Imperialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s remains a controversial part of American history. Historians such as William Appleman Williams argue that imperialism resulted from the need to develop foreign markets to take advantage of the American industrialization of the previous half-century. Develop a thesis that supports or rebuts the concept that economic expansionism primarily drove turn-of-the-century American imperialism.
Democracy in action is sometimes defined as little more than a series of compromises. Develop a thesis around the idea that not compromising often advances democracy. Begin with Abraham Lincoln's decision not to compromise on Southern secession and find two or three other examples when a refusal to compromise upheld American democracy.
Build your thesis around the idea that developments outside the United States have a profound influence on the nation's direction. Use your paper to show that events such as the rise of Germany's Third Reich and the overthrow of the shah of Iran changed the course of American history.
Base a paper on the thesis that the USA PATRIOT Act, passed under President George W. Bush, compares unfavorably with the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed under President John Adams, as an example of overzealousness in the pursuit of security. Argue for or against the necessity of those controversial laws and whether they violate the spirit of constitutional freedoms.
The United States is the only country to use an atomic weapon against another country. Now a crucial part of American foreign policy is to prevent other nations from obtaining nuclear weapons. Develop a thesis that argues why this policy is not hypocritical and why America should lead the world in blocking other countries' nuclear ambitions. Or argue the opposite point and detail why American leaders should stay out of the debate.
Four times in U.S. history the presidential candidate who received the most votes did not win the office, exposing flaws in the electoral system's ability to reflect the will of the American people. Build your thesis around the argument that the Electoral College either supports or obstructs the path to true democracy.