[11th Grade Modern History] - Essay Topic Ideas

[u/Dandythebun]

Hi! I have to write an essay on a personality from the modern era (1720-2001). This is my assignment info I have been given:

You are to design and complete a research question on an historical personality in the Modern Era (1720-2001). You will then complete a 1000-word extended response. Your question should focus on representations and interpretations of your personality over time (in relation to an/some events, actions, characterisation, debates, achievements or legacy)

My question also must contain one of: Assess, to what extent, Evaluate, Compare and Contrast, or a response to a quote.

Honestly I have been trying to come up with things for ages but have really struggled because we aren't allowed to research any topic we will study in the future (WWI, Great Depression, Russian Revolution, and Apartheid). I feel kinda stupid coming on here to ask people to help me write an essay question but i'm so stuck at this point- so any ideas at all would be appreciated!

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[u/cheesecakegood]

Here's a fun idea. Look through some historical quotes or TIL-type lists for crazy facts or very opinionated quotes. Look into some of those people. The other lens that would give you lots to work with would be to find people who have lots of books written about them. E.g. Thomas Jefferson is a classic and controversial American whose reputation has changed wildly over time. My high school history class had a whole mini-unit on him. On that note, the "meta-history" of how historians treat famous people differently over time is called "historiography" and could have some interesting stuff to talk about.

My personal favorite time period with plenty of interesting stuff is the Gilded Age. JP Morgan controlled half of all railroads at one point on top of steel monopolies, and singlehandedly stopped a stock market crash (arguably a second, too). You could talk about some rebellious types like Eugene Debs the communist and unionizer

Andrew Jackson almost put the country in a full-on constitutional crisis with a real secession threat on top, 30 years before the Civil War.

You could find someone who has a movie made about them or involving them, that's always a good way to get some ideas going. Malcolm X? Or, forget politicians, you're allowed to talk about musicians too. Or actors, directors, authors, etc. Mozart (Amadeus) counts in the time period and was a major personal boundary-pusher diva despite classical music's reputation.

[u/intersexy911]

I would suggest Charlie Chaplin. He is a complicated person.