Choosing History Term Paper Topics: Helpful Instructions

History term papers require an incredible amount of facts and information that can make just the process of choosing a topic very difficult. Some helpful tips in finding a great topic is first asking yourself what interests you, what questions you would like to have answered, and what do you believe a term paper in your proposed topic will add to the discipline. It’s never a good idea to choose a topic that has too many people already writing about, but you also don’t want to choose a topic you won’t be able to find any information on. Here are some ideas that might inspire some term paper topics of your own:

• Veterans Day in Europe vs U.S. What are the significant differences or similarities between how these two places celebrate the men and women who have fought their nations’ wars?
• History of Ellis Island. Ellis Island was a place of both hope and despair as it symbolized the entry point to a new life in the U.S. but was also a place where many immigrants where quarantined and died to protect from the spread of disease.
• The Black Death and the Modern Disease. The Black Death taught humans a lot about how disease spreads and how it can change the landscape of nations. What does the Black Death teach us about modern disease and how we treat it?
• Fort Sumter and the U.S. Civil War. This site is best known for the site upon which the first shots were fired in the U.S. Civil War. Though no one died during the 36-hour battle it’s still a significant historical site where celebrations are held annually.
• Spying in the U.S. Civil War. Spying played a crucial role in the U.S. Civil War as agents behind enemy lines risked their lives to deliver vital pieces of information that in all likelihood affected the war’s outcome.
• The Irish Brigade. The fighting brigade comprised mostly of Irish Americans fighting for the Union Army, and suffered the third most combat dead in the war.
• Secrets of the Tower of London. The Tower of London is one of England’s oldest and most recognized landmarks and has undergone many renovations, boasting a rich history of secrets.
• The First and “Next” Cold War. What can be learned from the first cold war to prevent the potential modern threat of a new cold war and the dangers that come with it?
• Women in the U.S. Civil War. Women played a vital role, not just as nurses in the Civil War, but also as spies, suppliers of materials, and workers while men were fighting.