Your Ultimate Guide to National History Day 2026: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
Detailed hints, tips, and interactive activities for conducting thorough historical inquiry and analysis tailored to the 2026 theme.
Visit ResourceCurated primary sources from the National Archives aligned with the Revolution, Reaction, Reform theme, including documents, images, and activities.
Explore NowIn-depth resources on presidential revolutions, reactions, and reforms, perfect for exploring White House history in the context of the 2026 theme.
Learn MoreComprehensive contest details, online databases, and research strategies for success with the 2026 theme.
Access GuideExtensive links to government information and archives tailored for History Day projects on revolutions and reforms.
Browse ResourcesRich resources for the 2026 theme, project types, and educational tools from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Get StartedAccess vast collections of primary sources, maps, and photographs for historical research on revolutions and reforms.
DiscoverInteractive collections and tools for exploring history through artifacts and stories related to the 2026 theme.
ExploreOfficial government publications and primary sources to support research on Revolution, Reaction, Reform.
Access GovInfoCurated topics and collections from Texas history connected to the 2026 NHD theme.
Explore Texas ResourcesComprehensive guidance on when to use interviews to capture personal reactions to historical revolutions or reforms, including preparation steps, ethical considerations, and integration into your NHD project.
Understand why diverse viewpoints—such as those of revolutionaries, reactors, and reformers—strengthen your argument, with examples from the 2026 theme and research strategies.
Step-by-step tips on choosing a compelling topic like the American Revolution or Progressive Era reforms that fits the theme, aligns with your interests, and has ample sources.
How to create a strong annotated bibliography for sources on revolutions and reactions, including what to include in annotations and common pitfalls to avoid.
Advice on delivering performances about historical reforms, designing exhibits on reactions, and presenting your work confidently to judges for the 2026 contest.
Detailed methods to clearly link your topic to Revolution, Reaction, or Reform, with examples from the theme book and how to address the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Explore inspiring documentaries from the last time this theme was featured in 2012. These national gold medal winners showcase exceptional storytelling and research.
This theme explores the dynamic forces of revolutions as transformative changes, reactions as responses to those upheavals, and reforms as deliberate efforts to improve or adjust systems. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it encourages examination of how these elements have shaped history—from political revolutions like the American Revolution to social reforms in the Progressive Era and reactions to the Industrial Revolution. Students are not required to cover all three aspects but should connect their topic meaningfully to at least one, considering questions like "What sparks a revolution?" "How do reactions influence reform?" and "What sustains lasting change?"
The narrative delves into the blurred lines between revolutions, reactions, and reforms, often where one leads to another. Revolutions can be sudden or gradual, political or cultural; reactions range from resistance to adaptation; reforms aim for equity and progress. Key examples include the American Revolution's revolutionary ideals leading to constitutional reforms, reactions to industrialization sparking labor reforms, and global decolonization movements.
Features in-depth articles on pivotal events, such as women's suffrage as a reform reaction to exclusion, technological revolutions and societal pushback, environmental reforms responding to industrial reactions, labor rights movements, decolonization processes, and the cycle of revolution-reform in modern democracies, with ties to the Declaration's enduring impact.
Local: Community reactions to urban renewal reforms. National: Civil War as revolution, Reconstruction reforms, Progressive Era changes. World: French Revolution and Napoleonic reactions, Gandhi's nonviolent reforms against colonial rule, Russian Revolution outcomes. Emphasis on the interplay of these forces and their historical significance.
Includes a theme brainstorm sheet for generating ideas, topic lists from affiliates like Minnesota and California, and connections to the semiquincentennial celebrations for the nation's 250th birthday.
Designed to ensure a fair competition. Divisions: Junior (grades 6-8), Senior (grades 9-12). Categories include Exhibit, Documentary, Paper, Performance, Website. Entries can be individual or group (2-5 students). All projects must relate to the 2026 theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.
A 500-word description of your research process, how the topic developed, and its connection to the Revolution, Reaction, Reform theme. Required for all categories except historical papers.
Judges evaluate based on historical quality (60%), relation to theme (20%), clarity of presentation (20%). No content censorship, but strict adherence to rules is mandatory, with emphasis on theme connection.
Progress from school-level to regional/affiliate contests, then nationals in June 2026 at the University of Maryland. Revise projects between levels based on judge feedback for improvement.