In 2004: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2004 is. In January The topic was Amendments. You have to choose 2 from amendments, and explain why they were adopted, and how they affected American society. (Any amendment will do). In June The topic was Actions taken by the US because of geographic factors. You have to choose 2 from them. Explain the action, influences, and impact of each action. (Monroe Doctrine, Panama Canal, Louisiana Purchase). In August The topic was Reform Movements. You have to choose 2 from them, and explain the circumstances and impact. (Prohibition, Abolition, Women’s Suffrage, Progressive Era). |
In 2005: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2005 is. In January The topic was Foreign Policy. You have to choose 2 from them. American foreign policy actions, the immediate or long-term consequences, and if self-interest was promoted. (Marshall Plan, Lend-Lease Act, Big Stick Diplomacy, Fourteen Points). In June The topic was Reform Movements. You have to choose 2 from Reform movements, their goals, and if their goals were achieved. (Abolition, Women’s Suffrage, Prohibition, Progressive Era). In August The topic was Cold War. You have to choose 2, Explain Cold War conflicts and how the government operated during them. (Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Airlift, nuclear weapon limits of SALT, ). |
In 2006: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2006 is. In January The topic was Controversial Issues. You have to choose 2 controversial issues that divided the country and explain how the government addressed each issue. (Prohibition, Segregation, Immigration, Civil Rights, Native American Removal). In June The topic was Turning Points. You have to choose 2 economic, political, and/or social turning points that led to landmark changes. (Brown v. Board of Education, Automobile, Declaration of Independence, or really, anything important). In August The topic was the Migrations of People. You have to choose 2 groups, and explain why they moved, and the impact of the migration. (Native American Removal, The Great Migration). |
In 2007: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2007 is. In January The topic, Geography. You have to discuss two actions taken by the US Government because of Geography. (Homestead Act, Panama Canal, Monroe Doctrine, Lewis and Clark). In June The topic, Industrialization. You have to choose two problems that resulted from industrial growth in America. (Technology, Urbanization, Monopolies, Immigration, Reform Movements.) In August The topic, You have to choose two individuals who had an impact on solving problems in America. (Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., Henry Ford Betty Friedan.) |
In 2008: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2008 is. In January The topic, Groups affected by War. You have to choose two from the topic (Indian Wars, women in WWI, African Americans after the Civil War, and WWII, Japanese in WWII). In June The topic, Change by individuals other than Presidents. Choose two, and show how their actions led to government actions. (Carnegie, Muckrakers, industrialization, and civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., Henry Ford, and the automobile.) In August The topic, Economic Policy. You can describe two actions taken by the government to help the economy. (Tariffs, Social Security, FDR’s New Deal, and Reagan’s tax cuts.) |
In 2009: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2009 is. In January The topic, Pieces of writing that influenced society. You have to choose 2 (Upton Sinclair’s, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, The Jungle, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.) In June The topic is Discrimination of rights. Explain policies that helped, or hurt specific groups. You have to choose 2. (Native Americans and Indian Removal, Korematsu case for the Japanese, slavery for African Americans). In August The topic is Supreme Court Cases. You have to choose 2, and explain the historical circumstances, decision, and impact. (Brown, Miranda, Schenck, Gideon, Tinker, Mapp, Korematsu, etc). |
In 2010: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2010 is. In January The topic, Writing, and Reform. You have to choose two writers, and show how they caused the government to act. (Thomas Paine and the Revolution, Upton Sinclair and meatpacking / FDA, Harriet Beecher Stowe and abolition.) In June The topic, Positive and negative effects of technology. You have to choose two internet, Car, television, and radio.) In August The topic, You have to choose two Presidential decisions in American history and show the impacts. (Lincoln and emancipation, Truman and the atomic bomb, Washington and Neutrality.) |
In 2011: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2011 is. In January The topic, Geographical features influencing history. You have to choose 2 events related to geography and explain the impacts of the event. (Erie Canal construction, Panama Canal, Transcontinental Railroad) In June The topic, Amendments. You have to choose 2 Amendments and show how they impacted America (13th = Abolition, 17th = Direct Election of Senators, 19th = Women’s Suffrage). In August The topic, Diversity and Court Cases. You have to choose 2 court cases that either limited or expanded the rights of specific groups. (Korematsu limited rights for the Japanese, Brown expanded Black rights, whereas Plessy limited them). |
In 2012: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2012 is. In January The topic, Reform movements, Industrialization. You have to choose two problems resulting from industrialization. Show how the government tried to fix each problem, and to what extent they were successful. (Unsafe food, Overpopulation, pollution, nativism, trusts, exploitation of workers). In June The topic, Foreign policy, Presidential Decisions. You have to choose two decisions, and show their impacts on BOTH the US and a foreign country. (JFK quarantining Cuba, Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb, GW Bush’s decision to invade Iraq). In August The topic is the Impact of Supreme Court cases. You have to choose two cases and show their impact on American society. Using any two court cases is enough. |
In 2013: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2013 is. In January The topic, Government – Legislation. You have to choose 2 laws, explain their historical circumstances, and if they had a positive or negative impact. (Social Security Act provides money for the elderly in the Great Depression, Pure Food and Drug Act protects consumers, Indian Removal Act forces Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River). In June The topic, Foreign Policy. National Interests. You have to choose 2 examples of foreign policy that affected US interests, and show if they were successful or not. ( Vietnam War, Open Door Policy, Korean War, Persian Gulf War, and, Panama Canal). In August The topic, Foreign Policy. Cold War. You have to choose 2 examples of containment, and explain if those actions were successful in stopping the spread of communism. ( “Star Wars”, Truman Doctrine, Korean War, Vietnam War, and, Berlin Airlift). |
In 2014: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2014 is. In January The topic, Geography – Territorial Expansion. Explain how the US acquired 2 territories, and if they had a positive or negative impact. (Louisiana Territory doubles the size of the nation, Alaska provides vast oil reserves, and California becomes a free state in the controversial Compromise of 1850.) In June The topic, Change – Supreme Court Decisions. Choose two decisions, explain them, and show how they impacted the United States and/or American society. In August The topic, Technology – Choose two inventions and show how they changed society. Illustrate why it was either a positive or negative change. (Cotton gin, automobile, nuclear energy, television). |
In 2015: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2015 is. In January The topic, Legislation. In June The topic, Organizations. In August The topic, Foreign Policy. |
In 2016: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2016 is. In January The topic is Foreign Policy-Latin America and the Caribbean. In June The topic is Reform Movements. In August The topic, Economic Policy. |
In 2017: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2017 is. In January The topic, Cultural and Intellectual Life: Effects of the Media. In June The topic, Change – Post WWII US. In August The topic is Presidential Decisions and Actions. |
In 2018: The US history regents thematic essay topic in 2018 is. In January The topic, US Government Actions. In June The topic, Geography – Territorial Expansion. In August The topic is Supreme Court Decisions. |
In 2019: In January The topic, Government actions that expand or limit rights. |
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