Essays and Research Papers on U.S. History (1800s)

A 5 page paper which examines the problems involved in the Union and Confederate efforts to raise armies, specifically considering conscription, bounties, and substitutes (exemptions). Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page review of this history of the second half of the 19th century in America. Cashman’s (1994) book is one that upholds the plight of the individual who was not able to reach the pinnacle of the American Dream. Cashman (1994) condemns business and the control that it exerted over the ...

4 pages in length, this historical essay describes the events surrounding the Texas Revolution, especially how subsequent battles were affected by the Battle of the Alamo. The Massacre at Goliad and the Battle of San Jacinto are highlighted, as well as a description of events surrounding the Battle of the Alamo. Bibliography lists 5 sources. ...

A five page paper which considers the Chinese Exclusion Act in terms of the impact which it had on racial issues in nineteenth century America and the gender balance within the immigrant Chinese community of the period. Bibliography lists one source.

A 6 page paper which examines “Plunkitt of Tammany Hall” and discusses how George Washington Plunkitt played with the stereotype of the corrupt urban politician. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 9 page paper discussing the greatly different routes that industrialization has taken in China and in the United States, to the point that only now is it reaching into the more remote regions of China. There are a litany of cultural and philosophical reasons for this difference between these two nations. The ...

A 6 page paper using Michael Moore’s philosophy of fear in America as presented in his film, “Bowling for Columbine” to define what it meant to be white in the 19th century. The overall effect of the subtleties of fear in the Victorian era; murder of Native Americans in the West; virtual enslavement in ...

This 9 page report discusses the many aspects associated with the Confederacy loss of the Civil War. Economics, strategies, social problems all contributed to the loss, as well as the attitudes of the “Old South.” Bibliography lists 9 sources.

A 5 page paper discussing how author Michael Shaara used these two Confederate generals in his account of the battle of Gettysburg. General Lee’s role in “The Killer Angels” is to exemplify the idealism with which the South began the Civil War. General Longstreet, on the other hand, represents the pragmatism introduced by ...

This 5 page paper discusses this book as well as supporting the analysis with quotes. Furthermore, this paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of this book. Bibliography lists 1 source.

A 5 page discussion of the importance of the institution of slavery to capitalism. In the U.S., however, the issues surrounding slavery lasted long past the time where the institution was becoming extinct in other regions of the world. This long life can be attributed to the relative age of the U.S. during ...

This 5 page paper discusses the end of slavery and the transition from slave labor to free labor. Relying on the work of Foner and Berlin and colleagues, the writer explains that the Reconstruction era was one of confusion and controversy. The first part of the essay critiques Foner's narrative in his book, including his ...

An 8 page paper which examines the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair/Columbian Exposition as it relates to the ethnographic exhibit. The topic of discussion focuses on America’s approach to multiculturalism during the time period in history. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

9 pages in length. Exploring the relationship between 17th century Puritan colonization and 19th century Reconstruction as they relate to colonial America finds a common denominator between the two time periods connected by the very foundation of how the term 'colonialism' is defined: "control by one power over a dependent area or people" (Merriam-Webster, ...

This 8 page paper discusses the causes of rapid urbanization during the last half of the 19th century, with an emphasis on the last decades of that century. The writer explains there were many factors contributing to the exploding population in cities, including industrialization and immigration. Comments regarding the factors involved in industrialization allow the ...

A 6 page discussion of the importance of the role of women in the years following the Civil War. Noting that the while voices of the wealthier married women were more likely to be heard than those of the lower classes, this paper emphasizes that women played a critical role in this time period. ...

A 3 page research paper that examines whether or not the early American autobiographies collected in Joyce Appleby's Recollections of the Early Republic support the analysis presented by David Roediger in Wages of Whiteness. The writer argues that they do not, but also stipulates that this is probably due to the limited number of autobiographies ...

This 14 page paper begins with a general introduction and identifies the arguments to be made in the essay and how those arguments will be supported. The causes of the Civil War are explained from each perspective – the North and the South. It is pointed out that slavery was not an issue until ...

A 6 page overview of this novel concerning a late nineteenth century Jewish immigrant to the U.S. The protagonist is inspired to move to the U.S. by the hard circumstances of his childhood and the growing anti-Semitic sentiments in Russia. When he arrives he has four cents in his pocket but successfully assimilates ...

This 7 page paper discusses the impact that the populist ideas, reexamined in the Progresive Era had on succeeding events, such as WWI, The Roaring Twenties and the Spanish-American War. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page analysis of the social and demographic features of the old South. The author contends that the sociocultural region we know as the “Old South” is formed much more around common ideologies than it is any specific state boundaries. The ideologies which distinguish the Old South stretch back into the earlier ...

A 3 page outline of the events leading up to the Civil War. The author asserts that the issue of slavery was really just a reflection of a larger issue around which the War was fought. This issue was state concern over federal intrusion into their affairs. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 4 page paper examines the film, but also looks at information about the real gangs of New York found during the middle of the nineteenth century. Ethnicity and manhood are explored. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 4 page paper lists some of Arnold Isaacs' major topics and examples his evidence used in his book: Vietnam Shadows. Quotes cited from text, specific examples given. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 3 page book review provides an overview of the work and expresses the view of the author. The legal case involving incest and abduction is discussed.No additional sources cited.