Need help with a history essay?
Read this article to find some clues on how to write a historical paper. Here we’ve prepared some writing prompts and a sample outline. There are also several topic ideas and history essay examples for you.
Let’s begin!
A history essay focuses on past events, traditions, and human affairs. Students can get this task at middle school, high school, or college. This assignment is challenging at any level of study. The range of topics is rather wide. In this article, we will give some general recommendations.
Here is how you can choose a perfect topic for your essay:
We also prepared a list of history essay topics for you. Take a look:
Primary sources are pieces of first-hand information. They include documents, oral or written testimonials, diaries, etc. They provide an unbiased overview of events, people, or phenomena. Primary sources should be the basis of your argumentation and answer your research question. Use them when you need to describe and interpret the facts yourself. You can also include some primary sources that should form an overview and provide background information.
Secondary sources are scholarly pieces of information that analyze, evaluate, and describe primary sources. Use them to support your opinion and argumentation or introduce a different idea. They can also be an inspiration for your argumentation line. You can use your university database to find credible sources. Secondary sources are an integral part of argumentative and persuasive essays.
These are oral testimonials or personal narratives. You can use existing materials or interview a person or a group of people yourself. Use this type of source when there is not enough prior research or information on your topic. Oral history essays are helpful for papers on History, Anthropology, or Folklore. To write an oral history essay, you need to transcribe the information and interpret it.
Let’s discuss the writing structure of your essay. It should consist of five or more paragraphs and focus on one central idea. At first, pay attention to your word limit and estimate the number of sections. Then make an outline of your future paper.
Here is our history essay outline template:
Thank you for reading this article till the end! Check the history essay templates below to get some inspiration before you start.
Introduction Ancient Chinese civilization is one of the richest in cultural heritage in the world that based its development on an extensive system of philosophical and religious ideas. Han dynasty that lasted from 206 BC to 220 AD is one of the eras in the history of ancient China characterized…
The Reconstruction was a period in the U.S. history at the end of, and immediately after, the Civil War. Although the North won the military conflict, political and ideological differences had to be resolved. President Abraham Lincoln put forward a long-term plan to reintegrate the South states as a first…
Annotated Bibliography Kavanagh, Jennifer, Bryan Frederick, Alexandra Stark, Nathan Chandler, Meagan L. Smith, Matthew Povlock, Lynn E. Davis, and Edward Geist. Characteristics of U.S. Successful Military Interventions. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2019. This research-based source reports the results of the statistical study that was devoted to analyzing important interventions involving…
Introduction The history of colonisation often focuses on its effect on European countries and the patterns of trade that emerged on the global stage. In turn, the influence of the process on the colonised regions and their future development is often overlooked. In their chapters, Stein and Stein and Burns…
Introduction Human history presents numerous ideas, concepts, philosophies, and thoughts that have the potential to influence nations and governments across the world. The idea of learning from the past is an evidence-based practice that has moved America forward. The legal, moral, economic, political, and social achievements experienced in the United…
Introduction The history of Latin America, as well as its way to independence and prosperity, was long and characterised by a number of unpredictable partnerships and influential reforms. The situation at the Atlantic between the 18th and 19th centuries was not stable from economic and political perspectives, especially, it was…
The Great Depression is one of the most critical periods of modern U.S. history. It began with the global economic crisis in 1929, which most affected the United States (Davidson, 2014). In 1933, when the crisis reached its peak, the Democratic Party candidate Roosevelt entered the post of President. He…
Professor Justin Dunnavant and his team have put extensive effort into exploring the history and effects of slavery on the island of St Croix. Through the in-field tour on heritage sites with archaeological works, the Salve Wrecks Project, in short of SWP, has assisted the public effectively in comprehending how…
In Feudal Europe, towns commenced emerging at the crossroads of trade routes and became the centers of crafts and commerce. The development of trade contributed to economic growth and, as a result, the capitalist relations among urban citizens began to take shape. The city administration was the major institutional arrangement…
The types of alcohol and the patterns of its consumption vary across the countries. Historically, the attitude towards it was changing depending on the socio-political and the economic situation. Europe and the United States belong to the same Western civilization, and it is understandable why many processes associated with this…
When exploring the history of French wine, the concept of terroir has been used as both a definition for a specific wine’s category within the market and a reflection on the quality of the drink. No matter how wine connoisseurs approach the definition of terroir, it cannot be separated from…
Introduction Many modern people like to think that their current progress and achievements have nothing in common with their past. They believe that their growth at this period has an immense power that did not characterize previous centuries. However, contemporary society and the society of the early Renaissance may be…
Appian’s Roman History is a collection of five books that describe the events between the year 133 B.C. and 35 B.C. The focus is on the events in the Roman Empire and the struggles that the people of the era had experienced. More specifically, book IV is telling the story…
Introduction Ever since the conception of the Chinese civilization, its core beliefs, values, and structures have been attributed to the philosophy of Confucianism. It is considered one of the most influential systems that have a significant impact on the opinions of the country’s leaders and, subsequently, the economic and social…
Introduction During the Colonial era of world history, Europeans explored other continents looking for new land, valuable resources, and trade opportunities. Contact between cultures from opposite sides of the globe changed the lives of millions of people and the course of world history. The Colombian exchange made a significant impact…
Abstract Slavery had become common malpractice in many Spanish and French American colonies by the early 16th century. After Christopher Columbus arrived in America, a new opportunity for promoting the economy of European nations emerged. The idea of forced labor became a reality in many regions after the first Europeans…
Introduction Baldwin’s The American Dream and the American Negro speech appeals to the White southerners, accusing them of racism towards African-Americans. The concept of plague is used by the author to reflect hatred and immorality, which make them look down on people that have a different skin color: “moral lives…
The Indian Removal Act that was enforced by the President of the United States Andrew Jackson imposed a controversial policy to relocate Native Americans from their lands to the territory west of the Mississippi River, where they have never been. Some tribes decided to leave the area, but some were…
The relationship between the Native Americans and the government of the United States comes through the entire history of the country. In 1824, the federal authorities created the country’s primary agency responsible for the government’s dealings with the Native population – the Bureau of Indian Affairs or BIA (Indian Country…
The Industrial Revolution profoundly changed the world, all aspects of economics, society, politics, and other aspects. Industrialism drastically changed all aspects of production, allowing the establishment of mass production of goods and the invention of new methods of both production and agriculture. Technological developments and innovations changed how everything was…
The USA earned its independence from British rule in the eighteenth century. The new country was based on democratic principles where people’s rights were respected and exercised to a considerable extent. However, the democratic aspirations of Americans were rather compromised as millions of people were deprived of basic rights. Slavery…
Introduction The Harlem Renaissance is a term that is widely used to describe the period of a cultural and social reawakening for African Americans in the United States, who concentrated their artistic effort in New York. The period between the 1920s and the 1930s became a critically significant era in…
Introduction Greco-Persian Wars are defined as a series of collisions between the Persian Empire and Greek city-states. Starting from the conquest of the Greek-inhabited regions by the Persians who regarded them as appealing, this collision changed its course due to several battles that played a highly essential role in the…
Introduction The Civil Rights movement in the United States has a long history. Starting in the 1950s, this social impetus for change implied taking direct action; it was primarily focused on the realm of education, although its proponents also addressed other areas where African American people were experiencing severe discrimination…
Introduction In the early 19th century, the young United States, with hopes of becoming a major world power like its former mother country, started a campaign for territorial expansion. In an era dubbed the Age of Imperialism the political and economic power of nations was secured through the acquisition of…
Introduction Art and architecture are significant elements for any nation because of at least two reasons. On the one hand, they make it possible for people to meet their aesthetic needs, which is essential for individuals. On the other hand, the two phenomena represent all beliefs and customs that are…
Introduction The Cuban Revolution in the 1950s was one of the most significant socio-political events of the century in the Western Hemisphere. It had profound impacts not just on Cuba but on the global stage as an inherent shift in the balance of power and ideology occurred. The Cuban Revolution…
Introduction The Cold War is a period that many politicians and global leaders continue to study and analyze today. It created tensions between the Soviet Union and the West. The events, happenings, and decisions associated with this political tension have become powerful models or lessons for many analysts, historians, and…
On the turn of the twentieth century all main industries in the USA, like oil, railroad, tobacco, and sugar were concentrated in the hands of several millionaire families, like the Carnegies, Vanderbilts, and Rockefellers. They formed monopolies, turning them into trusts to eliminate competition and ensure the flow of wealth…
Introduction The American Civil War is one of the most important events that played a significant role in the creation of the United States. According to historians, the states were formed owing to the outcomes of the Revolution of 1776-1783. On the other hand, the Civil War was a determinant…
The 1960s were a kind of turning point in the history of black US citizens. Namely, during this period, the black ‘revolution’ of America began. The civil rights movement has officially put an end to the issue of discrimination against representatives of the “colored” population of the country. In 1964,…
Research Plan The following research question is to be answered: what was the South African apartheid, and how did it affect people of color in the 1980s? Introduction and Thesis Statement The period of apartheid belongs to the most known examples of how ugly race-based prejudice can be if it…
In the ancient world, both in Rome and Greece, human life was not considered sacred; therefore, murder and cruelty were widespread. The notions of justifiable and unjustifiable homicide have been significantly different from the way people see it nowadays. The purpose of this essay is to consider how citizens of…
Introduction From a nationalistic perspective, imperialism did not have any positive impacts on the colonized nations. Even in cases where it appears that such countries benefited from their colonial masters, nationalists would term it an accidental occurrence – a by-product of the imperialists’ pursuit of their self-centered interests. However, colonialists…
Introduction Out of all the historical events that happened during the era of mankind, war remains to be the most undesirable and high-priced act of human beings. Military actions lead to the loss of financial means, men’s lives, settlements, and even cities. Moreover, the end of warfare does not mean…
The second half of the eighteenth century will always be among the most eventful periods in the history of the United States. In particular, these fifty years will be best remembered for the American Revolution, which contributed to the formation of the country. In this letter to my dear descendants,…
Introduction The days following the end of the Second World War presented both opportunities and challenges to the United States. Several American presidents applied diverse policies to overcome the issues associated with the Cold War. This paper gives a detailed analysis of the achievements of these four presidents and how…
Introduction Racial segregation is a significant problem that shaped the development of many countries and societies. In South Africa, apartheid was the institutionalized segregation of black people throughout the country. It had substantial repercussions for South Africa and its citizens, both positive and negative. Nelson Mandela played a crucial role…
Example Description The document under consideration is the Constitution of the United States. It consists of four pages that are permanently displayed at the National Archives. The document includes a preamble and seven articles dedicated to government structure and functioning. Thus, it establishes the role of legislative, executive, and judicial…
The United States of America became a superpower due to the commitment and diligence of Americans. Some of them made a great contribution, while others contributed their labor to make big ideas happen. Cornelius Vanderbilt is often referred to as one of the men who made America and “built” the…
Working Class During the Early Industrial Revolution Despite urbanization and higher wages, the standards of living of the working class were deficient during the early years of the revolution (Hartwell 20). The workers had to spend up to 14 hours a day in factories and did not have the power…
Introduction Industrial Age can be defined as the time when people became actively engaged in the development of manufacturing machinery. The given historical period is associated with many break-through technological advances and inventions, which consequently permeated almost every aspect of human life. The industrial revolution is closely related to the…
The War of 1812 is a military conflict between the United States and Britain, its former colonial master. It resulted from a number of tensions starting with the practice of impressment and a restricted trade with both France and Britain. Other reasons that forced the US to start a war…
One of the most remarkable points about the Mongol Empire was its hostility that allowed them to become a foreign ruling class for many other nations. All the destruction that the Mongols caused on Eurasia seemed to be a planned series of activities that should not have promoted death and…
Industrial Age can be defined as the time when people became actively engaged in the development of manufacturing machinery. The given historical period is associated with many break-through technological advances and inventions, which consequently permeated almost every aspect of human life. The industrial revolution is closely related to the rise…
Background of the Case The case under consideration is one of the most discussed kidnapping stories of the twentieth century. The case roots back to July 10, 1973, when 1-year-old John Paul Getty III was kidnaped by Italian criminals in Rome. The people who organized the crime were the members…
Jerome Alden’s play, Bully: An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt is set in the year 1912. It follows Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. In 1912, he attempted to run for a third term as President. The play is split into two acts: in the first, Roosevelt reminisces…
The United States Constitution is one of the most well-known government documents in history and modern politics. It stands as a symbol for Democracy and the strength of the country that the United States has become over the last two centuries. However, the process of drafting the Constitution was extensive…
The Revolutionary War led to a vacuum of power in the former British colonies. The people and prominent revolutionary leaders were tasked with creating a new government and country that would become known as the United States of America. However, there were many prevalent opinions on the governance process, which…
The Main Topics of the Document During the second voyage to the Americas, Dr. Diego Alvaraz Chanca faced the life of tribal people on the island of Guadeloupe. The first topic that can be discerned from his letter is the organization of the established communal life. Inhabitants of the island…
Throughout the years, numerous researchers and historians have studied the colonial period in the history of Canada. Most importantly, the center of the studies was the Amerindian culture. Many renowned experts have investigated the relations between the Native Americans and the French and have expressed their opinions on certain aspects…
The appearance of the Magna Carta of 1215 in England is rightfully considered one of the most significant events in the development of medieval law. This document is a product of the historical development of the English state, a logical result of the political and legal thought of feudal lords….
It was called the “War to End All Wars” or as we know it, World War I. The conflict of unprecedented scale raged across the globe amongst 32 nations. At this time, nationalism became the driving force to many nations’ policies. Meanwhile, this period of history conceived the massive political…
In the aftermath of the American Revolution, the country was in the process of forming an independent republic. There was political uncertainty as debate unraveled about the nature of American democracy, which had to balance the rights of states with the overlook of the federal government. Fundamental differences of leading…
Confederates and Colonists The Confederate States of America consisted of seven states in the Lower South region determined to protect the slave industry through secession from the other states (Lesh, & Finkelman, 2008). Unlike the colonists that were interested in preserving the unity of America and the protection of human…
Introduction There are several events that redefined the future of the United States from 1400 to 1865. One of them was the Civil War that took place during the early 1860s. Many scholars acknowledge that this upheaval was catalyzed by the burning issue of slavery. The war was between the…
Introduction The Republic of El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America with its population hardly exceeding six million people. Once being a financially stable state with properly arranged coffee export, El Salvador endured political instability in the mid-20th century. Social inequality and growing civil discontent led to the…
Introduction European exploration of the Atlantic was one of the most significant developments of the Early Modern time. It left a profound impact on Europeans and Native Americans alike. While the Columbian Exchange enabled the powers of Europe to satisfy their economic interests, for the Native Americans, it meant exposure…
Introduction The term perpetual war is used to refer to unending or continuous warfare (Vidal 14). Thus, perpetual peace refers to everlasting peace (Vidal 14). Since World War I, the world has had several other significant wars that have shaped the course of history, the present, and the future. Using…
Introduction It is the year 1799 in France, a country that has undergone historical and trying times as social protests and political upheaval have thrown the country into chaos and instability. The French Revolution led to the French Republic, guided by new Enlightenment and democratic ideals, the political philosophy of…
Introduction The United States of America is one of the most developed countries today. This success is deeply rooted in the victories of the Progressive Era (Wilson 66). Although Progressives failed to address all the major social issues they had to face, they still defined the way the country developed…
Introduction Slavery was one of the most controversial aspects that were widely discussed in the 19th century. These discussions, eventually, contributed to the start of the Civil War and the development of the United States of America (Kennedy & Cohen, 2015). In the middle of the 19th century, states tried…
Introduction People’s ability to collaborate with others who demonstrate different culture-based values often serves as an indicator of their open-mindedness and humanity. Today, the importance of diversity seems evident at the personal level, but in the past, the authorities of some large countries such as the United States attempted at…
A role of a person in the evolution of humanity cannot be overestimated. There are numerous names of outstanding people that are associated with various periods of history as they became the manifestation of that era and preconditioned the way society evolved. In ancient times, the influence and contribution of…
George Washington Plunkitt was a well-known politician and influential businessman from New York, the United States. He served in representative houses of the New York State Legislature as well as was a member of the political machine, Tammany Hall, in New York City. Founded in 1789, Tammany Hall was named…
Introduction The end of the Civil war freed African-Americans and granted them citizenship rights. Even though Congress accepted the Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution that declared voting right regardless of previous condition and race, the situation remained complicated. Various issues that prevented African-Americans from participating in the political life…
Introduction Theodore Roosevelt is a statesman whose ideas continue to reshape the United States’ political, social, and democratic processes. During his period as a leader, Roosevelt joined hands with other individuals to propose ideas that could transform their followers’ experiences. In 1912, he presented a famous speech that focused on…
Digital Field Trip The digital field trip to view the Founding Documents Gallery at the National Archives allows for the exploration of historically crucial papers that contributed to the shaping of American society. The Declaration of Independence was chosen as the focus of the reflection on the field trip because…
Introduction The industrial revolution and the First World War are the two historical events that produced a tremendous effect on the development of the United States. They changed the course of history and laid the foundation of modern-day society by forming the principles and technologies that people currently use. Given…
The United States unshackled the Philippines from Spanish tyranny in 1898, a move that was lauded as an example of the moral responsibility of a superpower. However, the next move was widely discussed as to whether the US should take part in the annexation of the islands. The opposing parties…
Between 300 BCE and 300 CE, the Han and Roman empires were hegemons of the opposite ends of the Eurasian continent (Tingor et al. 298). However, due to the considerable remoteness, they had rather scarce information about each other. Although the Romans expanded their holdings to the east and the…
Both the Great Depression and World War II heavily impacted the US economy in the first half of the previous century. The effects of war and the mentioned economic collapse were severely felt during the pre-and post-war periods emphasizing the country’s vulnerability on the global stage. The present paper will…
Introduction The first part of the 20th century was a hard time for many countries as they had to recover after WWI, rebuild their economies, and enter the new era characterized by numerous challenges and significant problems. This resulted in the emergence of multiple problems in all critical spheres of…
African-American Experience in Washington, DC. The history of Black settlement in Washington, DC, since the early 17th century until the early 20th century, provides us with many in-depth insights into the African-American experience as a whole. Probably the most notable of them is that it was not only that throughout…
Puritans’ Ideals Socio-cultural aspects of the history of American society in the XVII century were associated with the ideas of Puritanism that became widespread in North America. A socio-cultural situation was characterized by the new types of understanding and the ways of transforming reality that occurred through the prism of…
Introduction The history of America knows many controversial stages, one of which was slavery in the country. Today, when any manifestations of inequality and, in particular, racism are condemned, it is not easy to imagine that, along with the opponents of this antisocial phenomenon, its supporters were in favor of…
Slavery existed in Africa in the form of servitude long before Europeans landed on the continent and commercialized the practice. One major difference between African and European slavery is that in the African set-up, slaves were being used as domestic workers or soldiers. However, European slavery was purely motivated by…
Germany first became a nation on January 18, 1871, with the official ceremony taking place at the Palace of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors. This became possible due to the efforts of Otto von Bismarck, a notable figure in the German and European affairs of the late nineteenth century as well…
Introduction Alexander the Great has been described as one of the most successful military strategists of all time. However, even though there is an extensive collection of sources on how magnificent he was, there is also a lot of contradicting information on the same. Whereas some sources claim that Alexander’s…
Introduction When settlers came to the New World, Indians, or Native Americans, already had languages that were used, communities built, belief systems that were practiced, and so much more that was the foundation of their lives. Unfortunately, non-Indians have consistently failed to appreciate specific identities and cultures of Native Americans,…
Introduction One of the most significant events that determined the course of further economic and social development of the United States was the Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. The war was the natural result of a sharp aggravation of the economic and legal contradictions between the capitalist…
The first Europeans settled in North America began to buy Africans in order to provide farm labor. Such individuals or plantation owners treated them as servants. However, the enactment of different slave laws resulted in a new era of institutionalized and legalized slavery in this region. Such policies also required…
Introduction It is possible to identify wars that guided the development of the Western world throughout its history. The Greco-Persian wars prevented the subordination of Greece, then a center of the Western world, to Persia. The conquest of Alexander the Great heavily contributed to the penetration of Eastern culture into…
After the end of the fourteenth century, many European world powers began to explore and discover new regions. This practice became a critical factor and redefined the culture and history of Europe forever. Several motivators made it possible for such powers to focus on the Americas. The first one was…
Introduction European settlers who came to the New World in search of a better life ended up enduring many challenges and hardships. After its founding in 1607, Jamestown eventually became home to thousands of people who tried to create a new society in a new land (Corbett et al. 56)….
Introduction The United States is regarded as one of the mature democracies in the modern world and a model that other countries should emulate. The adoption of the US Constitution in 1788 provided the world with the first formal blueprint for how democracies should look, with George Washington becoming the…
The article by Hope describes the perception of death during the era of the Roman battles, as well as controversial nuances in relation to this issue. According to the author, the concept of dichotomy may be applied when soldiers and civilians followed two types of behavior regarding funeral ceremonies and…
Introduction The advancement of advertising after some time has prompted the way that the thoughts pertinent in the Middle Ages have changed to a limited degree, and their appearance is exceptionally shallow in present-day society. Changes occurred in social, yet in addition in public activity, and the affirmation is the…
Introduction As the society moved on, its economic, political, and ideological systems transformed, and nowadays they are in the process of another transition. The world evolved from the archaic primitive forms of organization and interaction and now it faces numerous inevitable changes, introduced by the technological era. However, while trying…
Introduction The 15th and 16th centuries marked the end of the Middle Ages in Europe, with significant cultural and political shifts. Countries began to look beyond the region, seeking other lands and their wealth. As such, expeditions began going in various directions, and some of the more powerful nations began…
Introduction The Civil War is among the most widely studied events in American history. It had an essential role in shaping American society and securing the national identity of the United States. The Civil War began in 1861, shortly after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, and lasted for over four…
The history of any country consists of periods reflecting changes in the power structure and their impact on common people and the state’s strategy of development. The United States is among the largest countries with a two-party system, and the relationships between the two dominating movements, the Democrats and the…
The revolutionary period that took place in the eighteenth century is among the most eventful eras in the U. S. history. The colonies’ ability to get beyond the British Empire’s control and implement their own public management policies became a critical historical juncture. Collaborating with the representatives of the white…
Introduction The Natchez is a Native American ethnic group that initially lived in the Natchez Bluffs area in the Lower Mississippi Valley, which is the present-day town of Natchez, Mississippi. They are greatly notable for being the only culture of Mississippian Native Americans that established a complex structure of chiefdom…
The westward expansion of the United States is the central theme of American history of the second part of the nineteenth century. During this process, millions of settlers moved to the North American West and Great Planes. It resulted in the integration of massive amounts of new land to the…
Historians consider the beginning of the XX century as the most progressive period in US history. By the beginning of the given century, the United States has become the most powerful nation in the world, double the size of England. Big business, whose capital arose at the end of the…
The unification of the North and the South after the Civil War and the following period of Reconstruction determined the course of further growth of the United States. The end of slavery and the start of the westward expansion provided the potential for the development of the country. This situation…
In his 1912 captivating speech, Theodore Roosevelt discusses the meaning of progressivism coupled with highlighting the essential characteristics that progressives should embody. This speech was given at a time when the United States was undergoing significant socio-political changes that needed progressive minds to ensure social justice and equality together with…
On April 31, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt delivered a detailed speech, Who is a Progressive?, to clarify the myths surrounding this subject for a long. Some people, such as President Taft, had claimed that they were progressives, yet their actions did not reflect their words, which prompted Roosevelt to deliver this…
Theodore Roosevelt attempted to run for President of the United States in 1912 due to his dissatisfaction with the person who held the position at the time, William Howard Taft. Roosevelt declared him a Progressive only in name and accused him of opposing the policies supported by the movement. As…