National History Day 2026 Theme: Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History

 

Below are some ideas for Montana history topic related to the theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History:

 

1855 Hellgate Treaty:  1855 reform of pre-treaty circumstances with unintended consequences for the Indian participant tribes.

 

1868 Fort Laramie Treaty:  1868 reform of pre-treaty circumstances with unintended consequences for the Indian participant tribes, mostly outside of Montana's territorial borders.

 

1896 Butte Boycott of Chinese Businesses:  The 1896 anti-Chinese boycott in Butte and lawsuit against it were both reactions to circumstances.

 

1909 Missoula Free Speech Fight:   IWW sought "one big union" and localities would frequently pass ordinances curtailing or diminishing opportunities for freedom of speech. 1909 IWW protests in Missoula began as recruitment effort for IWW, with local suppression by authorities, then IWW reaction to police/local government actions negatively impacting on free speech.  

 

1972 Constitutional Convention:  Reaction to changing circumstances required reform of 1889 Montana Constitution.

 

 African Americans :  From the Lewis and Clark expedition to entrepreneurial activities, African Americans reacted to circumstances.   Being Black In Montana: Racism Is Real | YPR

 

Allotment and The Opening of Indian Land to Homesteaders:  Reform or a great land grab?

 

Chief Plenty Coups of the Crow:  Last traditional tribal leader who led Crow tribe reaction to White intrusion into traditional Crow lands which led to reform of Crow life style from roaming hunters to reservation life.

 

The Chinese Experience:  Duplicative.  Immigrants from China came to Montana to seek a better life and were met, in most instances, with hostility, brutal work conditions, and discrimination.   The Special Census of 1905 sought to further identify and deport Chinese.  Although most left in reaction to their treatment, some Chinese held on (e.g., Peking noodle parlor in Butte, underground tunnels in Havre, etc. ) and were a critical part of Montana history.   

 

Chinese Miners - Forgotten Pioneers:  Chinese miners came to Montana in reaction to unlivable living conditions in their homeland.  They encountered discrimination, overt hostility, and eventually were displaced or worse, and moved on to other occupations.  

 

Immigration, Immigrant Rights and the Chinese Experience:  Duplicative.  White reaction to Chinese immigrants and subsequent Chinese leaving or, in a few cases, staying.

 

Creation of Rocky Boy's Reservation:  Landless Chippewa Indians sought own reservation as reform of and reaction to current circumstances.

 

David Thompson - Visionary:   Duplicative.   An explorer, reformer in terms of charting maps and amiable inter-cultural interactions.

 

Disability Rights Movement:   Reaction to circumstances that led to reform of laws at federal and state levels, Montana's history of disability rights legislation Montana's history in disability rights legislation | Montana News | montanarightnow.com ;  Videos of Disability Rights Montana bing.com>videos

 

Elouise Cobell: The Blackfeet Banker Who Took on the Federal Government:  Blackfeet tribal elder who sued federal government in 1996 in reaction to federal mismanagement of tribal trust funds.  Lawsuit lasted until Supreme Court decision in 1909 resulting in reform of federal oversight and reparations for mismanagement.

 

Ella Knowles: Fight to Become Montana's First Female Lawyer:  Reformer who was women's right advocate and became Montana's first woman lawyer.

 

Fire Policy:  1910 Big Burn led to reform of policy to eliminate all fire outbreaks, which led to reform of policy a half century later to allow nature to burn naturally in some instances.

 

Frank Little:  IWW organizer who advocated for reform or revolution to enable working class to organize in "one big union" was murdered in Butte by unidentified assailants.

 

Gov Joseph Dixon and the 1924 Mining Tax:  Governor advocated for tax reform and Anaconda Company resisted.  

 

Granville Stuart:  Early settler to Montana who saw and participated in the reformative changes from a frontier to a rural economy.

 

Growing Gold - Montana Homesteading:  Immigrants reacting to unlivable circumstances in their own countries are led to invest their money and lives in perilous migration to Montana.

 

Hazel Hunkins: Repeatedly faced and embraced conflict as an activist and journalist seeking reform of system to allow women's suffrage and rights.

 

Hard Winter of 1886-1887:  How did Montana cattlemen react to the decimation of the herds during the winter?     

 

Hogan’s Army: Montana Contingent of Coxey’s Army:  500 Montana volunteers participate in this “petition with boots on” to reform government policy toward the unemployed.  

 

Homesteading:  1909 to 1918 homesteading was described as "most revolutionary" episode in Montana history by historian Michael Malone.

 

Indian Boarding School:  Created in 1870 as White reaction to indigenous cultures through assimilation and reform of Indian children to "kill the Indian in him and save the man." 

 

Indian Wars:  Tribes revolted against the onslaught of White settlers and the White settlers and Army reacted.

 

Indians Encounter Lewis and Clark:  Duplicative.  Indians react to White expedition by both confrontation and welcoming.

 

Gov Joseph Dixon and the Mining Tax: When Montana’s progressive Republican governor Joseph Dixon pressed for tax reform in the 1920s, the Anaconda Mining Company struck back. 

 

Labor strife in Butte and the logging camps:  Workers reacted to their conditions by labor unrest.

 

Lewis and Clark in Indian Country:  Duplicative.  Interactions with Indians including confrontation, dialogue, etc. 

 

Jeannette Rankin:  Advocate for peace and nonviolent protest.  Revolted against rush to both world wars and sought reform. 

 

Lee Metcalf:  Served in U.S. Senate simultaneously with Mike Mansfield.  Spearheaded reforms in conservation, wilderness, establishment of Peace Corps, and other notable changes in 1960's.  

 

Libby Dam:  Environmental reform that was at first excitedly anticipated and then, after dam forced elimination of several small towns and native sites, questions whether it was worth it.

 

Louis Riel, Metis Revolutionary:  Louis Riel, who migrated between Montana and Canada, led reaction to Canadian government's treatment of Indian/European people by armed revolt.  After his second rebellion, he was captured, tried, and hanged.  

 

The Creation of a New People: Montana's Metis:  French-Irish/Indian people who immigrated to Montana early in the 19th century fought for years to reform the legal and societal barriers that prevented recognition by the federal government and respectful treatment in Montana. 

 

The Marias (or Baker) Massacre:  The reaction by the U.S. Army against the murder of Malcolm Clarke, leading to the deaths of approximately 200 Piegan women, children, and elderly. 

 

Mike Mansfield:  As U.S. Senate majority leader, he employed procedural tactics to ensure reform and passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.   Served simultaneously with Lee Metcalf.  

 

Montana and the Debate over Sustained Yield:  Constant reform of timber yield practices leads to constant consultation, confrontation, or conflict. 

 

Montana Freemen:   This groups, based essentially around Jordan, espoused the doctrine of individual sovereignty and revolted against the authority of the federal government.  This resulted in confrontation in 1993.

 

Montana Labor Legislation - Populists and Progressives: Duplicative.  During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, "progressive" Republicans and Democrats sought, in addition to other reforms, measures which would protect workers such as workmen's compensation, mine safety regulations, child labor law, and the eight-hour day.  

 

Montana Labor Unions:   Unions have been at the heart of efforts to improve workers’ lives through safer working conditions, fair pay, the eight hour day, the end to child labor, pensions and sick leave, and other reforms. 

 

Montana's World War II Conscientious Objector Camps:  During World War I, men who opposed military service on religious grounds faced harsh punishment. After the war, officials from Mennonite, Quaker, and Brethren (historic “peace churches”) worked to reform the U.S. government’s policy toward conscientious objectors. 

 

Montana Sedition Act-Montana Council of Defense: This was a reaction in February 1918 to opposition to American participation in World War I. 

 

Montana Women's Suffrage Movement:  Suffrage campaigners such as Maggie Smith Hathaway, Jeannette Rankin (who became the first female U.S. congressional representative), and Belle Fligelman worked hard to reform Montana election laws and convince Montanans to pass women's suffrage six years before women received the vote nationally.  

 

Non-Partisan League: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in Eastern Montana:  Through politics and the press, League leaders promoted reforms that would aid Montana farmers.    

 

 "Not In Our Town": Combating Hate Crimes in Billings: Reaction in 1993 to hate crimes/violence in Billings led to community action with new leaders which, in turn, resulted in national reaction.  

 

Populists, Progressives, and the Eight-Hour Day:  Duplicative.  During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, "progressive" Republicans and Democrats sought, in addition to other reforms, measures which would protect workers such as workmen's compensation, mine safety regulations, child labor law, and the eight-hour day.

 

Prohibition: In November 1916, Montanans voted to reform and enact laws prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. These laws took effect on December 31, 1918, two years before the passage of the 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of liquor nationwide.   

 

Robert Yellowtail, Crow Negotiator:  Finished in 1965, Yellowtail Dam was named for Crow Tribal leader Robert Yellowtail (1889-1988).  Ironically, Yellowtail had emphatically opposed the construction of the Dam. The lake waters covered Big Horn Canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon in depth and breadth and sacred to the Crow.  Yellowtail devoted his life to reform, advocating for Crow voting and financial rights--for taking stands on behalf of his people.  

 

Rose Hum Lee's fight for citizenship:  Rose had birthright citizenship.  She married a Chinese citizen and lost her American citizenship.  She went to China and helped the war effort against the Japanese.  She divorced the Chinese husband and tried to regain her American citizenship but was denied.  The miscegenation laws were a reaction to Asian immigration and her case illustrated the discrimination (different treatment) against select groups in Montana and the U.S. 

 

Salish Attempts to Retain the Bitterroot:.  Salish sought to reform the interpretation of the 1855 Hellgate Treaty to preserve their homeland in the bitterroot.  The Salish fight to protect their right to stay in their homeland, under the leadership of Chief Charlo, is a moving and, ultimately unsuccessful, example of using diplomacy and compromise to defend their way of life and geographical base.

 

Title IX and the rise of Women Athletes:  Why did it take until the 1979's for reform to allow females to participate in interscholastic competitions?

 

Treaties:  Made and Broken:  Were the treaties signed between the tribes and federal government carried out in good faith?  What was each side's reaction to the circumstances following each treaty? 

 

Unabomber - Ted Kaczynski:  From 1969 through 1993, Unabomber mailed explosive devices that maimed or killed individuals in his revolt against technological domination and environmental degradation.  

 

Women of the Fur Trade:  The fur trade revolutionized tribal economies, and Native women were a vital component.