100+ Suggested War Essay Topics for Your Research

Essays on war & conflict can be portrayed from different perspectives. Thus, your paper may deal with the war in terms of politics, heroism, or describe its impact on ordinary people’s life. Besides, you might be asked for a more precise topic for your History class essay, for instance, about diplomacy, tactics, propaganda, weapons, as well as the causes and effects such conflicts have.

War Essay Topics

Whether your research paper is about WWI, WW2, Civil, Vietnam or Iraq War, you first need to decide what period to describe and approach to use and then to choose some specific war essay topics for your writing. To be certain that your topic is just right, make sure that:

  1. Your topic is not too broad (for instance, it concentrates on WW2 in general);
  2. Your topic is not too narrow (if it deals with one political figure only);
  3. You can find some research material online including videos, thematic websites, etc), it means that your subject is topical and discussed;
  4. You can find books about your topic in your local library;
  5. The topic is catchy and interesting (not only for your professor but for other students as well);
  6. The topic covers one of the burning issues in history;
  7. You can answer the question of the topic (if any) in the essay.

Covering all these seven steps is vital if you want to come up with a great topic, as it’s a half-way to a successful academic essay. After all, we all write essays intending to resolve some burning issues and catch the reader’s attention.

✍️ Tips for Writing a War Essay

College students who are required to create an essay on this topic should first be well acquainted with the historical background of the conflict they intend to write about. Secondly, they should make sure that essays are informative and cover the causes, consequences, and deprivation that the war caused.

To write a good war essay, consider the following tips:

  • Do extensive research on the topic before you start writing your essay. The easiest thing you can do is simply google your desired topic and check whether there are discussions and materials on the topic available. You’ll need to make your topic argumentative, so make sure there are enough reliable sources you can use when writing your essay.
  • Choose a compelling topic that will grab the reader’s attention. Once you’ve done research you might want to change the angle of your topic slightly and then move on to creating an outline for your writing.
  • Start your essay from the main body. We recommend starting with the main problems your future essay will be concentrated on. Provide arguments, support them with evidence and corresponding citations, and make emphasis on structuring your paper properly.
  • “Frame” and proofread you final essay. Introduction and conclusion sections frame your writing making it complex and complete. Writing then at the very end will help you to concentrate more on the context of your writing and include only those aspects that matter. Then, proofread your essay, making sure it has a nice flow.

📝 List of General War Essay Topics

Here’s a list of creative topic ideas that can help you understand what to write about. They are listed in no particular historical or chronological order:

  1. The concept of "just war" and its ethical implications.
  2. The impact of war on civilian populations.
  3. The role of women in war throughout history.
  4. The psychological effects of war on soldiers and societies.
  5. The evolution of warfare technology and its impact on strategy.
  6. The role of diplomacy in preventing and ending wars.
  7. The impact of war on the environment.
  8. The portrayal of war in film and literature.
  9. The role of child soldiers in contemporary conflicts.
  10. The impact of war on economic development.
  11. The role of international law in regulating warfare.
  12. The impact of war on cultural heritage and historical sites.
  13. The role of media in shaping public perception of war.
  14. The ethics of drone warfare and targeted killings.
  15. The role of mercenaries and private military companies in conflicts.
  16. The impact of war on global migration and refugee crises.
  17. The role of peacekeeping forces in post-conflict regions.
  18. The challenges of post-war reconciliation and nation-building.
  19. The role of war memorials in remembering and interpreting conflict.
  20. The impact of cyber warfare on national security.

📜 Civil War Research Topics

The topics dedicated to this historical period are probably the most popular ones. The Civil War was a stepping stone that showed just how much the place and time influence people’s views and how different opinions on this can sometimes make a solid ground for some major conflicts.

  1. The economic factors leading to the American Civil War.
  2. The role of slavery in precipitating the Civil War.
  3. The impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the war's course.
  4. The significance of the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War.
  5. The contributions of African American soldiers in the Civil War.
  6. The effects of the Civil War on civilian life in the North and South.
  7. The role of women during the Civil War.
  8. The influence of foreign powers on the outcome of the Civil War.
  9. The evolution of military technology in the Civil War.
  10. The reconstruction era: Successes and failures post-Civil War.
  11. The legacy of the Civil War in American memory and culture.
  12. The impact of the Civil War on the American political system.
  13. The role of naval warfare in the Civil War.
  14. The significance of the Gettysburg Address in American history.
  15. The psychological effects of the Civil War on soldiers and families.
  16. The use of propaganda during the Civil War.
  17. The role of espionage and intelligence in the Civil War.
  18. The impact of the Civil War on American literature and art.
  19. The treatment of prisoners of war during the Civil War.
  20. The role of railroads in the Civil War logistics and strategy.

📖 Cold War Paper Topics

  1. The origins of the Cold War: Ideological differences between the US and USSR.
  2. The impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on Cold War dynamics.
  3. The role of espionage and intelligence in the Cold War.
  4. The influence of the Cold War on global decolonization movements.
  5. The effects of the Cold War on American domestic policy.
  6. The significance of the Berlin Wall in Cold War history.
  7. The role of nuclear arms race in escalating Cold War tensions.
  8. The impact of the Cold War on the development of space exploration.
  9. The role of the United Nations during the Cold War.
  10. The influence of the Cold War on popular culture and media.
  11. The Korean War as a proxy battle of the Cold War.
  12. The Vietnam War and its significance in the Cold War context.
  13. The role of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in the Cold War.
  14. The impact of the Cold War on the Middle East.
  15. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
  16. The role of propaganda in shaping public opinion during the Cold War.
  17. The impact of the Cold War on science and technology.
  18. The role of non-aligned movement countries during the Cold War.
  19. The effects of the Cold War on Africa's political landscape.
  20. The legacy of the Cold War in contemporary international relations.

Vietnam War Essay Ideas

  1. The causes of the Vietnam War and its justification.
  2. The impact of the Tet Offensive on American public opinion.
  3. The role of media coverage in shaping the narrative of the Vietnam War.
  4. The effects of Agent Orange and other chemical warfare.
  5. The experiences of Vietnamese civilians during the war.
  6. The anti-war movement in the United States and its influence on policy.
  7. The legacy of the Vietnam War on American military and foreign policy.
  8. The psychological effects of the war on returning veterans.
  9. The role of the Viet Cong and guerrilla warfare tactics.
  10. The significance of the Paris Peace Accords in ending the Vietnam War.
  11. The impact of the war on Vietnamese society and economy.
  12. The role of women in the Vietnam War.
  13. The influence of the Cold War on the Vietnam conflict.
  14. The challenges of post-war reconciliation and recovery in Vietnam.
  15. The portrayal of the Vietnam War in film and literature.
  16. The strategic mistakes made by the United States in Vietnam.
  17. The role of international allies and support for both sides.
  18. The impact of the war on American public and political life.
  19. The use of music as a form of protest and expression during the Vietnam era.
  20. The lessons learned from the Vietnam War for future conflicts.

🌎 World War I Essay Topics

  1. The causes of World War I: Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and alliances.
  2. The impact of trench warfare on military strategy and soldier experiences.
  3. The role of technology and innovation in World War I.
  4. The effects of World War I on the home front: Women, work, and society.
  5. The significance of the Battle of the Somme.
  6. The consequences of World War I on the global political landscape.
  7. The Treaty of Versailles: Terms, criticisms, and long-term effects.
  8. The role of propaganda in World War I.
  9. The impact of World War I on art and literature.
  10. The experiences of colonial troops in World War I.
  11. The role of the Russian Revolution in World War I.
  12. The impact of World War I on the Middle East.
  13. The legacy of World War I in contemporary international relations.
  14. The role of naval warfare in World War I.
  15. The psychological effects of World War I on soldiers.
  16. The use of chemical weapons in World War I.
  17. The role of the United States in World War I.
  18. The impact of World War I on medical advancements.
  19. The economic consequences of World War I.
  20. The role of aviation in World War I.

🌍 World War II Essay Topics

When you choose to write about World War 2, always check the dates and the facts. Remember that it is an important topic to explore, which is why you can compare and check with how it is explored in Europe or in Russia to get more information. Remember to provide citations for each resource used.

  1. The causes of World War II: The failure of peace efforts and the rise of dictatorships.
  2. The role of the Holocaust in World War II.
  3. The significance of the Battle of Stalingrad.
  4. The impact of World War II on women and minorities.
  5. The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Justifications and consequences.
  6. The role of intelligence and code-breaking in World War II.
  7. The impact of World War II on the formation of the United Nations.
  8. The experiences of soldiers in different theaters of World War II.
  9. The role of propaganda in World War II.
  10. The impact of World War II on post-war European reconstruction.
  11. The significance of the D-Day invasion.
  12. The role of resistance movements in World War II.
  13. The impact of World War II on colonial empires.
  14. The legacy of World War II in contemporary international relations.
  15. The psychological effects of World War II on survivors.
  16. The role of technology and innovation in World War II.
  17. The impact of World War II on civilian populations.
  18. The role of the United States in World War II.
  19. The economic consequences of World War II.
  20. The trials of war criminals and the establishment of international law.

FAQ

- What are some examples of powerful war research topics?

A research essay topic can be considered successful in case it is topical and well-researched. Historical events have a tendency to repeat from time to time, so that modern politicians and ordinary people can treat them as valuable lessons. A powerful topic is the one that can help us understand our past and make an output for the future; the impact of conflicts on our history, propaganda approaches, things that cause wars are some nice examples of timeless topics.

- What's the best way to start a war essay?

The beginning of each lengthy essay should clearly state what major concerns the essay will cover. If you are making a comparison between WW1 and the Cold War, you should tackle both in the introduction and focus on each of them separately in the body of the essay. In case your topic is connected with the importance of technological progress on weapons, make this statement in the paper’s intro.

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