Confederacy. President Lincoln thought that if he freed the slaves in the South, then the Confederacy could no longer use them as an advantage to make the army stronger. He knew that if he freed…...
Abraham LincolnEmancipation ProclamationPolitics
The True Meaning of Having Privileges in Society
"Privilege" is something that will always be present in our world. How we decide to use these privileges determines how we will change the world. We can chose to use our privileges to benefit and help others, or they can be used negatively and create oppression. When most people think of racism, the disadvantages quickly come to mind because we are not taught the racism also puts some groups at an advantage. A key question is; what will one do…...
Cultural IdentityEthicsOppression
Bell Hooks’ Feminist Goals
The definition of 'feminism' varies from person to person, this may be due the fact that many people are not well educated about feminism, or have misinformed preconceived notions about it Dictionary.com defines feminism as, "the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men." Many people, men and women included, shy away from feminism, because they think being a feminist requires, in some degree, in sexism towards men, Feminism, however, doesn't require any…...
FeminismGender EqualityOppressionSexism
Examples of Utopian and Dystopian Society in Animal Farm by George Orwell
The world is currently a very diverse place. There are no dystopian societies on Earth as of right now. Sadly, there are no utopian societies either. Many modern examples of literature show what it would be like to live in a dystopian or utopian society. The classic book Animal Farm by George Orwell shows examples of animals living in dystopian and Utopian societies. The book starts off with the animals living in a dystopian society. The animals have no choice,…...
Animal FarmCultureDystopiaSlavery
Stalin vs Napoleon in Animal Farm
Napoleon the pig, the dictator and main antagonist in Animal Farm, and Joseph Stalin, a Russian Dictator who ruled through fear. Both dictators in their own stories, who brought their farm/country out into greatness but executed/killed/murdered many people in the process. In this Essay, I will be comparing Napoleon to Joseph Stalin; I will be comparing them in their personalities, their methods of dictatorship, and sociality. Napoleon and Stalin were both sociopathic entities who ruled their governments through fear and…...
Animal FarmCulturePoliticsSlavery
Crevecoeur’s Story of a Perfect Utopia
Crevecoeur 5 story” speaks of a perfect utopia with no flaws. He leaves out countless realities of life at the time, particularly concerning Native Americans and slaves. I do seem to find major weaknesses in his writing, and am slightly disappointed that he did not touch on some topics that I believe are of huge significance. His piece is, however, noteworthy because it conveys the feelings and spirit of the decedents of European immigrants, According to Crevecoeur, the characteristics of…...
CultureHistorySlaveryUtopia
The Remnants of Human Trafficking Still Exists Today
Human trafficking is a tragedy, which affects millions of men, women, and children. It has many diverse causes including poverty and lack of awareness and often inflicts physical and emotional pain. The problem could be dealt with through stronger regulations and cooperation between governments, nongovernmental organizations, businesses and private citizens, Slavery still exists today in the form of human trafficking, and it is likely more people are being trafficked today than at any other point in history. Human trafficking occurs…...
Human TraffickingPovertySex TraffickingViolence
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