Essay topic?

Question

for my US history summer class, i have to write 2 essays: one about a topic from pre-1857 america, and one about a topic from post-1857 america (up to i think 1988...)

we're supposed to choose something that interests us.. and honestly, i dont find anything interesting about US history but for the first essay, i was thinking about the salem witch trials; and for the second, the effect that the british invasion had on america's youth, or the development of american music (havent decided if it'll be music in general, or rock music...)

what do you think of my essay topics? any sugggestions / topics that you think would be better?

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I really like Simply's idea on the Vietnam War, that is a wonderful idea I think.  But I have to say that I find the Salem Witch Trials fascinating.  I would be drawn to reading an essay about that.  There are many books on the records from the court trials and on the people who were tortured during this time and about the witch hunters themselves.  Its really fascinating stuff.

My son had to do a report last year in his history class and chose music, it was a long report, lots to research.  But a lot of the kids in his class also chose that subject. I bet the teacher was going nuts after reading the same general essay over and over!!  Good luck making your choices.

Answer 2

How long are the essays to be?

I would avoid the Salem Witch Trials.  EVERYONE talks about those, so its done to death.

Do something unique.  One important, but dry, element of early American History is the development of the National Bank.  Look up Nicholas Biddle.

As for the modern one, why not the McCarthy hearings?  That's always interesting, though getting over done.

Perhaps you should consider how fashions changed in the 20th century, specifically something like skirt length and what it said about society's message to women.

The Vietnam protests are interesting.  

The role of 20th century first ladies would be interesting.  You could look at Edith Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan as new types of first ladies, for example.

Answer 3

They're possible topics but I think considering the fact that US history encompasses a wide arrange of topics, picking something such as the salem witch trials or development of music might be a little insignificant as opposed to a much larger theme. I mean theres only so much you can say about salem witch trials and as for development of music thats a possibility but its also really limited because you could write about the events which influenced the music, but then why not write about those events itself? Its up to you but I think these subjects are too "narrow". I recommend the larger themes like American Revolution, Nixons presidency and the watergate scandal, and I especially like the war in Vietnam because you could write about how it included both a war at home (the way people didn't like the fact that their troops were fighting in Vietnam and staged many protests,the arrival of the "hippie age" etc) and the war abroad (the vietnam war itself)

Answer 4

The development of American music is a question of music history, not American history, and will be a real pain in the *** to research.

If you want to impress your teachers, go for something slightly more obscure. For pre-1857, how about King Philip's War? And for post-1857, do something on the effects Reconstruction had on the culture of the South, or something similar. (I'm a northerner but I find that sort of thing interesting.)