history research paper topic ideas?

Question

has to be a controversy in history.
ex. JFK assassination- was the government involved?
and other stuff like that.

one idea i had was
"The treaty of versailles lead the way to world war II"

any other ideas?

Answer 1

One woman's opinion:
The JFK idea has been worked to death and is so convoluted it might be difficult to narrow it down to something comprehensible.
I like the Treaty of Versailles idea. You may have heard that World War II was "World War I - Part II" or the like.
That bloody Treaty was responsible for so much sorrow in the World thereafter - such as the Depression - that it showed that PUNISHING the losers was NOT the way to go. Sure, you don't want to overtly congratulate them for throwing the World into War - but what it did was led directly to WWII.
At the time, many people STRONGLY objected to the Marshall Plan which basically rebuilt Germany along with the rest of Western Europe, but, in the end, it sure left us with a much better state of affairs than World War III. The Germans, despite their many faults (not saying we're perfect!) are our strongest ally in that part of the World.
You could even tie it in to our treatment of the Japanese after the War. Sure - we could have basically enslaved them - but by showing them respect we gained a friend for life, so to speak, in a very unstable part of the World. Kind of like Germany (West) holding the Soviets at bay throughout the Cold War.

The Marshall Plan, in and of itself, would be a great topic as it certainly was controversial! Many people were opposed to it, some still are angry, the Soviets hated it, but, in the end, it worked. A United Nations came out of it - for what good it's doing us now!!! ANOTHER controversial subject! We sure could use the property tax income and it would leave us less open to terrorists and common thugs and spies if it didn't occupy prime Manhattan real estate.
The ineffectiveness of the UN is another good topic. What good is it if it allowed Bosnia, Afghanistan, Darfur, the Sudan, Rwanda - and/or the ongoing slave trade in many regions of the World.
I could go on and on...
Good for you for some great ideas. Now follow up and you'll do GREAT!!

Answer 2

What about the

"Kent State University killings" by National Guardsmen in 1970.

Macathyism in the early 1950's

Refusing a passport and the right to travel to the Afro-American singer, Paul Robeson in the 1950's and 1960's.

The police attacks, beatings and arrests of peace activists and Democratic Party supporters during the 1968 Democratic Party convention in Chicago.

Answer 3

Boston Tea Party

Answer 4

If you really enjoy those two wars you should write your paper on a specific critical battle such as Gettysburg. From there you could write on what led up to the battle, people involved, tactics, or the aftermath.