What's an interesting topic in US History?

Question

I have to do a presentation on a topic in US history. It should be broad enough (not like American Revolution-broad or Whiskey Rebellion-small), but I don't have any preferences as to what I should do.

Suggestions on what would be interesting to talk about, please? Oh, and I don't want something technical like the constitution. Thanks! ^-^

Oh, I also forgot to mention the topic should be something covered in the AP exams.

Answer 1

Any aspect of civil rights, women's suffrage & gaining the right to vote, the Oregon trail & the initial wagon train to what is now Portland, Clara Barton & the formation of the Red Cross, Ellis Island, the Chicago fire, the San Francisco Earthquake, the abolitionist movement, the history of baseball in the U.S., the Battle of Gettysburg, Lewis & Clark's expedition, the Louisiana Purchase... all are fascinating topics.

Answer 2

You can do anything like the 1893 World's Fair, which is cool b/c you can talk about the actual Fair which introduced many new products such as the Ferris Wheel and also HH Holmes who was a serial killer who used the Worlds Fair to lure his victims. You could do weapons of WWI, there are tons of new ones, tanks, zeppelins, airplanes, etc. and obviously that is important not only for that war but for the future. You could do something like militancy during the Civil Rights movement and talk about men such as Malcolm X or you could do nonvoilence and do the Little Rock 9, Martin Luther King Jr, etc. Propaganda in WWII could also be good and there are tons of visuals you could use. The Chicago Fire is also interesting b/c of how big of an impact it had on the city and even the country! If you liked the movie Gangs of New York, you could do something with Political Machines and how corrupt politicians (such as Boss Tweed) were during the late 1800s. During that time frame you could look at immigrations and Ellis or Angel Island. If you want to do a person Teddy Roosevelt is very interesting b/c he did some cool things before he was president, IE being a cowboy! If you need any more specific ideas, let me know!!

Answer 3

Pick some topic that's not over-done already, something that takes a clear perspective, a story that's emotionally compelling, and not boring.

People:
Overdone: Washington, Lincoln.
Good picks: Thomas Jefferson or Banastre Tarlton.

Maybe try to compare the life of Abigail Adams to Barbara Bush (both had the role of being a wife and mother of a president).

Events:
Overdone: Gettysburg, Valley Forge.
Boring: The collapse of the Whig Party.
Good: George Rogers Clark at Vincennes.
Good: Removal of the Cherokee Indians.
Good Flow: The Atlanta Campaign (Civil War).
--- or ---
Maybe do something unusual - like a report on the pets kept by presidents.

Good luck on your presentation.

Answer 4

There is a little book entitled Nash, Howard P. The Forgotten Wars: The Role of the U.S. Navy in the Quasi War With France

a subject that is totally ignored is America's QUASI WAR WITH FRANCE which was during the Adams' administration.

If you can find a set of books at a library
Naval Documents Related To the Quasi War
That is all the research that you need. It is a 7 volume set, the volumes are large, but the most easily read would be Nash, Howard P. The Forgotten Wars: The Role of the U.S. Navy in the Quasi War With France

Answer 5

An interesting topic that might be unusual is the trust-busting of the Roosevelt and Taft administrations. An interesting aspect of that is Roosevelt was known as the "trust-buster", but in his 7 years in office his administration broke up fewer trusts than Taft did in 4 years. Taft's PR people must not have been very good. You might be disappointed in looking at the role of FDR and relief "after" the depression. True the depression started before he came into office, but it didn't end shortly after he took office. It took gearing up for World War II to end the depression. He was re-elected in 1936 while the depression was still going on. His PR people were very good. Things were still tough in 1940, but there was a European war going on and he had kept us out of it to that point. So FDR's role in relief after the depression was very little. After the depression, he dealt pretty much with the war, right up to the day he died.

Answer 6

History of Environmentalism in America
Talk about the Dustbowl and how it caused the Great Depression.
Talk about Rachel Carson and "Silent Spring".
Talk about John Muir and the Sierra Club.
This topic includes some great stories. Some are inspirational and some are beguiling..

Answer 7

The Salem Witch Trials

Answer 8

I hope i'm not too late to answer, I tried to post yesterday and it errored, so i saved my answer for you!

Good luck--

Here's a great topic on History and how Television changed how we elect a US President.
here's a website that tells you what i'm telling you but with facts, and dates. www.associatedcontent.com
Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the First Televised Debates - Submitted by N. ... Society " History " Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the


This is an excellent topic due to the upcoming election and Television how it changed Politics forever! website listed as well as personal knowledge in my own words from memory.

Well, in 1960 we had our first Political debates Live on Televesion.

IT opened the entire arena of having the elections in our home, the country was leaning towards Nixon, but seeing Kennedy's charm, good looks, and forward thinking changed everything.

Prior to that people had to go to Political rally's.
It was the first time in History that Television made a difference in how we elected a President.

IT was the first time that there were Politial Commercials, and Candidates bought air time.

This is very interesting and changed History forever.
Now we are flooded with electronic Political Calls, and endless Political commercials on TV. It's a form of Brain washing.

The candidates no longer have to go from town meeting to town meeting and meet and great in Person.

www.associatedcontent.com/.../...
Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the First Televised Debates ...
Check out Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the First Televised Debates - Submitted by N. ... Society " History " Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the

History: Election of 1960 Brings Close Race Between Kennedy, Nixon
displayarticle ... Kennedy and Humphrey began to enter local primary elections in different states. ... On Election Day in November, the voters chose John Kennedy. ...

www.voanews.com/specialenglish... -

1b. The Election of 1960: JFK Defeats Nixon [Beyond Books ...
... election of 1960, one state did not award any electoral votes to either Kennedy or Nixon. ... It was one of the closest elections in American history. ...

www.beyondbooks.com/gop00/1b.a... Source(s) Kennedy, Nixon Election 1963 Interesting time in History. Source(s) Personal experience lived thru that era.
here's a webstite: read and learn: www.associatedcontent.com/.../...
Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the First Televised Debates ...
Check out Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the First Televised Debates - Submitted by N. ... Society " History " Election of 1960: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Televison that changed made History
Source(s)

Answer 9

Why the south and the north fought the civil war and slavery was only just part of it.

Answer 10

The prohibition, no more booze??? or the depression.