The American Civil War, which was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Confederate States of America and the Union, provides several potential avenues for a research paper. Several generals and soldiers left behind accounts of specific battles or the general experiences of the war. These accounts offer researchers unique insight into the lives and thoughts of the men who fought in the American Civil War, including eyewitness and participant accounts of battles and the driving sociopolitical philosophies behind the war.
World War II, the global war fought between the Axis and the Allies from 1939 to 1945, is the single largest war in recorded history. The war is notable for its massive civilian death toll, a result of the Holocaust and the only use of the atomic bomb in history. World War II offers researchers the opportunity to examine human morality in the Holocaust, the impact of atomic weaponry in Japan and interesting economic conditions all over the world as great nations converted all of their economic resources to the war effort.
The Vietnam War was a civil war fought between North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was backed by communist allies, and South Vietnam had anti-communist allies such as the United States. Researching the complicated web of politics that led to the war, the numerous and strongly stated oppositions to U.S. involvement in the war or specific events like the My Lai Massacre or the use of napalm can provide a strong foundation for a military research paper.
Ancient military history as a research topic offers a unique research experience. Using very old records of battles, be they written, painted, or sculpted, can offer a unique look into the life of an ancient military. Researching Roman military history, for example, offers a look into not just battles and ancient weaponry, but the entire Roman political system which was inseparable from their military tradition.