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General information.

  • Information Booklet for Scoring the Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework)
  • Frequently Asked Questions on Cancellation of Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework)  - Revised, 6/17/22
  • Cancellation of the Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework) for June 2022
  • Educator Guide to the Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework) - Updated, July 2023
  • Memo: January 2022 Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework) Diploma Requirement Exemption
  • Timeline for Regents Examination in United States History and Government and Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework)
  • Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework) Essay Booklet - For June 2023 and beyond
  • Prototypes for Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework)
  • Regents Examination in United States History and Government (Framework) Test Design - Updated, 3/4/19
  • Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) for United States History and Government (Framework)

Part 1: Multiple-Choice Questions

  • Part I: Task Models for Stimulus Based Multiple-Choice Question

Part II: Stimulus-Based Short Essay Questions: Sample Student Papers

The links below lead to sample student papers for the Part II Stimulus-Based Short Essay Questions for both Set 1 and Set 2. They include an anchor paper and a practice paper at each score point on a 5-point rubric. These materials were created to provide further understanding of the Part II Stimulus-Based Short Essay Questions and rubrics for scoring actual student papers. Each set includes Scoring Worksheets A and B, which can be used for training in conjunction with the practice papers. The 5-point scoring rubric has been specifically designed for use with these Stimulus-Based Short Essay Questions.

Part III: Civic Literacy Essay Question

The link below leads to sample student papers for the Part III Civic Literacy Essay Question. It includes Part IIIA and Part IIIB of a new Civic Literacy Essay Question along with rubrics for both parts and an anchor paper and practice paper at each score point on a 5-point rubric. These materials were created to provide further understanding of the Part III Civic Literacy Essay Question and rubric for scoring actual student papers. Also included are Scoring Worksheets A and B, which can be used for training in conjunction with the practice papers. The 5-point scoring rubric is the same rubric used to score the Document-Based Question essay on the current United States History and Government Regents Examination.

  • Part III: Civic Literacy Essay Question Sample Student Papers

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Taking US History in preparation for the Regents test? The next US History Regents exam dates are Wednesday, January 22nd and Thursday, June 18th, both at 9:15am. Will you be prepared?

You may have heard the test is undergoing some significant changes. In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about the newly-revised US History Regents exam, from what the format will look like to which topics it'll cover. We also include official sample questions of every question type you'll see on this test and break down exactly what your answers to each of them should include.

What Is the Format of the US History Regents Exam?

Beginning in 2020, the US History Regents exam will have a new format. Previously, the test consisted of 50 multiple-choice questions with long essays, but now it will have a mix of multiple choice, short answer, short essay, and long essay questions (schools can choose to use the old version of the exam through June 2021). Here's the format of the new test, along with how it's scored:

In Part 2, there will be two sets of paired documents (always primary sources). For each pair of documents, students will answer with a short essay (about two to three paragraphs, no introduction or conclusion).

For the first pair of documents, students will need to describe the historical context of the documents and explain how the two documents relate to each other. For the second pair, students will again describe the historical context of the documents then explain how audience, bias, purpose, or point of view affect the reliability of each document.

Part A: Students will be given a set of documents focused on a civil or constitutional issue, and they'll need to respond to a set of six short-answer questions about them.

Part B: Using the same set of documents as Part A, students will write a full-length essay (the Civic Literacy essay) that answers the following prompt:

  • Describe the historical circumstances surrounding a constitutional or civic issue.
  • Explain efforts by individuals, groups, and/or governments to address this constitutional or civic issue.
  • Discuss the extent to which these efforts were successful OR discuss the impact of the efforts on the United States and/or American society.

What Topics Does the US History Regents Exam Cover?

Even though the format of the US History Regents test is changing, the topics the exam focuses on are pretty much staying the same. New Visions for Public Schools recommends teachers base their US History class around the following ten units:

As you can see, the US History Regents exam can cover pretty much any major topic/era/conflict in US History from the colonial period to present day, so make sure you have a good grasp of each topic during your US History Regents review.

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What Will Questions Look Like on the US History Regents Exam?

Because the US History Regents exam is being revamped for 2020, all the old released exams (with answer explanations) are out-of-date. They can still be useful study tools, but you'll need to remember that they won't be the same as the test you'll be taking.

Fortunately, the New York State Education Department has released a partial sample exam so you can see what the new version of the US History Regents exam will be like. In this section, we go over a sample question for each of the four question types you'll see on the test and explain how to answer it.

Multiple-Choice Sample Question

Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the letter below and on your knowledge of social studies.

  • Upton Sinclair wrote this letter to President Theodore Roosevelt to inform the president about

1. excessive federal regulation of meatpacking plants 2. unhealthy practices in the meatpacking plants 3. raising wages for meatpacking workers 4. state laws regulating the meatpacking industry

There will be 28 multiple-choice questions on the exam, and they'll all reference "stimuli" such as this example's excerpt of a letter from Upton Sinclair to Theodore Roosevelt. This means you'll never need to pull an answer out of thin air (you'll always have information from the stimulus to refer to), but you will still need a solid knowledge of US history to do well.

To answer these questions, first read the stimulus carefully but still efficiently. In this example, Sinclair is describing a place called "Packingtown," and it seems to be pretty gross. He mentions rotting meat, dead rats, infected animals, etc.

Once you have a solid idea of what the stimulus is about, read the answer choices (some students may prefer to read through the answer choices before reading the stimulus; try both to see which you prefer).

Option 1 doesn't seem correct because there definitely doesn't seem to be much regulation occurring in the meatpacking plant. Option 2 seems possible because things do seem very unhealthy there. Option 3 is incorrect because Sinclair mentions nothing about wages, and similarly for option 4, there is nothing about state laws in the letter.

Option 2 is the correct answer. Because of the stimulus (the letter), you don't need to know everything about the history of industrialization in the US and how its rampant growth had the tendency to cause serious health/social/moral etc. problems, but having an overview of it at least can help you answer questions like these faster and with more confidence.

Short Essay

This Short Essay Question is based on the accompanying documents and is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. Each Short Essay Question set will consist of two documents. Some of these documents have been edited for the purposes of this question. Keep in mind that the language and images used in a document may reflect the historical context of the time in which it was created.

Task: Read and analyze the following documents, applying your social studies knowledge and skills to write a short essay of two or three paragraphs in which you:

In developing your short essay answer of two or three paragraphs, be sure to keep these explanations in mind:

Describe means "to illustrate something in words or tell about it"

Historical Context refers to "the relevant historical circumstances surrounding or connecting the events, ideas, or developments in these documents"

Identify means "to put a name to or to name"

Explain means "to make plain or understandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the logical development or relationship of"

Types of Relationships :

Cause refers to "something that contributes to the occurrence of an event, the rise of an idea, or the bringing about of a development"

Effect refers to "what happens as a consequence (result, impact, outcome) of an event, an idea, or a development"

Similarity tells how "something is alike or the same as something else"

Difference tells how "something is not alike or not the same as something else"

Turning Point is "a major event, idea, or historical development that brings about significant change. It can be local, regional, national, or global"

It's important to read the instructions accompanying the documents so you know exactly how to answer the short essays. This example is from the first short essay question, so along with explaining the historical context of the documents, you'll also need to explain the relationship between the documents (for the second short essay question, you'll need to explain biases). Your options for the types of relationships are:

  • cause and effect,
  • similarity/difference
  • turning point

You'll only choose one of these relationships. Key words are explained in the instructions, which we recommend you read through carefully now so you don't waste time doing it on test day. The instructions above are the exact instructions you'll see on your own exam.

Next, read through the two documents, jotting down some brief notes if you like. Document 1 is an excerpt from a press conference where President Eisenhower discusses the importance of Indochina, namely the goods it produces, the danger of a dictatorship to the free world, and the potential of Indochina causing other countries in the region to become communist as well.

Document 2 is an excerpt from the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. It mentions an attack on the US Navy by the communist regime in Vietnam, and it states that while the US desires that there be peace in the region and is reluctant to get involved, Congress approves the President of the United States to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression."

Your response should be no more than three paragraphs. For the first paragraph, we recommend discussing the historical context of the two documents. This is where your history knowledge comes in. If you have a strong grasp of the history of this time period, you can discuss how France's colonial reign in Indochina (present-day Vietnam) ended in 1954, which led to a communist regime in the north and a pro-Western democracy in the south. Eisenhower didn't want to get directly involved in Vietnam, but he subscribed to the "domino theory" (Document 1) and believed that if Vietnam became fully communist, other countries in Southeast Asia would as well. Therefore, he supplied the south with money and weapons, which helped cause the outbreak of the Vietnam War.

After Eisenhower, the US had limited involvement in the Vietnam War, but the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where US and North Vietnam ships confronted each other and exchanged fire, led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Document 2) and gave President Lyndon B. Johnson powers to send US military forces to Vietnam without an official declaration of war. This led to a large escalation of the US's involvement in Vietnam.

You don't need to know every detail mentioned above, but having a solid knowledge of key US events (like its involvement in the Vietnam War) will help you place documents in their correct historical context.

For the next one to two paragraphs of your response, discuss the relationship of the documents. It's not really a cause and effect relationship, since it wasn't Eisenhower's domino theory that led directly to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, but you could discuss the similarities and differences between the two documents (they're similar because they both show a fear of the entire region becoming communist and a US desire for peace in the area, but they're different because the first is a much more hands-off approach while the second shows significant involvement). You could also argue it's a turning point relationship because the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was the turning point in the US's involvement in the Vietnam War. Up to that point, the US was primarily hands-off (as shown in Document 1). Typically, the relationship you choose is less important than your ability to support your argument with facts and analysis.

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Short Answers and Civic Literacy Essay

This Civic Literacy essay is based on the accompanying documents. The question is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. Some of these documents have been edited for the purpose of this question. As you analyze the documents, take into account the source of each document and any point of view that may be presented in the document. Keep in mind that the language and images used in a document may reflect the historical context of the time in which it was created.

Historical Context: African American Civil Rights

Throughout United States history, many constitutional and civic issues have been debated by Americans. These debates have resulted in efforts by individuals, groups, and governments to address these issues. These efforts have achieved varying degrees of success. One of these constitutional and civic issues is African American civil rights.

Task: Read and analyze the documents. Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history, write an essay in which you

Discuss means "to make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail"

Document 1a

Document 1b

  • Based on these documents, state one way the end of Reconstruction affected African Americans.
  • According to this document, what is one way Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois disagreed about how African Americans should achieve equality?
  • According to this document, what is one reason Thurgood Marshall argued that the "separate but equal" ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson should be overturned?

Document 4a

Document 4b

  • Based on these documents, state one result of the sit-in at the Greensboro Woolworth.
  • According to Henry Louis Gates Jr., what was one result of the 1960s civil rights protests?
  • Based on this document, state one impact of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Start by reading the instructions, then the documents themselves. There are eight of them, all focused on African American civil rights. The short answers and the civic literacy essay use the same documents. We recommend answering the short answer questions first, then completing your essay.

A short answer question follows each document or set of documents. These are straightforward questions than can be answered in 1-2 sentences. Question 1 asks, "Based on these documents, state one way the end of Reconstruction affected African Americans."

Reading through documents 1a and 1b, there are many potential answers. Choose one (don't try to choose more than one to get more points; it won't help and you'll just lose time you could be spending on other questions) for your response. Using information from document 1a, a potential answer could be, "After Reconstruction, African Americans were able to hold many elected positions. This made it possible for them to influence politics and public life more than they had ever been able to before."

Your Civic Literacy essay will be a standard five-paragraph essay, with an introduction, thesis statement, and a conclusion. You'll need to use many of the documents to answer the three bullet points laid out in the instructions. We recommend one paragraph per bullet point. For each paragraph, you'll need to use your knowledge of US history AND information directly from the documents to make your case.

As with the short essay, we recommended devoting a paragraph to each of the bullet points. In the first paragraph, you should discuss how the documents fit into the larger narrative of African American civil rights. You could discuss the effects of Reconstruction, how the industrialization of the North affected blacks, segregation and its impacts, key events in the Civil Rights movement such as the bus boycott in Montgomery and the March on Washington, etc. The key is to use your own knowledge of US history while also discussing the documents and how they tie in.

For the second paragraph, you'll discuss efforts to address African American civil rights. Here you can talk about groups, such as the NAACP (Document 3), specific people such as W.E.B. Du Bois (Document 2), and/or major events, such as the passing of the Civil Rights Act (Document 5).

In the third paragraph, you'll discuss how successful the effort to increase African American civil rights was. Again, use both the documents and your own knowledge to discuss setbacks faced and victories achieved. Your overall opinion will reflect your thesis statement you included at the end of your introductory paragraph. As with the other essays, it matters less what you conclude than how well you are able to support your argument.

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3 Tips for Your US History Regents Review

In order to earn a Regents Diploma, you'll need to pass at least one of the social science regents. Here are some tips for passing the US Regents exam.

#1: Focus on Broad Themes, Not Tiny Details

With the revamp of the US History exam, there is much less focus on memorization and basic fact recall. Every question on the exam, including multiple choice, will have a document or excerpt referred to in the questions, so you'll never need to pull an answer out of thin air.

Because you'll never see a question like, "What year did Alabama become a state?" don't waste your time trying to memorize a lot of dates. It's good to have a general idea of when key events occurred, like WWII or the Gilded Age, but i t's much more important that you understand, say, the causes and consequences of WWII rather than the dates of specific battles. The exam tests your knowledge of major themes and changes in US history, so focus on that during your US History Regents review over rote memorization.

#2: Don't Write More Than You Need To

You only need to write one full-length essay for the US History Regents exam, and it's for the final question of the test (the Civic Literacy essay). All other questions (besides multiple choice) only require a few sentences or a few paragraphs.

Don't be tempted to go beyond these guidelines in an attempt to get more points. If a question asks for one example, only give one example; giving more won't get you any additional points, and it'll cause you to lose valuable time. For the two short essay questions, only write three paragraphs each, maximum. The short response questions only require a sentence or two. The questions are carefully designed so that they can be fully answered by responses of this length, so don't feel pressured to write more in an attempt to get a higher score. Quality is much more important than quantity here.

#3: Search the Documents for Clues

As mentioned above, all questions on this test are document-based, and those documents will hold lots of key information in them. Even ones that at first glance don't seem to show a lot, like a poster or photograph, can contain many key details if you have a general idea of what was going on at that point in history. The caption or explanation beneath each document is also often critical to fully understanding it. In your essays and short answers, remember to always refer back to the information you get from these documents to help support your answers.

What's Next?

Taking other Regents exams ? We have guides to the Chemistry , Earth Science , and Living Environment Regents , as well as the Algebra 1 , Algebra 2 , and Geometry Regents .

Need more information on Colonial America? Become an expert by reading our guide to the 13 colonies.

The Platt Amendment was written during another key time in American history. Learn all about this important document, and how it is still influencing Guantanamo Bay, by reading our complete guide to the Platt Amendment.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Video transcript

  • Curriculum Development Team
  • Content Contributors
  • Getting Started: Baseline Assessments
  • Getting Started: Resources to Enhance Instruction
  • Getting Started: Instructional Routines
  • Unit 9.1: Global 1 Introduction
  • Unit 9.2: The First Civilizations
  • Unit 9.3: Classical Civilizations
  • Unit 9.4: Political Powers and Achievements
  • Unit 9.5: Social and Cultural Growth and Conflict
  • Unit 9.6: Ottoman and Ming Pre-1600
  • Unit 9.7: Transformation of Western Europe and Russia
  • Unit 9.8: Africa and the Americas Pre-1600
  • Unit 9.9: Interactions and Disruptions
  • Unit 10.0: Global 2 Introduction
  • Unit 10.1: The World in 1750 C.E.
  • Unit 10.2: Enlightenment, Revolution, and Nationalism
  • Unit 10.3: Industrial Revolution
  • Unit 10.4: Imperialism
  • Unit 10.5: World Wars
  • Unit 10.6: Cold War Era
  • Unit 10.7: Decolonization and Nationalism
  • Unit 10.8: Cultural Traditions and Modernization
  • Unit 10.9: Globalization and the Changing Environment
  • Unit 10.10: Human Rights Violations
  • Unit 11.0: US History Introduction

Unit 11.1: Colonial Foundations

Unit 11.2: American Revolution

Unit 11.3A: Building a Nation

  • Unit 11.03B: Sectionalism & the Civil War

Unit 11.4: Reconstruction

Unit 11.5: Gilded Age and Progressive Era

Unit 11.6: Rise of American Power

Unit 11.7: Prosperity and Depression

Unit 11.8: World War II

Unit 11.9: Cold War

  • Unit 11.10: Domestic Change

Resources: Regents Prep: Global 2 Exam

Regents Prep: Framework USH Exam: Regents Prep: US Exam

  • Find Resources

Regents Prep: US Exam

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KEY IDEA: COLONIAL FOUNDATIONS (1607– 1763): European colonization in North America prompted cultural contact and exchange between diverse peoples; cultural differences and misunderstandings at times led to conflict. A variety of factors contributed to the development of regional differences, including social and racial hierarchies, in colonial America.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: Contact between Native American groups and Europeans occurred through cultural exchanges, resistance efforts, and conflict. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will trace European contact with Native Americans, including the Dutch, the English, the French and the Spanish. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the impacts of European colonization on Native Americans, who eventually lost much of their land and experienced a drastic decline in population through diseases and armed conflict. 

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  A number of factors influenced colonial economic development, social structures, and labor systems, causing variation by region. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will examine the impacts of geographic factors on patterns of settlement and the development of colonial economic systems. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION: Students will examine the factors influencing variations in colonial social structures and labor systems. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will analyze slavery as a deeply established component of the colonial economic system and social structure, indentured servitude vs. slavery, the increased concentration of slaves in the South, and the development of slavery as a racial institution. 

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  Colonial political developments were influenced by British political traditions, Enlightenment ideas, and the colonial experience. Self-governing structures were common, and yet varied across the colonies. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine colonial political institutions to determine how they were influenced by Enlightenment ideas, British traditions such as the Magna Carta, and the colonial experience. 

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine colonial democratic principles by studying documents such as the Mayflower Compact and the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, colonial governmental structures such as New England town meetings and the Virginia House of Burgesses, and the practice of the right of petition in New Netherland. 

New Visions USH Exam Update 

Prototype Exam 

Educator's Guide by NYSED Office of State Assessment 

NYSED Office of State Assessment - Anchor papers for part 2 

Regents Prep: Framework USH Exam

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These resources help students prepare for the US History Regents exam by exposing them to the format of the exam, asking them to reflect on their current confidence levels, and helping them prepare a study plan for the months and days leading up to the exam.  

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Student Preparedness - US Regents: My Strategy Framework USH Exam

This document helps students and teachers make a plan for the USH exam (aligned to the new framework regents exam) 

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An 8 week plan for students to study and prepare for the US Regents. 

USHG Framework Aligned Practice Exam See 2 items Hide 2 items

USHG Practice Regents Exam based on items from the NYS USHG Prototype Exam and New Visions end of unit assessments. 

Find the NYSED Prototype, Educator's Guide, and Part 2 Anchor Papers here:  http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/ss/framework-ushistory.html

USHG Framework Aligned Practice Exam: USH Practice Exam w/ Teacher Materials

If you click on the "Open in Google Docs" button below and can view the document, then you already have access.

If you do not have access to the assessments,  please fill out the form linked here . 

You will need to provide your official school email address AND a Google email address. In some cases, these will be the same email account. You will only need to fill the form out once to gain access to all of the assessments and teacher materials in the curriculum.

After you fill out the form, you will receive notification that you have been added to a  Google Group  called  "New Visions Social Studies Assessments Access."  Once you receive that notification, you can access all of the assessments through the New Visions Social Studies Curriculum website, but  you must be logged into the Google account you provided in the form to view the assessments. 

We will try to respond to all access requests within 72 hours. We are sorry if this delay causes any inconvenience.

An analysis of the stimuli and prompts of the Regents Exam and an item-by-item break down of its characteristics.

US Regents Exam Itemization & Analyses See 1 item Hide 1 item

As each US History Regents Exam is administered we put together an analysis of the stimuli and prompts to more easily examine the content and skills students need to perform well. 

An analysis of the stimuli and prompts of the Regents Exam from the June 2023 onwards and an item-by-item break down of its characteristics.

Exam Question Bank See 1 item Hide 1 item

The USH Regents Exam Question Bank containing all of the items created and adapted by New Visions. The bank includes stimulus-based multiple choice questions (Part I), Short Essay Tasks (Part II), and Civic Literacy Document Based Essays (Part III).

Exam Question Bank: Exam Question Bank aligned to Framework USH Regents Exam

Starting in  June 2020 , US History and Government students in New York State will be able to take the  USHG Framework exam . To help administrators, teachers, and students prepare for the exam, we have written test items that align with the prototype put out by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in June 2019.

As we learn more about the assessment and get feedback on these items we will revise and add to this exam bank. In addition, we hope to include exemplars and example student responses in the future.

As social studies educators in New York State, we are all in this together, so let’s collaborate! If you would like to share test items you have written with others, please send items to  [email protected] . We’ll be glad to give you credit for the items you’ve created.

End of Unit Assessments Aligned to the NYS Social Studies Framework See 18 items Hide 18 items

The end of unit assessments below come from units in the New Visions Social Studies Curriculum. They are aligned to the new US History Regents Exam aligned to the NYS Social Studies Framework first administered in June 2020. Most exams include Part 1: Stimulus-based Multiple Choice Questions, Part 2: Short Essay Questions, Part 3: Civil Literacy Essay. 

U.S. History

End of Unit Assessment: End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

If you do not have access to the assessments,

please fill out the form linked here . 

End of Unit Assessment: End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

KEY IDEA:  CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS (1763 – 1824): Growing political and economic tensions led the American colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain. Once independent, the new nation confronted the challenge of creating a stable federal republic.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  Following the French and Indian War, the British government attempted to gain greater political and economic control over the colonies. Colonists resisted these efforts, leading to increasing tensions between the colonists and the British government.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine British efforts to gain greater political and economic control, such as the Proclamation of 1763, the Stamp Act, the Townsend Acts, the Tea Act, the Boston Massacre, and the Coercive Acts, and colonial reactions to these efforts.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  Failed attempts to mitigate the conflicts between the British government and the colonists led the colonists to declare independence, which they eventually won through the Revolutionary War, which affected individuals in different ways.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the purpose of and the ideas contained in the Declaration of Independence and consider its long term impacts.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the impacts of the Revolutionary War on workers, African Americans, women, and Native Americans.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to a convention whose purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead resulted in the writing of a new Constitution. The ratification debate over the proposed Constitution led the Federalists to agree to add a bill of rights to the Constitution.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the weaknesses and successes of government under the Articles of Confederation.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will explore the development of the Constitution, including the major debates and their resolutions, which included compromises over representation, taxation, and slavery.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the structure, power, and function of the federal government as created by the Constitution, including key constitutional principles such as the division of power between federal and state government, the separation of powers at the federal level, the creation of checks and balances, the sovereignty of the people, and judicial independence.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the key points of debate expressed in the Federalist Papers and the Antifederalist Papers, focusing on the protection of individual rights and the proper size for a republic.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the rights and protections provided by the Bill of Rights and to whom they initially applied.

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:  Under the new Constitution, the young nation sought to achieve national security and political stability, as the three branches of government established their relationships with each other and the states.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will identify presidential actions and precedents established by George Washington, including those articulated in his Farewell Address

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine Hamilton’s economic plan, the debate surrounding the plan, and its impacts on the development of political parties.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power established in the presidential election of 1800 and compare it to the presidential election of 2000, focusing on the roles of the Electoral College and Congress in 1800 and the Electoral College and the Supreme Court in 2000.

CONTENT SPECIFICATION:  Students will examine Supreme Court cases, including Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Gibbons v. Ogden, and analyze how these decisions strengthened the powers of the federal government.

End of Unit Assessments: End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

We will try to respond to all access requests within 72 hours. We are sorry if this delay causes any inconvenience

End of Unit Assessments: End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

End of Unit Assessment: 11.6 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

End of Unit Assessment: 11.6 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

End of Unit Assessments: 11.7 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

End of Unit Assessments: 11.7 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

End of Unit Assessments: 11.8 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

End of Unit Assessments: 11.8 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

End of Unit Assessments: 11.9 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned

End of Unit Assessments: 11.9 End of Unit Assessment- NYS Framework Aligned- Teacher Materials

Content Review Resources See 5 items Hide 5 items

The resources below provide some suggestions for structuring Regents readiness throughout the year and in the last months of the USHG course. They include materials for teachers and students. 

Content Review Resources: 15 Day Regents Prep Plan

15 day Regents Prep Plan includes: 

  • Review of the 5 most high leverage topics: Constitution, Sectionalism leading to the Civil War, Gilded Age, Progressive Era, and the Cold War.  
  • Sample 15 day outline of in class and out of class review activities 
  • Suggestions for NV resources to use during Regents Prep periods 

Content Review Resources: Sprints for Stimulus Based MC Questions Review

short essay question examples us history

Content Review Resources: New Visions USH Review Sheets and Concept Maps for the Full Course

Review sheets for ALL of the topics in the USH curriculum and concept mapping activities to organize that information. Students contextualize the event, discuss its significance and think about related constitutional and civic issues. 

Content Review Resources: PAGE Annotation Protocol for Stimulus Based MC Questions

Annotation protocol for Stimulus Based MC Questions 

Content Review Resources: Kahoot! Social Studies Review

Kahoot quizzes for Global II and US History Regents review.

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 2: Short Essays See 3 items Hide 3 items

These resources help teachers and students prepare for Part 2 of the new Framework USH exam: Short Essay 

Document Set #1: Historical Context & Relationship 

Document Set #2: Sourcing & Reliability 

Resources for Part 2: Short Essays: Short Essay Checklist

Students can use this checklist while writing OR teachers can use this checklist to give students feedback on their short essay responses. 

Resources for Part 2: Short Essays: Document Set #1 - Rubric

Rubric based on OSA NYSED Educator's Guide and Anchor papers 

Resources for Part 2: Short Essays: Document Set #2 - Rubric

Rubric based on OSA / NYSED Anchor papers 

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay See 8 items Hide 8 items

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Constitutional Issues Check- In: Presentation

The Constitutional and Civic Issues Check-In is an instructional routine to support teachers and students in reviewing content that support Part 3 of the US History Framework Aligned Regents exam 

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Constitutional Issues Check-In: Worksheets

Materials to support the constitutional and civic-issue check-in 

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Concept Maps

Concept maps can support both the USHG and GHG regents exams. 

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Constitutional and Civic Issues Graphic Organizer: Presentation

Presentation for teachers to unpack the graphic organizer supporting constitutional and civic issues check-in

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Constitutional and Civic Issues Graphic Organizer

Constitutional Civic Issue Graphic Organizer 

short essay question examples us history

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Constitutional and Civic Issues Graphic Organizer - Model

Model for teachers to review 

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Civic Literacy Essay Checklist

Students can use this checklist to write their essay, teachers can use this checklist to give students feedback 

Resources for Part 3: Civic Literacy Document Based Essay: Rubric - Part 3 - Civic Literacy Essay

Rubric based on NYSED Educator's Guide 

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How to Prepare Students for the New U.S. History Regents

short essay question examples us history

Prepping students for the New York State U.S. and Government Regents Exam can be stressful. Your effectiveness as a teacher is often tied to students’ results.

Experience helps; every year you become more familiar with the exam and can better support your students. Now there’s a new test in town. Those years of experience with the old U.S. Regents can go in the drawer with your DVD movies and fidget spinner. Here is a guide to prepare your kiddos for the exam.

What’s on the New U.S. History Regents?

Like the old regents, the new test is comprised of three parts:

Description of U.S. Regents New Framework

What skills do students need for the new exam?

First and foremost they need reading and writing stamina. Every step of the test requires one or the other. The number of multiple choice questions has been cut by almost half, but EVERY SINGLE QUESTION is based on a document.

Each document is followed by 2 or 3 questions. That translates to about 13 documents that must be digested, just for Part 1! Yes, some are political cartoons and maps, but many are paragraphs of text.

The Civic Literacy Essay is comprised of 6 documents. The Short Essay Sets (aka SEQs) include a total of 4 documents. If you add it all up, the documents that students must read, understand and analyze it’s about 35 documents in a 3-hour time frame! For struggling learners and those that just hate to read (I have many!) this is huge barrier to success.

In theory, the amount of writing is identical to the previous version. There used to be 2 essays, average 4 paragraphs each. Now there are 2 mini essays, 2 paragraphs each, and one traditional 4 paragraph. But it feels like more because it’s 3 essays instead of 2.

Please don’t tell my students, but I personally would rather have root canal than have to sit for this test.

U.S. regents Review

How to build necessary skills for the New U.S. Regents throughout the year

Are you ready — this is what you’ve got to teach the kids:

Reading Stamina

This really is the biggest hurdle for many, both students with disabilities and many gen ed kids who just don’t like to read. When I have proctored and graded past regents I see it over and over again, students get tired and break down. Here are some ways to prepare them.

Train everyone to read the question first. Many times it’s not necessary to read the whole document; if you know what you’re looking for, find the answer and move to the next document.

Another pointer for students: after they read the question try reading the first and last sentence of each paragraph when given a long document. Oftentimes that will be enough.

When you assign a reading that is a page or more chunk it down by putting a few lines and a question between paragraphs. This allows for mental pacing: read a paragraph, take a breath, move on.

If you teach students with disabilities create more than one version of the reading. This is something that I pushed back against for a long time for many reasons (a story for another post). Long story short, it REALLY helps. If you have students reading at a 5th or 6th grade level they cannot even begin to engage with some primary and secondary source documents.

A common technique we use at my school is to pre-annotate the text, double space it and make the font larger. This addresses several barriers and only takes 2 minutes.

If you have a document that can’t be edited for any reason simply annotating the main points will help guide struggling learners to the main ideas. There are many ways to differentiate is you want to know more.

Use a timer to challenge everyone to stay on point.

=> Need info on the New Global History and Geography Regents? Check it out here.

Writing stamina

The best answer in one (hyphened) word: quick-writes. Several times a week as a do-now or exit put up a document with a question and have students write a five-sentence paragraph. Do the same for homework. This trains them to jump in and start writing.

Scaffold this process by giving  sentence starters in the beginning to help facilitate their ability to put pen to paper without too much hesitation. You can take this away after awhile, or keep it just for the students with disabilities.

Start by giving them 8 minutes. Then 7. Then 6. Work your way down to 5 minutes, 5 sentences.

Quick story. A few weeks ago one of my classes was out of control all week, despite using every classroom management trick in the book. I stood on a chair to get their attention and took the work for the day and ripped it up. “Your assignment today is to write a 5-paragraph argumentative essay and it will be graded as a test.”

I know, I lost it:(

Grumbling, disbelief (I never did this before) and complaints, “I can’t write an essay in 1 period” ensued. One student, however called out to the class, “After Morgan’s quick-writes every day, this is easy.” And she proceeded to write an essay in 30 minutes.

Historical content

I assume history teachers are reading this article, and therefore don’t need me:)

The only caveat I have on this topic is that sometimes students are given “review handouts” to study that are too long and intimidating; they just don’t know what to do with it. As you know, many students rarely study and don’t know how.

I have created different packets over the years for kids. The one thing they have in common is concrete action steps. For example, I will assign them one unit for homework and answer the questions at the end of the unit. Sometimes, rather than writing out the answer they must annotate the answer in the reading and number the annotation to reflect which question it answers. This encourages close reading and checks for comprehension.

My newest U.S. Regents review breaks down core content into 3-page unit summaries, followed by 10 stimulus-based multiple choice questions on the topic. Shameless plug: I have uploaded each U.S. History unit on TpT if you want to save time and grab 1 or 2 there. You can just look at the preview and make your own version using the same model. Check it out here.

Stimulus-based multiple choice questions

Document Analysis

The new U.S. regents exam includes TONS of documents! There are lots of acronyms for teaching this topic. English language teachers have theirs, history have theirs — I bet math has one, too!

I like HIPPO, simply because it gives me a chance to include a cute hippo on my PowerPoints and handouts:) Students need a full lesson dedicated to this topic. After that sprinkle it in do-nows, exits, homeworks, exactly the same as quick-writes.

If you’re wondering, H is is historical context, I is intended audience, P is point of view, P is purpose and O is outside information or evidence. For quick practice focus on any one of these, or ask students to choose 2 and identify for the document.

To read more on HIPPO this guide from Tomasso History is clear and concise.

Elimination skills

If students successfully eliminate 2 of the 4 possible answers suddenly they have a 50-50 shot at being correct, even if they use the old eeny-meany-miny-moe method (scientifically proven to work – never!)

In groups of 4 assign 12 multiple-choice questions. Each group member is in charge of 3 questions. They must read the question and choose 2 that can be eliminated giving justification. “The question is about World War 1 and the answer involves Hitler; he’s World War 2.” Next, as a group, they assess each group member’s work and make changes as the group deems necessary. Offer an answer sheet at the end of the period for students to self-check their results.

Throughout the year insist that students eliminate as a natural part of any multiple choice work. Train their minds to do this until it’s as natural as breathing. Take a point off during quizzes and tests if elimination is not done.

Create a chant for the class to recite.

Teacher: What do we want?

Students: To graduate!

Teacher: How do we do it?

Students: Eliminate! ( My students are used to me being VERY corny! )

Timing skills

There are a significant number of kids who don’t get to finish the test. You know the type: those methodical workers who carefully read and work their way through an assignment, often write slowly and can’t seem to rush even if their life depended on it. There are a couple of things you can do.

Break it down for them, how long each portion should take them. They have 3 hours, roughly an hour for each section. Repeat this at least ten times throughout your test prep; that’s how often the average person needs to internalize new information.

Have them self-assess: am I faster at reading or writing? If a student is self-aware they can set their personal timing schedule to fit their needs. A slow reader needs more time on the multiple choice questions, a slow writer the essays.

Practice, practice, practice. If you read the tips on writing stamina above, quick-writes are magical for the slow writer. If you can get a child to write 5 sentences in 5 minutes they can write a 5 paragraph essay in under half an hour!

Do the same with the stimulus-based multiple choice questions. They have about 2 minutes per question averaged out over the hour. The reality is that they need time to read each document and should take a minute or less actually answering each questions.

Suggested 15-Day Lesson Plan Guide for the New U.S. Regents

guide for new U.S. Regents framework

15 Day Test Prep – Download PDF

Test-taking Hacks

First a simple one: tell students to chew gum. If you can swing it, provide it for students. Studies have shown that chewing gum increases focus and release stress. Soldiers are routinely issued gum for these reasons.

Mindset is huge. Give students pep talks often. Let them know that their self-speak influences their grades. Every day of prep leading up to the test should be infused with optimistic sentiments. Students who go into a test believing they will not do well get lower results than equal level students who believe they can do well . Changing a student’s outlook can be tough, especially if they have experienced failure in the past.

Basic habits should be reinforced. Ask student’s to share: What time are they going to go to sleep the night before the exam? How are they going to ensure that they get up on time? What are they going to eat for breakfast? These fundamentals can derail a teen as much as lack of content knowledge.

Once at the testing site if there are tips or tricks a student wants to remember suggest they jot it down somewhere on the test ASAP. Then they have it in front of them and it’s not taking up brain bandwidth.

New U.S. Regents Conclusion

The New  U.S. Regents is intended to test common core skills. There will be many portions that are more of a reading test than a measure of content knowledge. This will benefit some and hurt others.

Spending a few weeks prepping prior to test date is critical. Bombard them with practice that looks just like the regents. Their eyes and brains will be familiar with the layout and format. Then on test day when confronted with the booklet, it will be like seeing an old friend. Okay maybe not exactly, but you get my drift.

However you feel about this exam — love it, hate it, neutral — is irrelevant. If you have been teaching for any period of time you know that things are always changing. And nobody cares what teachers think. Facts.

Warmest wishes, Joan

U.S. Regents Review TpT

Teach and Thrive

A Bronx, NY veteran high school social studies teacher who has learned most of what she has learned through trial and error and error and error.... and wants to save others that pain.

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Archive: Regents Examination in United States History and Government

  • Archive: 2004-09
  • Archive: prior 2004
  • Translated Editions

University of the State of New York - New York State Education Department

153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]

American history is not as long as the European one. However, it’s one of the richest histories in the world. It’s full of controversies, different opinions, and interesting facts. Those who study American history will find how many voices, perspectives, and points of view can coexist.

When writing an essay about America, you should try to stay as objective as possible. Think creatively and consider historical events from a new perspective.

This abundance of information and events can intimidate anyone. That’s why it can be very challenging to select one single US history topic to write about. There are so many!

To decide on it, students should answer several questions:

  • What time period interests me the most?
  • What specific event sounds the most appealing to me?
  • What historical figure impresses me?

It is indeed a daunting task to attempt to put the remarkable story of the US into an essay list. Fortunately, we’re not trying to do so.

Tired of researching historical encyclopedias? This is the perfect article for you – read through this collection of 153 US history essay topics prepared by our team .

🌎Top 10 American History Topics to Write about

  • 🏗️ Topics before 1877
  • 🌻 Topics: 1878-1899
  • 🏙️ US Topics: 1900s

🧊 Cool American History Topics

  • 🧐 US Regents Topics
  • ✊ Black History Topics

🎉 Fun US History Essay Topics

👌 easy american history essay topics, ❓ us history essay questions, 📋 how to cite an american history essay.

  • The 20th Century.
  • America’s Role in Normandy Landings.
  • Conquest of California.
  • The Great Depression.
  • USA: Colonial History.
  • The Oregon Trail.
  • African American Slave Trade.
  • Who was Harriet Tubman?
  • America in the Modern World.
  • Klondike Gold Rush.

☝️ Good US History Topics by Period

This is the IvyPanda list of American history topics that can help students get inspired!

We divided the history into epochs and organized the US history essay topics accordingly. Besides, this US history topics list structured thematically. It, hopefully, will make it easier to navigate and get started.

One of the best ways to look at history is to examine it from a chronological perspective. The topics in this section are structured based on the time period.

Every period is filled with key events and figures. American society is the product of those events—it’s vital to have a closer look at it.

🏗️ History Topics before 1877

  • America before Columbus . In this topic, you can talk about the first people in the Americas and what historians know about them. There are a lot of archeological findings and artifacts that survived thousands of years. Write about Christopher Columbus and how “the discovery” was not a discovery. The Americas have been inhabited and had developed civilizations long before Europeans put their foot there.
  • The first landing of Christopher Columbus and the New World

These ideas are for essays and research papers.

  • Christopher Columbus: Biography, Discoveries, Contributions . You can talk about Christopher Columbus and his biography. Track how his image has been changing throughout history. Modern historians see him as a person who contributed to the genocide of Native Americans. What is your opinion about him?
  • The British Rule in the Americas and the first British Settlements. Explore the first permanent colony in North America and what English wanted the colonies to be. There were a lot of obstacles, which first settlers had faced before Jamestown became a prosperous city. They suffered from a shortage of food, severe climate conditions, and disease. Plus, there were problems with the Indians. Research what “the middle ground” was and why this concept is relevant to this topic.
  • What is Puritanism?
  • Puritans in Great Britain
  • The Puritan Ethic in the United States . Who the Puritans were? Why were they sent to the New World? What were their religious beliefs? Explore the influence puritans had in the past. Is puritanism still relevant in the US today?
  • The Effects of the Spanish Rule and The Conquistadors in the Americas. Spanish Colonization of the Americas laid foundations for the Latin American identity. It is also considered the very first mass genocide in the world. It is indeed a matter of perspective. You can talk about how the contact between the Native Americans and the Spaniards affected both parties.
  • The Protestant Reformation and its influence on the US History. Religion was one of the main reasons why the first settlers decided to travel to the New World. Write about the connection between the freedom of religion in the US. What influence did it have on the nation as a whole in the future? Why is it crucial? How did it affect the lifestyle of people in the US?
  • Native Americans and “the Middle Ground” . Not everyone knows that the famous Disney cartoon Pocahontas is based on the true story. If this story was told by a Native American, it would be different. In this essay, you can comment on the role that Native Americans played in the European Colonization. Elaborate on the disappearance of “the Middle Ground.”
  • The beginning of slavery in British America and the Middle Passage. You can analyze the way this institution was established. Write about the factors that influenced it in the 17th century, try to include first-person accounts of slavery. Use the American Slave Narrative , for instance, Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa . This inclusion will demonstrate how inhumane slavery was and will open a good discussion.
  • Christianity, slavery, and colonialism in the US
  • The witchcraft trials . Elaborate on religious views of the New England public. How such views made it possible for more than 200 people to be accused of witchcraft. Discuss a Puritan code, the structure of the society, and what type of women were prosecuted.

Salem was an epicenter of the witchcraft trials in the US.

  • The Boston Tea Party as the key event of the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party is a highly celebrated event in the history of the US. Discuss why is that? Why is it so important for the Americans? Talk about the birth of patriotism, resistance and the revolt against colonialism. What did the rebels mean by “taxation without representation?”
  • The American Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence. This topic is one of the most popular in the history of the United States. First, you could write about a military battle with Great Britain and the reasons for it. Second, talk about political battles within the US at that period. Examine the establishment of the new nation.
  • How the Revolutionary war changes American Society
  • Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
  • Was the American Revolution really revolutionary?
  • The meaning of the Constitution. This is one of the most fruitful and fascinating debates in US history. Some people argue that it is written in a very vague way to allow American society to evolve. Others say that its text allows minorities to be deprived of the very things it promises to establish. Elaborate if you find the Constitution to be a liberal, radical, or a conservative document.
  • Why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. Talk about the first 10 amendments to the Constitution and explore why these amendments are so important. What did the amendments guarantee? Why was The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution in the first place?

James Madison wrote the amendments in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

  • The Founding Fathers’ influence on the US. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence are sacred documents. The Founding Fathers are major figures for the Americans as well. Writing about the influence of the Founding Fathers, select one or two members to focus on. Consider the diversity among the members. How did it help the Founding Fathers in leading the war and framing a sustainable government?
  • What is the role of the Founding Fathers in American society and religion?
  • European Colonization influence on the Native American population
  • Removal of Indian tribes. American History is unjust at times. Explore how unconstitutional the treatment of Indian Americans was and why they find it this way. Look at the way the Founding Fathers addressed this issue. Examining the Indian Removal Act of 1830 will allow you to fully develop this topic. Analyze why the policy was accepted in the first place. Why is it called “ethnic cleansing” by the majority of historians nowadays?
  • Native Americans lost their freedom
  • The impact of railroads in America. The rapid expansion of America would be impossible without the railroad construction. The railroads triggered the development of the Midwest and the West. Despite that, the construction of the railroads was highly monopolistic and undemocratic. Comment on the richest men in the US – John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
  • The role of cotton in the American economy. The American Economy in the 19th century heavily depended on cotton production. There was even a saying “Cotton is King” that was very popular at that time. Besides cotton, it heavily depended on the slaves. This period in American History is called the Antebellum Era. Look at the role of cotton from several perspectives. How profitable was it? How did slaves contribute to the American economy? How financially unviable was the abolition of slavery?

he cotton plantation is “the Second Middle Passage.

  • History of American Transcendentalism.
  • Why was Transcendentalism important for American Culture? The essay can start with a broad explanation of what transcendentalism is. Explain where it started and how it evolved. Explore what views the group had on women’s rights, slavery, education, government, and religion. You could write about the most prominent transcendentalists – Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Thoreau.
  • Religions in the 19th Century America. Known as the Second Great Awakening or Christian Revivalism, religion in the 19th century America was altered. Look back at the beginning of the American Revolution. Anglicans, Methodists, and Quackers were the fastest-growing religious groups then. Discuss all of them.
  • The abolition of slavery and the Civil War . A lot of historians believe that slavery in itself did not cause the conflict. In this essay, you could elaborate on this idea and consider the other point of view. For a long essay, write about Abraham Lincoln’s thoughts on slavery. His ideas about slavery and racial inequality were one of the most discussed aspects of his entire life. Look at his letters and write about the complexity of his views.
  • The causes of the Civil War and the aftermath of war. This essay is one of the easiest American history essays to write. Talk about the causes and effects of the Civil War (1861-1865) in the US. Why did it happen? What was achieved?
  • The struggle over the goal and the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment . You can elaborate on the goal of the amendment. Was it able to protect the rights of black citizens? Why was it still possible for the states to deny them their right to vote?
  • How did Reconstruction change the United States after the Civil war?
  • The Reconstruction governments. What type of reforms did the reconstruction government implement? What positive reforms happened during the Reconstruction Era? You could discuss radical reconstruction and white supremacy that spawned during the Reconstruction period. Elaborate on the idea of manifest destiny. Why was it so popular in the 19th century in the US?
  • The Compromise of 1850 . Why was reaching the compromise necessary? You can describe the terms of the compromise. Explain what results were achieved: political, economic, and cultural.

🌻 American History 1878-1899

The United States was going through many changes during this period: from various social changes and changes in foreign and domestic policies to rapid economic and cultural changes. This time saw the country changing for the best in some aspects and for the worst in others.

  • Industrialization after the Civil war. Industrialization of the United States was going on for almost half a century. However, the most impressive growth happened in 1880-1900. The expansion of the steel, iron and oil industries drove the American economy. Comment on all the inventions, technological advancements that happened in the US at that time.
  • Immigrants and their ideas of the American Dream
  • Social reforms during the Progressive Era
  • American Foreign Policy in the 1890s

George Washington's quote from his Farewell Address to the American people.

  • The importance of the Progressive Era reforms
  • Race relations during the Progressive Era reforms
  • Japanese Americans Immigration in the 19th century

🏙️ 20th Century US History Topics

The 20th century for the United States and the world, in general, was highly eventful. Economic crises, two World Wars, the Cold War, and the fight over civil rights. Plus, a huge economic and technological upheaval, the space program.

This list of American History topics after 1900 can be great for those looking for inspiration for a paper.

Here you go:

  • The door to America— Ellis Island. What are America’s best features? Economic opportunities, political and religious freedom? An abundance of jobs and opportunities? Land and natural resources? All of these made the United States experience the migration flux from all over the world. Elaborate on how Ellis island is a symbol of American immigration and the American dream.

Many immigrants entered the US through Ellis Island

  • The rise of capitalism
  • Work environments during the Progressive Era
  • Women’s suffrage movement in America
  • The causes and effects of women’s suffrage movement in the US
  • Changes in American Government after WWI
  • Is prohibition to blame for the organized crime in The United States?
  • The economic impact of the Great Depression. The Great Depression is one of the longest economic downturns in the history of the United States. You can talk about several main causes of the crisis. Another good approach would be to analyze the way American presidents handled this crisis.
  • Japanese American discrimination during the Great Depression
  • How did Roosevelt plan to end the Great Depression?
  • The Great Depression and what is the new deal?
  • The Role of the United States during World War 2
  • Why did the United States fight and lose the Vietnam War?
  • The war in Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement
  • A Comparison of the traditional and the revisionist arguments regarding the Origins of The Cold War
  • The Cold War and US diplomacy
  • The Cold War and how it influenced American society

History is tough, but some significant historical events take our breath away even centuries later. Here is our list of cool American history topics. Even if you don’t find any topic that works for you, it can inspire you to look for moments in history that appeal to you personally.

  • The true Story of Pocahontas: An untold story of a Native American girl. The true story of Pocahontas is covered with myths. Critically examine the story of her life and death. Try to understand it from a standpoint of a 12 years old Native American girl kidnapped by a white colonizer.
  • Native American tribes in the US History
  • What was discussed at the Constitutional Convention?
  • The history of the Statue of Liberty
  • Henry Ford and how his inventions changed America
  • Moon landing conspiracy
  • The war on drugs in US History
  • Illegal immigrants in the US
  • The American sense of humor
  • American pop culture in the 1920s . This time period is called “the roaring twenties.” It was filled with drastic political and cultural changes in the United States. Jazz, flapper culture, prohibition, and economic abundance are important elements of the 1920s.

The 20s were“roaring” due to the popular culture of the decade.

  • The history of gangs in the US
  • What did hippies believe in?
  • History of Hippie’s Culture
  • Presidential assassinations in the United States History. Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and JFK were the only US Presidents murdered while in office. You don’t have to retell the stories of their deaths! Instead, explore how these assassinations triggered some vital political reforms.
  • The history of the Fifth Amendment

🙌 Most Interesting American History Topics

Use the following list of most interesting US History topics for your next essay. Choose what US history interesting event or a historic figure captures your attention the most.

🧐 US History Regent Topics

  • The Relationships Between Federal and State Governments
  • Was there a need to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
  • The Cold War: Origins, Causes, Phases, and the Results
  • Why and How the Cold War Was Fought
  • The US Army in the Iraq War
  • The Iraq War: Background and Issues
  • Why did the Iraq War go against the plan?
  • Executive Orders and Presidential Power in the United States
  • History of the American Constitution
  • The Turning points of the American Revolution

The Battle of Saratoga was a key turning point of the Revolutionary War.

✊ Black History Essay Topics

Studying the history of the United States without studying slavery is impossible, mainly because the issue of race is ingrained into the DNA of America.

Black African American history allows students to get a different perspective on the same events. It lets them hear the voices that are so often erased from the history books. These African American history essays can help anyone looking for a good topic to write about.

  • Slave Resistance in the Eighteen Century. Continuously throughout history, African American slaves were portrayed as voiceless and victimized. Others presented them as almost indifferent and passive to their own destiny. You can examine a different perspective, an Afrocentric one. The history of slavery was not the history of passivity, it was a history of black resistance.
  • African American Music as a Form of Resistance
  • African American Religion and Spirituality in the United States
  • The 13th Amendment and the End of Slavery
  • The Jim Crow Laws in the United States History . Jim Crow Laws were the laws that enforced racial segregation in the country. Dedicate an introduction to discuss where the name “Jim Crow” comes from. Give a historical background to how the laws were used. This topic can make a strong essay because no one can stay indifferent.
  • Gender and Jim Crow
  • The Role of Martin Luther King, Jr in The Civil Right Movement
  • Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream”
  • Brown vs The Board of Education . The ruling in Brown vs. The Board of Education was one of the most fundamental changes in the US educational system. How did the general public receive the news about the desegregation of public schools? How did the American educational system change after this case?
  • The Significance of the Harlem Renaissance
  • Barack Obama: The First African American President
  • Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms
  • Has Obama’s Presidency changed America?

Obama prevented a few crises in the US.

  • The Cowboy Culture in the US
  • How Did Yellow Journalism Start?
  • Why is Superman the most American of all the heroes?
  • The History of American Flag
  • History of Sports in the United States
  • History of Thanksgiving Turkey in the United States
  • How Did Highways Change the United States of America?
  • American History through Hollywood Film

Sometimes you simply do not have enough time to write a profound essay. These American history topics are relatively easy, and you don’t have to research them a lot. Even if you do, there is a ton of information available.

  • British Colonization of the Americas
  • Slavery and racism in the United States
  • The Puritans Influence on the American Society
  • The pilgrims and the puritans
  • The Causes of the Vietnam War
  • Why Was Martin Luter King Assassinated?
  • American Moon Landing
  • What Are Major Events in the US History?
  • What Started the US History?
  • What Is the Most Important Piece of the US History?
  • What Is the US History Summary?
  • What City Was the First Capital in the US History?
  • What Was the First American State in the US History?
  • What Are Some Controversies in the US History?
  • How Far Was the New Deal a Turning Point in the US History up to 1941?
  • How the Airplane Industry Changed US History?
  • What Was President Reagan Known For in the US History?
  • How Reagan’s Ideology Shaped the US History?
  • Why Is the Reagan Revolution in the US History?
  • How Richard Nixon Influenced the US History?
  • What Vietnam War Showed About US History?
  • Did the Concept of Imperialism Exist in the US History?
  • Why Did the Wars in the Middle East Go Down in the US History as Unnecessary?
  • What Is the Most Popular Ideology in the US History?
  • How Does the US History Describe George W. Bush?
  • How Did the Use of Nuclear Weapons in Japan Affect the US History?
  • What Are Some Horrible and Forgotten Events in the US History?
  • Is Donald Trump the Second Worst President in the US History?
  • What Was the Biggest Political Miscalculation in the US History?
  • Who Is the Most Overrated First Lady in the US History?
  • How Well Do US History Teachers Really Know About the US History?
  • Who Was the Wimpiest President in the US History?
  • Who Are Some of the Great Asian Americans in the US History?
  • What Was the Most Corrupt Time in the US History?
  • What Was the Bloodiest Single Day Battle in the US History?
  • Who Is the Greatest Hero in the US History?
  • How Did King Philip’s War Change the US History?

Your citation will depend on the type of requirements your instructor will provide you with. You can ask your teacher which style of citation is preferable before the essay writing. The school itself may have specific guidelines for every typeof academic writing.

Chicago, MLA, APA are the main styles of citation in academic writing.

For history essays, there are two key methods of referencing both primary and secondary sources:

  • In-text citation. In this method, you mention the author and the year in the body of the essay. The list of references is placed at the end of the essay.
  • Footnote Referencing. In this method, you put a number in the body. It corresponds with the reference at the bottom of each page. At the end of the essay, a list of works read rather than cited should be included.

All the citation entries should be listed in alphabetical order. If you mention the same author multiple times with different works, use chronological order.

Keeping track of all the sources, both read and cited, is time-consuming. For that, students can try to use different online software systems. These systems can help arrange the list alphabetically and correctly organize all the citations.

Reference list

These digital tools are worth checking out:

Thank you for reading so far! Now you’re ready to start an amazing paper on US history. Share this article with those who may find it helpful, and leave a comment below.

🔗 References

  • U.S. History and Historical Documents: USAGov, the Official Guide to Government Information and Services.
  • All Topics: National Museum of American History.
  • TIMELINE, United States History: World Digital Library.
  • How Do I Cite Sources: Plagiarism.org.
  • Citing Primary Sources, Chicago: Teacher Resources, Library of Congress.
  • Black History, Topical: National Archives.
  • Black History Month: National Geographic Society.
  • College Writing: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  • Writing Historical Essays, A Guide for Undergraduates: Department of History, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
  • Writing an Essay Introduction: Research & Learning Online.
  • Research and Citation Resources: Purdue Writing Lab, College of Liberal Art.
  • Citing Your Sources, Citing Basics: Research Guides at Williams College Libraries.
  • Citing Electronic Sources: Academic Integrity at MIT, a Handbok for Students.
  • Generate Topic Ideas Quickly and Easily: Online Research Library Questia.
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 27). 153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/us-history-essay-topics/

"153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]." IvyPanda , 27 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/us-history-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]'. 27 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]." December 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/us-history-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]." December 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/us-history-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "153 US History Topics [2024 US History Essay Ideas]." December 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/us-history-essay-topics/.

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    The 20th Century. America's Role in Normandy Landings. Conquest of California. The Great Depression. USA: Colonial History. The Oregon Trail. African American Slave Trade. Who was Harriet Tubman? America in the Modern World. Klondike Gold Rush. ☝️ Good US History Topics by Period Get your 100% original paper