118 US History Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Studying US history is an important part of understanding the development of the United States as a nation. From the founding fathers to major events such as the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, there is a wealth of topics to explore.

Here are 118 US history essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started:

1. The founding fathers and the creation of the Constitution
2. The impact of the Louisiana Purchase on US expansion
3. The causes and consequences of the Civil War
4. The role of women in the abolitionist movement
5. The impact of the Industrial Revolution on American society
6. The rise of the labor movement in the late 19th century
7. The causes and consequences of the Spanish-American War
8. The impact of World War I on American society and politics
9. The Roaring Twenties and the rise of consumer culture
10. The Great Depression and the New Deal
11. The causes and consequences of World War II
12. The Civil Rights Movement and the fight for equality
13. The Vietnam War and its impact on American society
14. The rise of the conservative movement in the 1980s
15. The impact of globalization on the US economy
16. The role of the United States in the Cold War
17. The Watergate scandal and its impact on American politics
18. The War on Terror and the impact of 9/11
19. The rise of social media and its impact on American society
20. The Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against police brutality
21. The impact of climate change on US policy and politics
22. The history of immigration in the United States
23. The role of Native Americans in US history
24. The impact of the Gold Rush on US expansion
25. The history of slavery in the United States
26. The impact of the automobile on American society
27. The rise of organized crime in the 1920s
28. The impact of the Great Migration on American cities
29. The history of the US space program
30. The impact of the internet on American society
31. The role of religion in US history
32. The impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
33. The history of the US healthcare system
34. The impact of the AIDS epidemic on American society
35. The history of the US prison system
36. The impact of the women's suffrage movement
37. The history of US foreign policy
38. The impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis
39. The history of the US military
40. The impact of the Korean War
41. The history of US intelligence agencies
42. The impact of the Great Society programs
43. The history of US presidential elections
44. The impact of the Watergate scandal
45. The history of US political parties
46. The impact of the Reagan Revolution
47. The history of US economic policy
48. The impact of the Wall Street Crash of 1929
49. The history of US labor unions
50. The impact of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
51. The history of US immigration policy
52. The impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act
53. The history of US civil liberties
54. The impact of the Patriot Act
55. The history of US education policy
56. The impact of the Brown v. Board of Education decision
57. The history of US environmental policy
58. The impact of the Clean Air Act
59. The history of US healthcare policy
60. The impact of the Affordable Care Act
61. The history of US agricultural policy
62. The impact of the Dust Bowl
63. The history of US energy policy
64. The impact of the oil crisis of the 1970s
65. The history of US trade policy
66. The impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement
67. The history of US immigration policy
68. The impact of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
69. The history of US social welfare policy
70. The impact of the Social Security Act
71. The history of US housing policy
72. The impact of the Fair Housing Act
73. The history of US transportation policy
74. The impact of the Interstate Highway System
75. The history of US infrastructure policy
76. The impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
77. The history of US foreign aid policy
78. The impact of the Marshall Plan
79. The history of US defense policy
80. The impact of the Strategic Defense Initiative
81. The history of US intelligence policy
82. The impact of the National Security Agency
83. The history of US arms control policy
84. The impact of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
85. The history of US nuclear policy
86. The impact of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
87. The history of US space policy
88. The impact of the Apollo program
89. The history of US cybersecurity policy
90. The impact of the Cybersecurity Act
91. The history of US environmental policy
92. The impact of the Clean Water Act
93. The history of US energy policy
94. The impact of the Energy Policy Act
95. The history of US natural resource policy
96. The impact of the National Environmental Policy Act
97. The history of US climate policy
98. The impact of the Paris Agreement
99. The history of US health policy
100. The impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
101. The history of US education policy
102. The impact of the No Child Left Behind Act
103. The history of US criminal justice policy
104. The impact of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
105. The history of US welfare policy
106. The impact of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
107. The history of US housing policy
108. The impact of the Housing and Community Development Act
109. The history of US immigration policy
110. The impact of the Immigration Reform and Control Act
111. The history of US labor policy
112. The impact of the National Labor Relations Act
113. The history of US trade policy
114. The impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement
115. The history of US social welfare policy
116. The impact of the Social Security Act
117. The history of US transportation policy
118. The impact of the Federal-Aid Highway Act

These 118 US history essay topic ideas and examples are just a starting point for exploring the rich and complex history of the United States. Whether you are interested in political history, social history, economic history, or cultural history, there is a wealth of topics to explore. Happy writing!