Theme 2012

The Annual Theme

Types of Projects

• Historical Exhibit• Historical Documentary • Historical Performance (may be a group)• Historical Paper• Historical Web Site

The Annual Theme

• Annual theme applies to everyone• Topics must connect to annual theme• Think about it: How does the theme connect to the

argument that you are making about your topic?

Revolution

• Define: Revolution• Revolution: Overthrow

of one government and replacement with another. Dramatic and wide-reaching change.

WH

S I

mag

e ID

: 20

38

WH

S I

mag

e ID

: 84

494

Reaction

• Define: Reaction

• Reaction: Response. Reactions can be words, actions, or changes in a way of thinking. W

HS

Im

age

ID:

3253

8

Reform

• Define: Reform

• Reform: To change. • Remember: Not all

reforms were positive for everyone involved. The impact of a reform may change over time.

WH

S I

mag

e ID

: 55

87

Revolution, Reaction, Reform

• The ideas of revolution, reaction, and reform work together

• Look for connections to all three aspects of the theme in your topic

• All three theme words do not need to be equally addressed in your project

In History

• You need to look at the significance of your topic over time

• Topics should not be current events

• In general, try to base topics on events that took place at least 20 years ago

WH

S I

mag

e ID

: 41

644

Selecting a Topic

One of the most important decisions you’ll make for National History Day!

HUGE Variety of Possible Topics

• Brainstorm! Don’t stop with just your first idea. • Revolution, reaction, and reform can be found

in all areas of history• Think about the relationship between the topic

and the events that came before and after it:– Why did it happen?– What impact did it have?

Sample Topics

• These topics are not the only ones out there– Just a few ideas from many areas of history

• Where can you find more ideas?– Think about your interests– Talk to your teacher, parents, classmates– Look through your textbook– Visit the library or a museum

Narrowing Topics

Take a big idea and narrow it to a manageable size for National History Day

Science and Technology

Cyrus McCormick Revolutionizes

Agriculture

Polio, the Vaccine, and the March of

Dimes

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 8

53

0

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 2

34

3

Social IssuesW

HS

Im

ag

e I

D:

45

43

7

Ada Deer and Menominee Tribal

Restoration

Child Labor during the Industrial Revolution

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 5

46

25

Communication

Ha

rpe

r’s

We

ekl

y O

cto

be

r21

, 1

87

1

The Political Cartoons of Thomas Nast

Education

The Little Rock Nine and School Desegregation

6

Arts, Literature & MusicW

HS

Im

ag

e I

D:

41

27

0

Les Paul and the Electric Guitar

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 3

85

5W

HS

Im

ag

e I

D:

19

21 Frank Lloyd

Wright and Organic

Architecture

Labor MovementW

HS

Im

ag

e I

D:

20

38

The Milk Strikes and the Great Depression

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and Workers’ Safety

Co

rne

ll U

niv

ers

ity

EnvironmentW

HS

Im

ag

e I

D:

48

10

3

Gaylord Nelson and Earth Day

NO

AA

Rachel Carson and Silent

Spring

Famous People

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 2

36

64

Abraham Lincoln and the

Emancipation Proclamation

WH

S I

ma

ge

ID

: 4

82

20

Joseph McCarthy’s Campaign Against

Communism

Military History & WartimeW

HS

Imag

e ID

: 646

27

Manitowoc Submarines and

World War II

Libr

ary

of C

ongr

ess:

LC

-US

Z62

-246

54

Japanese American Internment During

World War II

Agriculture

Stephen Babcock and the Butterfat Tester

Ste

phen

Bab

cock

: W

HS

Im

age

ID:

5585

Pat

ent

for

Cot

ton

Gin

: N

atio

nal A

rchi

ves

Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin

Politics and Government

Fighting Bob’s Progressive

Reforms

WH

S Im

age

ID: 5

587

The Boston Tea Party

Libr

ary

of C

ongr

ess:

LC

-US

ZC

4-15

82

Social Issues

Alice Paul and the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Libr

ary

of C

ongr

ess:

LC

-DIG

-ds-

0018

0

TransportationW

HS

Imag

e ID

: 254

4

Henry Ford and the Assembly Line

Harley-DavidsonMotorcycles

Libr

ary

of C

ongr

ess:

LC

-D42

0-26

59

Women in History

The Nation’s First Settlement House: Hull House in Chicago

Pop CultureW

HS

Imag

e ID

: 817

59

The Green Bay Packers

Elvis PresleyLi

brar

y of

Con

gres

s: L

C-U

SZ

6-20

67