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

This is a 6 page paper that provides an overview of 19th century American history. Slavery, the Civil War, Imperialism, and the Progressive movement are explored. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 5 page report discusses this text and provides a general overview of the work. Professor emeritus of history at Yale and former union activist, David Montgomery fills in a lot of gaps in the information regarding the history of the working-class of the United States. In Workers Control in America, he presents numerous example of the historical struggles of ...

7 pages. This paper explains the connection between early California History and manifest destiny. This period of California's history is just before it became a member of the Union of the States. This piece of time in California's past is a very exciting one while at the same time, terribly difficult as well. Bibliography lists ...

A 4 page overview of the history of the Mau movement. The author points out that this movement had its roots in late nineteenth century history. It survived the German occupation as well as the New Zealand occupation to ultimately lead Western Samoa to independence in 1962. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page book review of The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L. Richards. In the preface to his history text, Richards explains his purpose in writing this fascinating text, which relates California gold rush history to the sociopolitical factors that brought on the American Civil War. No ...

5 pages in length. Much literary attention has been given to the Civil War, including it causes, outcome and overall impact upon American history. However, few accounts actually delve deeply, if at all, into the agonizing human concerns those three days produced. For a country that espoused benevolence and compassion, the United ...

Confederate Major Henry Wirz has had his name soiled throughout history as the man responsible for some horrendous war crimes (mostly at Andersonville) during the conflict between North and South. In fact, he was the only Southern official to be executed for such crimes at the conclusion of the Civil War. In this 40 ...

An 8 page overview of the initiation of cattle ranching in the West. Traces the history of this land use from the Spanish land grants to the Treaty of Guadelupe Hildalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, in which Mexico ceded Arizona,California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming to the United ...

This is a 7 page paper discussing perceptions of the American west and frontier. Perception of historical documentation is presented and argued regarding two aspects. Firstly, whether or not cultural perspective should be included in historical accounts such as argued by Jane Tompkins or whether or not cultural beliefs, and indeed the perspective of the ...

A 5 page overview of the agricultural history of California. This author traces this history from the Spanish land grant to the early half of the twentieth century. Central to the tremendous development which occurred was the migrant worker, groups of which McWilliams describes as the “wake of a machine”. The industry ...

An 8 page book review on Patricia Limerick's history analysis, The Legacy of Conquest. In this book, Limerick presents a persuasive argument that disagrees with the popular conceptualization of the history of the American West. First of all, Limerick disagrees with the idea that 1890 constitutes a clear demarcation line between the nineteenth century frontier ...

A 12 page analysis of two accounts of Anglo-American colonization of the West: Indian Survival on the California Frontier by Alberto Hurtado and Ritual Ground by Daniel C. Comer. These two historians are part of a new wave of scholars who are revealing aspects of history not found in traditional texts. The writer demonstrates how ...

An 8 page paper that recounts the history of the American Indians and the U.S. military strucuture that defeated them. Considered are a number of major battles and the consequences that the military push toward genocide had on the Native American nations of the 19th century. No additional sources cited.

A 14 page paper in which the writer provides an overview of the history of Irish immigration in Boston and considers the impacts of the Orange Order [contributed to discriminatory practices] on the overall social climate during the 1850s. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

6 pages in length. An essay on the history of the violent labor struggle in Pennsylvania anthracite mines shortly after the Civil War. Includes the origins of the group, its tactics and modern controversy over its activities and eventual fate. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

is a 6 page report that provides an overview of the history of the first railroad in America to offer continuous travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 4 page paper on problems concerning the integrity of the Grant administration. Included in the discussion are the Whiskey Ring, the Credit Mobilier, etc; The ensuing investigations are examined and Grant's administration is regarded as having not been a particularly favorable one in American history. The writer closes with a brief conclusion about how ...

A thorough, 23 page discussion of the U.S. Customs Service; its history, functions, issues & problems, recent operations etc; (covers 18th-20th century). Bibliography lists 15 sources.

A 5 page paper on why it was better to be a slave than to be free in a few southern states during the ante-bellum period in American history. The writer argues for the advantages of slavery, not only to the slave owner but to the slave himself. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page research paper which examines how the history of the labor movement has been misrepresented in the media. The writer focuses on the Haymarket riot in Chicago which resulted from the nationwide strike in the 1880s to get an eight-hour workday as an example of the establishment forces which were set against the ...

9 pages in length. Perhaps the most popular "whodunit" of American history, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 spawned a generation of tough citizens who weren't willing to give up their city, even in the face of disaster. Finally, we learn that it wasn't necessarily Mrs. O'Leary's cow who set the blaze.

This 5 page report discusses the time period in American history that replaced the Victorian Age after the Civil War and up until 1920. Historians have dubbed the time the 'Gilded Age' due to the expansion of the country economically and industrially. Several examples of how the change occurred are also given. Bibliography ...

In 5 pages, the writer discusses Abraham Lincoln. "Abraham Lincoln was able to shape the history of the African American. He is the very emblem against racial injustice and inequality. Most historical documents present him as the champion of the African Americans. His views in equality were able to transcend the race ...

In 16 pages the author gives an overview of the Constitution of the United States, discussing its history, its influence on the development of the United States, the changes that have occurred in the Constitution, and the advantages and disadvantages of the Constitution. Bibliography lists 16 sources.

A 5 page research paper that examines Donald R. Hickey's unique perspective on the War of 1812 as stated in his book. In this work, Hickey offers a radically different perspective on this conflict then the one traditionally offered in most US history texts. No additional sources cited.