Need help on a history essay attention getter!?

One thing I always consider when I'm stuck is starting with a quote. For example, the Thomas Paine quote "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it the superficial appearance of being right." You could then go on to discuss the quote in the context of the Vietnam war, and tie it into your thesis. Additionally, a quote can help you generate ideas, which you can use to add a creative first sentence later on.