History EE Topic Ideas + Examples

Is your History EE stressing you out? Don't worry, the key is to choose an interesting topic and there is a great variety of historical events that you can investigate. We prepared a list with our propositions and examples of History extended essays that you can refer to in the writing process.  
 

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Nazi Germany & Jews

Yugoslavia & Nationalism

Arab-Israeli War & Whitehall

Roman Republic & Ambition

Napoleon & French Campaign in Russia

History EE ideas
 

1. Nuremberg trials: After World War II, the Allies faced the task of dealing with senior Nazis responsible for the war's atrocities. This essay seeks to explore the due process afforded to the defendants in the Nuremberg Trials. Despite the heinous nature of the crimes, ensuring fair due process was crucial for upholding the rule of law and preventing future atrocities. The analysis examines various components of the process, including the tribunal, defense preparation, and proceedings, utilizing primary and secondary sources to evaluate the extent to which these rights were respected.
   
    

2. The exclusion of Jews from German society (1933-1938): Adolf Hitler's rise to power marked the beginning of significant persecution against Jews, leading to the Holocaust. While anti-Semitism existed before the Nazi regime, Hitler's regime escalated persecution to unprecedented levels, aiming to limit Jewish influence and ultimately create a Germany without Jews. This investigation examines the role of legal measures in excluding Jews from German society from 1933 to 1938. By analyzing primary and secondary sources, including legislation, speeches, and historians' perspectives, the essay evaluates various factors contributing to the systematic exclusion of Jews. 
   
    

3. Dissolution of Yugoslavia: The dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s led to significant turmoil, resulting in the emergence of six independent republics. This essay seeks to explore the causes behind Yugoslavia's breakup, emphasizing the role of nationalism alongside other political, economic, and international crises. While nationalism and ethnic conflicts are often cited as primary factors, it's essential to acknowledge the complex interplay of internal and external forces contributing to Yugoslavia's dissolution. Internal factors such as political instability, economic disparities, and the weakening of central authority, coupled with external influences like the end of the Cold War, collectively fueled nationalist sentiments and separatist movements. 
   
    

4. Gender and sexuality in the Weimar Republic: David James Prickett and Laurie Marhoefer present contrasting views on queer liberation in Weimar Germany.  This investigation examines the extent of queer liberation in Weimar Germany, supporting Marhoefer's assertion that while progress was made, many queer individuals still faced limitations and challenges. By analyzing openly queer culture, the policing of queer identities, legal rights, and internal issues within queer activism, the investigation sheds light on the complexities of queer experiences during this period of relative freedom followed by Nazi oppression. 
   
    

5. Genocide of Srebrenica: The dissolution of Yugoslavia led to the devastating Yugoslav Wars, notably the Bosnian War, characterized by ethnic and religious tensions. Srebrenica, a predominantly Muslim municipality, was besieged by Serbian forces led by Ratko Mladić, resulting in famine and genocide. The UN declared Srebrenica a "safe area," deploying peacekeeping forces, initially by Canadian soldiers and later by Dutch battalions. Despite their presence, the massacre occurred in July 1995, prompting an investigation into the roles of the UN, Dutchbat, and NATO. Primary and secondary sources, including reports from the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation and the UN, alongside interviews with survivors like Hasan Nuhanović, were utilized to assess individual responsibilities for the failure to prevent the Srebrenica massacre.
   
    

6. German defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad: The Battle of Stalingrad, fought from August 1942 to February 1943, was a pivotal struggle between German and Soviet forces. Stalingrad's industrial significance and symbolic value made it a focal point of the war. Historians debate the reasons for the German defeat, attributing it to a combination of German failures, Soviet resilience, and external factors. This paper seeks to investigate the extent to which German defeat was a result of their own shortcomings, examining tactical failures, leadership errors, and Hitler's indecision. Understanding the causes of the German defeat at Stalingrad is crucial due to its profound impact on the course of World War II.
   
    

7. Arab-Israeli War: The 1948 Arab-Israeli War commenced on May 15th after the British Mandate for Palestine ended. Arab armies invaded territories designated for the Arab state under the UN Partition Plan. Historians debate the war's causes, focusing on Arab-Israeli rivalry, inter-Arab relations, and Great Power involvement. This paper investigates Whitehall intervention as a key factor, examining policies favoring Jews over Arabs, leading to Arab mobilization. Understanding Whitehall's role can shed light on the conflict's origins and its lasting impact on the Middle East.
   
    

   
    

8. Finnish Civil War: The Finnish Civil War of 1918 erupted between the Reds and Whites due to national and social upheaval following Finland's transition to independence. The Whites, supported by the conservative-based senate and the German Imperial Army, faced the Reds, backed by Bolshevist Russia. The extent of German reinforcements' influence on the White victory is a central question, given their significant role acknowledged by historians. The investigation aims to analyze factors such as leadership, military equipment, and external interventions to determine the war's outcome and the extent of German involvement. 
   
    

9. The downfall of the Roman Republic: The fall of the Roman Republic, occurring between 133 and 31 BC, marked a transition from an oligarchy to an aristocratic tyranny due to corruption and instability. Ambitious figures like Sulla, Caesar, and Antony disrupted the Senate's structure by amassing individual armies for personal gain. This paper aims to assess the significance of ambition in the Republic's demise, analyzing key events such as the Gracchi's actions in 133 BC, Sulla's dictatorship, the formation of the First Triumvirate, Caesar's rise, and Octavian's ascent, utilizing sources like Plutarch's biographies, Cicero's works, and modern texts. 
   
    

10. The course of the French Campaign in Russia: Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power during the chaos of the French Revolution led to his crowning as Emperor of the French in 1804, disrupting the European balance of power and igniting continental conflict. By 1810, Napoleon controlled much of Europe but faced opposition from Russia and the Ottoman Empire. His implementation of the Continental Blockade strained relations with Russia, leading to the ill-fated invasion in 1812. Scholars continue to debate the significance of logistical and environmental factors in Napoleon's failure, prompting an investigation into their impact on the Russian Campaign of 1812.
    
     

11. The Lavender Scare and U.S. Policy: This EE analyses how the Lavender Scare impacted the United States' domestic policy in years 1947-1959. During the Second Red Scare, heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union led to fears of communist infiltration within the government. Deputy Undersecretary John Peurifoy's acknowledgment of removing individuals deemed security risks, including homosexuals, fueled public outrage. This revelation triggered a period of moral panic known as the Lavender Scare, where homosexuals were viewed as security risks and psychologically disturbed, leading to discriminatory policies and actions within the U.S. government.
    
     

12. Second Sino-Japanese War: The Second Sino-Japanese War saw a tumultuous alliance between the Guomindang (GMD) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), culminating in civil war and the establishment of an authoritarian state in 1949. The GMD's perceived ineffectiveness during the war is attributed to their passive approach, focus on fighting the CCP, and heavy reliance on foreign allies. However, while the CCP's aggressive reputation may have contributed to a portrayal of effectiveness, it is argued that they exaggerated their contribution, shifting public opinion. Despite weaknesses exposed during the war, the GMD's role cannot be discounted, and the debate surrounding their effectiveness remains significant due to its impact on modern Sino-Japanese relations and the CCP's narrative consolidation efforts.
    
     

13. Development of Renaissance architecture: This paper evaluates how the aftermath of the Black Death significantly contributed to the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture in early 15th-century Florence. The collapse of feudalism and the rise of a new elite class, consisting of wealthy merchants, created an ideal economic and political environment for architectural innovation. With the decline of the traditional nobility, the new elite used architectural patronage to legitimize their rule, leading to a divergence from traditional Gothic styles. Additionally, the flourishing economy and emergence of humanist ideas fueled the development of Renaissance architecture, while the Church's weakened influence allowed for secular architectural expressions to emerge.
    
     

14. German awareness of systematic murder of Jews in Europe: Through Hitler's antisemitic ideology and nationalist politics, Jews were marginalized and persecuted, culminating in the implementation of discriminatory laws and policies such as the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. With the outbreak of war, the Nazis shifted from favoring emigration to implementing mass killings, facilitated by mobile killing squads like the Einsatzgruppen. The Wannsee Conference in 1942 marked a turning point, as Nazi officials devised the "Final Solution" to transport and exterminate millions of Jews in concentration camps, although the regime attempted to keep these atrocities secret through coded language and propaganda, the extent to which the German population remained unaware is a matter of debate.
     
     

15. The French Revolution and the role of women: The French Revolution, traditionally viewed as a period dominated by male ambitions, saw a shift in historiography in the 1970s as scholars began to examine the roles of women. Olwen Hufton and Ruth Graham explored how the revolution impacted women's economic and social roles. Despite the perception of 1789 as a turning point for gender equality, questions remained about the extent of actual change in women's status. Primary sources like those of Olympe de Gouges and Théroigne de Méricourt provided valuable eyewitness testimony, although the perspective of women was often underrepresented in historical records, necessitating inference by historians.