What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is the main argument or central idea of your entire National History Day project. It’s like a roadmap that tells your reader what your project will explain or prove. A strong thesis gives your project focus, answers a key question, and shows your point of view.
This Year’s Theme: Revolution, Reaction, and Reform
For National History Day 2026, your thesis should connect your topic to the theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform. Your thesis will explain how your topic fits into one (or more) of these categories:
Revolution → a major change or uprising that challenged the way things were.
Reaction → how people or governments responded to the revolution or change.
Reform → the lasting changes or improvements that followed.
Steps to Write a Strong Thesis Statement:
Choose a TOPIC that fits the theme and interests you.
Ask a question about how your topic shows revolution, reaction, or reform (e.g., What change happened? How did people respond? What lasting effects came from it?).
Answer the question in a sentence or two by making a clear claim or argument.
This statement will guide your research and help organize your project, making it clear what you’re trying to prove or explain.
Example:
Topic: Battle of Gettysburg
Thesis Statement: The battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point of the Civil War. It turned the tide of the war from the South to the North, pushing back Lee’s army that would never fight again on Northern soil and bringing confidence to the Union army.