Introduction
“Commercial Slavery” is the project by Colin Thies, who aimed at discussing the economic and political advantages and disadvantages of slavery, free from any moral implications. The goal of the article was to evaluate the economic and political situation of the African slave trade and avoid other aspects according to which people were considered as oppressed and enslaved. Even though a separate paragraph introduced the thesis, certain weaknesses were present, including the failure to describe the issues in this discussion and properly explain why moral implications were not essential.
Main text
To support the chosen thesis, the author used several primary and secondary sources. For example, credible maps and digital public library sources helped to describe the process of the slave trade in the United States from Africa, France, and Senegal. Peer-reviewed articles and a website turned out to be effective sources about the statistical and demographic aspects of slavery in America. However, the offered sources introduced a clear but general picture of the slave trade. For example, it was mentioned that the price of a 25-27-year-old male slave was between $700-800. The period when the slave trade was at its peak was also mentioned. Still, not much information was available to understand its economic benefits. Therefore, valuable arguments were important for explaining the general characteristics of slavery, but not enough for defining its political or economic pros and cons (which was the main part of the thesis).
In the article, some evidence about transport prices and taxes encouraged a better evaluation of the economic situation in the country and slavery processes. In the majority of cases, the author made conclusions independently without using the chosen articles, books, or maps. Although evidence and facts were present in the article, they poorly supported the thesis and did not explain the economic and political advantages and disadvantages of the African slave trade in the United States.
Doubtful attitudes can be developed towards the article and its thesis. On the one hand, the author successfully used the assigned prompt and introduced a clear and argumentative goal. On the other hand, it was hard for the reader to identify the steps with the help of which economic and political aspects had to be evaluated. In the article, accurate arguments were developed to describe the essence of the slave trade in the country. However, they were not enough to prove their coherence with the thesis. Slavery was proved as a significant part of the colonial life of the American population. Statistical facts were used, but they touched upon the demographic situation in the region. Overall economic profits were not discussed, and the author focused on profit margins and risks in the transporting system only. It seemed that the author of the article succeeded in discussing varying interpretations of the event and associated evidence. However, the major goal to introduce the economic and political benefits and challenges of the slave trade was not met.
Conclusion
In general, the article suggested the possibility to promote political debates about slavery, using its economic impact. The question was if the United States could achieve its growth without slavery. Still, no accurate facts about its economic and political situation were introduced. Other shortages of the project included stylistic and grammar inconsistencies (e.g., the absence of strong topic sentences or the use of tenses). It could be recommended to reconsider the thesis, introduce details, and make sure evidence supports the chosen aspect of the topic.