Essays and Research Papers on U.S. History (1700s)

This 5 page report discusses the problems and controversy associated with the development of a standing army during America’s Revolutionary War. Many, if not most, of the Founders of the country wanted the United States to be defended by a small, professional military and a large people’s militia. It had already been proven in Europe that the kind of ...

A five page tutorial paper which sets out the structure of a review of Mary Beth Norton’s account of the lives of women in eighteenth-century America, Liberty’s Daughters. The writer looks at some of the issues raised in the book, and considers how successful the author has been in her presentation of the role of ...

This 5 page paper considers Alfred F. Young's assertion that the most revolutionary act of the decade was the tea party. This paper takes the position that the Boston Massacre was more revolutionary, citing reasons that the colonists might have been the initiators of that event commonly blamed on the British. Bibliography lists 2 ...

This 5 page paper looks at eighteenth century America and its domestic and foreign policies that shaped the nation. Balance of power is discussed as well as America's development of a foreign policy. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

An 11 page paper which discusses the nature of the relationship between self and society as perceived by Benjamin Franklin in his autobiography, as well as others of his particular time period such as Thoreau, Locke, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. The paper also addresses the conditions of the country at the time of Benjamin Franklin which would perhaps call for ...

A 5 page contention that the American Revolution, and indeed the years following that revolution, did little toward changing the inequalities which existed in this country in regard to African Americans and women. Notes that while certain inroads would be made in the years which followed, even the Emancipation Proclamation and the rights of ...

A 5 page paper which examines the life of William Cooper, in "William Cooper's Town " by Alan Taylor, as it relates to the Revolutionary War. William Cooper was able to make his fortune, but also lose it, due to conditions which involved the Revolutionary War. Bibliography lists 1 additional source.

This 9 page report discusses the “founding fathers” of the United States of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The paper is written under the understanding that the earliest leaders of the country were bold enough to stand up for freedom and independence. Such leaders saw that domination and taxation by England was antithetical to their very existence and ...

This 5 page book review concerns Joseph Ellis's well-known work called Founding Brothers. The book is about the men who were involved in the American Revolution and the creation of the United States of America. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

5 pages. One of the most effective yet least known of our economic planners in the early days of the United States was Alexander Hamilton. Little is known about his implementations of certain economies. However, Hamilton is responsible for creating our monetary standard as well as being the one who actually established the foundation work for our present ...

This 6 page report discusses the unique characteristics of Queen Anne chairs and the primary differences that exist between America-made chairs that were crafted in Boston, Massachusetts, Newport, Rhode Island, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Queen Anne period existed from about 1702-1714. The style is characterized by its curves and elegant S-shaped cabriole leg. That shape was based on the shape of ...

A 6 page paper. What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he used the phrase "pursuit of happiness?" That is the question this paper addresses. In approaching this question, the writer reports Jefferson's original text to demonstrate the differences and the spiritual nature of his thinking. The persons who inspired Jefferson to this thinking are also ...

A five page paper which looks at the way in which American national identity was defined by Franklin and Crevecoeur and the similarities and differences between the two thinkers’ perceptions of what constitutes Americanism. Bibliography lists 2 sources

A paper which looks at James Kirby Martin’s study of the experience of the Continentals during the Revolutionary War, in terms of their socio-economic disadvantage in civilian life and the way in which they were treated by the government once their service had been completed. Bibliography lists I source.

A seven page paper which looks at the network known as the Underground Railroad, which was instrumental in assisting plantation slaves to escape the North and Canada in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and at some of the prominent figures who contributed to the development and maintenance of the Railroad. Bibliography lists 6 sources

With the British colonization of the “New World” a brand new sociological experiment began. This experiment involved the mixing of peoples from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds in an environment where there were no hard and fast rules as to how these people should interrelate. While the colonists in the “New World” ...

A paper which looks at the way in which William Manning's writings related to the federalist and anti-federalist debate in post-revolutionary America.

This 19 page paper looks at the events leading up to the writing of the Constitution for New York State. The philosophy of the day and many influences that went into the creation of the document are discussed. Delays that plagued the process are also evaluated. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller and the Salem Witch Trials. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page paper in which the writer concludes that political revolutions are worth the cost, human, individual, and financial, even if they do not achieve their objectives. To support the premise, the writer uses some of the most well-known revolutions as examples – the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Haitian Revolution. Bibliography ...

A 5 page research paper that summarizes the problems of that the young United States had with the Articles of Confederation and how this was corrected by the ratification of the Constitution. The writer explains how the new states were much more like thirteen separate countries than a single nation, and why the Bill of ...

This 6 page paper delves into the past and looks at Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton and their different ideologies. The focus of this paper is on how their visions of the future of America differ. Ideas about agriculture and manufacturing are discussed. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A five page paper which looks at some of the social and economic differences between the early American colonies, and the factors which contributed to their diversity. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 10 page paper consists of two parts. The first is the nomination of John Adams for the Leader of the Century Award. This section discusses some of Adams' remarkable history and the leadership qualities for which he is being nominated. The last part of this section ranks ten attributes of leadership as they ...

This 5 page paper looks at the American Revolution from two points of view. Bailyn's The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution and Jameson's American Revolution Considered as a Social Movement are compared and contrasted. Bibliography lists 2 sources.