Important themes in American history

This term I have learned a lot on American history, from signing the Declaration of Independence to the beginning of the Civil War. I've seen how the American culture has changed in over 250 years. I think a highly important theme in the American history was slavery. I learned about how it was a major role in the south, and that slavery used to be thought of as as way of life. It was the way things had to be in order to thrive with an agricultural society. This is why it was defended so avidly by the confederate states. I learned that it was tied in with the wealth of the south. It was at such large amounts of influence that the southern states would be almost worthless without slavery. Without it the south's economy and wealth would fall drastically. Even with the fact that only one percent of whites owned large amounts of slaves. I also learned that they were transported across the Atlantic in the most obscene ways just so that more money could be made. Slaves had no rights and no say in anything that effected the way they lived. Not only were slaves used to toil in the fields, but the were also used to gain influence in politics. Thanks to the two-thirds compromise the south gained thousands more votes to be used in the election against the more populated northern states. In the end, I think that the most important theme was slavery and the impact it had on our culture.