Question by Nathan: What’s a good thesis statement for a history essay on slavery and abolition?
First off, may I say that I don’t need any factual help on slavery and abolition; I’ve been studying up on it for months. My problem is solely with coming up with a compelling (or even usable!) thesis statement for the essay I’m writing.

I’m working on a slavery/abolition essay, which I can write no problem by the deadline at midnight — but what I really need is a thesis statement. My main problem is that It has to be in the form of an argument, but I don’t know how to argue about something as factually and morally clear-cut as the wrongness of slavery and the rightness of abolitionist thinking. Here is my instructor’s guidance:

1. Examine the institution of slavery in the United States and the abolition movement that followed it.

– Discuss the effect of slavery on society in the North and South, the slaves, and the slave-owning families

– Examine the major motives and basic arguments for the abolition movement and the outcome for slaves and women.

Under “tips,” she writes:

- Your thesis statement must be a point that is going to guide your whole paper and is an argument.

- Provide specific examples to back up your ideas. Make sure that you then explain why those specific examples back up your argument.

Can anyone sling some quick or free-form ideas on what angle I can take in presenting this information? Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Stephen K
Perhaps how the blacs were the obvious slaves, but how the owners were also slaves to an institution that brutalized them all

What do you think? Answer below!