american history essay example

History Essay Examples

Top History Essay Examples To Get Inspired By

Published on: May 4, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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History essays are a crucial component of many academic programs, helping students to develop their critical thinking, research, and writing skills. 

However, writing a great history essay is not always easy, especially when you are struggling to find the right approach. This is where history essay examples come in handy. 

By reading and examining samples of successful history essays, you can gain inspiration, learn new ways to approach your topic. Moreover, you can develop a better understanding of what makes a great history essay.

In this blog, you will find a range of history essay examples that showcase the best practices in history essay writing. 

Read on to find useful examples.

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Sample History Essays

Explore our collection of excellent history paper examples about various topics. Download the pdf examples for free and read to get inspiration for your own essay.

History Essay Samples for Middle School

The Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Society

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

The Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution

History Writing Samples for High School Students

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society

Grade 10 History Essay Example: World War 1 Causes and Effects

Grade 12 History Essay Example: The Impact of Technology on World War II

Ancient History Essay Examples

The Societal and Political Structures of the Maya Civilization

The Role of Phoenicians in the Development of Ancient Mediterranean World

The Contributions of the Indus Civilization

Medieval History Essay Examples

The Crusades Motivations and Consequences

The Beginning of Islamic Golden Age

The Black Death

Modern History Essay Examples

The Suez Crisis and the End of British Dominance

The Rise of China as an Economic Powerhouse

World History Essay Examples

The Role of the Silk Road in Shaping Global Trade and Culture

The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire

The Legacy of Ancient Greek Philosophy and Thought

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American History Essay Examples

The Civil Rights Movement and its Impact on American Society

The American Civil War and its Aftermath

The Role of Women in American Society Throughout History

African History Essay Examples

The Impact of Colonialism on African Societies

The Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire

European History Essay Examples

The Protestant Reformation and the Rise of Protestantism in Europe

The French Revolution and its Impact on European Politics and Society

The Cold War and the Division of Europe

Argumentative History Essay Examples

Was the US Civil War Primarily About Slavery or States

The Effects of British Colonization on Colonies

Art History Essay Examples 

The Influence of Greek and Roman Art on Neoclassicism

The Depiction of Women in Art Throughout History

The Role of Art in the Propaganda of Fascist Regimes

How to Use History Essay Examples

History essay examples are a valuable tool for students looking for inspiration and guidance on how to approach their own essays. 

By analyzing successful essays, you can learn effective writing techniques that can be expected in a high-quality history essay. 

Here are some tips that will help you take full advantage of the samples above.

Tips for Effectively Using History Essay Examples

• Analyze the Structure:

Pay close attention to how the essay is organized, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Look for how the author transitions between paragraphs and the use of evidence to support their argument.

• Study the Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement is the backbone of any successful history essay. Analyze how the author crafted their thesis statement, and consider how you can apply this to your own writing.

• Take Note of the Evidence: 

Effective history essays rely on using strong evidence to support their arguments. Take note of the sources and types of evidence used in the essay. Consider how you can apply similar evidence to support your own arguments.

• Pay Attention to the Formatting and Other Academic Formalities:

The sample essays also demonstrate how you can incorporate academic formalities and standards while keeping the essay engaging. See how these essays fulfill academic standards and try to follow them in your own writing.

• Practice Writing:

While analyzing history essay examples can be helpful, it is important to also practice writing your own essays. Use the examples as inspiration, but try to craft your own unique approach to your topic. 

History essays are an essential aspect of learning and understanding the past. By using history essay examples, students can gain inspiration on how to develop their history essays effectively. 

Furthermore, following the tips outlined in this blog, students can effectively analyze these essay samples and learn from them. 

However, writing a history essay can still be challenging. 

Looking for an online essay writing service that specializes in history essays? Look no further!

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543 American History Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Exploring the multifaceted nature of American history provides a wide range of thought-provoking essay topics. Basically, there are many subjects that can be analyzed, studying the country’s indigenous origins, its struggle for independence, its participation in world wars, the civil rights movement, technological advancements, ongoing sociopolitical discourse, and others. In the United States (US), some themes can focus on significant events, like the Revolutionary War or the Space Race, important figures, such as Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, or Martin Luther King Jr., or major periods, including the Great Depression or the Cold War era. The examination of how historical influences have shaped current American society, issues of racial and gender equality, immigration policy, and foreign affairs, offers rich perspectives. Thus, American history essay topics cover a deep understanding of the evolution of the nation built on diverse ethnicities and ideologies.

Cool American History Essay Topics

• Examination of Manifest Destiny’s Influence on Territorial Expansion
• Colonial Era’s Impact on Modern American Democracy
• Evaluating the Emancipation Proclamation’s Consequences
• Prohibition Era: Analysis of Society and Law
• Understanding the Trail of Tears: Native American Displacement
• Civil War’s Effects on American Industrialization
• Abolition Movement’s Roles in Shaping American Values
• Vietnam War: Implications for Foreign Policy
• Exploring Women’s Suffrage Movement: A Milestone in Gender Equality
• Apollo Program’s Influence on Science and Technology
• Examining the Harlem Renaissance’s Impact on African American Culture
• McCarthyism’s Consequences on Freedom of Expression
• Revolutionary War: Analysis of the Birth of a Nation
• Influence of Immigration on the Cultural Landscape of America
• Civil Rights Movement’s Impact on Legislation and Society
• Japanese Internment during World War II: An Examination
• Investigation of the Cuban Missile Crisis’ Effect on Cold War Tensions
• Roles of Transcontinental Railroad in Westward Expansion
• Impacts of the Great Awakening on American Religious Practices
• Watergate Scandal: A Study in Political Ethics
• Exploration of the Roaring Twenties’ Societal Shifts
• Revolutionary Figures: Contributions of the Founding Fathers

Easy American History Research Topics

• American Exceptionalism: Origins and Influence on Global Policy
• Analysis of the Louisiana Purchase’s Impact on Expansion
• Jazz Age: Implications for American Music and Culture
• Evaluating the Space Race: National Pride and Technological Advancement
• Consequences of the Teapot Dome Scandal in the Roaring Twenties
• Federalist Papers: Shaping American Governance
• Westward Expansion: Effect on Native American Communities
• Impacts of the Dred Scott Decision on Slavery Debates
• Cold War: Ramifications for American Society
• Influence of Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ on Revolutionary Sentiment
• Exploration of American Neutrality in World War I
• Bay of Pigs Invasion: An Examination of Failed Foreign Policy
• The Dust Bowl: Environmental Impact and Migration
• Roles of Television in the Nixon-Kennedy Debates
• The Stonewall Riots: Catalyst for the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement
• Populist Movement: Impact on American Politics
• Influence of the Gold Rush on California’s Development
• Ratification of the Bill of Rights: Impact on Citizen Liberties
• Rise of Labor Unions: Influencing Workers’ Rights
• Civil War Reconstruction: Successes and Failures
• The Zenger Trial: A Landmark for Freedom of the Press

Interesting US History Topics

• Exploration of the Battle of Gettysburg’s Significance in the Civil War
• Implications of the Monroe Doctrine on American Foreign Policy
• Marbury vs. Madison: Analysis of Judicial Review
• Unraveling the Causes and Consequences of the Iran-Contra Affair
• The American Red Scare: Effects on Society and Politics
• Causes and Implications of the 1929 Wall Street Crash
• Underground Railroad: Role in Abolitionist Movement
• Analysis of the Three-Fifths Compromise’s Impact on Representation
• Significance of the Missouri Compromise in Slavery Debates
• The Pentagon Papers: A Study in Government Transparency
• Roles of Susan B. Anthony in the Women’s Suffrage Movement
• Influence of the Scopes Trial on the Teaching of Evolution
• Understanding the Impact of the GI Bill on Post-War America
• Tracing the Development of American Modernism in the 20th Century
• Federal Indian Policy: An Examination of Treaties and Legislation
• Impacts of the Homestead Act on Westward Expansion
• Analysis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s Contribution to Scientific Discovery
• Analysis of the Pentagon Papers’ Effect on Public Trust
• Exploration of the Boston Tea Party’s Impact on Revolutionary Sentiment
• Vietnam War Protest Movement: Influence on Public Policy
• Mexican-American War: Causes and Consequences
• Repercussions of the Atomic Bomb on Global Politics
• The Gilded Age: Scrutinizing Wealth and Inequality

US History Topics for High School

• Impacts of the Gold Rush on California’s Development
• Significance of the Monroe Doctrine in US Foreign Policy
• Manifest Destiny and Expansion of the American West
• Examination of The Great Depression’s Socioeconomic Effects
• Role of Women in the American Revolution
• Native American Resistance: Case Study of the Sioux Nation
• Influence of Jazz Music on the Harlem Renaissance
• Abolitionism’s Effect on Pre-Civil War Politics
• Reconstruction Era: Assessing its Success and Failures
• Impact of Immigration Waves on American Culture and Economy
• Evolution of US Foreign Policy During the Cold War
• Transformation of American Society During the Roaring Twenties
• Examination of The Civil Rights Movement’s Major Milestones
• Roles of Labor Unions in the Industrial Revolution
• Influence of The Second Amendment on Gun Control Debates
• Native American Assimilation Policy: The Carlisle Indian School
• Cuban Missile Crisis: A Pivotal Moment in Cold War History
• Women’s Suffrage Movement and the 19th Amendment
• Exploration of the Gilded Age’s Economic Disparities
• Significance of the Federalist Papers in Constitutional Interpretation
• Analysis of the Patriot Act’s Impact on Civil Liberties
• Effects of the Vietnam War on Domestic Social Movements
• Roles of New Deal Programs in America’s Economic Recovery

US History Topics for College Students

• Exploration and Impact of the Louisiana Purchase
• Evolution of the American Civil Rights Movement
• Native American Resistance to European Colonization
• Establishment and Influence of the Federal Reserve System
• Impacts of Industrialization on American Society
• Consequences of Prohibition: The 18th and 21st Amendments
• Influential Innovations During the Second Industrial Revolution
• Manifest Destiny and Its Sociopolitical Implications
• African-American Soldiers in the American Civil War
• Formation and Legacy of the Hudson Bay Company
• Roles of Religion in the Founding of American Colonies
• American Policy and the Vietnam War: An Analysis
• Development of the Transcontinental Railroad
• Expansion of American Pop Culture During the Cold War
• Key Legal Cases in the Fight for Desegregation
• LGBTQ+ Rights: The Stonewall Riots and Beyond
• Role of the American Media During the Gulf War
• Technological Advances and the American Space Race
• Examination of the US Immigration Policies Throughout History
• Rise of American Suburbia in the Post-WWII Era
• Development of the American Healthcare System: Legislation and Impact

US History Topics for University

• Watergate Scandal and Its Influence on American Politics
• Native American Civil Rights Movement in the 20th Century
• Cuban Missile Crisis: Cold War Diplomacy and Consequences
• Influence of the American Labor Movement on Working Conditions
• Mexican-American War: Causes, Progress, and Consequences
• Women’s Suffrage: From Seneca Falls to the 19th Amendment
• Role of American Inventors in the Age of Enlightenment
• Effects of the US Interstate Highway System on American Society
• Examination of the US Intervention in Latin America
• Impacts of the Baby Boomer Generation on American Culture
• California Gold Rush and its Influence on Westward Expansion
• Abolition Movement: Influential Figures and Strategies
• Development and Impact of the US Postal Service
• Key Economic Policies of the Roosevelt Administration
• Influence of the Harlem Renaissance on American Literature
• Technological Shifts and the Digital Age in America
• Evolution of Gun Control Legislation in the United States
• Exploration of the Oregon Trail: Migration and Hardship
• Rise and Fall of the American Temperance Movement
• Impacts of the GI Bill on Post-War American Society
• American Imperialism: From the Philippines to Puerto Rico
• Cultural Significance of the American Beat Generation
• Causes and Outcomes of the American Housing Bubble in 2008

American History Essay Topics on Revolution Battles and Key Events

• The Battle of Saratoga and Its Influence on the American Revolution
• African Americans’ Roles in Revolutionary War
• Impacts of the Battle of Yorktown on American Independence
• Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” and Its Revolutionary Ideals
• Women’s Contributions to the American Revolution
• The Battle of Trenton: Pivotal Point in Revolutionary War
• Boston Massacre: Instigator of Colonial Dissent
• French Alliance: A Game-Changer in American Victory
• Constitutional Convention: Shaping the American Government
• The Battle of Bunker Hill: Boosting Revolutionary Morale
• Declaration of Independence: Foundation of American Nationhood
• Lexington and Concord: Sparking the Revolutionary War
• Native Americans’ Impacts on the American Revolution
• Treaty of Paris (1783): Securing American Independence
• Battle of Cowpens: Key Turning Point in Southern Campaign
• George Washington’s Influence on Revolutionary Leadership
• Valley Forge: Endurance and Transformation During the Revolution
• Guilford Courthouse: Decisive Battle in the Southern Campaign
• Stamp Act Crisis: Prelude to Revolutionary Resistance
• Militia’s Roles in the Revolutionary War

American Essay History Topics Before 1865

• Founding Fathers’ Vision for a Democratic Republic
• Revolutionary War: Catalyst for American Independence
• Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement
• Louisiana Purchase: Expanding National Borders
• Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
• Underground Railroad: Resistance against Slavery
• Boston Tea Party: Igniting the American Revolution
• Emancipation Proclamation: Eliminating Slavery in the Confederacy
• Declaration of Independence: Establishing American Nationhood
• Constitutional Convention: Framing the US Constitution
• Dred Scott Case: Impact on African Americans’ Rights
• Lewis and Clark Expedition: Exploring the Western Frontier
• Industrialization: Transforming American Society
• Battle of Yorktown: British Surrender and American Victory
• Women’s Suffrage Movement: Achieving Voting Rights for Women
• Mexican-American War: Annexing Texas and Western Territories
• Great Awakening: Religious Revival in Colonial America
• Missouri Compromise: Balancing Free and Slave States
• Marbury vs. Madison: Establishing Judicial Review
• War of 1812: Forging American National Identity

US Research Paper Topics on Black History

• Struggles and Triumphs: The Impact of the Underground Railroad on Black History
• The Legacy of Harriet Tubman: A Trailblazer for Freedom and Equality
• Examining the Abolitionist Movement: From Slavery to Liberation
• African American Soldiers in the Civil War: Their Role and Contribution
• Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Igniting Change for Civil Rights
• Martin Luther King Jr.: A Visionary Leader for Equality
• The Black Panthers: Revolutionizing Racial Empowerment
• Celebrating Black Culture and Artistic Expression: The Harlem Renaissance
• Pioneers of African American Military Aviation: The Tuskegee Airmen
• Desegregation in Schools: Brown vs. Board of Education’s Impact
• The March on Washington: A Milestone for Civil Rights Advancement
• Malcolm X: A Voice for Black Nationalism and Self-Determination
• Rebuilding After the Civil War: The Era of Reconstruction
• Breaking Down Legal Barriers: The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Great Migration: Black Americans’ Journey Northward
• Integration of New Orleans Schools: Ruby Bridges’ Courageous Stand
• Tragedy and Resilience in Tulsa: The Black Wall Street Massacre
• The Vital Role of Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement
• Redefining Black Identity and Empowerment: The Black Power Movement
• Frederick Douglass: From Escaping Slavery to Becoming a Leader

US History Essay Topics on Civil Rights Movement Topics Beyond the 20th Century

• Women’s Roles in the Civil Rights Struggle Beyond the 20th Century
• LGBTQ+ Activism’s Impacts on Contemporary Civil Rights
• Addressing Police Brutality in the Fight for Civil Rights Today
• Progress and Challenges of the Voting Rights Act in Post-Civil Rights America
• Intersections of Race and Immigration in the Struggle for Equal Rights
• Environmental Justice: Linking It to the Civil Rights Movement Today
• Reparations Debate: Remedying Historical Injustices for Civil Rights
• Disability Rights Movement: Achievements and Ongoing Struggles
• Indigenous Rights Movements: Continuing the Fight for Civil Liberties
• The Battle for Educational Equality in the Post-Civil Rights Era
• Affirmative Action: Equalizing Opportunities or Reverse Discrimination?
• Asian American Civil Rights Activism in the 21st Century
• Criminal Justice System and Civil Rights: Reforming for Equality
• Reproductive Rights as Fundamental Civil Liberties: Progress and Challenges
• Native American Tribal Sovereignty: Preserving Civil Rights in Modern America
• Nonviolent Resistance: A Powerful Tool in Modern Civil Rights Movements
• Addressing Racial Disparities: Civil Rights and the Mass Incarceration Crisis
• Immigrant Rights Movements: Upholding Civil Liberties in America
• Islamophobia and Civil Rights: Combating Discrimination in the 21st Century
• LGBTQ+ Rights: Fighting for Equality and Marriage Freedom
• Balancing Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety: The Gun Control Debate

American History Essay Topics on Cold War and McCarthyism

• Impacts of the Korean Conflict on Cold War Politics
• Red Scare and the Hollywood Blacklist
• Space Race and Significance in Cold War Dynamics
• Eisenhower’s “New Look” Policy and Nuclear Arms Race
• Berlin Crisis and Construction of the Wall
• McCarthyism and Suppression of Civil Liberties
• Bay of Pigs Invasion: Failed US Intervention in Cuba
• Vietnam Conflict as Proxy War in Cold Era
• Marshall Plan and American Economic Aid in Cold War
• Suez Crisis: Cold War Politics in the Middle East
• U-2 Spy Plane Incident and Escalating Tensions
• Hungarian Revolution and Soviet Repression
• Cultural Impacts of the Beat Generation During the Cold War
• Arms Control Negotiations: SALT and START Treaties
• Domino Theory and US Involvement in Southeast Asia
• CIA’s Roles in Covert Operations During Cold Conflict
• Influence of Korean Conflict on US Military Strategy
• Space Exploration: Cold War Competition for Technological Superiority
• Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: A Step Toward Détente
• Brinkmanship Strategy and Cuban Missile Crisis

American History Topics on Civil Rights Movement

• The Impact of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
• The Influence of Brown vs. Board of Education on Desegregation
• The March on Washington: Pursuing Equality
• Nonviolent Resistance: Catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement
• The Voting Rights Act: Expanding Ballot Access
• Freedom Riders: Challenging Segregation in Transportation
• Sit-In Movement: Breaking the Chains of Racial Segregation
• Birmingham Campaign: A Turning Point in the Struggle for Civil Rights
• Formation and Significance of the Black Panther Party
• Assassination of Malcolm X: Impact on the Civil Rights Movement
• Selma to Montgomery March: Milestone for Voting Rights
• Mississippi Freedom Summer: Empowering African American Voters
• Women’s Contributions to the Civil Rights Movement
• Black Power Movement: Revolutionizing Activism
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Banning Discrimination
• Integration of Little Rock Central High School: Breaking Barriers
• Chicago Freedom Movement: Urban Segregation and Activism
• Medgar Evers’ Assassination: Tragic Loss for the Civil Rights Movement
• Fair Housing Act of 1968: Combating Housing Discrimination
• Albany Movement: Lessons From an Unsuccessful Campaign
• Impacts of the 24th Amendment: Eliminating Poll Taxes

US History Essay Topics on Immigration & Ethnic

• The Impact of Irish Immigration on American Society
• Chinese Exclusion Act: Origins and Ramifications
• Mexican Migration and the Bracero Program
• Italian Americans: Assimilation and Cultural Heritage
• The Great Migration: African American Movement to the North
• Japanese Internment: World War II Consequences
• Ellis Island: Gateway to the American Dream
• The Harlem Renaissance: Cultural Expression and Immigrants
• Irish Americans: Famine, Resilience, and Success
• Puerto Rican Migration and Nuyorican Culture
• Angel Island: The West Coast Immigration Center
• Immigration’s Impacts on Industrialization in the United States
• Polish Americans: Traditions and Integration
• The Bracero Program and Agricultural Labor
• Jewish Immigration and American Zionism
• Chinese Exclusion Act’s Influence on Immigration Policy
• Mexican Americans: Struggles and Achievements in the Southwest
• Immigration and the California Gold Rush
• German Americans: Contributions and Integration in American Society
• The Immigration Act of 1924: Restricting National Origins

American Industrial Revolution History Topics

• Roles of Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin in Industrial Transformation
• Evolution of Transportation: Railroad’s Influence on American Industry
• The Rise of Urbanization during the Industrial Era
• Women’s Participation in the Industrial Workforce: Challenges and Achievements
• Native American Communities: Industrialization’s Impact
• Labor Movements and Worker Rights in the Industrial Age
• Technological Advancements and the Birth of the American Industrial Revolution
• Development of Factory System: Transition From Artisanal to Mass Production
• Immigration and Workforce Transformation in the Industrial Revolution
• Agricultural Practices: Industrialization’s Impact on American Farms
• American Markets: Industrial Revolution’s Role in Expansion
• The Growth of Urban Centers: Industrialization’s Effect on Cities
• Child Labor and the Industrial Revolution in America
• Changing Roles of Women in American Society during Industrialization
• Industrialization and American Trade and Commerce
• Government Regulation and Control in American Industrialization
• Impacts of the Industrial Revolution on American Education and Literacy
• Technological Advances in Communication during Industrialization
• Environmental Consequences of American Industrialization
• Industrial Revolution’s Influence on American Architecture
• Effects of Industrialization on American Art and Cultural Trends

Latin American History Essay Topics

• Conquest and Resistance in Latin America
• Economic Exploitation in Colonial Latin America
• Independence Movements in Latin America
• The Impact of European Immigration on Latin American Societies
• The Role of Women in Latin American Independence Movements
• Indigenous Cultures and Their Contributions to Latin American History
• Latin American Revolutions: Comparing Mexico and South America
• The Influence of African Slavery in Latin American Societies
• Dictatorships and Authoritarian Regimes in Latin America
• The Mexican Revolution: Causes and Consequences
• Cultural Identity and Nationalism in Latin America
• The Falklands War: Britain and Argentina in Latin America
• The Zapatista Movement: Indigenous Rights in Mexico
• Latin American Literature and the Boom of the 1960s
• Neoliberalism and Economic Crisis in Latin America
• Drug Trafficking and Its Impact on Latin American Societies
• Environmental Movements in Latin America
• Indigenous Land Rights and Conflicts in Latin America
• The Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua
• Chilean Dictatorship: Pinochet’s Rule and Its Legacy

American History Topics on Progressive Era

• Reforming the American Education System During the Progressive Era
• Industrialization and Urbanization: Impact on Progressive Era Society
• Regulating Big Business: Anti-Trust Reforms in the Progressive Era
• Political Transformations: From Municipal to National Level in the Progressive Era
• Progressive Era Leaders: Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson
• Investigating Corruption: Muckrakers and Journalism in the Progressive Era
• Preserving America’s Natural Resources: The Conservation Movement in the Progressive Era
• Labor Rights and Social Justice: Workers’ Struggles in the Progressive Era
• Progressive Era Initiatives: Social Welfare Reforms and Their Impact
• Temperance and Prohibition: The Progressive Era’s Crusade Against Alcohol
• Suffrage and Equality: Women’s Fight for Political Rights in the Progressive Era
• Progressive Era Policies: Immigration Regulations and Nativism
• Ensuring Consumer Safety: Consumer Protection Reforms in the Progressive Era
• Science and Social Control: Eugenics and Social Darwinism in the Progressive Era
• Public Health and Sanitation: Reforms During the Progressive Era
• African Americans and Civil Rights: Challenges in the Progressive Era
• Expanding Federal Power: Progressive Era and the Growth of Government Authority
• Intellectual Movements of the Progressive Era: Pragmatism and Social Gospel
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: A Turning Point for Labor Reforms
• Child Labor and Reform Efforts: Progressive Era’s Fight Against Exploitation
• Diversity and Assimilation: Progressive Era Immigration Policies

American History Essay Topics on Roaring Twenties

• Economic Prosperity and Consumerism in the Roaring Twenties
• Impacts of Prohibition on American Society During the Jazz Age
• Women’s Empowerment Movement in the Roaring Twenties
• Jazz Age: Cultural Revolution of the 1920s
• Harlem Renaissance: African-American Art and Culture in the Jazz Age
• Technological Advancements and Their Influence in the Roaring Twenties
• Red Scare and Fear of Communism in 1920s America
• The Great Gatsby: Symbolism and Critique of the Jazz Age
• Flappers and the Evolution of Gender Roles in the Roaring Twenties
• Scopes Trial: Clash of Evolution and Creationism in the 1920s
• Mass Media and Popular Culture in the Roaring Twenties
• Wall Street Crash of 1929: The End of an Era
• Political and Social Movements in the Jazz Age
• Prohibition Enforcement: Bootlegging and Hidden Bars in the 1920s
• Fashion Transformations in the Roaring Twenties
• Impact of Radio and Movies on American Culture in the Roaring Twenties
• Women’s Suffrage Movement and the 19th Amendment in the 1920s
• Race Relations and the KKK in the Roaring Twenties
• Art Deco: Architectural and Design Trends of the Jazz Age
• Automobile Industry’s Influence on American Society in the 1920s

American Reconstruction History Essay Topics

• The Evolution of Freedmen’s Rights in American Reconstruction
• Political Reforms and Transformation in Post-Civil War America
• Economic Shifts and Development During the Reconstruction Era
• The Influence of the Thirteenth Amendment on American Society
• Reconstruction Policies and Their Impact on Southern States
• Women’s Suffrage Movement: A Catalyst in Reconstruction
• African American Political Leadership in the Reconstruction Era
• The Struggle for Civil Rights in the Reconstruction Period
• The Establishment and Impact of the Freedmen’s Bureau
• African Americans’ Changing Roles in Post-Civil War America
• The Reconstruction Amendments: Expanding the Notions of Citizenship
• Education Reforms: Empowering the Disenfranchised During Reconstruction
• The Ku Klux Klan’s Opposition to Reconstruction
• The Reconstruction Act of 1867: Restructuring the South
• The Debate on Land Redistribution in the Reconstruction Era
• Reconstruction’s Enduring Influence on American Identity
• The Compromise of 1877: An End to Reconstruction
• Radical Republicans and Their Influence on the Reconstruction Era
• Shifting Political Dynamics: Southern Power During Reconstruction
• The Legacy of Reconstruction: Shaping American History
• The Supreme Court’s Role in Shaping Reconstruction Policies

LGBTQ+ American History Research Paper Topics

• Historical Milestones of LGBTQ+ Rights in America
• The Stonewall Riots: Catalyst for LGBTQ+ Activism
• Impacts of Harvey Milk on American LGBTQ+ Politics
• Transgender Rights Movement in the United States
• The AIDS Crisis and Its Effects on the LGBTQ+ Community
• Intersectionality: Race and Activism in LGBTQ+ History
• Lesbian Feminism in America: Past and Present
• Homophobia and Its Roots in American Society
• Evolution of LGBTQ+ Representation in Media and Entertainment
• LGBTQ+ Veterans: Advocacy on the Battlefield
• Significance of LGBTQ+ Landmarks in American History
• Religious Perspectives on LGBTQ+ Rights in America
• LGBTQ+ Activism in the Civil Rights Movement
• Impacts of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• Challenges Faced by LGBTQ+ Youth in American Society
• LGBTQ+ Resistance and Resilience in Conservative States
• Role of LGBTQ+ Activism in Shaping Employment Discrimination Laws
• Pioneering Transgender Individuals in American History
• Queer Literature’s Contribution to LGBTQ+ Identity
• Roles of LGBTQ+ Community Centers in Promoting Equality

Native American History Essay Topics

• Native American Resistance During Early Colonial Encounters
• Impacts of European Diseases on Indigenous Populations
• Tribal Governance Structures and Political Systems of Native Nations
• Contributions of Native Americans to the American Revolution
• Forced Removal of Indigenous Tribes: The Trail of Tears
• Significance of Native American Diplomacy in the 19th Century
• Assimilation Policies and the Dawes Act: Effects on Indigenous Communities
• Native American Women in History: Leaders, Activists, and Guardians
• The Wounded Knee Massacre: Causes and Consequences
• Indigenous Art, Literature, and Music: Cultural Contributions
• Native American Tribes’ Role in the Civil War
• The Indian Reorganization Act: Impact on Tribal Sovereignty
• Land Rights and Legal Challenges Faced by Indigenous Peoples
• Native American Religion and Spiritual Practices: Continuity and Adaptation
• Native American Code Talkers in World Wars I and II
• Boarding Schools and Cultural Suppression: Indigenous Experiences
• The American Indian Movement (AIM): Impact on Indigenous Activism
• Indigenous Trade Networks and Economic Systems
• Reservation Policies and Tribal Self-Governance Among Indigenous Peoples
• Hunting, Gathering, and Agricultural Practices of Native Nations
• Indigenous Languages: Preservation and Revitalization Efforts

American History Research Paper Topics About World War I & II

• The Impact of Propaganda on American Society During World War I
• Women’s Roles in the American Homefront During World War II
• The Aftermath of World War I: Treaty of Versailles and Its Consequences
• America’s Race to Build the Atomic Bomb: The Manhattan Project
• African Americans’ Contribution to World War II
• The Great Depression’s Influence on American Entry Into World War II
• America’s Aid to Allied Forces: The Lend-Lease Act During World War II
• Racial Tensions in America During World War II: The Zoot Suit Riots
• The GI Bill: Impact on Post-World War II America
• America’s Shift in Foreign Policy After World War I: The Interwar Period
• The Battle of Midway: A Decisive Moment in the Pacific Theater of World War II
• Cold War Paranoia in America: The Red Scare and McCarthyism
• Japanese Americans’ Internment During World War II
• The Marshall Plan: American Aid for Post-World War II European Reconstruction
• Unsung Heroes of World War II: The Navajo Code Talkers
• Veterans’ Struggles During the Great Depression: The Bonus Army March
• American Nurses’ Role in World War I and II
• Tragedy in the Pacific Theater of World War II: The Bataan Death March
• Mexican Laborers in the American War Effort: The Bracero Program
• America’s Involvement in a Cold War Proxy Conflict: The Korean War

American History Essay Topics About Founding Fathers and the Constitution

• The Revolutionary Vision: Exploring the Ideals of America’s Founding Fathers
• Jefferson’s Influence on American Democracy
• Hamilton’s Economic Policies and Their Impact on the Constitution
• James Madison: Shaping the Foundation of the Constitution
• The Delicate Balance: Compromises at the Constitutional Convention
• Analyzing the Federalist Papers: Arguments for Ratifying the Constitution
• Safeguarding Individual Liberties: The Significance of the Bill of Rights
• John Adams: Statesman and Advocate for Independence
• Thomas Paine’s Impact: Common Sense and Revolutionary Ideas
• Benjamin Franklin: Influencing American Diplomacy
• Abigail Adams: Trailblazing Woman and Her Role in Nation-Building
• Opposition to the Constitution: Examining the Anti-Federalist Movement
• Alexander Hamilton’s Economic Policies: A Federalist Approach
• Shaping American Jurisprudence: The Contributions of John Jay
• The Articles of Confederation: Weaknesses and the Call for a New Constitution
• Crafting American Government: The Constitutional Convention
• Slavery and the Constitution: Debate Over the Three-Fifths Compromise
• Samuel Adams: Revolutionary Catalyst and Political Figure
• Patrick Henry’s Inspiring Speeches: Fanning the Flames of Independence
• The Northwest Ordinance: Guiding Principles for Westward Expansion
• Challenging Free Speech: The Alien and Sedition Acts

American History Topics About Space Race and NASA’s Contributions

• NASA’s Roles in the Space Race: A Historical Perspective
• The Mercury Seven: Trailblazers of American Space Exploration
• Apollo 11: A Monumental Leap for Mankind
• The Impact of Sputnik on US Space Programs
• Lunar Exploration: NASA’s Quest to Unravel the Moon’s Mysteries
• Revolutionizing Space Travel: The Legacy of the Space Shuttle Program
• Unsung Heroes: The Hidden Figures of NASA’s Early Years
• The Cold War Context and the Space Race
• Advancements in Weather Forecasting and Earth Observation by NASA
• Beyond Our Solar System: NASA’s Voyager and Pioneer Missions
• Skylab: America’s First Orbital Space Station
• Robotic Pioneers: NASA’s Missions to Explore the Solar System
• Lessons Learned From the Challenger Disaster for Space Exploration
• Expanding Horizons: The Hubble Space Telescope’s Contributions
• International Collaborations in Space Exploration: NASA’s Global Impact
• Revealing Mars’ Secrets: NASA’s Robotic Rovers
• Trailblazing With the X-15 Program: Advancing Spaceplane Technology
• Enabling Satellite Communications: NASA’s Contributions
• Apollo-Soyuz Test Project: A Symbol of US-Soviet Space Cooperation
• The Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy: Aftermath and Reforms

US Civil War Research Paper Topics

• Causes and Consequences of the Battle of Gettysburg
• Reconstruction Policies and Their Impact on Post-Civil War America
• Women’s Roles in the Civil War: From Nurses to Spies
• Abraham Lincoln’s Leadership and the Emancipation Proclamation
• The Underground Railroad: Freedom Heroes and Heroines
• Battle of Antietam: Decisive Turning Point
• African American Soldiers in the Union Army
• Sherman’s March to the Sea: Total Warfare Strategy
• The Battle of Bull Run: A Shocking Wake-Up Call
• Significance of the Vicksburg Campaign in the Civil War
• Election of 1860 and the Secession Crisis
• Civil War Photography’s Impact on Public Perception
• Formation and Ideals of the Confederate States of America
• Fort Sumter: Prelude to War
• Clara Barton and the Red Cross: Humanitarian Aid during the Civil War
• Draft Riots of 1863: Social Unrest in New York City
• Robert E. Lee’s Military Strategies and Leadership
• Emancipation Proclamation: Freedom for the Enslaved
• Battle of Shiloh: Bloodiest Conflict in the Western Theater
• Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Government’s Formation

American History Research Paper Topics on Vietnam War

• The Nixon Doctrine: America’s Foreign Policy Approach During the Vietnam War
• Women’s Role and Contributions in the Vietnam War Effort
• The My Lai Tragedy: Atrocity and Its Consequences in the Vietnam Conflict
• Draft Resistance Movements: Opposition to the Vietnam War
• Negotiating Peace: The Paris Accords and the End of the Vietnam Conflict
• The Ho Chi Minh Trail: North Vietnam’s Strategic Supply Route
• Agent Orange: Environmental and Health Impacts of Chemical Warfare
• The Fall of Saigon: The Final Chapter of the Vietnam War
• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident: Escalation and Justification of the Vietnam Conflict
• Battle of Khe Sanh: Symbolism and Significance in the Vietnam War
• Anti-War Movement: Activism and Protests Against the Vietnam Conflict
• The Phoenix Program: Counterinsurgency Tactics in the Vietnam War
• Operation Rolling Thunder: Aerial Bombing Campaign During the Vietnam Conflict
• Hamburger Hill: Intense Combat and Sacrifice in the Vietnam War
• Kent State Shootings: Tragedy and Student Demonstrations in the Vietnam War
• The Siege of Khe Sanh: A Crucial Moment in the Vietnam Conflict
• Congressional Response: The War Powers Act and Its Impact on the Vietnam War
• African American Soldiers: Contributions and Challenges in the Vietnam War
• Strategic Hamlet Program: Counterinsurgency Strategy in the Vietnam Conflict
• Laotian Civil War: Regional Dynamics and Their Influence on the Vietnam War

American History Essay Topics on Women’s Suffrage and Feminist Movement

• The Evolution of Women’s Suffrage in American History
• Key Leaders in the American Feminist Movement
• Seneca Falls Convention: Catalyst for Change
• Abolitionism’s Influence on Women’s Suffrage
• Progressive Era: Intersection With Women’s Rights
• Susan B. Anthony’s Impact on the Suffrage Movement
• National American Woman Suffrage Association: Formation and Impact
• Alice Paul and the National Women’s Party’s Influence
• Women’s Suffrage and World War I: Shifting Perspectives
• Battle for the 19th Amendment: Triumphs and Challenges
• Suffragettes’ Strategies: Methods and Successes
• African American Women’s Contributions to Suffrage Movement
• Native American Women’s Role in the Fight for Suffrage
• Women’s Suffrage in the Western States: Trailblazers of Progress
• Feminist Movement and World War II’s Impact
• Second Wave Feminism: Objectives and Accomplishments
• Feminist Literature: Catalyst for Social Change
• Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” and Its Influence
• Women’s Liberation Movement: Birth of NOW
• Roe vs. Wade: Women’s Reproductive Rights Examined
• Title IX: Transforming Women’s Sports and Education

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

594 satire essay topics & good ideas, 547 analytical essay topics & good ideas.

Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is one of the most important parts of your paper.  It expresses your main argument succinctly and explains why your argument is historically significant.  Think of your thesis as a promise you make to your reader about what your paper will argue.  Then, spend the rest of your paper–each body paragraph–fulfilling that promise.

Your thesis should be between one and three sentences long and is placed at the end of your introduction.  Just because the thesis comes towards the beginning of your paper does not mean you can write it first and then forget about it.  View your thesis as a work in progress while you write your paper.  Once you are satisfied with the overall argument your paper makes, go back to your thesis and see if it captures what you have argued.  If it does not, then revise it.  Crafting a good thesis is one of the most challenging parts of the writing process, so do not expect to perfect it on the first few tries.  Successful writers revise their thesis statements again and again.

A successful thesis statement:

• makes an historical argument
• takes a position that requires defending
• is historically specific
• is focused and precise
• answers the question, “so what?”

How to write a thesis statement:

Suppose you are taking an early American history class and your professor has distributed the following essay prompt:

“Historians have debated the American Revolution’s effect on women.  Some argue that the Revolution had a positive effect because it increased women’s authority in the family.  Others argue that it had a negative effect because it excluded women from politics.  Still others argue that the Revolution changed very little for women, as they remained ensconced in the home.  Write a paper in which you pose your own answer to the question of whether the American Revolution had a positive, negative, or limited effect on women.”

Using this prompt, we will look at both weak and strong thesis statements to see how successful thesis statements work.

While this thesis does take a position, it is problematic because it simply restates the prompt.  It needs to be more specific about how  the Revolution had a limited effect on women and  why it mattered that women remained in the home.

Revised Thesis:  The Revolution wrought little political change in the lives of women because they did not gain the right to vote or run for office.  Instead, women remained firmly in the home, just as they had before the war, making their day-to-day lives look much the same.

This revision is an improvement over the first attempt because it states what standards the writer is using to measure change (the right to vote and run for office) and it shows why women remaining in the home serves as evidence of limited change (because their day-to-day lives looked the same before and after the war).  However, it still relies too heavily on the information given in the prompt, simply saying that women remained in the home.  It needs to make an argument about some element of the war’s limited effect on women.  This thesis requires further revision.

Strong Thesis: While the Revolution presented women unprecedented opportunities to participate in protest movements and manage their family’s farms and businesses, it ultimately did not offer lasting political change, excluding women from the right to vote and serve in office.

Few would argue with the idea that war brings upheaval.  Your thesis needs to be debatable:  it needs to make a claim against which someone could argue.  Your job throughout the paper is to provide evidence in support of your own case.  Here is a revised version:

Strong Thesis: The Revolution caused particular upheaval in the lives of women.  With men away at war, women took on full responsibility for running households, farms, and businesses.  As a result of their increased involvement during the war, many women were reluctant to give up their new-found responsibilities after the fighting ended.

Sexism is a vague word that can mean different things in different times and places.  In order to answer the question and make a compelling argument, this thesis needs to explain exactly what  attitudes toward women were in early America, and  how those attitudes negatively affected women in the Revolutionary period.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a negative impact on women because of the belief that women lacked the rational faculties of men. In a nation that was to be guided by reasonable republican citizens, women were imagined to have no place in politics and were thus firmly relegated to the home.

This thesis addresses too large of a topic for an undergraduate paper.  The terms “social,” “political,” and “economic” are too broad and vague for the writer to analyze them thoroughly in a limited number of pages.  The thesis might focus on one of those concepts, or it might narrow the emphasis to some specific features of social, political, and economic change.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution paved the way for important political changes for women.  As “Republican Mothers,” women contributed to the polity by raising future citizens and nurturing virtuous husbands.  Consequently, women played a far more important role in the new nation’s politics than they had under British rule.

This thesis is off to a strong start, but it needs to go one step further by telling the reader why changes in these three areas mattered.  How did the lives of women improve because of developments in education, law, and economics?  What were women able to do with these advantages?  Obviously the rest of the paper will answer these questions, but the thesis statement needs to give some indication of why these particular changes mattered.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a positive impact on women because it ushered in improvements in female education, legal standing, and economic opportunity.  Progress in these three areas gave women the tools they needed to carve out lives beyond the home, laying the foundation for the cohesive feminist movement that would emerge in the mid-nineteenth century.

Thesis Checklist

When revising your thesis, check it against the following guidelines:

• Does my thesis make an historical argument?
• Does my thesis take a position that requires defending?
• Is my thesis historically specific?
• Is my thesis focused and precise?
• Does my thesis answer the question, “so what?”

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AP®︎/College US History

Course: ap®︎/college us history   >   unit 10, ap us history periods and themes.

• AP US History multiple choice example 1
• AP US History multiple choice example 2
• AP US History short answer example 1
• AP US History short answer example 2
• AP US History DBQ example 1
• AP US History DBQ example 2
• AP US History DBQ example 3
• AP US History DBQ example 4
• AP US History long essay example 1
• AP US History long essay example 2
• AP US History long essay example 3
• Preparing for the AP US History Exam (5/4/2016)
• AP US History Exam Prep Session (5/1/2017)

AP US history periods and themes

Example ap us history problems, key terms, documents, and court cases to know, primary documents:.

John Winthrop, “City on a Hill” / “A Model of Christian Charity”

Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

Thomas Jefferson, “Declaration of Independence”

James Madison, “Constitution of the United States”

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, “Declaration of Sentiments”

Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (main ideas)

Abraham Lincoln, “House Divided” speech, Second Inaugural Address

Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Andrew Carnegie, “The Gospel of Wealth” (main ideas)

Josiah Strong, “Our Country” (main ideas)

Upton Sinclair “The Jungle” (main ideas)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, December 8 1941 address

George Kennan, “Long Telegram”

Martin Luther King Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, “I Have a Dream” speech

Betty Friedan “The Feminine Mystique” (main ideas)

Ronald Reagan “Evil Empire” speech

Supreme Court cases:

Marbury v. Madison

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Plessy v. Ferguson

Brown v. Board of Education

Roe v. Wade

Bush v. Gore

Foreign policy doctrines:

Monroe Doctrine

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

Truman Doctrine

Nixon Doctrine

Bush Doctrine

virgin soil epidemic

salutary neglect / benign neglect

mercantilism

Anti-Federalist

isolationism

judicial review

Democratic-Republican

Jacksonian Democracy

nullification

popular sovereignty

Emancipation

Jim Crow segregation

sharecropping

mass production

labor union

imperialism

self-determination

prohibition

laissez-faire economics

liberalism (economics/politics)

Soviet Union

containment

Domino Theory

non-violent protest (Civil Rights)

Vietnamization

conservatism

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• American Imperialism
• American Revolution
• Columbian Exchange
• I Have a Dream
• Jim Crow Laws
• Manifest Destiny
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• Salem Witch Trials
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Course info.

• Prof. Caley Horan

Departments

As taught in.

• American History
• Modern History

Learning Resource Types

American history since 1865.

For Essay #2 you will choose from one of three essay prompts, each of which addresses major themes and questions from the period between the 1870s and 1930. The prompts are below - please choose only one, and respond to it as clearly and comprehensively as possible.

In his book, The Incorporation of America , historian Alan Trachtenberg argues that “the meaning of America” became “the focus of controversy and struggle” during the final decades of the nineteenth century. 1 Drawing on course lectures and readings, craft an argument that responds to Trachtenberg’s claim and its applicability to the period between 1870 and 1930. Questions to consider in your essay include: How did different groups understand the meaning of “America”? What historical contexts led to controversy and struggle? Did one particular vision for the meaning of “America” win out over others?

Between 1870 and 1930, many communities of color - former slaves, Chinese immigrants, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, among others - found their lives disrupted and transformed by both government policy and changing understandings of ethnic and racial difference in America. Drawing on course lectures and readings, craft an argument about how American ideas about race and ethnicity changed during the period in question. What historical contexts shaped government policies like conquest, exclusion, and assimilation? How did communities of color respond to these policies and transformations?

The image on the front cover of our course syllabus is one of several panels from the mural “America Today,” painted between 1930 and 1931 by the American artist Thomas Hart Benton. The rest of the panels from the mural can be viewed here . In your essay, place 2–3 of these panels in historical context. How do these paintings reflect key themes and questions from American life at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth? In crafting an argument about the paintings, be sure to place them in conversation with lectures and assigned readings from the course. Avoid statements about artist intent, and focus instead on historical context and what the paintings reflect and reveal from the period in question.

Essay Guidelines

Essays should present an original argument that clearly responds to one of the above prompts. This argument should be unique (of your own making) and should reflect careful engagement with course materials. It should also be clearly expressed and organized, so a reader would have no problem understanding both the overall argument and its progression through your essay. In crafting your argument, you should draw on lectures, discussions, and assigned readings.

Evidence in support of your argument should be drawn entirely from readings assigned in class. This includes recitation handouts and materials from lecture. All essays, regardless of which prompt they respond to, must engage (and cite) a minimum of five assigned readings. At least three of those must be primary source documents.

Essays should be approximately 1250 words in length (please include a word count at the end of your essay), double-spaced, and written in a 12 point font. They should include page numbers, properly formatted footnotes with accurate citations, and a title that reflects the paper’s argument. All sources should be cited using the Chicago Manual of Style (see the Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide ).

Essays will be evaluated according to:

• The quality of the analysis and argument presented
• The strength of the evidence marshaled in support of that argument
• The quality of written expression (this includes style, grammar, and proper citation)

Essay #2 is due during Lecture 13.

1 Alan Trachtenberg, The Incorporation of America: Culture and Society in the Gilded Age (New York: Hill and Wand, 1982), 7.

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How to write an introduction for a history essay

Every essay needs to begin with an introductory paragraph. It needs to be the first paragraph the marker reads.

While your introduction paragraph might be the first of the paragraphs you write, this is not the only way to do it.

You can choose to write your introduction after you have written the rest of your essay.

This way, you will know what you have argued, and this might make writing the introduction easier.

Either approach is fine. If you do write your introduction first, ensure that you go back and refine it once you have completed your essay. 

What is an ‘introduction paragraph’?

An introductory paragraph is a single paragraph at the start of your essay that prepares your reader for the argument you are going to make in your body paragraphs .

It should provide all of the necessary historical information about your topic and clearly state your argument so that by the end of the paragraph, the marker knows how you are going to structure the rest of your essay.

In general, you should never use quotes from sources in your introduction.

Introduction paragraph structure

While your introduction paragraph does not have to be as long as your body paragraphs , it does have a specific purpose, which you must fulfil.

A well-written introduction paragraph has the following four-part structure (summarised by the acronym BHES).

B – Background sentences

H – Hypothesis

E – Elaboration sentences

S - Signpost sentence

Each of these elements are explained in further detail, with examples, below:

1. Background sentences

The first two or three sentences of your introduction should provide a general introduction to the historical topic which your essay is about. This is done so that when you state your hypothesis , your reader understands the specific point you are arguing about.

Background sentences explain the important historical period, dates, people, places, events and concepts that will be mentioned later in your essay. This information should be drawn from your background research . 

Example background sentences:

Middle Ages (Year 8 Level)

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges.

WWI (Year 9 Level)

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe.

Civil Rights (Year 10 Level)

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success.

Ancient Rome (Year 11/12 Level)  

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times.

2. Hypothesis

Once you have provided historical context for your essay in your background sentences, you need to state your hypothesis .

A hypothesis is a single sentence that clearly states the argument that your essay will be proving in your body paragraphs .

A good hypothesis contains both the argument and the reasons in support of your argument. 

Example hypotheses:

Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery.

Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare.

The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1 st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state.

3. Elaboration sentences

Once you have stated your argument in your hypothesis , you need to provide particular information about how you’re going to prove your argument.

Your elaboration sentences should be one or two sentences that provide specific details about how you’re going to cover the argument in your three body paragraphs.

You might also briefly summarise two or three of your main points.

Finally, explain any important key words, phrases or concepts that you’ve used in your hypothesis, you’ll need to do this in your elaboration sentences.

Example elaboration sentences:

By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period.

Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined.

The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results.

While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period.

4. Signpost sentence

The final sentence of your introduction should prepare the reader for the topic of your first body paragraph. The main purpose of this sentence is to provide cohesion between your introductory paragraph and you first body paragraph .

Therefore, a signpost sentence indicates where you will begin proving the argument that you set out in your hypothesis and usually states the importance of the first point that you’re about to make. 

Example signpost sentences:

The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20 th century.

The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

Putting it all together

Once you have written all four parts of the BHES structure, you should have a completed introduction paragraph. In the examples above, we have shown each part separately. Below you will see the completed paragraphs so that you can appreciate what an introduction should look like.

Example introduction paragraphs: 

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15th and 16th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges. Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies, but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery. By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period. The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe. Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare. Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined. The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success. The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results. The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20th century.

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times. Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state. While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period. The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

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American Revolution Example

• Categories: American Revolution

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Words: 655 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 655 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Causes of the american revolution, events leading to the american revolution, the declaration of independence, the war and victory, consequences of the american revolution, in conclusion.

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How to Write a History Essay with Outline, Tips, Examples and More

Before we get into how to write a history essay, let's first understand what makes one good. Different people might have different ideas, but there are some basic rules that can help you do well in your studies. In this guide, we won't get into any fancy theories. Instead, we'll give you straightforward tips to help you with historical writing. So, if you're ready to sharpen your writing skills, let our history essay writing service explore how to craft an exceptional paper.

What is a History Essay?

A history essay is an academic assignment where we explore and analyze historical events from the past. We dig into historical stories, figures, and ideas to understand their importance and how they've shaped our world today. History essay writing involves researching, thinking critically, and presenting arguments based on evidence.

Moreover, history papers foster the development of writing proficiency and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. They also encourage students to engage with primary and secondary sources, enhancing their research skills and deepening their understanding of historical methodology.

History Essay Outline

The outline is there to guide you in organizing your thoughts and arguments in your essay about history. With a clear outline, you can explore and explain historical events better. Here's how to make one:

Introduction

• Hook: Start with an attention-grabbing opening sentence or anecdote related to your topic.
• Background Information: Provide context on the historical period, event, or theme you'll be discussing.
• Thesis Statement: Present your main argument or viewpoint, outlining the scope and purpose of your history essay.

Body paragraph 1: Introduction to the Historical Context

• Provide background information on the historical context of your topic.
• Highlight key events, figures, or developments leading up to the main focus of your history essay.

Body paragraphs 2-4 (or more): Main Arguments and Supporting Evidence

• Each paragraph should focus on a specific argument or aspect of your thesis.
• Present evidence from primary and secondary sources to support each argument.
• Analyze the significance of the evidence and its relevance to your history paper thesis.

Counterarguments (optional)

• Address potential counterarguments or alternative perspectives on your topic.
• Refute opposing viewpoints with evidence and logical reasoning.
• Summary of Main Points: Recap the main arguments presented in the body paragraphs.
• Restate Thesis: Reinforce your thesis statement, emphasizing its significance in light of the evidence presented.
• Reflection: Reflect on the broader implications of your arguments for understanding history.
• Closing Thought: End your history paper with a thought-provoking statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

References/bibliography

• List all sources used in your research, formatted according to the citation style required by your instructor (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
• Include both primary and secondary sources, arranged alphabetically by the author's last name.

Notes (if applicable)

• Include footnotes or endnotes to provide additional explanations, citations, or commentary on specific points within your history essay.

History Essay Format

Adhering to a specific format is crucial for clarity, coherence, and academic integrity. Here are the key components of a typical history essay format:

Font and Size

• Use a legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
• The recommended font size is usually 12 points. However, check your instructor's guidelines, as they may specify a different size.
• Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
• Double-space the entire essay, including the title, headings, body paragraphs, and references.
• Avoid extra spacing between paragraphs unless specified otherwise.
• Align text to the left margin; avoid justifying the text or using a centered alignment.

Title Page (if required):

• If your instructor requires a title page, include the essay title, your name, the course title, the instructor's name, and the date.
• Center-align this information vertically and horizontally on the page.
• Include a header on each page (excluding the title page if applicable) with your last name and the page number, flush right.
• Some instructors may require a shortened title in the header, usually in all capital letters.
• Center-align the essay title at the top of the first page (if a title page is not required).
• Use standard capitalization (capitalize the first letter of each major word).
• Avoid underlining, italicizing, or bolding the title unless necessary for emphasis.

Paragraph Indentation:

• Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches or use the tab key.
• Do not insert extra spaces between paragraphs unless instructed otherwise.

Citations and References:

• Follow the citation style specified by your instructor (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
• Include in-text citations whenever you use information or ideas from external sources.
• Provide a bibliography or list of references at the end of your history essay, formatted according to the citation style guidelines.
• Typically, history essays range from 1000 to 2500 words, but this can vary depending on the assignment.

How to Write a History Essay?

Historical writing can be an exciting journey through time, but it requires careful planning and organization. In this section, we'll break down the process into simple steps to help you craft a compelling and well-structured history paper.

Analyze the Question

Before diving headfirst into writing, take a moment to dissect the essay question. Read it carefully, and then read it again. You want to get to the core of what it's asking. Look out for keywords that indicate what aspects of the topic you need to focus on. If you're unsure about anything, don't hesitate to ask your instructor for clarification. Remember, understanding how to start a history essay is half the battle won!

Now, let's break this step down:

• Read the question carefully and identify keywords or phrases.
• Consider what the question is asking you to do – are you being asked to analyze, compare, contrast, or evaluate?
• Pay attention to any specific instructions or requirements provided in the question.
• Take note of the time period or historical events mentioned in the question – this will give you a clue about the scope of your history essay.

Develop a Strategy

With a clear understanding of the essay question, it's time to map out your approach. Here's how to develop your historical writing strategy:

• Brainstorm ideas : Take a moment to jot down any initial thoughts or ideas that come to mind in response to the history paper question. This can help you generate a list of potential arguments, themes, or points you want to explore in your history essay.
• Create an outline : Once you have a list of ideas, organize them into a logical structure. Start with a clear introduction that introduces your topic and presents your thesis statement – the main argument or point you'll be making in your history essay. Then, outline the key points or arguments you'll be discussing in each paragraph of the body, making sure they relate back to your thesis. Finally, plan a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your history paper thesis.
• Research : Before diving into writing, gather evidence to support your arguments. Use reputable sources such as books, academic journals, and primary documents to gather historical evidence and examples. Take notes as you research, making sure to record the source of each piece of information for proper citation later on.
• Consider counterarguments : Anticipate potential counterarguments to your history paper thesis and think about how you'll address them in your essay. Acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refuting them strengthens your argument and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Set realistic goals : Be realistic about the scope of your history essay and the time you have available to complete it. Break down your writing process into manageable tasks, such as researching, drafting, and revising, and set deadlines for each stage to stay on track.

Start Your Research

Now that you've grasped the history essay topic and outlined your approach, it's time to dive into research. Here's how to start:

• Ask questions : What do you need to know? What are the key points to explore further? Write down your inquiries to guide your research.
• Explore diverse sources : Look beyond textbooks. Check academic journals, reliable websites, and primary sources like documents or artifacts.
• Consider perspectives : Think about different viewpoints on your topic. How have historians analyzed it? Are there controversies or differing interpretations?
• Take organized notes : Summarize key points, jot down quotes, and record your thoughts and questions. Stay organized using spreadsheets or note-taking apps.
• Evaluate sources : Consider the credibility and bias of each source. Are they peer-reviewed? Do they represent a particular viewpoint?

Establish a Viewpoint

By establishing a clear viewpoint and supporting arguments, you'll lay the foundation for your compelling historical writing:

• Review your research : Reflect on the information gathered. What patterns or themes emerge? Which perspectives resonate with you?
• Formulate a thesis statement : Based on your research, develop a clear and concise thesis that states your argument or interpretation of the topic.
• Consider counterarguments : Anticipate objections to your history paper thesis. Are there alternative viewpoints or evidence that you need to address?
• Craft supporting arguments : Outline the main points that support your thesis. Use evidence from your research to strengthen your arguments.
• Stay flexible : Be open to adjusting your viewpoint as you continue writing and researching. New information may challenge or refine your initial ideas.

Structure Your Essay

Now that you've delved into the depths of researching historical events and established your viewpoint, it's time to craft the skeleton of your essay: its structure. Think of your history essay outline as constructing a sturdy bridge between your ideas and your reader's understanding. How will you lead them from point A to point Z? Will you follow a chronological path through history or perhaps dissect themes that span across time periods?

And don't forget about the importance of your introduction and conclusion—are they framing your narrative effectively, enticing your audience to read your paper, and leaving them with lingering thoughts long after they've turned the final page? So, as you lay the bricks of your history essay's architecture, ask yourself: How can I best lead my audience through the maze of time and thought, leaving them enlightened and enriched on the other side?

Create an Engaging Introduction

Creating an engaging introduction is crucial for capturing your reader's interest right from the start. But how do you do it? Think about what makes your topic fascinating. Is there a surprising fact or a compelling story you can share? Maybe you could ask a thought-provoking question that gets people thinking. Consider why your topic matters—what lessons can we learn from history?

Also, remember to explain what your history essay will be about and why it's worth reading. What will grab your reader's attention and make them want to learn more? How can you make your essay relevant and intriguing right from the beginning?

Develop Coherent Paragraphs

Once you've established your introduction, the next step is to develop coherent paragraphs that effectively communicate your ideas. Each paragraph should focus on one main point or argument, supported by evidence or examples from your research. Start by introducing the main idea in a topic sentence, then provide supporting details or evidence to reinforce your point.

Make sure to use transition words and phrases to guide your reader smoothly from one idea to the next, creating a logical flow throughout your history essay. Additionally, consider the organization of your paragraphs—is there a clear progression of ideas that builds upon each other? Are your paragraphs unified around a central theme or argument?

Conclude Effectively

Concluding your history essay effectively is just as important as starting it off strong. In your conclusion, you want to wrap up your main points while leaving a lasting impression on your reader. Begin by summarizing the key points you've made throughout your history essay, reminding your reader of the main arguments and insights you've presented.

Then, consider the broader significance of your topic—what implications does it have for our understanding of history or for the world today? You might also want to reflect on any unanswered questions or areas for further exploration. Finally, end with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action that encourages your reader to continue thinking about the topic long after they've finished reading.

Reference Your Sources

Referencing your sources is essential for maintaining the integrity of your history essay and giving credit to the scholars and researchers who have contributed to your understanding of the topic. Depending on the citation style required (such as MLA, APA, or Chicago), you'll need to format your references accordingly. Start by compiling a list of all the sources you've consulted, including books, articles, websites, and any other materials used in your research.

Then, as you write your history essay, make sure to properly cite each source whenever you use information or ideas that are not your own. This includes direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. Remember to include all necessary information for each source, such as author names, publication dates, and page numbers, as required by your chosen citation style.

Review and Ask for Advice

As you near the completion of your history essay writing, it's crucial to take a step back and review your work with a critical eye. Reflect on the clarity and coherence of your arguments—are they logically organized and effectively supported by evidence? Consider the strength of your introduction and conclusion—do they effectively capture the reader's attention and leave a lasting impression? Take the time to carefully proofread your history essay for any grammatical errors or typos that may detract from your overall message.

Furthermore, seeking advice from peers, mentors, or instructors can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement. Consider sharing your essay with someone whose feedback you trust and respect, and be open to constructive criticism. Ask specific questions about areas you're unsure about or where you feel your history essay may be lacking.

History Essay Example

In this section, we offer an example of a history essay examining the impact of the Industrial Revolution on society. This essay demonstrates how historical analysis and critical thinking are applied in academic writing. By exploring this specific event, you can observe how historical evidence is used to build a cohesive argument and draw meaningful conclusions.

FAQs about History Essay Writing

How to write a history essay introduction, how to write a conclusion for a history essay, how to write a good history essay.

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135 US History Essay Topics

One of the most time-consuming essay writing assignments can be a US history essay. Assigned for a variety of reasons, including testing students’ knowledge, encouraging research skills, and determining how well students can comprehend different types of texts, a US history essay assignment provides many challenges to the student.

Another hardship of writing a US history essay is that there isn’t always an abundant or easily accessible source of new information on something that has already happened. This means that students need to work extra hard to craft a US History essay that is original, unique, and doesn’t sound like the many other essays that have already been written on the topic.

However, all of the hardships students face when attempting to write a US history essay can be eased with the help of this guide. We’ll cover the essential aspects of writing a US History essay and provide 135 US History essay topics that are ideal for any level of education.

How To Write a US History Essay?

When it comes to writing a US History essay, the first thing students will need to do is pick a topic. The topic should be relevant to the course and allow for enough credible research to back up any arguments or examples made in the essay’s body.

For example, a topic on the creation of the Declaration of Independence would offer much more opportunity for analysis and research than a topic on something less significant such as the color of George Washington’s horse.

Once students have selected their topic, they will need to start thinking about the essay’s thesis. The thesis is often referred to as the “point” of an essay and should be reflected in the introduction and conclusion. This means that students will need to think critically about their topic choice and determine what points they want to make.

Students can choose a thesis by listing the most important aspects of their topic and choosing one aspect as the main point of their essay. For example, if a student were assigned a paper on the Civil Rights movement, they might want to argue that violence was necessary or that nonviolence was more effective in the movement for equality.

Students will also need to consider what information they are expected to include in their essay. Common types of US History essays include:

• argumentative
• comparison/contrast
• cause and effect
• introspective
• problem /solution

Each of these essay types requires a unique set of points, arguments, and examples to ensure they meet the criteria for the writing. For example, if you are writing a compare and contrast essay on US History, you’ll need to research several different aspects of your topic and compare them to each other.

If you are writing an argumentative US History essay, you’ll need to provide sufficient evidence to prove your point before explaining why the opposing side’s argument is incorrect.

Once the topic has been selected and enough information has been researched to create a thesis and provide supporting evidence, the next step of writing a US History essay is to outline your argument. An outline can help students organize their thoughts and ensure they include everything necessary to write a well-rounded paper.

Make sure your outline includes a thesis statement followed by a clear description of each point you plan to make in the body of your essay.

How To Structure a US History Essay?

Once you have completed the necessary steps to develop a thesis and outline your argument, you can move on to structuring your essay with the intro, body, and conclusion.

The introduction should start with a hook that captures the reader’s attention and provides enough information to encourage them to continue reading. After the hook, you can include your thesis statement, followed by explaining why it is important for readers to know about this topic.

For example, if you are writing an argumentative essay about the role of violence in the Civil Rights movement, you might start your introduction with a hook that asks readers to consider what they would do if they were faced with violence every day of their lives.

You then might include your thesis statement and explain that learning about civil rights activists who confronted police with violence is important to understand because it can help guide future generations about what they might need to do to achieve equality.

The body of your essay should include multiple points, each made with clear evidence and relevant examples. For example, if you were writing a thesis that argued that nonviolence was more effective than violence in the US Civil Rights movement, you might include a paragraph about how nonviolence was proven to be more effective when Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott were compared.

This may lead into a paragraph describing how Martin Luther King Jr. tried to reduce violence in the movement by promoting peaceful methods of protest such as sit-ins, boycotts, marches, etc.

The conclusion should contain a rephrase of the thesis statement and explain why it is vital for readers to understand. For example, if you wrote an argumentative essay about violence in the US Civil Rights movement, your conclusion might include your thesis statement along with the reasons why understanding whether violence is effective or not helps us understand how future generations should respond to injustice.

If you are struggling to begin writing your US History-themed essay, why not choose from any of these 135 US History essay topics to help start your writing process.

US History Essay Topics About the Civil War

• Why were slaves treated poorly during the Civil War era?
• Should Confederate generals have been tried for treason after the US Civil War?
• What was daily life like for formerly enslaved Black people following the US Civil War?
• How has Lincoln’s influence on Presidential power impacted American society today?
• Did Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation have a negative impact on Reconstruction?
• Why is it important to understand the social, political, and economic impacts of slavery during America’s history?
• Describe how trade was impacted with foreign nations during the Civil War?
• What forms of civil disobedience became commonplace during the Civil War?
• Compare and contrast the roles of women during the Civil War and WW2.
• What were the causes of the US Civil War?
• Why did people support both sides of the US Civil War?
• Why was it hard for formerly enslaved people to find employment following the Civil War?
• Explain how racial violence increased following Reconstruction.
• Discuss what you believe caused Confederate Generals to order their men to wear gray uniforms at the Battle of Bull Run.
• How did the Emancipation Proclamation impact foreign relations in the 1860s?
• What were some causes for fighting during the Reconstruction Era?
• How was President Lincoln able to pass legislation that helped win the US Civil War?
• Discuss the most significant battle during the Civil War.
• Compare and contrast modern-day war strategies to those used during the Civil War.
• Explain how technological advancements were made during the Civil War.
• What was the role of Native Americans during the Civil War?
• How has history made a lot of the same mistakes as it did during the Civil War?

US History Essay Topics About the Native Americans

• What was life like for Native Americans following their defeat in the US-Indian War?
• What factors led to violence between whites and indigenous peoples after the Indian Removal Act of 1830?
• What were some effects of Manifest Destiny on Native Americans?
• How has the Dawes Act impacted modern-day Native American communities?
• Why is it important to learn about the Trail of Tears during US history?
• What were some causes for violence between Indians and settlers in the 1800s?
• How does modern-day Native American culture resemble indigenous communities during the 1800s?
• How were treaties formed and broken between whites and Native Americans in North America?
• What was life like for Natives after they were forced onto reservations?
• How did President Jackson impact relations between Indigenous peoples and white settlers in the 1800s?
• Discuss what occurred when European immigrants settled on Native American land.
• What were some causes for Native American uprisings during the 1800s?
• Why are there not more Native Americans today compared to during the early years of North America?
• Discuss the ideologies of Native Americans and how they may have impacted Indian-European relationships.
• Why was the Battle of Wounded Knee significant?
• What factors led to corruption within tribal governments following US-Indian wars?
• What historical stereotypes are still represented in modern day depictions of Native Americans?
• How can Native Americans use history to correct the ideologies of those who harbor America First sentiments?

US History Essay Topics About the Great Depression

• Explain how life changed for African Americans during the Great Depression.
• What factors led to the Great Depression?
• How was President Roosevelt able to influence Congress to act in favor of his New Deal programs?
• How did WWII impact Americans following the Great Depression?
• What were significant turning points that allowed the US to improve its economy during the Great Depression?
• What were some effects of the Great Depression on race relations in the US?
• What attitudes about free trade capitalism led to the Great Depression?
• How did the Great Depression influence art, music, and culture?
• What other economic solutions could have been implemented to end the Great Depression sooner?
• How did the Great Depression influence the size and scope of the federal government in the US?
• How did African Americans help lessen America’s dependency on foreign goods during the Great Depression?
• What were some causes for poverty during the Great Depression?
• Discuss things that became illegal during the Great Depression.
• Explain how the Great Depression led to increased or reduced population growth.
• Why do historians consider the Great Depression a critical moment in US history?

US History Essay Topics About WW1 & WW2

• What caused the eruption of violence during WW1?
• How did President Wilson’s Fourteen Points impact WW2?
• What was life like for African Americans and Native Americans during WWII?
• How have civil liberties changed since WWII?
• What are some parallels between WWII propaganda posters and modern-day media advertisements?
• What were some positive and negative factors during US involvement in WWII?
• How did the US economy change as a result of WWII?
• What events led to the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
• In what ways has European history been heavily impacted by WW1 and WW2?
• What were some causes for the US entering WW2?
• How has US foreign policy changed as a result of WWII?
• In what ways has WWII impacted modern-day conflicts?
• Who was President Truman, and why is he important to remember during US history?
• Why is it important to study both World Wars in detail?
• Who was Joseph Stalin, and what was his role during WW2?
• How have wars led to the formation of the UN and NATO?
• How did military alliances impact WWII?
• What was President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, and how did it influence US soldiers’ morale overseas?
• What economic impacts of WW2 still be seen in today’s modern economy?
• How did technological advancements made during WW1 assist with battle strategies during WW2?
• What is the significance of D-Day?
• How did the US become involved in WW1 after the sinking of the Lusitania?
• Why were women viewed as socially disadvantaged during WW1?
• What are some positive outcomes of WW1 and WWII on American society today?

US History Essay Topics About Women’s Rights

• What significant roles have women played in US history and not received credit for?
• What were some causes of the first and second waves for women’s rights?
• How did each wave of feminism impact US history differently?
• How have women influenced US history through their actions in non-traditional fields?
• What are some positive impacts of women becoming involved with social reform efforts such as abolition, temperance, and labor movements?
• What were some negative impacts of women gaining more legal rights?
• Who was Susan B. Anthony, and why is she important to remember during US history?
• How has popular culture influenced how society views feminism today compared to the past?
• How did government restrictions such as coverture laws impact women’s daily lives in America?
• What were some positive and negative impacts of the Lowell Mill Girls?
• Who was Sojourner Truth, and what did she accomplish for women’s rights?
• How did Susan B. Anthony influence how society treats women today?
• How has Western Expansion impacted the lives of American women?
• Who was Victoria Woodhull, and what were some of her goals in the early feminist movement?
• What historical issues still affect women’s rights in society today?
• Why does it matter to study US history and women’s rights?
• Would the USA have been as successful during WW2 without contributions made by women?
• Is life for women easier or harder now than it was at other points in US history?
• How can women obtain better equality by examining the past?

US History Essay Topics About Immigration

• What is the history of immigration in America?
• Who were some influential immigrants who have changed society through their actions and contributions?
• How have immigrants influenced art, architecture, government policy, and popular culture in America?
• How did nativism influence how Americans viewed immigration during different time periods throughout US history?
• How have immigrants been treated by US law and society during different time periods throughout American history?
• Why was the Chinese Exclusion Act significant for immigration policy in America?
• In what ways have recent immigration movements changed the nation’s identity, economy, and workforce today compared to the past?
• What causes of the Great Depression led to more immigrants moving to America?
• What are some positive impacts of immigration on American society today?
• Who was Giovanni da Verrazano and why is he important to remember during US history?
• What role did African Americans play in immigration during slavery?
• What were some differences in the immigrant experiences of different races?
• How has immigration changed American society today compared to the past?
• What are some adverse effects of immigration on American society today?
• What are some positive impacts of immigration on US history and national identity today?
• How is the process for immigration in modern times different from previous periods in US history?
• How can the USA learn from their past immigration reform mistakes to correct current issues surrounding immigration reform?

US History Essay Topics About Labor and Strikes

• What were some causes of the early labor movement in America?
• In what ways have unions been influential for Americans today?
• Who was Eugene V. Debs, and how has he influenced the labor movement?
• What impact did strikes have during different time periods throughout US history?
• What were some negative consequences of child labor in America, and how did reform movements attempt to change it?
• How has technology impacted the American workforce today compared to the past?
• Who was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and what impact did she have on the labor movement?
• What were some differences between strikes in the past and today?
• What were some positive effects of the labor movement on American society today?
• Why is it essential to study US history about labor unions and strikes?
• Who was Mother Jones, and how has she influenced the labor movement in America?
• How did the Great Depression and New Deal change labor in America?
• What were some causes of the Haymarket Affair, and how did it influence labor policy?
• How has technology shaped labor unions today compared to when they first began?
• Why is it essential to understand labor unions in America?
• What are some differences between strikes today compared to the past?
• Who was John L. Lewis, and what is his legacy on unionization in America?
• How did Franklin D. Roosevelt’s policies impact labor unions in America during the Great Depression?
• What were some causes of the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike?
• What are some causes of the Grand Bargain, and how has it influenced unions today?

With these 135 US History essay topics, students of all grade levels can find an interesting topic to write about that will have plenty of research to back it up.

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American History Essay Contest

The American History Essay Contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation's great history and learn about history in a new light.

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs. Students in grades five through eight are encouraged to participate. Each year, a selected topic for use during the academic year is announced, and contest instructions are published online and sent to schools by participating DAR chapters. Essays are judged for historical accuracy, adherence to the topic, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness.

Participating chapters send one winning essay from each of the four grades for judging on the state level. The state will send one winning essay from each of the four grades to be judged on a divisional level. The winning essay from each of the four grades will then be judged on the national level and the winners are announced.

Each student participant receives a certificate of participation from the chapter and the chapter winners receive bronze medals and certificates. State winners receive certificates and silver medals. National winners receive special certificates, medals, and a monetary award.

Click here for an informational PDF handout . For additional contest information or guidelines, please contact your local DAR chapter .

Patriots of the American Revolution High School Essay Contest

In preparation for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, the DAR has launched the "Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest.” This contest will focus on the men and women who figured in the events of the American Revolution (1773 – 1783), and it is hoped that students will find Patriots to write about who will interest and inspire them.

These Patriots may be one of our famous Founders, or an everyday man, woman, or child who supported the American Revolution in ways both large and small.  Students will be asked to discuss how their chosen Patriot contributed to the founding of the nation. Essays will be judged for historical accuracy, organization of materials, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the quality and scope of references, particularly the use of primary sources.

This contest is open to students in public, private, and parochial schools, and registered home-study programs, in grades 9 through 12. Essays from students from all grades will be judged together, with one winning essay chosen at each level. Participating DAR Chapters will select one essay as the chapter winner, to be sent on to the State level; the State will select one essay winner to represent the state for judging at the Division level, and each Division level will also have one winner which will be sent on to the National contest. Each student participant receives a certificate of participation from the chapter and the chapter winners receive a bronze medal and certificate set. State winners receive a silver medal and certificate set. Division level winners receive certificates and a book. National winners receive special certificates, medals, and a monetary award.

The National Society will select first-, second- and third-place winners. The national winner will receive a National Winner Certificate, pin and monetary award, presented at NSDAR’s annual Continental Congress, and the winning essay may appear in official DAR communications. National second- and third-place winners will also receive a certificate and monetary award.

This essay contest is being launched to engage students during the 250 th anniversary of the American Revolution, and is designed to encourage students to think more about the many different people, known and unknown, who were a part of the American Revolution, and perhaps even see themselves in the figures they write about.

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American History: Gender Inequality, Essay Example

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Introduction

Since the earliest years in the history of America, gender inequality had been the definitive feature of the country’s societal progress. The popular male breadwinner ideology positioned men in the center of all social structures and provided them with the socially more advantageous position compared to that of women. Despite the relevance of the gender inequality issue, the state of research regarding the meaning of inequality and female discrimination in the American society is rather scarce. Scholars in American history avoid linking gender inequality to economic processes, class and race issues and the public-private social dichotomies, and gender inequality in professional life  persists and manifests through limited participation of women in labor, gendered labor distribution patterns, and lower rewards compared to those of men.

America was founded on the principles of equality, equity, and fairness, but gender inequality is among the few historical and social patterns America was never able to combat. Since the very first years of the American state, the male/female division exemplified a persistent binary commonly embodied in access to income, wealth, and jobs (Katz, Stern & Fader 65). Not only did the American state display persistent negligence toward female participation in and female contribution to the important social, economic, and cultural processes, but society constantly built barriers in women’s way to professional self-realization and growth. Wages became the first instrument of gender inequality in America. Even during the pre-colonial times, the distribution of rewards among family members in the household was the result of the authoritative decisions imposed by the household’s head – usually, the oldest resident male (Main 39). The combination of religion, custom and law produced a marked, complex impact on the distribution of roles among the members of the household (Main 39).  Their community roles also depended on their age, and sex and gender was the driver of every member’s distinctive social roles (Main 39). The American society was aware of the existing male/female dichotomies and could perceive the effects of gender inequality on various social patterns; yet, little or nothing was done to at least reduce the gap between men and women. Maximum wages for women were several times lower than those of men and their opportunities for the participation in the labor force were at least limited.

The problem of gender inequality in professional life endures and manifests through the limited access of women to particular jobs, gendered patterns of job distribution, and unequal rewards. Although America made a gigantic step ahead in its striving to reduce the existing gap between men and women, the difficulties that link women to social, cultural, economic, and political/ public factors continue to persist. Actually, gender inequality in America always reflected the paradoxical combination of social mobility and differentiated experiences among women, further divided by class, ethnicity, and race (Katz, Stern & Fader 70). Increased participation of women in labor markets signifies the most dramatic development in the history of women’s employment in the United States, but whether women have opportunities to realize themselves in professional life depends on a variety of factors. For example, black women traditionally lack education and skills needed to enter qualified managerial and clerical jobs, and have to concentrate in contingent work or poor working conditions (Katz, Stern & Faber 70). The distribution of jobs is another topic of the serious historical concern. During the 1970s, the expanding participation of women in various jobs became an urgent response to the growing attractiveness of women as workers and women’s willingness to enter and use the emerging employment opportunities (Katz, Stern & Faber 75). Anti-discrimination law also made discrimination costly (Katz, Stern & Faber 75). However, women became attractive to employers not because they were professional and qualified but because they would work for less pay compared with men (Katz, Stern & Faber 75). Ultimately, rewards remain the basic source of historical and social controversies in America and the basic pattern of gender inequality in professional life.

One of the reasons for the enduring character of gender discrimination is the lack of the objective and detailed analysis of gender inequality in professional literature. Scholars in American history used to focus “on the level and nature of economic activity or on gender roles, seldom on both at the same time” (Main 40). The state of literature and research about gender inequality always reflected the tension between history and theory, with the former dedicated to the study of events in the context of particular place and time, and the latter resulting in large generalizations about cultural and social processes (Anderson 18). The concept of patriarchy in literature was discussed through the prism of the role division between men and women, where men were described as public representatives and the carriers of the community power, and women were limited to participating in their kin groups and household obligations (Anderson 19). The reality, however, is quite different, and the concepts of patriarchy and gender inequality are inseparable from the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts in which they occur. The time has come to shift attention from psychic structures to social and cultural processes (Anderson 20). Anderson is correct in that scholars in American history must finally move beyond the fear of theory and reconceptualize the notion of patriarchy through the prism of its connections to various methodologies (30). Future research of patriarchy and gender inequality must ensure that scholars realize, recognize, reflect, and explore the fundamental connections of gender to historical, economic, social, and cultural processes, including gender, race, class, and family relations (Anderson 30).

Since the earliest years of American history, gender inequality has been the definitive feature of the societal progress in the country. The growing gender inequality awareness and increased attention to the problem did not resolve the existing controversies. In professional life, gender inequality manifests through the limited access to particular jobs, gendered job distribution patterns and unequal rewards. Unfortunately, scholars in the history of America avoid linking gender inequality to economic, class, race, and social issues and provide a limited view of patriarchy. Future research of patriarchy must concentrate on the complex analysis of the fundamental connections of gender various social, cultural, economic and political processes.

Works Cited

Anderson, K. “Work, Gender, and Power in the American West.” In S. Schakel, Western Women’s Lives: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century, New York, UNM Press, 2003, pp. 18-30.

Katz, M., Stern, M.J. & Fader, J.J. “Women and the Paradox of Economic Inequality in the Twentieth Century.” Journal of Social History, 39.1 (2005), 65-88. Print.

Main, G. “Gender, Work, and Wages in Colonial New England.” The William and Mary Quarterly, 51.1 (1994), pp. 39-66. Print.

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520 Excellent American History Topics & Tips for an A+ Paper

How can you define America? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, studying US history will help you find the answer.

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This article will help you dive deeper into this versatile subject. Here, you will find:

• Early and modern US history topics to write about. We’ve also got topics for DBQ essays for students taking an AP US history class.
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🔝 Top 10 American History Topics

✅ how to write a history paper, ⭐ top 10 us history topics to research.

• 🦅 Topics Before 1865
• ⚔️ Civil War Topics
• 🛠️ Reconstruction & Industrialization
• 🗽 20th Century Topics
• 🔫 Topics on WWI & II
• ☮️ Civil Rights Movement Topics
• 💬 Debatable Topics
• ✊🏿 Black History Topics
• 🏞️ Native American Topics
• ⭐ Topics on Famous People

🔍 References

• The ideology of the Black Panthers
• How did tenements affect America?
• Why was Wilmot Proviso so controversial?
• What characterizes the Roaring Twenties?
• Cause and effect of the Missouri Compromise
• The role of women during the Great Depression
• Did anyone profit from the 1929 Stock Market Crash?
• Michael Collins’ contribution to the space exploration
• How did the US benefit from the Bracero Program?
• Brigham Young’s contribution to the development of the West

History writing is controversial by nature. Selecting questions and topics is already a subjective process. On top of that, you need to interpret the sources. So, there is much to think about when it comes to history papers.

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• Don’t be afraid to disagree . People explain many issues by conventional wisdom. Be skeptical and examine your own bias.
• Explore new terrains . Not all historical events get the attention they deserve. Writing about generally neglected topics can yield fascinating results.
• Consider how situations change over time . Frame your subject with a start- and endpoint.
• Wonder . History is not just descriptions of what happened—it also questions how and why specific events took place.
• Avoid relating everything to the present . Examine the past on its own terms. In doing so, keep the chronological order straight.
• Don’t judge your subject . Your goal is to understand the past. Remember: moral norms might have been different in the period you’re studying.
• Give context . It’s crucial to engage with and interpret your sources. Pinpoint their place in the grand scheme of events.

Finally, you might want to write in the present tense. While this works for other social sciences, it’s not advisable for history. It’s best to keep the past in the past! Also, if you need to construct a MLA title page , there’s nothing wrong in using a specialized tool to do that, as long as it allows you to concentrate on the more important part—writing.

• What caused the Red Scare?
• What did the Loyalists fight for?
• Literacy rates during Puritan times
• The effects of the Great Awakening
• Why was the Boston Tea Party justified?
• The aftermath of the Battle of Bunker Hill
• Why was presidential Reconstruction a failure?
• The causes of the economic recession of the 1780s
• Railroads development role in the Industrial Revolution
• Frederick Douglass’s contribution to the abolition of slavery

🦅 Essay Topics on US History before 1865

The period of colonial America is packed with turmoil. Think of the Boston Tea Party or the American Revolution. And these are only two of that era’s most notable events. In this rubric, you’ll find colonial American history essay topics. The period in question starts with the British arrival in the New World and ends with the Civil War.

• The origins of Thanksgiving . One idea is to find out why the Pilgrims started celebrating it in the first place. Alternatively, you could examine how it became a national holiday.
• Why did the British begin settling in the New World ? This topic allows you to explore the rivalry with Spain. Or you could investigate England’s problem with poverty.
• Discuss the emergence of joint-stock companies. Who profited from them? What is their legacy? You might also want to study their role in early settling attempts.
• Compare and contrast the Jamestown and Plymouth settlements. You can concentrate on areas such as religion and government.

• Why did Americans start revolting? An excellent place to begin might be America’s position in global power struggles. The impact of the European Enlightenment movement is also something to consider.
• The history of African American culture . Ask yourself these questions: How does it differ from the way it is now? What factors influenced its development?
• What problems arose during the drafting of the Constitution ? You might want to write about the economic crisis. Other important factors include different interest groups and their expectations.
• How did the American Revolution influence society? Your essay can be concerned with its immediate or long-term impact. Find out how women, slaves, and other groups reacted to the revolutionary spirit.
• Consequences of the Royal Proclamation of 1783. American settlers didn’t obey the proclamation, but it still proved to be influential. Your paper could discuss why. Perhaps you’d also like to ponder if it was a good idea.
• The role of nationalism in the westward expansion . Explore how Americans justified their belief in Manifest Destiny .

Don’t forget to check out these essay topics on early American history:

• Why did the settlers start importing slaves?
• How did Texas become a sovereign republic?
• Why was the American Revolution successful?
• Discuss the significance of the Louisiana Purchase .
• What events led to the war of 1812 ?
• How did the French Revolution impact America?
• Describe the changes the American Revolution brought to the states.
• What did “American” mean in the 18 th century?
• The role of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty in achieving unity.
• Why was the right to bear arms included in the Bill of Rights ?
• The first President of the United States .
• Investigate the origins of the two-party system.
• Alexander Hamilton’s financial policies: opposition and political consequences .
• How did Washington, DC become the national capital?
• Trace the Lewis and Clark expedition.
• Analyze the importance of cotton for the South’s economy in the 1800s.
• How did the relations between the settlers and Native Americans develop over time?
• Who formed the abolitionist movement , and why?
• How did Kansas become a battleground for proponents and opponents of slavery ?
• Who were the Border Ruffians?
• What was the Compromise of 1850 ?
• Consequences of the Mexican-American war .
• Long-term influences of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin .
• Compare the real Underground Railroad with the Underground Femaleroad in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale .
• The Declaration of Independence and its legacy.
• What did the philosophy of transcendentalism entail?
• Abigail Adams and the fight for women’s rights in the new republic.
• Who was Daniel Shays?
• Trace the ratification process of the United States’ Constitution .
• What problems arose with the Missouri Compromise ?
• The revival of religion in the US after achieving independence.
• How did the mass immigration of Germans and Irish people impact the US?
• Nativism in the US: riots and the politics of the Know-Nothings.
• How did the South and the North respectively argue for and against slavery?
• Investigate the emergence of the “Old American West.”
• Study the connection of the blue jeans’ invention with the California gold rush .
• Describe a day in a life of a slave .
• Why was the Dred Scott Decision significant?
• How does the 1860 election relate to the southern states seceding from the Union?
• Explain the term “ popular sovereignty .”

⚔️ Civil War Topics for Your Paper

In the pre-war period, tensions in the US over state rights and slavery were high. The differences seemed impossible to overcome. Eventually, this led to several southern states seceding from the Union. What followed was the bloodiest war ever to take place on American ground. In writing about the Civil War, you can explore military, political, and social issues.

• Did the South ever have a chance to win? The conflict seemed to be heavily in favor of the more industrialized North. Still, it took four years of fighting to get the South to surrender. Your essay could examine the South’s underestimated strengths.
• Compare and contrast the South’s and North’s economic situation on the eve of the Civil War . You might want to investigate the following questions: What did they produce? How did this influence the decision to wage war?
• How did the Emancipation Proclamation affect the war? You could focus on the contributions of African American soldiers.
• Discuss the fatal mistakes made on the battlefields of the Civil War . What decisive moments impacted its results the most? Your paper might explore what the generals could have done differently.
• Was the Civil War inevitable ? It may be interesting to contemplate a possible compromise. In doing so, think about whether this would have merely delayed the war.
• The general public’s position on the Civil War . It might be compelling to analyze who supported the effort and why. One focal point could be on differences between social classes.
• The role of beliefs during the Civil War . You could investigate what the South and the North respectively held sacred. Were religious beliefs a crucial motivator for one or both sides?
• The “Angel of the Battlefield”: Clara Barton. An essay could analyze how she contributed to the recognition of women’s war participation . It could also examine how it forwarded the struggle for women’s rights.

• What were the political reasons to fight the Civil War ? Investigating this question might yield surprising insights.
• Contrasting Stonewall Jackson and Ulysses Grant might be engaging for those who are interested in military strategies.

Do you want more? Have a look at the following topic samples for high and middle school students:

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• Analyze why Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address became a critical moment in American history .
• Was the Civil War justified?
• Why was Fort Sumter relevant?
• How did the Civil War battles impact the American social sphere?
• What does the notion of the “Lost Cause” mean?
• Would the election of a different man other than Abraham Lincoln as president have prevented the Civil War?
• Why did many former slaves enlist in the Union army after the Emancipation Proclamation ?
• Describe the consequences of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination .
• Why was slavery essential for the South?
• Foreign US policy during the 1860s.
• European reactions on the American Civil War .
• How did Jefferson Davis’ government differ from Abraham Lincoln’s ?
• Analyze the notion “A rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.” Why was this especially true in the South?
• Why did the Union rely heavily on blockades to weaken the Confederation ?
• Examine how Mary Boykin Chesnut’s A Diary from Dixie reflects on the war.
• How did the war affect life in the South vs. the North ?
• Investigate the events that led to the Union victory in 1864-65.
• Was the abolitionist movement the catalyst for the war ?
• The impact of industrialization on the battlefield.
• What technologies emerged during the Civil War?
• Discuss the societal effects of war photography .
• How did the Civil War affect the many immigrants who recently entered the United States?
• Did the American Civil War impact the rest of the globe? If so, how?
• Can one consider Abraham Lincoln one of the best presidents in American history? If so, why?
• Compare and contrast the most important generals and their tactics.
• Debate the influence of Manifest Destiny on exacerbating tensions.
• What states were devastated the most after the war, and why?
• Describe the South’s and North’s goals during the Civil War.
• What does the term “Bleeding Kansas” mean?
• Newspaper coverage of the Civil War in the South vs. the North.
• Analyze various letters to understand how people from different backgrounds perceived the Civil War .
• Art and theater in 1860s America.
• Debate how sectionalism and protectionism contributed to pre-war tensions in the US.
• Why did the Crittenden Compromise fail?
• How did the border states perceive the battles of the Civil War?
• Explore the war contributions and legacy of Mary Edwards Walker.
• The importance of the US navy in leading the Union to victory.
• What happened on the West Coast during the Civil War?
• Trace a timeline of the Civil War’s key battles.
• Nation-building and national identity: how did the Civil War shape the idea of “Americanness”?

🛠️ Essay Topics on Reconstruction & Industrialization

After the war, industrialization was rapidly changing the American landscape. Additionally, restoring the order after years of fighting proved a challenge. In abolishing slavery, Republicans took the first step to ensure constitutional rights for African Americans. But not everyone shared the same viewpoints. Dive deeper into these confusing times with one of our topics on American history before 1877:

• Why did scholars initially view the Reconstruction Era in a bad light ? When answering this question, you can focus on the idea of “Black Supremacism.” You also might want to analyze what compelled them to shift their perspective.
• Another option is investigating what caused Reconstruction to fail . You can further argue where it succeeded and perhaps offer a new interpretation.
• Maybe you’d prefer an essay on why the Reconstruction Era mattered . This topic allows you to highlight crucial contemporary debates still relevant today.
• Tracing the origins of the Ku-Klux-Klan has much to offer. You can link this topic to today and question if handling them has changed.
• Why did President Johnson veto the enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1866? It might be interesting to contrast his political reasoning and his personal beliefs.
• Compare the phases of Reconstruction. How did the concept change from Lincoln’s initial plans to President Johnson’s execution?
• How did urbanization affect American life? Your paper could contrast life in the city and the countryside. You can take economic, social, and health factors into account.
• How did the American landscape change during industrialization? You might want to examine city growth and architecture.
• The invention of electricity was one of the most important events in human history. It might be compelling to wonder what side effects its implementation had.
• Why not investigate the symbolism of skyscrapers? Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead is a fascinating source for this subject.

But wait, that’s not all of it. We’ve got more, including topics on American history since 1877:

• Did the situation for freedmen improve after Reconstruction ?
• How did industrialization affect African Americans?
• Discuss what consequences the Compromise of 1877 had.
• The role of transportation during industrialization .
• How does an assembly line work?

• The invention of the automobile.
• Describe in what ways mass production affected American society.
• What was the Panic of 1873?
• Long-term effects of Plessy v. Ferguson .
• How did the Freedmen’s Bureau help former slaves?
• Why did rebuilding the South prove so difficult?
• Debate the effects of the print revolution on American society.
• What was the primary goal of Reconstruction ?
• How did the Reconstruction Act affect politics in the South?
• What caused the formation of Radical Republicans ?
• The transformation of leisure in late 19 th century America.
• Analyze why landownership was a crucial issue in establishing African American equality .
• Was President Johnson’s attempted impeachment in 1868 justified?
• How did the US government help exacerbate the wealth gap in the late 19 th century?
• What changes did transcontinental railroad transportation bring ?
• How did John D. Rockefeller influence the American economy?
• The role of oil in industrializing America.
• Discuss the relevance of the Great Upheaval.
• Changing gender roles in times of urbanization.
• Industrialization and Education: obstacles and opportunities for women and African Americans.
• Analyze how industrialization and urbanization in the USA challenged old values.
• How did the American newspaper business change in the 19 th century?
• The impact of sensationalism on the American public.
• Why did steel become such a crucial material during the late 1800s?
• What caused the Reconstruction Era to come to an end?
• How did contemporary cartoons attempt to depict the mood during Reconstruction?
• What problems did Ulysses S. Grant have to face with his administration?
• Compare and contrast reconstruction measures in various states.
• Why did cities become increasingly attractive for America’s rural population in the 19 th century?
• Examine the significance of the Slaughterhouse Cases.
• Determine the difference between Presidential Reconstruction and Radical Reconstruction?
• From the black code to Jim Crow: institutionalized racism in the southern states.
• The combined rise of populism and imperialism in the 1800s.
• Discuss the significance of regional differences during industrialization .
• The impact of labor unions on the American work environment.

🗽 20th Century US History Topics to Write About

By the turn of the century, the US was a significant global player. Events such as the Great Depression affected the whole world. In addition, American contributions to the arts changed the cultural sphere forever. If you’re looking for modern US history thematic essay topics, this section is for you.

• Why did the “final frontier” gain such importance in the 20 th century? Your essay could examine if the space race was an extension of Manifest Destiny .
• How did the Titanic’s sinking influence innovation and safety regulations ? The ship was the biggest and most technologically advanced ocean liner at the time. Carrying over 2000 passengers, it sank on its maiden voyage. Investigating its legacy might yield fascinating results.
• How did progressivism shape the political landscape in America at the turn of the century? In the early 1900s, the USA was almost a different country than it was 50 years prior. How did this happen? And who were the leading figures of this process?
• Are you curious about the development of American workplace laws? Write about the consequences of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire .
• If you’re into corporate history, look into the rise and fall of America’s formerly largest retailer, Sears .
• The real William Randolph Hearst vs. his portrayal in David Fincher’s Mank . This topic allows you to combine film theory and the history of American journalism.
• The impact of Citizen Kane on movies around the globe. To this day, Citizen Kane is considered one of the most influential films ever made. In a paper on the 1941 masterpiece, you can focus on what made it special. Which features are still prominent in cinema today?
• How did the eugenics movement affect American society? You might want to investigate marriage laws or forced sterilizations.
• Consequences of the Spanish-American War . The brief battle didn’t last long, but its impact was immense. Your essay could highlight the war as a stepping stone to making the US a global power.
• Escalating racial violence: The Rosewood Massacre. In 1923, the entire town of Rosewood, Florida, was wiped out by white aggressors. How did racial tensions get so far?

Haven’t found anything yet? Here are some other American history thesis topics for you to explore:

• The impact of the Cold War on the American economy.
• What caused the Great Depression ?
• Ellis Island as a beacon of hope for immigrants and refugees.
• The transformation of the American school system in the 1920s.
• What were pop art’s main concepts?
• Moral vs. political considerations during the annexation of Hawaii.
• Who were the Social Gospel preachers?
• John Dewey’s role in advancing education.
• What sources fueled American progressivism ?
• Trace the timeline of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.
• What was laissez-faire capitalism?
• How did President Woodrow Wilson reform businesses?
• A dive into the speakeasy culture.
• How did the widespread availability of cars impact American dating life?
• Prohibition : reasons and consequences.
• Connecting arts and civil rights: The Harlem Renaissance .
• Al Capone and the rise of organized crime in the 1920s.
• What was the New Deal, and why was it necessary?
• How did FDR’s “Alphabet Agencies” help the economy after the Great Depression ?
• Explore the funding of the UN .
• Discuss the significance of the Berlin Airlift.
• Screen rebels: how James Dean and Marlon Brando changed American cinema forever.
• Find a connection between McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials .
• How did affordable television perpetuate the idea of the ideal American family?
• Analyze the political consequences of the Watergate scandal .
• A new American culture: variety shows in the 1950s.
• The origins of Rock’n’roll .
• What caused the US to slide into inflation in the 1970s?
• Counterculture literature in the middle of the century: The Beat Generation.
• The aftermath of the Vietnam War .
• What made John F. Kennedy a popular president ?
• The development of Hippie culture in the 1960s.
• Reproductive rights and the rise of American feminism in the late 20 th century.
• Intertwining show-business and government: Ronald Reagan’s presidency .
• Outline the tactical maneuvers of Operation Desert Storm.
• How did MTV revolutionize the music industry ?
• Why did drug use become an existential problem in America during the 1970s and 80s?
• American environmental reform policies from 1960 to 1980.
• ’70s fashion as a social and political statement in the US.
• How did the sexual revolution redefine American social life?

🔫 Topics about America in World Wars I & II

America during the World Wars is an engaging writing prompt. But it may be too broad for an essay. That’s why it makes sense to narrow your focus. Which area do you find most interesting about the subject? For example, you can choose between culture, economy, technology, and, of course, the military.

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• Repressions and progress went hand in hand in the postwar US. Writing about the impact of WWI on domestic American politics would give you various directions to research.
• President Woodrow Wilson was against entering the war until 1917. What events led the US to break its neutrality?
• Many Germans of the time called the Treaty of Versailles a “dictate of shame.” It is often considered a significant reason for World War II. What was the US’ position on the Treaty of Versailles?
• After WWI, America followed isolationist politics. Until 1941, when they declared war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor . Could the USA have stayed out of WWII?
• How did WWII affect the American economy? Think about military needs and rationing.
• President Woodrow Wilson was a fierce supporter of the League of Nations . But congress coerced him not to have the USA join. Should America have become a member of this organization?

• How did American civilians contribute to the war effort? Your essay can focus specifically on women. Be sure to examine new arrangements in daily life.
• If you’re more into art, why not analyze how the world wars influenced American art?
• WWII changed all aspects of American life, including their diet. What new methods of food preservation emerged during that time?
• Another fascinating topic to engage in is propaganda and advertisement in the US during WWII. Your focus might lie on how they targeted different members of society.

Don’t forget to read the rest of our topics on this issue:

• Evaluate Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points program.
• How did the American army recruitment work in WWII?
• “Kilroy was here”: examine where the mysterious slogan comes from.
• Outline the history of Japanese Americans in Japanese internment camps.
• US spies: where and how did they operate?
• The Manhattan Project: trace the making of the atomic bomb .
• How did migration shape American society in the 1930s and ‘40s?
• The notion of freedom in America before, during, and after the wars.
• What role did communication play for the military in WWI vs. WWII?
• Canadian-American relations during WWII.
• How did the wars spur transportation developments in the US?
• Discuss the significance of D-Day .
• Could the allies have won WWII without the USA?
• Why did America emerge as a “Global Policeman” after the world wars?
• The effects of National Socialism in America.
• In what ways does the outcome of WWII still influence American society today?
• Compare and contrast military strategies in Europe vs. the Pacific.
• Was the dropping of the atomic bomb necessary?
• After the Little Boy’s devastating results, why did the American government decide to drop Fat Man?
• What made the Zimmerman telegram such a central document for American war participation?
• What happened to prisoner-of-war camps in the US after the fighting was over?
• Compare the leadership styles of Franklin D. Roosevelt in WWII and Woodrow Wilson in WWI.
• Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor ?
• What methods did the American government use to conceal their operations?
• Growing up in the ‘40s: how did the war impact the manufacture of toys?
• Which medical advancements were helpful to American soldiers in WWII that didn’t yet exist in WWI?
• How did the 1940s fashion in the USA reflect the global situation?
• Did the two world wars change the civil rights situation for African Americans ? If so, how?
• How did the war affect employment in the US?
• What was unique about the Higgins boats?
• The role of submarines in WWI.
• How did America cooperate with the allied forces in Europe in WWI?
• Discuss how the American citizens reacted to being drawn into WWI vs. WWII.
• Did anyone in the US profit from the wars? If so, who?
• Describe how American families changed during WWII.
• What stories do letters that soldiers sent to their families back home tell?
• Joseph Heller’s depiction of World War II in the novel Catch-22 .
• Compare and contrast memory culture concerning WWII in Russia vs. the USA.
• How did the perception of America on the global stage change after World War I?
• The role of women in the US military .

☮️ Essay Topics About the Civil Rights Movement

The struggle for African American equality finally intensified in the 1950s and 60s. Influential figures such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks emerged. Their resilience inspired countless others. Seventy years later, the fight is far from over. The rights of minorities and people of color are still a crucial topic in American society today.

• Nine months before the Montgomery Bus Boycott , Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white woman. Yet, Rosa Parks is the one commonly associated with sparking the event. Why is Claudette Colvin often ignored in history?
• Everybody knows Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr , but who were the Civil Rights Movement’s lesser-known figures? Start your research with Aurelia Browder and Susie McDonald.
• Which concepts and themes can you find in Martin Luther King Jr. ’s I Have A Dream speech ? One idea is to focus on how he expresses hope and freedom for black Americans.

• Which committees and organizations were central to the Civil Rights Movement’s success ? Discuss the roles of the SNCC, CORE, and NAACP.
• What makes Malcolm X a controversial figure? Be sure to mention his nationalist ideas and membership in the Nation of Islam.
• The Little Rock Nine: what made their integration into Little Rock Central High School difficult? In your research paper, you can write about harassment issues and military intervention.
• What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 change? On the one hand, you can talk about the history of voter rights. On the other, you might want to investigate how the public reacted to the new law.
• If you prefer personal stories, you can trace Ruby Bridges’ experiences. She became famous as the first black person to go to an all-white school. She’s still alive today.
• History can be ugly. If you’re not afraid to encounter violence during your research, check out the Freedom Rides. How did they help attract international attention to the Civil Rights Movement ?
• Consequences of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Did the movement die with him? How did the government respond?

Are you curious for more? Have a look at these prompts:

• Compare the modern Black Lives Matter movement with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
• What did the Black Panthers party achieve?
• The best way to teach about the Civil Rights Movement in 8 th grade.
• What happened at the Greensboro sit-ins?
• Why did the civil rights activists encounter so much violence, even though they mostly protested peacefully ?
• Compare and contrast Gandhi’s methods and those of Martin Luther King Jr.
• Why was Bloody Sunday a crucial moment for the Civil Rights Movement ?
• What was the “long, hot summer”?
• Examine the creation of the Kerner Commission.
• The role of students in advancing civil rights for African Americans .
• What rights did black Americans gain through the Civil Rights Movement ?
• Describe the Nation of Islam’s goals.
• Who were the members of the Black Panther Party ?
• What distinguishes the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s from previous movements to establish more rights for African Americans?
• Give a brief overview of the most important Supreme Court decisions concerning the struggle for equality.
• The importance of the church for the Civil Rights Movement.
• Compare the effects of various marches for freedom.
• What made Martin Luther King Jr. a great leader for the movement?
• How did the murder of Emmett Till affect the public’s view on segregation and racism?
• How did the press support or hinder the Civil Rights Movement ?
• Loving v. Virginia: legacy and contemporary significance.
• What did the notion of “miscegenation” entail?
• What were the Jim Crow laws ?
• Describe the goals and achievements of Operation Breadbasket.
• Who was Stokely Carmichael?
• Analyze Ralph Abernathy’s autobiography And the Walls Came Tumbling Down . Why do some people consider it controversial?
• Debate the criticism brought up against the Congress of Racial Equality.
• Why did some civil rights activists in the 1960s radicalize?
• Did the election of Barack Obama mark the end of the struggle for equal rights?
• Discuss the success of the Baton Rouge bus boycott.
• What events led to Lyndon B. Johnson’s signing of the Voting Rights Act?
• Examine Coretta Scott King’s career after her husband’s passing.
• Investigate conspiracy theories concerning James Earl Ray’s role in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
• The publishing and writing process of Malcolm X’s autobiography .
• How and why did the 2020 election undermine parts of the Voting Rights Act?
• Is studying the Civil Rights Movement still relevant today? If so, why?
• How did CORE help desegregate schools in Chicago?
• Who is Jesse Jackson?
• Contemporary commemoration of the Civil Rights Movement .
• How did John F. Kennedy’s death impact the Civil Rights Movement?

💬 Debatable US History Topics to Research

Controversy has been a constant companion of American history. And it’s not only questionable segregation practices that are up for debate. Women’s and LGBT rights, as well as welfare programs, are issues still unresolved today. If you want argumentative or persuasive essay topics about American history, check out this section.

• Memories are always socially constructed. “How do various communities around the US perceive monuments of slaveholders?” is an engaging question to explore in your essay.
• In 1995, an exhibition at the Smithsonian centered around the Enola Gay sparked a nationwide controversy. Critics said the exhibit focused too much on the Japanese suffering the nuclear bomb dropped from the aircraft caused. Was that criticism justified?
• In the past, Colonial Williamsburg’s issues with slavery were often overlooked. Instead, when creating and developing the historical site, the focus lay on its democratic values. Is Colonial Williamsburg still a good place to learn about American history?
• What does the Liberty Bell stand for today? You can include recent and older controversies surrounding the location and custody of the bell.
• Tracing the history of LGBT rights will yield many debatable insights. Which court decisions would you consider especially controversial, and why?
• The legacy of the Centralia massacre in 1919: are the events linked to the Red Scare ? How did the town try to obscure the truth?
• In 1887, President Eisenhower supported a campaign to promote patriotism. Part of this was the addition of “under God” to the American Pledge of Allegiance. Analyze the debates surrounding the issue.
• The history of prostitution laws in the US. Your thesis could suggest a connection between decriminalizing sex work and the workers’ wellbeing.
• In the 2020 election, several states voted to legalize not only marijuana but also other drugs. History shows many movements to legalize recreational drug use. What was different now?
• Many older Disney cartoons depict racist stereotypes. The question of adjusting them to modern values sparked much debate. Using this discussion to explore how America should deal with problematic media from the past might be promising.

Keep reading and discover more controversial United States history topics.

• Did President Barack Obama deserve his Nobel Peace Prize?
• What did the US gain from the Iraq War ?
• Would Germany have won WWII without America’s intervention?
• Should the presidents of the previous century have done more to promote animal rights ?
• Given its historical context, should we keep celebrating Thanksgiving?
• Why did it take so long for American women to achieve legally equal rights ?
• Find historical reasons why the US never instituted universal healthcare .
• The necessity of cow’s milk in America: past vs. present.
• Was the annexation of Puerto Rico justified?
• Did the Chicano Movement achieve positive changes for Mexican Americans?
• John F. Kennedy’s most controversial presidential actions.
• The ratification of the 8 th amendment .
• Was the government’s response to 9/11 justified?
• The role of faith in American history before 1877 and after.
• Who or what caused the US’ drug overdose epidemic?
• HIV/AIDS denialism in America in the 1990s.
• What should Locust Grove do to restore its deteriorating African American cemetery? Can the place be considered a historical site?
• Why did some states introduce felon disenfranchisement in 1792? Did the new law spark any outrage?
• Trace the historical timeline of the same-sex marriage debate .
• The USA has always been a country of immigrants. How did this lead to immigration being a fiercely discussed topic nowadays?
• How did the US contribute to the current instability in the Middle East ?
• Was the “Lost Generation” reckless?
• How do US historians influence public opinion?
• Does the Red Scare reflect on Russian-American relations today?
• Should Bill Clinton have stayed in office ?
• Discuss the benefits of being a hippie in the 60s.
• Can the members of the Beat Generation serve as role models for travel enthusiasts today?
• Roe v. Wade : what made the court case a turning point in the fight for women’s reproductive rights?
• Did American feminism become too radical by the late 19 th century?
• The rise and fall of DDT: Why was it allowed in the first place?
• What should US history education for high school students look like?
• From a historical perspective, does the reality in Watchmen seem like a likely scenario for the future?
• Psychiatric methods in early 1900s America.
• The role of performance-enhancing drugs in the history of American sports achievements.
• Why do some people believe that the moon landing was staged?
• Criticism against Ayn Rand’s objectivism and its influence.
• Before opening America’s first women’s hospital, gynecologist J. Marion Sims experimented on slaves. Should he still be celebrated as the ‘father’ of modern gynecology?
• Is the notion of “American Century” accurate?
• American exceptionalism in the 20 th century vs. now.
• Has technological innovation always been beneficial for the American public?

✊🏿 Black History Topics for an Essay

African American experiences are still very different than those of their white compatriots. That’s why it’s crucial to analyze people of color’s perspectives of and contributions to history. Black history includes thematic topics on education, society, and culture.

• Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave adapts the 1853 memoirs of Solomon Northup. Though the film doesn’t shy away from brutal images, critics argued it was too soft. Should film writers surrender accurate historical representation to make their content more accessible?
• After the Civil War, slavery was officially banned in the US. Still, the South continued to find ways to exploit black labor. Examine the consequences of new methods such as convict leasing and sharecropping .
• Many of those who opposed slavery complied with the system by staying silent or inactive. What did this mean for the reality of African Americans ? Why didn’t these people stand up?
• A paper on what caused the Red Summer of 1919 can focus on the South to North migration of African Americans during WWI.
• In the 20 th century, the Great Migration relocated many African Americans. How did this event impact the development of black culture? Your paper could concentrate on art movements or political activism.
• The GI Bill promised financial benefits to veterans. But former black soldiers didn’t profit as much as their white compatriots. To analyze a concrete example of racist inequality, you can write about how the GI Bill affected African American veterans.
• For decades, American universities did their best to keep African Americans from receiving higher education . How is education inequality still impacting black students today?
• After WWI, Tulsa was a prosperous city home to the so-called “ Black Wall Street .” Then the Tulsa Race Massacre happened, and the area was left in shambles. Explore the moving history of Tulsa’s Greenwood District.
• Do you want to investigate the powerful interplay between cinema and reality? Dedicate your essay to the connection between D.W. Griffith’s 1915 picture The Birth of a Nation and the Ku Klux Klan’s revival. What did this mean for black lives in the early 20 th century?
• Pan-Africanism in the United States: Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Writing about this topic, you might want to highlight African American nationalism in the 20 th century.

Are none of these prompts for you? Don’t worry; we’ve got more African American history paper topics for college students:

• Booker T. Washington vs. W. E. B. Du Bois : similarities and disagreements.
• African American innovators who never received credit for their inventions.

• From Hiram Rhodes Revels and Shirley Chisholm to Barack Obama: African Americans who paved the way for modern American democracy .
• Should the US government pay reparations to descendants of former slaves?
• Sojourner Truth : how did the former slave fight to end injustice?
• How did job competition in the North intensify racial tensions in the 20 th century?
• The accomplishments of Dorothy Johnson Vaughan.
• Ida B. Wells’ legacy and the history of lynching in America.
• Why do we celebrate Black History Month, and why is it important?
• What does Juneteenth commemorate?
• Histories of the most famous black scientists in the United States.
• How did the geographic distribution of black people in America transform over time?
• Key activists of the abolitionist movement .
• How did African Americans contribute to NASA’s success?
• African Americans in the age of Prohibition: views and effects.
• Juxtapose the development of black rights and felon rights.
• Analyze the significance of Marian Anderson’s show on the National Mall for the Civil Rights Movement.
• African American women in the beauty business: the story of Madame C. J. Walker.
• What motivated many black Americans to fight in WWI voluntarily?
• How did enslaved people manage to escape to the Northern states ?
• Compare the origins and outcomes of the Civil Rights Movement’s various marches.
• The New Deal’s effect on African Americans.
• Explore the connection between black history in the US and cotton .
• What does the term “black flight” mean, and why might the phenomenon be a problem?
• How did white capping inhibit the development of black communities?
• What were the goals of the Che Lumumba Club?
• Analyze the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case . What did its outcome mean for equality?
• What makes Angela Davis a crucial figure in the black history discourse?
• Analyze how Jackie Robinson broke the “color line” to pave the way for African American participation in professional sports.
• Discuss the long-term consequences of the Tuskegee experiment .
• How did the Watts Riots affect African American communities in California?
• Explore the origins of Kwanzaa.
• African American poetry before 1877: Lucy Terry’s Bars Fight .
• Not so free after all: enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law.
• Did the situation for American people of color improve after the implementation of Affirmative Action laws ? If so, how?
• Trailblazing black Americans in education.
• How did sports help promote equality for African Americans in the 1900s?
• Who were the Scottsboro boys?
• Journalism’s fight for social justice: The Crisis magazine then and now.
• How did Prohibition help dissolve segregation?

🏞️ Native American Topics to Write About

Much effort has gone into improving the relations between Americans and the indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been the case. The history of native Americans is tainted with cruel battles. Taking a closer look reveals the interplay of various cultures and customs.

• Pocahontas is one of the most renowned figures in Native American history . Compare Pocahontas’ real life vs. how she is depicted in the media. Why was she often romanticized?
• How did Andrew Jackson’s government justify the Indian Removal Act ? Moral standards during that time and economic reasoning might be a compelling area to focus on.
• Native American participation in American wars. The colonists fought many battles with each other. France, Spain, and England all competed for the new territory. Did Native Americans participate in these fights? If so, whose side were they on?
• African peoples were not the only ones who suffered serfdom. Your research paper could cover the colonial enslavement of Native Americans .
• In the 18 th century, settlers and natives negotiated a variety of treaties. What did they say? Were these treaties ever beneficial for the natives?
• The Indian Appropriations Act of 1851 organized Native American lives into reservations. What did life look like for natives in these reservations? Additionally, you could examine how reservations affect their lives today.
• Attempts to deal with Native Americans included assimilation and “civilization.” How did these methods work out? For a concrete example, investigate Henry Pratt’s Carlisle Indian Industrial school.
• If you want to know more about Indian belief systems, research the emergence of the Ghost Dance. Originating in the late 19 th century, many native communities adapted the new tradition.
• Geronimo escaped captivity countless times before turning himself in. How did he do that? Your essay can look at his beliefs and this geographical knowledge.
• The Narragansett was the first tribe to encounter European settlers . What were their relations? How did they develop? Consider territorial struggles and the role of Roger Williams.

Are you looking for something else? Check out these US history essay questions and prompts:

• Compare and contrast American and Australian historical relations to their native population.
• What events led to the breakout of King Philip’s War?
• Ancient Indian burial rituals and modern myths.
• How did the Cherokees rebuild their lives after the Trail of Tears ?
• Sacagawea’s contribution to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition .
• Great Native American leaders: Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.
• What happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?
• Consequences for Native American lives after the proclamation of 1763.
• The crucial role of Navajo Code Talkers in WWII.
• How did integration into American culture transform tribal life for different tribes?
• Explore naming customs of various Native American tribes.
• Is Black Elk Speaks an accurate representation of Lakota culture?
• What did the American Indian Movement achieve?
• What makes the Massacre of Wounded Knee significant?
• Trace Leonard Peltier’s career in politics and activism.
• Chief Tecumseh and the Indian confederacy.
• Compare and contrast the cultures of native tribes from various regions in America before colonization.
• How did American policies regarding the indigenous population change from the Mayflower’s arrival until now?
• What happened to California’s extensive Native American population after it became a state?
• The development of Native American music.
• Traditional Cherokee farming tools and techniques.
• Native Americans and religion : what compelled some chiefs to convert to Christianity?
• How did N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn shape indigenous cultures’ image for the general public?
• How did native spiritualism relate to the environment?
• Gender roles of the Sioux tribe before 1900.
• The greatest battles between First Nations and Americans.
• Why were the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee considered the “ Five Civilized Tribes ”?
• America’s first native newspaper: The Cherokee Phoenix and its modern equivalent.
• How did many of today’s Native Americans become entangled with alcohol and gambling ?
• Myths and speculations on the ancient origins of indigenous Americans.
• Economic development of Native American tribes in the 20 th century.
• Why did Cochise and his Apache warriors raid American settlements?
• Trace the history of indigenous feminism.
• What were the blood quantum laws, and why were they introduced?
• Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill: forging an unlikely friendship.
• The accomplishments of Oglala Lakota chief Red Cloud.
• How did the Louisiana Purchase impact First Nations in the region ?
• The history of Native Americans in law and politics.
• The political aftermath of the Sand Creek Massacre
• Cheyenne warrior societies: the emergence of Dog Soldiers as a separate band.

⭐ Topics on Famous People in American History

People shape history. Many of America’s leading historical figures made it to global importance. This section provides you with history essay topics on American artists, presidents, innovators, and more.

• The “King of Pop” Michael Jackson died a decade ago. Why is he still one of the most debated American celebrities? Your essay could focus on the controversial allegations of child abuse towards him.
• The social influence of Benjamin Franklin’s journalism is an enticing topic. It allows you to look at the founding father from a different angle. Make sure to include in your essay his desire to educate Americans in morality.
• John Harvey Kellogg was a progressive healthcare leader. He was also a fierce follower of Adventism. If you endorse obscure things, write about Kellogg’s “warfare with passion.”
• Mural made Jackson Pollock famous. Reflect on his career before and after the painting. How did the artist find his passion for drip painting?
• As a First Lady , Betty Ford was a strong advocate for women’s rights. But her political influence didn’t end with her husband’s career. Discuss Betty Ford’s accomplishments after her time in the White House. Mention her addiction and the subsequent establishment of the Betty Ford Center.
• In 1935, J. Edgar Hoover founded the FBI. In his later years, he became a controversial figure due to his abuses of power . Examine Hoover’s investigations of subversion. What do you find surprising about them?
• Before his brother’s assassination, Bobby Kennedy wasn’t particularly popular in the US. Analyze his speeches during his political career after the event. What made him a compassionate orator?
• The Kennedy-Nixon debates provide a rich foundation for those interested in political campaigning . How did the public react to them? What did the polls say? Keep in mind that it was America’s first televised presidential debate.
• If you seek to combine environmentalism and politics, Al Gore is your man. How did Al Gore shape America’s political discourse in the 2000s? Consider his loss against George Bush in the controversial 2000 election.
• Literature enthusiasts know Allen Ginsberg for his explicit poem Howl . How did he express his political and social activism in his works? You could focus on his fight for free speech and the Howl trial.

We’ve got more topics on regents and other famous Americans for you to check out:

• Just Say No: Nancy Reagan and the failure of her anti-drug campaign.
• Why was Abraham Lincoln such a controversial figure?
• Kurt Cobain and Nirvana: the voice of the ‘90s youth.
• Ronald Reagan was an actor before he became president. What drove him into politics?
• What circumstances made Donald Trump’s presidency possible?
• Why was Jimmy Carter such an unpopular president?
• Discuss what Eleanor Roosevelt achieved for women.
• Stanley Kubrick: was he the greatest filmmaker of the 20 th century?
• The role of First Ladies before the Civil War.
• Judith Butler’s influence on American feminism.
• Margaret Sanger: the initiator of the birth control movement.
• How did Oprah Winfrey get to where she is now?
• Steve Jobs and the revolution of computer technology.
• Research the mysterious Zodiac Killer and his ciphers. Why were many people obsessed with him?
• How did the Wright Brothers shape the history of aviation?
• Amelia Earhart’s disappearance: myths and facts.
• J. Robert Oppenheimer’s contributions to physics.
• Bruce Lee and the transformation of martial arts.
• How did O.J. Simpson end up in the US’ most famous car chase?
• Charles Goodyear and the road to vulcanized rubber.
• Creating nanotechnology : the legacy of Eric Drexler.
• Muhammad Ali’s influence on raising awareness for Parkinson’s research.
• Describe how Bobby Fischer impacted the world of chess.
• What made Chuck Norris so famous?
• How did Marilyn Monroe change the American attitude towards sexuality?
• Truman Capote’s role in advancing LGBT rights.
• Harper Lee’s biography after the publishing of To Kill A Mockingbird .
• Transforming science fiction: the legacy of Philip K. Dick .
• Andy Warhol as a global anti-capitalist icon.
• Bringing quantum physics forward: the brilliance of Richard Feynman.
• Samuel Colt and the consequences of inventing the revolver.
• Analyze the significance of Helen Keller’s work for women’s and disabled persons’ rights.
• How did Sam Walton become the wealthiest American in 1985?
• Discuss the importance of Thurgood Marshall for the Civil Rights Movement.
• What inspired Bill W. to found Alcoholics Anonymous ?
• Paving the way for gay politicians: the activism of Harvey Milk .
• What was Louis B. Mayer’s management style with MGM?
• Walt Disney : who was the person behind the chipper cartoons?
• Trace Estée Lauder’s success story.
• How did Olympia Brown contribute to advance gender equality in the religious sphere?

We hope you found your ideal essay or project topic on US history. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

• Americanism Essay: Examples, Tips & Topics [2024 Update]
• 497 Interesting History Topics to Research
• 460 Excellent Political Topics to Write about in 2024
• 149 Interesting History Essay Topics and Events to Write about
• A List of 450 Powerful Social Issues Essay Topics
• 210 Immigration Essay Topics
• A List of 175 Interesting Cultural Topics to Write About
• 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
• Pre-Columbian to the New Millenium: US History
• A Brief Guide to Writing the History Paper: Harvard
• American Civil War: History.com
• Reconstruction: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Industrialization and Urbanization in the United States: Oxford Research Encyclopedias
• The United States in WWI: Khan Academy
• America Goes to War: The National WWII Museum
• Controversies: National Council on Public History
• The 100 Most Significant Americans of All Time: Smithsonian Magazine
• American History: History Central
• The 25 Moments From American History That Matter Right Now: Time
• All Topics: American Historical Association
• Native American: Library of Congress
• African American History: National Archives
• Civil Rights Movement: ADL
• US 20th Century: Princeton University
• The Progressive Era: Lumen Learning
• Timeline: United States History: World Digital Library
• Explore by Timeline: The New Nation (1783-1860): US General Services Administration
• The Emergence of Modern America: Smithsonian Institution
• What Was the Cold War?: National Geographic
• The Story of the Atomic Bomb: The Ohio State University
• Continental Feminism: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• The Constitution: The White House
• The US During World War I: Delaware.gov
• America in the First World War: The British Library
• Key Events and Figures of Reconstruction: The City University of New York
• Reconstruction and Its Impact: IDCA
• 400 Years since Slavery: a Timeline of American History: The Guardian
• American Revolution Facts: American Battlefield Trust
• The Presidents of the United States: Constitution Facts
• What Caused the American Industrial Revolution: Investopedia
• Reasons Behind the Revolutionary War: NCpedia
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56 African American History Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best african american history topic ideas & essay examples, 🔍 good essay topics on african american history, ✅ most interesting african american history topics to write about.

• African American History Timeline (1619 – 1865) As the expansion of the textile factories led irresistibly to a rise in the market for servitude Africans, there was a possibility of a slave insurrection, such as the one that prevailed in Haiti in […]
• African Americans: History and Modernity Most African Americans are descendants of enslaved people brought from Africa, and the research focuses on the connection between the current state of African Americans concerning their history. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• History and True Meaning of African American Slave Music The ancestors of African Americans were forcibly separated from their homes and brought to the United States to work on the plantations of the Old South.
• The Series of Injustices Spanned the History of African Americans A series of failures for Americans began with the emergence of slavery in the USA. However, it is impossible to talk about the complete eradication of racism in the country.
• The African American History: The Historical Weight of 1776 A number of us, who arrived unexpectedly, became indentured to Virginia masters through a bidding process that was to some extent similar to later slave auctions that would become all in all widespread in the […]
• Lynching History of African Americans: An Absurd Illegal Justice System in the 19th Century Another attempt to explain the origin of lynch law is that of regulators and moderators. According to Rhodes, this theory is not applicable because the name of the law and order maintenance unit was aregulators’ […]
• African Americans Struggle Against Slavery The following paragraphs will explain in detail the two articles on slavery and the African American’s struggle to break away from the heavy and long bonds of slavery. The website tells me that Dredd Scott […]
• African American History: The Struggle for Freedom The history of the Jacksons Rainbow coalition shows the rise of the support of the African American politicians in the Democratic party.
• African American History in the 20th Century The NAACP was radical since it fought many legal battles and fought against ideologies of some of the most prominent African American leaders like those of the late Booker Washington and the government.
• African American History After Reconstruction The bureau also helped champion African Americans’ rights by pushing for the 14th and 15th amendments of the constitution that would give African Americans voting rights.
• King Jr. and Malcolm X in African American History Malcolm was able to sell his ideas to the African Americans in various meetings in the streets of Harlem and in major universities across the United States.
• Robert R. Moton’s Role in African American History In conclusion, this article has helped to get a better understanding of the topic and what events took place at that time.
• History of Higher Education for African Americans Even if I had the opportunity to participate in higher education, I could not have managed to take advantage of it since it was expensive, and I would have nothing to eat after school.
• African American History and Its Importance in Modern Days Without a clear understanding of this part of history, slavery would not have evolved to the current citizenship, freedom and human rights that we enjoy in our constitution.
• History of African Americans The readings that are going to be discussed in the paper tell the history of African Americans, their struggles for civil rights, and their integration into the social and political life of the country.
• Perspectives in African American History and Culture The point is that a person has both, mind and body, and if a person could not accept the idea of being enslaved, he/she was not a slave.
• The History of the Black Lives Matter Movement
• African American History: 1865 to the Present
• The Black History Month: The Importance of Black History
• Overview of African American History and Culture
• African American History: Religious Influences 1770 – 1831
• The Brief History of Black Nationalism
• Who Is Considered the Father of Black History
• African American History: Tribute to Sojourner Truth
• Ame and Ame Zion Churches in African American History
• Black Slaveowners in African American History
• Capitalism and Its Impact on African American History
• Education of All Perspectives of the African American History
• Changes Brewing for African American History
• Exploring African American History: The Harlem Renaissance
• Impact of the African American History on African Americans
• The Concept of Freedom in African American History
• How Does African American History Differ From Others
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• How the 2008 Election Affected African American History
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