Help choosing US history topic?

Question

I will be taking a college level research methods course in history this spring. I have to choose a topic to write a 20-page paper on. It much be American history, pre-1900. I'd like to do something from the Revolutionary War or Civil War/Reconstruction Era. I'm having a difficult time choosing a topic that isn't too broad. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your input.

Answer 1

How about the role of women during the Revolutionary War or Civil War/Reconstruction era?

Answer 2

These ideas are outside your preferred areas but they are areas not many people cover. Everyone goes for Revolution or Civil war, but be careful as the tons of info on these topics can be overwhelming.

Andrew Jackson's battles with Congress over Executive power
The effect of the Homestead Act following the Civil War
Race riots in the North during the Civil War
The Know-Nothing movement in the 1850's
Why was Andrew Johnson the first U.S. president to be impeached

19th century U.S. history is full of great topics. Try to be original. Your teacher will appreciate it when they get to read something different from what the rest of the class wrote. You may also learn something completely new.

Answer 3

You could do one on the 14th Amendment and how it never meant Constitutional requirements for ratification. Rather, its vality was established by the Supreme Court in Texas v. White as existing due to Right of Conquest achieved by the federal government.

This is a narrow topic and yet has more than enough elements to do easily 20 pages.

However, your instructor may grade it down because of not liking its conclusions even though theyu are true.

Answer 4

what about the Alamo, why didn't Sam Houston send help after receiving message after message that the defenders needed it or they would all be killed? Were Davy Crockett and others running away, caught and bayoneted on Santa Anna's orders? Was the Yellow Rose of Texas a Chinese female laundry worker and was she giving Santa Anna a BJ, distracting him at San Jacinto allowing the Americans to surprise and defeat him? And then write a song about her?

Answer 5

How about a look at some of the major confrontations with American native Indians from THEIR point of view. Just about everything written is written from the always right white guys point of view . There are two sides to every story, and right or wrong, If we are to fully understand the events of history, we have to look at it from all angles.I suspect it would make a fascinating research project.

Answer 6

How about the rise of African American politicians during Reconstruction?
Some other ideas include...
-Something on the Radical Republicans and their motives for passing the liberal legislation they passed
-Something on John Brown and Harper's Ferry (sorry, I dont remember how to spell it)
-Integration of African Americans in Southern Society (freedmen's bureau and all that) and the obstacles in their way (KKK,etc)

Answer 7

you ought to speak approximately placed up civil conflict corruption or the gilded age. you will locate plenty, you ought to commence with the "gilded age" written by utilising Mark Twain. there are a number of examples too: - the whiskey ring - fisk and gould - the credit mobilier or in case you wanted to you ought to do a assessment essay between corruption for the period of furnish and Harding's Presidencies yet another one that ought to be a sturdy assessment could be the two the 20's and after WW2 have been the two circumstances of prosperity for the U. S., however the 20's have been consistent with credit and deliver approximately the gread melancholy wile after WW2 it grow to be based extra on funds and it deliver approximately between the optimum factors for the U. S.'s economic gadget. or you ought to speak with regard to the fashionable era commence with Teddy - have faith busting (regardless of the undeniable fact that he thought there have been some sturdy trusts) Taft -busted extra trusts -slightly decrease tariff WIlson -have faith busting -exertions reforms (there are a gaggle) -decrease tariff (then i'm unsure whilst all of those slot in yet there in that factor era) -18th exchange (prohibition) -nineteenth exchange (females suffrage) - (i'm unsure which exchange 17?) direction election of senators - bear in mind election, referendum, etc -sparkling food there are a number of books too -upton sinclair - the jungle -spargle? - the bitter cry of the toddlers -Riis - how the different a million/2 lives -the treason of the senate - the background of the nicely-known oil corporation