Typical questions in history

Historians generally ask how and why questions. Other, more basic questions such as “What happened?” and “Who was involved?” will contribute to the answers to the broader, more controversial questions. Historians choose their questions by considering their own interests, the relevance to the ongoing discussions among scholars, and the availability of sources on the topic. The answer to any one of the following questions could form the basis of a thesis for a history paper:

• Why did John F. Kennedy decide to send American troops to Vietnam?
• Why did Congress decide to grant women the vote?
• How did the institution of a minimum wage affect the middle class?
• Why did the Roman Empire collapse?

Go to related page: Asking questions in the disciplines

Go to related page: Writing in history