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.

Check out the NHD Theme Page for useful resources like the Rights & Responsibilities in History 2025 Theme Book, Graphic Organizer, and the Theme Video.

NHD’s 2025 theme will be Rights & Responsibilities in History. Projects can be about local Massachusetts history, U.S. history, or world history - but all projects must relate to the theme.

What are rights and responsibilities in history? 

Rights and responsibilities determine how individuals interact with one another, their communities, and their governments. 

Rights are freedoms or privileges that individuals possess as human beings or as citizens of a society.

• Civil rights are nonpolitical rights of individuals that their governments are bound to protect through law (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, and freedom of the press)
• Political rights are the rights of citizens to participate in their governments (right to vote, run for public office, and participate in the process)
• Social rights establish a basic standard of living and well-being for all members of society (right to an education, safe housing, and access to food and social services like healthcare) 
• Economic rights allow people to participate in their economy (right to own property, work, earn fair wages, and safe working conditions) 
• Human rights are universal and apply to all individuals, no matter who governs them and regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or other identities (right to life, a fair justice system, and access to the resources of their community)

Responsibilities are expectations of individuals as members of society.

• Legal responsibilities are the duty to maintain order and justice within society (obeying the law, paying taxes, and respecting the rights of others) 
• Civic responsibilities are the obligation to participate, whether directly or indirectly, in the functioning of the government (voting, staying informed about political issues, and engaging in community activities) 
• Social responsibilities are the commitment to treat others respectfully and to help those in need (volunteering in the community and establishing organizations that support others)  
• Ethical responsibilities are the charge to make morally sound decisions between right and wrong 

What to consider? 

• Does everyone have the same rights? 
• Who decides who has rights? Who decides on the limits individuals should or should not have?
• What led to establishing certain rights and to whom were they given? 
• How have people, governments, or institutions decided what parameters should be set to enforce responsibilities? How are such decisions justified? 
• How are rights and responsibilities shaped by political organization, such as democracy, communism, fascism, socialism, or authoritarianism? What about monarchy, oligarchy, or anarchy? 

Theme Page

Every year, Massachusetts libraries, museums, and archives create their own lists of resources related to the NHD theme. Check out the MHS Rights & Responsibilities in History Theme Page and get inspired by history in your backyard, or contact the librarians and archivists who work there for more ideas. More theme pages will be coming soon!