The 2026 Rhode Island History Day Contest will be held on
Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Brown University!
The 2026 Rhode Island History Day Contest will be held on
Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Brown University!
Every year, National History Day selects a theme to inspire students in their research. Students are asked to draw meaningful connections between their chosen topics and the overarching theme. These themes are deliberately broad, allowing students to delve into topics spanning from local histories to ancient civilizations. To establish a clear connection between the theme and topic, students must grasp their chosen subjects' historical significance and context.
To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, NHD’s 2026 theme is Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. The distinctions among revolutions, reactions, and reforms are sometimes blurred. Revolutions and reforms are often reactions to ideas, actions, or events. In turn, revolutions and reforms inspire reactions. Think of it as a domino effect—knock one down, which knocks the next one down, which knocks . . .
The first question that comes to mind is, “Do students have to focus on all three words—revolution, reaction, reform?” No, students do not have to focus on all three aspects of the theme. It depends on the topic. If the topic involves all three, then students should be sure to include all three.