Junior Research Paper U.S. History Mr.

. OShea Spring 2013 One of the most important skills to develop is the ability to write a 10-page research paper. The Headmaster requires that all Juniors complete this assignment in order to graduate from the United States History course. Because of the importance of this project, late work will be severely penalized. The topics for this paper may relate to any event, crisis or person that was involved in United States history for the period 1865 Present (From the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Age of Industrialization through the Eras of Imperialism, Progressive Reform, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam and the Social Revolution, and on into the Presidencies of Carter, Reagan and Bush). The Final Paper will include: 1.) Cover page. 2.) Outline 3.) Body 4.) Bibliography 5.) Checklist (will be provided) (All must be typed in 12 pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, 8 1/2 X 11 paper) All sources MUST be cited. Citing will be done parenthetically within the body of the paper. There will be no footnotes or endnotes. No direct quote should be longer than six lines in length. There must be at least seven sources. At least four of the sources must specific book sources based on the topic. E-Books are acceptable. The remaining three sources can be textbooks, encyclopedias or educational websites (no .com, .net, .org, etc). Schedule: All due by 11:59 PM on TurnItIn.com February 6th Topic explanation due (15 pts) Choose a topic and in one paragraph, describe why you are choosing this topic. What interests you about this topic? Why? February 27th Bibliography due (30 pts) Your works cited page including 7 sources (4 book, 3 other), presented in correct MLA formatting. March 20th Outline due (50 pts) Hard copy of Outline must be handed in. A detailed outline of your paper. Should include introduction, topic sentences, sources to be used (quotes, statistics, researched facts, etc.) April 17th Typed Research paper due (100 pts) Possible Research Paper Topics:

The Cold War: An explanation of the hopes and suspicions of the victorious Allies at the end of World War II. What caused and maintained post war tensions from 1944 to 1989? Prohibition (1920-1933): A history of the period with particular emphasis on the New York experience. The Roaring Twenties, Speak-easies, Organized Crime, Moon shiners, the 18th & 21st Amendments to the United States' Constitution. A history of the Industrial Revolution and the inventions, which helped the United States to become a world power. This paper will include a discussion about the serious social changes, which these advances created. French Indochina (Vietnam): An explanation of causes behind United States involvement in Vietnam including an explanation of how the United States tried to achieve its' changing war goals. The political rise and fall of President Richard M. Nixon. From Red Scare henchman in the Alger Hiss case in the 1950s to his resignation from the presidency over the Watergate break-in on August 9, 1974. An explanation of the various causes that led to the crash of the Stock Market and the start of the Great Depression. Including an account of life during the 1930's and an explanation of how the United States worked its way back to economic health. A history of the early and public life of President Theodore Roosevelt. Leader in the building of an American Empire and international respect. Champion of Progressive Reform. The presidency and assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A history of President Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War including an explanation about how his premature death may have significantly effected Reconstruction. In the 1930s the United States is experiencing the worst economic depression in its history. However, the country emerges from World War II as an international superpower. How and why does the United States get involved in the European theatre of the war? How does it get involved in the Asian/Pacific theatre? What role does the United States play in the war? What responsibilities does the United States assume as a superpower after the war is over? How did the United States move from the isolationism of the 1920s and 30s to become involved in World War II? What were the United States goals for this effort? The United States' position in the post Cold War world. Maintaining security, monitoring nuclear proliferation, policing the New World Order.

An explanation of causes behind and the results of United States involvement in Vietnam, including accounts of the hardships faced by soldiers in the field, and the struggle faced by soldiers for acceptance & support once at home again. A history of the American women's struggle to earn equal rights from 1840 to the present. What were some of the accomplishments of the various movements during the period? What were some of the failures? Has the movement been a success and/or is their still more work to be done? A brief history of New York City: The world's great melting pot. How has NYC been the greatest example of the founding father's Republican Experiment? A history of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s & 60s following the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC). The paper will focus on the theme of Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, a comparison of the lives, views and methods of two of the giants in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s & 60s. How do their accomplishments affect us today? An explanation of the various causes that led to the Great Depression including an explanation of the causes behind the crash of the Stock Market, which symbolized the start of the Depression. Briefly comparing the attempts of President Hoover and President Roosevelt to remedy the situation. A history of the United States Navy from 1779 to the present. Including engagements from the Revolution, the Quasi War with France, the assault on the Barbary Coast Pirates, the War of 1812, Foundation of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1845, the Civil War and the United States' invention of the first ironclad ships and submarines, the establishment of the Naval War College in 1884, the new navy of the imperialist era beginning in 1898, the sailing of the Great White Fleet in 1907, World War I and the Naval Act of 1916, the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, the great expansion during World War II and finally the Nuclear Era. The history of American space travel including an account of the Apollo Missions, Project Gemini, the Viking Missions, the Shuttle Program, Star Wars and the Hubble Telescope. What are some of the common uses for the technology developed by the space program? During World War II, the United States Military who was fighting to, "Make the world safe for democracy" was still racially segregated. How did the role played by the 92nd & 93rd Infantry and the Tuskegee Airmen during the war effect people's perceptions of African-Americans? Was the Civil War a "new birth of freedom" as President Lincoln hoped it would be in his Gettysburg Address? From Black Codes, Jim Crow Laws, Literacy, Tests, Poll Taxes, Sharecropping to outright intimidation. An explanation of the methods and strategies used to keep AfricanAmericans from fully exercising their newly won civil rights. Why did the United States get involved in Iraq's attempted take over of its' southern neighbor Kuwait. Why did President George Bush call for world involvement through the United Nations to help create a "New World Order"? Was the war a success? What has been the follow up? A history of the struggle for African-Americans to gain recognition of their civil rights. Including an examination of the early struggle (i.e. philosophical differences between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubious, the founding of the NAACP, the Harlem Renaissance, the New Deal's record on civil rights and the efforts of A. Philip Randolph) A history of United States leadership during World War II. The paper will include a brief bibliographical history plus an explanation of the campaigns and strategies of Generals: George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, George Patton and Douglas McArthur. World War II: What role did the United States play in ending of Nazi-Germans genocide of Jews (Holocaust) during the war. What more could have been done? What lessons do the United States and the world need to learn from the period? Pearl Harbor: The significance of the bombing of the United States' naval base in Hawaii. How did it affect the nation? Would the United States have entered World War II if the bombing did not take place? What role did participation in World War II play in on making the United States a superpower? The presidency of John F. Kennedy: An explanation of his program the "New Frontier" including the major issues of his administration (Cold War with Russia, involvement in Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement) World War II - Japan vs. United States. An explanation of the significance of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Including a discussion on the treatment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry after the war began. Ending with President Truman's reasons behind the use of the Atomic Bomb to end the war. How did the rise of the fascist Nazi party in Germany affect American Society? What were the results of some Americans supporting communist opposition to the fascists before WWII? How does a society that prides itself on free speech properly deal with divisive hate speech? A history of the Reagan Presidency. What effect did the Presidency of Ronald Reagan have on the United States? How did he change how Americans felt about themselves? How did he change the way the world saw the United States? What effect did he have on the Cold War? What effect did he have on the national debt? Will he be considered a great of poor president? The rise and fall of racial segregation. A history of the struggle by African-Americans to secure their civil rights and to end segregation. What was left undone by the civil rights movement of the 1950s & 60s? Where are we today? The Nuclear Age: From the race for and the dropping of the bomb the world has changed forever. How has Nuclear Proliferation and the harnessing of nuclear power effected the world. A history of life during the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age. Was it a period in United States' history where the search for pleasure replaced a search for progress? The Turbulent 1960s: An era of social change with specific reference to the Counter Culture, the Civil Rights Movement and protests against the war in Vietnam. What roll did music play in getting the message of change to the masses? How can it be used as a source of history today?

An explanation of the various causes that led to the crash of the Stock Market and the start of the Great Depression. Including an explanation of how the United States worked its way back to economic health. Was the New Deal the cause of this recovery or just another bill after it was over? Who supported the New Deal and who did not?