Language Arts/American History 8th Grade Research Paper
Choose your topic from the list below or create your own. Keep in mind that all topics must be connected
to American History or US Society. Students must investigate the impact/effect of these topics on the
United States. All topics will need to be approved by the research committee before a student
proceeds. Topic Selection Forms are due to your USS teacher no later than Friday, March 22nd
Sample Topics
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John Brown’s Revolt Against Slavery
The US Constitution: Reform or Counter Revolution?
Dorothea Dix and the Asylum Movement
The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement (WCTU) and Alcohol in America
From Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) to Nixon: The Revolution of Presidential
Press Coverage
Television: A Cultural Revolution
Canals and Railroads: The 19th Century Reforms in Transportation
Hawks and Doves: Americans Reaction to the Vietnam War
The Airplane: Revolution in Warfare
Sit-Ins and Freedom Rides: Reformers in Action
The Model T: Henry Ford Revolutionizes the Auto Industry
The “Red Scare”: American Reaction to Communism
Germ Theory: Revolution in Medicine
Curt Flood and the Free Agency in Baseball
NASA: Reforming the Space Program
Child Labor: 19th and 20th Century Reforms
The Bracero Program: An Economic Reaction during World War II
Japanese Interment: A Reaction to the Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Dropping The Bomb: The US and Nuclear Proliferation
The Equal Rights Amendment: A Revolution for Equality
The US Reaction to the Launching of Sputnik
Immigration Reform: The Road to Citizenship
Eugenics: Revolutionizing Medical Ethics
Slave Rebellions and Uprisings in the United States
The Unsinkable Molly Brown: A Woman Dedicated to Social Reform
MORE TOPIC IDEAS ON BACK
You might also consider one of these general topics
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The Civil Rights Movement
Protest and Reform in the 20th
century
The Cold War
Watergate
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Space Program
Terrorism and the USA
The Women’s Movement
The Arms Race
Nuclear Proliferation
Music as a Political Voice
Technology – 20th or 21st century
The Iran- Contra Affair
9/11
Hate Crimes
Native America rights
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Environmental concerns of the 20th
or 21st century
The CIA
The FBI
American arts/artists
Propaganda
Film industry in the US
The Shuttle program
The Kepler Program
Alternative energy
The railroad
Social Media
Internet safety
Water in the West
Any of the 20th or 21st
Century wars or conflicts in which
the US was/is a key participant
If you plan to take AP Government in 9th grade, Mr. Williams suggests these topics:
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The filibuster
Healthcare Reform
Campaign Finance
Polling and Presidential elections
The Supreme Court – activism and
restraint
The Tea Party or other grassroots
parties
Reintroduction of the wolf
The Endangered Species Act
Global Warming regulation
Immigration reform
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Red and Blue America
Term Limitations for Congress
Civil Unions or same sex marriage
The consolidation of the media
The death of the newspaper
Education and the federal
government
Referendum abuse
The Dream Act or CO SB 126
(ASSET)
Arizona SB 1070
If you plan to take AP Human Geography in 9th grade, Mr. Weatherley suggests these topics:
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How does the trend towards suburban living in the US affect transportation choices in the US
and how do suburbs symbolize the “American Ideal?”
What is the “new urbanism “ and in what ways does it impact the social connections of
people in the neighborhood as well as affecting transportation policies?
If global warming is an issue, what are the largest producers of greenhouse gasses and would
lessening the use of them impact society?