Suggested Research Projects in American History

Students and teachers using this site may want to use the projects for credit, extra credit or seminar assignments for individuals or groups. Check with your teacher before commencing.

Part 1 Projects: Colonial and Revolutionary America

Life in Colonial America. For this project you will look at life in Colonial America and examine the experiences of many who came to these sometin=mes friendly, sometimes hostile shores.

Colonial Virginia Jamestown was the first permanent English colony in North America, but it came close to not surviving. This project looks at the trials and tribulations of the early Virginians.

The Massachusetts Puritans. The term “Puritan” immediately conjures up a picture in the minds of most Americans: a Puritan was a stolid, generally unhappy, religious fanatic, dour and unsmiling, someone afraid of pleasure. But was there more to the founders of Massachusetts Bay than that? This project invites you to examine the contributions of the Puritans to American history.

The Enlightenment and America. For those who are curious about the intellectual development of the United States, an examination of the impact of the European enlightenment on American thinking during the colonial period may be of interest. Arguably, the most significant outcome of the Enlightenment—or “Age of Reason”—was the American Revolution.

The Founding Congresses This Project Addresses the Colonial and Early American Assemblies, Congresses and Conventions that were Instrumental in Shaping the United States, from the Stamp Act Congress to the Constitutional Convention.

The James Madison Project. Study the contributions of the “Father of the Constitution,” America's fourth president and the first Speaker of the House, considered by some to be the most brilliant thinker among the founding fathers.

Revolutionary Era Site Visit

Special Project: Northern New York: Gateway to Independence

Part 2 Projects: The Growth of American Democracy

American Political Parties. America has been fortunate in its poltical history in that the basic structure—the two-party system, which we inherited largely from the British—has led to a stable system of government which, contested elections aside, has not by its nature led to serious divisions in the country. (In the matter of political issues, of course, considerable divisions have occurred.)

The John Marshall Project John Marshall is generally acknowledged to be the the greatest Chief Justice in American history. He served 34 years during the terms of six presidents and wrote some of the Court's most important decisions. In addition, he instituted practices that have made the Court unique in the halls of government to this day, instilling a spirit of collegiality that transcends differences of opinion which must exist in any body charged with some of the most important business that the nation conducts.

The Second Generation. The generation of American leaders who followed the founding fathers are far less well known or recognized than their illustrious predecessors, but they carried the principles of the revolution and the constitution forward, sometimes erratically, but always with great conviction. They deserve to be remembered.

The Seneca Falls Project. This project asks you to address an important milestone in the history of women's rights in America. The 1848 Convention, noted for its famous “Seneca Falls Declaration,” brought attention to the status of women and argued forcefully for change.

Part 3 Projects: Expansion and War

Early Texas Project. The History of the Mexican Province of Tejas, which eventually became the independent Republic of Texas and then the 28th state of the United States, is one of the most interesting side-shows in early American history. Heroes Sam Houston, Stephen Austin and many others left an indelible mark on the state and the nation.

The 1850 Compromise. When the 1850 Compromise was passed, rejoicing was heard across the country, for it seemed that the divisive issue of slavery was once again moved off the front pages, as it had been by the Missouri Compromsoie 30 years earlier. But the ink was barely dry on the signatures before conflict erupted again, and the Compromise in fact settled very little. This project asks students to examine the Compromise of 1850 through the documents of the time to undersdtand why there was hope in the act, and why it ultimately failed.

Civil War Project 1 Results. The purpose of this project is to examine the question of whether or not the outcome of the American Civil War was inevitable. “Traditional wisdom” has long argued that with superiod manpower, industrial and financial resoucrces, the North (Union) was bound to win. This project will test that theory.

Civil War Project 2 Leaders. This project invites you to inquire into the lives of important figures in the American Civil War. It's hard to deal with the giants of the era such as Lincoln, Lee, Grant, Jackson, Sherman or Davis, because of the huge colume of material that exists; but the second and third tiers still have many fascinating figures for investigation, about whom much has been written in any case.

Civil War Project 3  Site Visit. Places to visit that deal with Civil War history. If you are in Virginia, or in the South that was part of the Confederacy, you have many opportunities for site visits. If you live elsewhere in the country or outside the United States, thanks to modern technology you can still conduct a virtual visit.

Civil War Project 4: Military Issues. The military history of the Civil War is of limited interest in terms of strategies and tactics, unless you happen to be a military historian. But many factors about the military conflict are significant, including leadership, medicine, the impact of technology, roles of women, and so on. This project asks you to look at some of those factors.

Projects in Modern American History

Updated September 21, 2005