For your second paper, conduct secondary source research on an aspect of US history from the 1840s through the Civil War and write a historiographic essay that highlights a historical debate.
Find multiple (two or three) PEER-REVIEWED secondary sources on the same topic: summarize their main arguments and key pieces of evidence on the subject. Then, explain and evaluate their differences. Why do they differ? What does that tell us? Which is more convincing?
Physical books and the databases at the campus library are a good source. You can use the advanced search option to enter different keywords. Be sure to narrow your search to articles, because there are a lot of book reviews mixed in. You may also want to narrow to only history journals.
The suggested readings discussion at the end of Battle Lines could also give you ideas.
Be cognizant of the dates of publications (if you have an influential work from 2014 and another from 1976, the former is probably aware of and responding to the latter).
Topics ideas include:
-Abolitionism and slavery, Confederate politics or society, the roles of women, specific battles, specific leaders, etc.
-You could also examine the far west during the war, including the Dakota War in Minnesota or happenings in the Indian Territory.
-You could also examine topics from the immediate lead up to the war: California Gold Rush, the Fugitive Slave Act, the Mexican War, Dred Scott, Bleeding Kansas, Seneca Falls
More specific topics will make it slightly more challenging to find articles/books but will make stronger papers.
You may want to work backwards – find a recent book or article that interests you and build your topic around that source; you can then use its citations to find other sources.
Be sure to have a thesis and support your argument with properly cited direct quotes!
Paper length is 3-5 pages.
