a: a sudden, radical, or complete change b : a fundamental change in political organization; especially : the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed c : activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation d : a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm <the Copernican revolution> e : a changeover in use or preference especially in technology <the computer revolution> <the foreign car revolution>

RevolutionThomas Garrett, a station master onThe Underground Railroad in Wilmington.He helped 3000 slaves on their way tofreedom in a revolutionary movement.

the act or process or an instance of reacting b : resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement; especially : tendency toward a former and usually outmoded political or social order or policy

a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus <her stunned reaction to the news>; also : such a response expressed verbally <critical reaction to the play>

Reaction

William “Judy” Johnson,Negro League ball player from Delaware who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975, seen here with the Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner of baseball

Reform

1a : to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses 2: to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action 3: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways <reform a drunkard>

Lewis ReddingDelaware’s firstAfrican-AmericanLawyer, involvedin Brown v. Boardof Education

In History

There is a difference between current events and history.

To understand a topic or event, we need a little time to see howIt has affected us, our culture or our nation/world. Historians generallyAgree that at least one generation must pass for that to happen.A generation is usually 20-25 years. So, stay away from topics that have happened since 1986, OR be sure to trace that topic’s history carefully and in great depth. Example: Rap music- soul music, blues, jazz, etc.

Annie Jump Cannonfrom Dover, catalogued or named 500,000 stars in her lifetime, working with spectography.

The dance craze, fun or scandalous?

Alcohol and history: Temperance becomes Prohibition

The Holly Tree Inn a lunch spot without liquor and a report on Prohibition in Delaware

A reaction to tuberculosis: Emily Bissell introduces Christmas Seals to America

Color guard of the 1st Delaware Regiment with tattered flags after Antietam

The Motley family of Seaford leaving for the March on Washington, Aug. 1968

Spend a lot of time brainstorming your topic- you’ll want to work on something that really

interests you!

Some topic ideas….

John Brown’s revolt against slaveryThe airplane: a revolution in warfare

The Intolerable Acts and the Boston Tea Party

Henry Ford and the Model T- reforming American industryWomen Suffragists

Jane Addams: Settlement Houses

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

Miranda RightsThe Bill of Rights

Will Rogers: An American Commentator

Title IX The Montgomery

Bus Boycott Henry David Thoreau: Walden

Compensated EmancipationUpton Sinclair: The Jungle

The list goes on and on…..

The more time you spenddeveloping and refining your thesis, the easier the rest of your work will be.Talk to your teachers, your family, and any adults you can find to help you look for connections- outward, inward, backward and forward.

Page from A Guide to HistoricalResearch Through the National History Day Program.

Pick a topic you like, work hard, have fun, be creative and we’ll see you in April!

Good luck!