322 History Research Paper Topics For College Students

History Research Paper Topics

History research paper topics enable learners to investigate past events and people, thereby understanding processes that happen in the world while building into the future. Studying history allows learners to trace economic and cultural patterns and learn from past mistakes. And this knowledge enables humans to make reasonable decisions that lead to a better life. When pursuing a history course in a college or university, professors ask students to write research papers on history topics. However, selecting the best history topics to write about is not easy. That’s because history is a broad study field with many issues to investigate and build solid papers. Thus, the vast selection of ideas to explore can overwhelm some learners. Luckily, this list comprises 300-plus titles from which you can choose your research paper topic.

World History Research Paper Topics

World history is diverse and broad because it covers many historical events and times. From the time civilization began to recent events like the 20th-century dreadful wars and social movements. If interested in this study field, here are world history research topics to consider for your paper.

  1. Nuclear weapons and how they influence military clashes in the world
  2. Investigating violent events in Jamaica
  3. Explain the link between World War II and World War I
  4. Describe the development of the Byzantine Empire
  5. Describe the apartheid period in South Africa
  6. Describe the church during the medieval period in Europe
  7. Analysis of the daily lives of medieval Europe’s peasants
  8. Explain why empires fall, with examples
  9. Mutual influence of Egyptian, Roman, and Greek cultures
  10. The Shogun role in Japanese history
  11. What lessons have humans learned from world wars?
  12. Explain the most important events in the Ottoman Empire
  13. Describe the power of the Mongol empire
  14. How did Gandhi contribute to global peace?
  15. Explain the influence of the ancient conquests on the formation of the contemporary world map
  16. Japan and China development in recent history
  17. Describe social stratification in the western world
  18. Describe the achievements of Women’s rights movements in the last century
  19. Describe the Thirty Year’s War
  20. Explain the rise of great monarchies
  21. Describe the decline of feudalism
  22. Explain the civilization process
  23. With examples, explain some great people in the sixteenth century
  24. Describe England during the Stuarts era
  25. Explain the Dutch republic’s rise
  26. Explain the top maritime discoveries
  27. Describe some of the most powerful monarchs in the world
  28. Explain the Eastern Empire fall
  29. Why did Genghis Khan become an outstanding Mongol?
  30. What made Empress Dowager Cixi an extraordinary woman?
  31. Explain the Qing Dynasty fall
  32. Why was Persian Gulf War so significant in military history?
  33. Describe the Korean War- Why historians consider it the first Cold War’s manifestation
  34. Describe the Russo-Japanese War and explain why it’s called World War Zero
  35. Explain significant events during the Vietnam War
  36. Explain why the Russian Revolution led to communism
  37. Explain the Samurai culture and their philosophy
  38. Why did humans build the Great Wall of China?
  39. How Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent resistant philosophy shaped Martin Luther King’s ideas
  40. Why does the world consider Nelson Mandela the democracy icon?
  41. Dalits political activism- Why minority group’s activism led to Indian mentality and political changes
  42. Investigating Spain and Britain during the Battle of the Seas
  43. Describe the aftershocks of the Cold War
  44. Medieval Europe and social relationships
  45. Describe the colonization of South America
  46. Describe the Mexican-American War
  47. Describe the primary Thirty Years War’s causes?
  48. Explain weapons used in ancient civilizations
  49. What were the effects of apartheid?
  50. Describe bridal ceremonies in early Rome

All these are brilliant world history project ideas that you can use to write excellent academic papers. Nevertheless, you must research your title extensively to come up with a winning piece.

Interesting U.S. History Topics

Perhaps, you’re interested in American history. In that case, you may opt to explore interesting the United States history research paper topics. This category comprises topics about American history.

  1. Describe the Red Scare and McCarthyism
  2. Ground Zero- Describe the 9/11 aftermath
  3. Describe the New Economy by Bill Clinton
  4. Describe the energy crisis’ lasting effects
  5. Describe Richard Nixon’s presidency- What led to his impeachment?
  6. The nuclear arms race and anti-nuclear movements
  7. Describe the foreign policy of Ronald Reagan
  8. Explain the impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on the industry
  9. Three Mile Island- Why was it the worst nuclear accident in the U.S.?
  10. Quakers- Their legacy and views
  11. Describe the Jamestown colony survival
  12. Explain how the French intervened in the American revolution
  13. The Pocahontas true story
  14. Explain Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in the American history
  15. How the Valley Forge altered the Revolutionary War’s course
  16. Describe the manifest destiny concept
  17. The American economic and political history
  18. Donner party- Why was it the true survival story?
  19. The Wilderness Road and Daniel Boone
  20. The 19th-century revolution in America
  21. Why the Oregon Trail has historical significance
  22. Describe the U.S. involvement in the Korean War
  23. Clark expedition and the Lewis
  24. The impact of railroads on the U.S. economy
  25. The U.S. social welfare history
  26. The history and effect of the underground railroad
  27. The role of African-Americans during the Civil War
  28. Colonial unrest in New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia
  29. How the Federalist Party became the foundation of the foreign and national economy policy
  30. Why the Whiskey Rebellion was important
  31. The American Revolution- Patriots versus Loyalists
  32. The Republicanism and Founding Fathers
  33. James Madison’s role in the American Constitution
  34. Describe the aftermath of the Shay’s rebellion
  35. Describe the Amistad Case legacy
  36. How the American Constitution reflects the democratic and republican governments
  37. Describe John Brown’s legacy
  38. The Connecticut Compromise and Roger Sherman
  39. The impact of the Dunmore Proclamation
  40. The Tenure of Office Act controversy
  41. Results of the Black Laws on the African-Americans’ lives
  42. Ulysses S. Grant presidency and military life
  43. Wyatt Earp’s true story
  44. Myths and truths of the Indian reservations
  45. Describe the top Native American leaders
  46. Effects of the Great Chicago Fire
  47. Explain why Homestead Strike failed
  48. The 19th-century American nationalism
  49. The legacy of the Battle of Somme
  50. Results of the Panama Canal on the World trade

These are exciting American history thesis topics to explore when the educator asks you to write a paper or essay. Nevertheless, pick an interesting topic to enjoy working on your project.

Interesting Historical Events to Write About in High School

Maybe your educator has asked you to choose history research topics for your high school essay. In that case, consider these interesting history topics for your papers.

  1. The role of McKinley in American imperialism
  2. The LGBTQ rights movements and civil rights movements intersection
  3. Describe the formation of foreign policy in America
  4. Explain events that enabled the colonies to win the American Revolution
  5. Describe space exploration in the 20th century
  6. Explain the Byzantium Empire development
  7. Describe the differences between the South and North political agendas
  8. Describe the Chicano Movement’s aftermath
  9. Describe the cultures of the Native Americans
  10. Did the American Civil War have any benefits?

Most high school learners will have relatively more straightforward time writing about these historical research topics. Nevertheless, you’ll have to invest time and effort in research to develop a winning paper.

History Research Paper Topics for College Students

Most college learners find writing about historical research paper topics challenging. But this happens when they select too dull or complex issues. Here are some of the historical issues that can be the basis of your college paper.

  1. Describe the impact of the Negro Leagues on society and baseball
  2. How did the underground railroad affect the Civil War
  3. How Mormons overcome their challenges
  4. Describe religion’s role in the westward expansion
  5. Describe revolution in American history
  6. Describe the leading causes of the Civil War
  7. American colonization- How did it happen?
  8. African-American women in literature and art
  9. Historical background of the Chancellorsville battle
  10. Explain why African-American soldiers’ contributions during World War II remain silence
  11. Ancient Japanese societies and cultures
  12. Celt’s origins and Celtic history
  13. Describe prehistoric North America
  14. Causes of economic depression
  15. What causes dictatorship?
  16. Describe the Nagasaki and Hiroshima events
  17. The uprising of democratic movements
  18. Causes and effects of the nuclear age
  19. Labor class and the Russian revolution
  20. History of the Veterans Day
  21. The role of McKinley in American Imperialism
  22. The impact of the Chicano movement
  23. History of the organized crime in America
  24. Key personalities in the revolutionary War
  25. History of civil rights
  26. American history of the 20th century
  27. Factors that led to Yugoslav wars
  28. The New France colonization process
  29. Middle East oil crisis
  30. The USSR collapsed, and Mikhail Gorbachev
  31. Conflicts between China and Britain and Opium Wars
  32. Freedom struggle in the Portuguese and Spanish colonies
  33. Pre-Columbian Americas- Incas and Aztecs
  34. Myths and truths of the Hanging Babylon Gardens
  35. The independence of the Soviet satellite states
  36. Causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict about Jerusalem
  37. How the Europeans colonize Africans
  38. Why and how Africans worked in colonial plantations
  39. The soviet rule- Industrialization, oppression, and collectivization
  40. The assertion of independent authority by former colonies in South East Asia and the Middle East

All these are interesting topics in history for college learners. Nevertheless, they all require research and information analysis before writing. 

Ancient History Topics

If interested in ancient history, this category has some of the best issues to explore. Pick one of them and develop it through research.

  1. Ancient Egypt and symbolism
  2. Immortality and death in ancient Egypt
  3. Describe the Palestine history
  4. Prophets and religion
  5. Why water sources were valuable in ancient central Anatolia
  6. Analyze the near Eastern civilizations
  7. Traditions and culture of the Sumerian
  8. The Iron age responsibilities distribution
  9. The role of women in prehistoric Britain
  10. Power in Empires from Assyrian time to Byzantium
  11. Ancient Rome’s strength compared to Greece
  12. Alexander the Great- Describe the outstanding historical leader
  13. Facts and myths about Ancient Greece voting
  14. Ancient demonstrations and protests
  15. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece- Differences and similarities
  16. Describe the most potent old history military
  17. Philosophy of the ancient Greek
  18. The civilians’ life grounds in Ancient Rome
  19. Ancient Rome police
  20. Ancient Rome’s Gladiatorial Games: Moral or entertainment event?
  21. Ancient mythology
  22. Society in Ancient Egypt
  23. Cave drawings as the first communication method
  24. Describe burial practices in ancient history
  25. The Gupta Empire
  26. Old world’s central Asian societies
  27. Describe the Maya civilization
  28. Prehistoric North America
  29. Describe the early Persian Empire
  30. Describe the Trojan War
  31. Ancient societies and cultures in Japan
  32. The Han Book in China
  33. Describe Dinosaurs in Ancient history
  34. Describe the Bronze age
  35. Describe the Iron age
  36. Trade origins and Silk road
  37. Describe the Out of Africa concept
  38. Rome and Christianity development
  39. The Gnostic gospels
  40. A comparison of the ancient Roman Empire and Greece cultures
  41. The America colonization
  42. Describe Constantine the Great
  43. The golden pirate’s age and the Caribbean
  44. The Latin expansion- Linguistic analysis
  45. Money uses in the Ancient Greek World
  46. Labor division in Rome
  47. Why ancient Sparta was different from the other cities
  48. Who were the most prominent ancient Egypt queens
  49. Rome emperors- Establishing the worst and the best
  50. The Renaissance period trading routes
  51. The Greek cities economy
  52. Conflict with Rome and historical Jesus

These are great research paper topics history learners will find enjoyable to work with when assigned this task.

History Argumentative Essay Topics

Do you need a topic that will elicit mixed reactions among the people that will read your paper? If yes, consider these historical argument topics.

  1. The economic theory supporting the industrial revolution
  2. Influential inventors during the industrial revolution
  3. Women role during the industrial revolution
  4. Women’s meaningful contribution during the Civil War
  5. How the Civil War made the U.S. better
  6. The Americas have forgotten the native cultures
  7. Mexican War as the first Civil War’s battle
  8. Why the Northern public views towards the South changed in 1950
  9. Why Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation
  10. Causes and impacts of the Nat Turner Rebellion
  11. One Word that describes the U.S. history and why
  12. Understanding the fundamental globalization drivers since the 1970s
  13. A comparison of Alexander III and Alexander II in Russia
  14. A comparison of Grace Ansley and Alida Slade in Edith Wharton’s Roman Fever
  15. A comparison of Howard Zinn, Larry Schweikart, and Michael Allen’s historical views
  16. Bangladesh history
  17. Crimea’s annexation history
  18. World War II introduced the Cold War
  19. Medieval Europe Investiture crisis
  20. The Peasant Rebellions in Korea
  21. The India partition in 1947
  22. Mutually beneficial relationships and lack of cooperation between Native Americans and the United States
  23. Analyzing the Iraq death toll
  24. Reviewing the Great Depression causes
  25. Examining the social and economic impact of the African Slave trade
  26. Studying the Setzuan’s Good Woman
  27. White South review- Economy, society, and Ideology
  28. Investigating common customs and stereotypes in Italy
  29. Analysis of Cleopatra portrayals
  30. The history of genocides
  31. Investigating the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire impacts
  32. U.S. foreign policy changed after the World War II
  33. The Weimar Republic failure causes
  34. The criminal justice system in Japan
  35. Exploring the Official Thai History
  36. Historical movements and African-American slavery
  37. The Unification of African Americans in Van Gosse’s Movement of the New Left
  38. America’s Reaction at the beginning of the Second World War
  39. Analyzing the rule of Mao Zedong in China
  40. Why Bolshevik was successful
  41. Why Native Americans lost disappeared after losing dominance
  42. The Trail of Tears was inevitable
  43. Why the Indian Removal Act passage was fair
  44. How the European colonization affected the Native Americans
  45. Who played the essential role in the events causing the Mountain Meadows Massacre?
  46. How beneficial are the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act impacts?
  47. A native American should be president
  48. Native American religions and the environment have a better relationship
  49. The most influential native American tribes towards the modern U.S. creation
  50. The most plausible theory for the Roanoke colony’s loss

Any of these topics is an excellent idea for generating a conversation that will require you to take a stance. Nevertheless, be ready to research your issue before writing to come up with relevant information.

Historical Questions Examples

Perhaps, you need a question to form your topic for your history research paper. If so, consider these queries.

  1. Were John Calvin’s and Martin Luther’s ideas the same or different?
  2. How did John Calvin’s beliefs influence the Puritans?
  3. Did Martin Luther intend to dismantle Catholicism or reform it in his 95 Theses?
  4. How did the Crusades affect the Middle East and Europe’s development?
  5. How were the Southern and Northern Renaissance artists different in their styles?
  6. What were the effects of the Black Death on Europe?
  7. Why did the slaves replace the indentured servants in the Virginia colony?
  8. How did the Puritans achieve their City upon a Hill vision?
  9. What happened to Roanoke’s Lost Colony?
  10. What caused the Salem Witch Trials?
  11. What was to happen upon the success of the Spanish Armada of 1588?
  12. How were John Locke and Thomas Hobbes similar or different?
  13. What caused the 1700s’ Great Awakening?
  14. Was it possible for the Americans to defeat Britain without French troops’ assistance?
  15. Why did the British lose during the American Revolution?
  16. Did the Indian and French wars create an ideal environment for a rebellion in American colonies?
  17. Was it possible for the British to avoid a conflict with American colonies?
  18. Which British act had the most significant impact on the anti-British sentiments?
  19. What was the role of geography in helping American colonists in their fight with the British?
  20. Why did John Locke’s principles inspire the American Revolution?
  21. What led to Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise?
  22. How did women’s role change the French Revolution’s advent?
  23. Why did the French Revolution make foreign governments feel threatened?
  24. How did the American Revolution and French Revolution differ?
  25. Could Louis XVI have averted the French Revolution?
  26. What was the French nobility’s role in French Revolution?
  27. Did the events leading to the French revolution have a singular event?
  28. Why did the British fail to regain the United States’ control after winning the major battle during the 1812’s War?
  29. How did the Battle of New Orleans change the history course?
  30. Were Andrew Jackson’s actions against the Creek Indians the same as a war crime?
  31. What were the Puritanism effects on the cultural, religious, and social development of America?
  32. How did the Erie Canal impact America’s growth?
  33. How did Immanuel Kant influence Adolf Hitler from the 1800s?
  34. Was the Irish Potato Famine genocide?
  35. Can the revolutions that happened in the 1800s relate to the French revolution?
  36. How did Napoleon’s Russian invasion precipitate his eventual downfall?
  37. How did Napoleon’s army victory change European history’s course?
  38. What were the impacts of railroads on America’s development in the 1800s?
  39. How did the Transcontinental Railroad affect Westward expansion?
  40. How did the Manifest Destiny concept cause the Mexican-American War?
  41. How did the Gold Rush affect California’s development in the 1800s?
  42. How did the Northern policies affect its relations with the South during Reconstruction?
  43. How did the 1877 Compromise affect politics between the South and the North?
  44. Was Reconstruction a failure or a success?
  45. How did Reconstruction impact the African-Americans?
  46. Did Turner’s Rebellion contribute to the Civil War?
  47. What caused the American Civil War?
  48. How did the Civil War change Women’s role in the United States?
  49. Did the Battle of Gettysburg act as the civil War’s turning point?
  50. Which factors led to the North’s victory against the Confederacy?

All these questions can serve as the basis of brilliant historical investigation topics. Nevertheless, take your time to investigate any of these ideas carefully to develop a winning paper.

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History Extended Essay Topics

Perhaps, you need an example topic for your extended history essay. If so, pick a sample in this category and then develop it into a unique topic for your paper.

  1. The human-piloted torpedoes usage due to imperial Japanese Navy during WW2
  2. The Rosetta rock discovery- Occasion value and history
  3. The settlements of the oldest people according to radioactive dating and archaeological information
  4. Reasons for the Western Countries dominance during contemporary history
  5. What the two-millennial Terracotta Army says about the Chinese culture
  6. Poland’s simultaneous intrusion by the USSR and Nazi Germany in 1939
  7. The evolving rhetoric by Roosevelt in WW2 about involvement against the Nazis
  8. Casualties quotes are due to the epidemic’s landing that followed colonizers in South U.S.
  9. Deception and corruption usage by Abraham Lincoln in passing the 13th amendment
  10. Black people’s property rights during the Reconstruction after the Civil War
  11. The role of economics in Germany unification between 1834 and 1871
  12. Why Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967
  13. How women treatment varied in Great Britain between 1920 and 1950
  14. The effects of structural economic weakness on the Soviet Union’s downfall
  15. Was Sweden neutral during World War Two?
  16. Was the Dresden bombing in 1945 necessary?
  17. Tsar Alexander II- Was his Russian reforms a failure or a success?
  18. How did Mao tackle his problems?
  19. Were Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power similar?
  20. Should people consider the 1832’s British Parliamentary Reforms Act the Great Reform Act?

These are fascinating topics to consider for your academic history paper. Nevertheless, prepare to invest adequate time and resources in researching your title, analyzing information, and writing your essay.

How to Write a Historical Research Paper

Writing a history research paper is not different from the process of drafting essays on other subjects. Follow these steps to develop a winning piece.

  • Choose a topic: Pick one of the titles listed in this article and then tweak it a little. Make sure that you have an exciting issue for which you can find relevant information.
  • Research: Start by researching your topic from different sources to gather relevant information for your paper. While studying, note down all your information sources to help you draft a bibliography after writing your essay.
  • Outline: Once you’ve gathered adequate, relevant information, create a plan for your paper. And this should be a sketch for your essay, indicating its structure. Your outline should include the main points and your argument or sub-points.
  • Write the first draft: Start writing your paper using the outline as your guide. Ignore grammar when drafting the first version of your piece. Instead, focus on ensuring that your essay includes all the main points and their supporting arguments.
  • Edit and proofread: After writing the paper, proofread and edit it to remove all grammatical, spelling, factual, and punctuation errors. You can even seek professional help with research paper editing and proofreading.

Get Expert Help with Your History Research Paper

Even with topic ideas and these guides, you might lack sufficient time to research and write your paper. In that case, seek thesis help from the best-rated experts online. Our crew offers affordable research paper writing help to students at different study levels. Regardless of how simple or complex your topic seems, we can help you write a winning paper. Be confident that we will offer you cheap services to help you write a high-quality essay and get the best grade in your class. Contact us today!

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