1. The peace which ended the First World War was largely responsible for the Second World War.
2. Could the Second World War have been avoided?
3. Discuss the role of any ONE of the following nations in causing of World War II
4. Discuss the role played by the Depression in leading to World War II.
5. Pick a person whom you feel was particularly influential during World War II. Describe his or her role in leading to, or during, or after the war, or all three if applicable. What place does this person deserve in history?
6. Read Brave Men by Ernie Pyle and comment on the effects of this book on public opinion during WW II
7. Research and report on the role of a minor nation in World War Two.
8. Why did the United States wait so long before entering World War Two?
9. What was the major turning point of World War II, the action, decision, or lack there of, which turned the war in favor of the Allies, and led to the defeat of Germany, and then allowed the Allies to turn their attention to Japan.
10. Research and report on Neville Chamberlain and appeasement.
The paper will be evaluated on the following: introduction, paragraphs, logical organization, information and research, conclusions.
OR, you may do your Change or Constant essay, if you have NOT done it already.
Pre-submission date: mid February
Due date: end of February.
1. While the peace which ended World War I lasted a mere twenty years, the peace which ended World War II has kept the world out of war to the present day. What was different about the latter that accounts for its longevity?
2. What was the major turning point of World War II, the action, decision, or lack there of, which turned the war in favor of the Allies, and led to the defeat of Germany, and then allowed the Allies to turn their attention to Japan.
3. What was the major result of World War II?
4. The use of the Atomic bomb
a. Was the United States justified in using the bomb near the end of WW II?
OR
b. How did the bomb affect the relationships between the USA and the USSR 1945-1950?
5. Discuss the factors involved in the rise of the Cold War, 1944- 1950.
6. What factors were involved in the American occupation of Japan after WW II
7. What were the causes, or the results, of the Communist Revolution in China, 1949.
Pre-submission date: mid March.
Due Date: end of March.
1. What were the causes, or the results, of the Korean conflict, 1950-1954.
2. Compare the decade of the 1950's to the decade of the 1920's
3. What were the causes, or the results, of the involvement of the United States in Vietnam, 1960 - 1973?
4. Read Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. What was the point of Heller's book and how was it an example of reverse propaganda?
5. Read The Spy who Came in from the Cold by Jean Le Carré. Analyze it in the context of the Cold War.
6. Discuss the causes or results of the conflict in Vietnam or Southeast Asia.
7. Research and report on the civil rights movement in the United States.
8. How did the transition of leadership from Stalin to Krushchev in the USSR affect the Cold War?
9. Research and report on the Youth Movement, or the Peace Movement, or some similar topic in the US in the 1960's.
10. What were the major themes of the 1950’s OR the 1960’s?
Other topics are possible at the suggestion of an individual student.
Pre-submission: third weekend of April
Due Date: end of April
For May: The 1970' to 2000: Some possible choices
1. What was the single most important issue facing the modern world as it neared the end of the twentieth century?
2. Discuss the reasons for the end of the Cold War.
3. Discuss the causes or results of the Gulf War.
4. How prophetic was George Orwell's 1984?
5. Choose a world leader from this era and discuss his/her importance.
6. What were the major themes of the decade of the 1970’s OR 1980’s OR 1990’s?
7. In his book, The Age of Extremes, the historian Eric Hobsbawm marks the end of the twentieth century by the reunification of Germany, 1991. In what ways did this event mark the end of the 20th century?
Other topics are possible at the suggestion of an individual student.
ONE of these topics, or the essay on Change or Constant is due on or about the 24th of May
Should you wish to correspond with your history teacher, or send a pre-submission, email him at LHA
This page posted July 2007