US Thematic Essay Topics For Review

ESSAY #1:
THEME: Changing American Society

The 20c experienced the testing of civil liberties in a number of ways.

TASK: Identify TWO events in the 20c that tested the civil liberties of Americans. For each 20c event:

§ Describe its immediate cause.
§ Discuss the specifics of the event.
§ Identify the constitutional issue(s) involved in each event.

You may use any example from American history and government. Some suggestions you may wish to consider include: Schenck v. United States, the Scopes “Money” Trial of 1925, the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, McCarthyism, and The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978).

You are NOT limited to these suggestions!


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ESSAY #2:
THEME: Foreign Policy
The primary aim of a nation’s foreign policy is the self-interest of that nation. Throughout United States history, certain foreign policy actions have led to debate over whether they were in the national interest.

TASK: From your study of United States history, identify TWO foreign policy actions that have led to debate over whether they were in the national interest.

For each foreign policy action identified:

§ Discuss the historical circumstances that led the United States to take a specific foreign
policy action.
§ Describe the foreign policy action that was taken.
§ Describe the opposing viewpoints about the role of national self-interest in that action.
§ Evaluate whether the action taken succeeded in promoting the national self-interest.

You may use any major controversial foreign policy action from your study of United States history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include: War of 1812; Mexican War (1846-1848); acquisition of the Philippines (1898-1902); Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904); Treaty of Versailles (1919); Lend-Lease Act (1941); Vietnam War (1960s-early 1970s); Persian Gulf Crisis (1990-1991).

You are NOT limited to these suggestions


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ESSAY #3:
THEME: Laws
Throughout American history, economic and social problems have prompted the U. S. Congress to pass various laws.

TASK: Choose any TWO laws from your study of American history.

For each law:
§ Explain how the law sought to address an economic or social problem in the United States.
§ Describe the main provision or intent of the law.
§ Describe the extent to which the law succeeded in addressing that problem.

You may use any example from your study of American history. Some suggestions you might wish to include:

Homestead Act (1862), Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), Dawes Act (1887), Sherman-Anti-Trust Act (1890), Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), Federal Reserve Act (1913), Wagner Act (1935), and Civil Rights Act (1964).

You are NOT limited to these suggestions!


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ESSAY #4:
THEME: Change
Special names have sometimes been used to characterize particular time periods in America history.

TASK: Choose the special names given to TWO time periods from your study of American history.

For each time period:

§ Identify the time period.
§ Describe some of the major events that occurred during that time period.
§ Explain how a special name for that time period accurately describes social, political or
economic events that took place during that time period.

You may use any example from your study of American history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include: Critical Period, Reconstruction Era, Gilded Age, Progressive Era, Roaring Twenties, New Deal Era, Swinging Sixties, Go-Go Eighties.

You are NOT limited to these suggestions!


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ESSAY #5:
THEME: Justice and Human Rights
Many United States Supreme Court decisions have dealt with important issues and have had an important impact on American history.

TASK: Choose TWO Supreme Court cases from your study of American history.

For each Supreme Court case:

§ Explain how the case dealt with an important issue.
§ Discuss the impact of the decision on American society.

You may use any example from your study of American history government. Some suggestions you might wish to include: Marbury v. Madison, Dred Scott v. Sanford, Korematsu v. United States, Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, KS, Miranda v. Arizona, and Roe v. Wade.

You are NOT limited to these suggestions!