NHD Annual Theme

Each year, National History Day selects an annual theme. The broad themes encourage students to research a wide variety of topics. Students should use the theme to frame their analysis and show why a topic is significant in history.

The 2023 theme is "Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas." Projects can be about Vermont history, US history or world history - but all projects must relate to the theme.

Frontier has a broad range of definitions. It could be a physical or social barrier. It could mean a wilderness or a new discovery. There is often something unknown - although what is unknown to one side could be known to the other. Students should use the theme, including "people, places, ideas" to guide their research and argument. According to National History Day, projects can focus on people OR places OR ideas, but students might find a topic relates to a person with an idea or a person in a place. Students should address the short term and long term impacts - what changed when the frontier was crossed? Remember to explore the significance of the topic in history - how did a new idea change a place and why did it matter? Follow the links below for resources and topic ideas related to Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas."

• NHD Theme Video
• NHD Theme Sheet (pdf)
• NHD Theme Booklet (pdf)
• NHD Theme Webpage
• Frontiers in VERMONT History (pdf)
• sample Vermont topic with links to primary and secondary sources

If you have any more questions, contact education@vermonthistory.org or (802) 479-8500.