conflict between individual rights and social responsibilities -Thesis statement help

I am having trouble coming up with a Thesis statement for an essay in American Lit. It needs to be on the problem/conflict between individual rights and social responsibilities in the early American writers.

What the entire essay question in the teacher's words?

You must have an idea about the problem of the conflict between individual rights and social responsibilities

Did the teacher not give you directions in his or her own words? I'm asking because I can't help you as much as I'd like to without knowing the entire prompt.

That was it....

Hmmm...

How about this:

Early American literature addresses the conflict between the rights of the individual and his obligation to society.

Then the remainder of the essay would discuss either different works of lit OR different consequences of this conflict OR different reasons for this conflict.

Does that help? If not, say NO.

I guess I'll check back later...