Montana History Topics NHD 2011-2012

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National History Day 2012 Theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History

The following are a few potential topics for National History Day projects based on Montana's state or local history. Click on any topic to find a brief description linking it to the theme and a list of a few primary and secondary sources related to the topic and interesting relevant resources available on the internet.

Please note that these lists are just to get you started. Some of these topics will need to be further narrowed down to make good history day projects. In addition, as you research, we are certain you will find many other sources. For example, newspaper articles are rarely listed in these bibliographies--and many of these topics received on-going newspaper coverage. The Montana Historical Society will interlibrary loan microfilm reels of its extensive newspaper collection. Find out more about the Montana Historical Society's collection of newspapers and its interlibrary loan policy here. The Society is also actively digitizing parts of its newspaper collection. Information on its newspaper digitization project is available here.

Of course, there are many other relevant Montana history topics as well--perhaps some in your own backyard. How did the transportation revolutions of the railroad in the 1880s or construction of the interstates in the 1950s and 1960s, affect your community? How did Title IX revolutionize the way girls' sports were treated at your school? Did local citizens ever organize for reforms or react against change? These might make the best topics of all.

Environmental History

Fire Policy

Libby Dam

Sustained Yield Forestry

Women's History

Montana Women's Suffrage Movement

Ella Knowles: Fight to Become Montana's First Female Lawyer

Women of the Fur Trade

Civil Rights/Social History

Immigrant Rights and the Chinese Experience

"Not In Our Town": Combating Hate Crimes in Billings

Prohibition