National History Day
Turning Points in History
A turning point is an idea, event, or action that directly, or sometimes indirectly, causes change. Consider questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance.
Click the picture on the left for the official NHD website.
Still don't have a topic?
Secondary Sources
Begin your research with the databases below. Not all topics will be in all databases! Use KEYWORDS to search.
Start with encyclopedias and secondary sources HERE
Gale in Context: MS
Encyclopedia Britannica
Try these subject specific databases next.
Defining Moments in American History
Primary Sources
Primary sources: United States
Library of Congress general search--use the search box at the top to put in your topic and keywords
Digital Public Library of America: Sets of primary sources by topic. Include US Domestic Affairs, US Foreign Policy and Debate and Diplomacy Abroad.
Docs Teach (National Archives): sets of primary sources by broad topic
Smithsonian History Explorer--search on the right side of the screen
World Digital Library (Library of Congress)--search by topic and time period
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
LIFE Magazine Photo Archive--search photos by keyword and date
Chronicling America: Library of Congress--use the filters at the top of the screen to narrow down time period and topic.
Primary Sources: Europe
World Digital Library (Library of Congress)--search by topic and time period
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Document Set: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (French Revolution)
European Reading Room (Library of Congress) browse huge collection of digitized primary sources
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
Primary Sources: Mexico, Central and South America
Hispanic Reading Room (Library of Congress) browse digitized primary sources
Inter-American treaties and documents - documents between North, Central, and/or South American nations
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary Sources: Africa & Middle East
Internet African History Sourcebook - search for all topics in all countries and kingdoms
African and Middle Eastern Reading Room - primary sources from the Library of Congress
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary Sources: Asia
Internet East Asian History Sourcebook - search for all topics in all countries
Asia Primary Sources from U of Washington - use the links on the left to narrow down to East Asia, South Asia, or Southeast Asia
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary vs Secondary Sources
Click the links below to see the differences between primary and secondary sources.
Online Services Passwords
Destiny: Library Catalog
Destiny
Search for books in Destiny, our library catalog.
Annotated Bibliography
Use Noodletools to keep a running Works Cited list. Include annotations as directed by your teacher. Log in with Clever.
Evaluating websites
Do the websites you find pass the ABCD test?
Click the image on the right to find out!
