History
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/15806
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Browsing History by Subject "American history"
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Item The concepts of sovereignty at the American founding(2003-08) Butler, Alice A.; Hoye, Timothy; Belfiglio, Valentine; Alexander, JimThis thesis examines the importance and influences of the concepts of sovereignty throughout the establishment of the United States structure of government. It is an examination of the different aspects of sovereignty identified from the early days of colonization through the ratification of the Constitution. Five specific concepts of sovereignty are recognized. These are absolute sovereignty, state sovereignty, popular sovereignty, individual sovereignty and national sovereignty. Each of these concepts of sovereignty played a major role in the writing of the Constitution, and has contributed to the flexibility, balance, and strength of the American government. Sovereignty continues to play a key role in international politics as well as those in the United States. It continues to be an important aspect of government that needs to be studied and considered.Item Elizabeth Whitear Sermon Camm: Atypical Mormon pioneer(8/30/2017) McLaurin, Denise; Travis, Paul D.; Hodges, Lybeth; Olsen, JonathanThis study examines the life of one Mormon pioneer woman, Elizabeth Whitear Sermon Camm, who immigrated to the United States with a specific dream of reaching Utah and living among other members of her faith. Everything went terribly wrong when she crossed the Plains with the Martin Handcart Company, which became one of the worst disasters of the westward migration in American history due to an early winter and scarce food rations. When Elizabeth’s husband died during this trek west, her life took a dramatic turn. This study uses firsthand accounts, biographical accounts, and newspaper articles to compare the outcome of Elizabeth’s life to that of other women in her age group who also became widowed while crossing the Plains with the Martin Handcart Company. Elizabeth’s experience is not typical, and adds new perspective to this event.Item A history of the United States Medical Department in the Mexican War(1991-12) Lee, Martha Deann Hamiter; Swain, Martha; DeMoss, DorothyThe purpose of this thesis is to show the structure of the Medical Bureau of the War Department and how it failed to provide organization in essential areas. It is a descriptive narrative compiled of previously published works enhanced by additional material in more recently accessible primary sources. Major sources of information were published journals and diaries of Mexican War soldiers and several articles by surgeons who served during the war. Various books were also studied for background information and medical facts. This data is interpreted and presented in bipartisan terms with little reference to political involvements. The vast majority of material is from American sources and, therefore, is flavored with an American bias. Medical procedures and jargon are given in layman's terms with an amateur understanding of medicine. It is concluded that the Medical Bureau suffered great failure despite dedication and ability. The greatest fault was with the War Department who organized its army for times of peace with little consideration for war.Item The national pastime and history: Baseball and American society's connection during the interwar years(2007-05) Birch, Kristina; Landdeck, Katherine Sharp; Travis, Paul D.; Hoye, Timothy"The National Pastime and History: Baseball and American Society's Connection During the Interwar Years" examines specific connections between Major League Baseball and society during the 1920s and 1930s. The economics of Baseball and America, the role of entertainment, and the segregation practiced by both are discussed in detail to demonstrate how Major League Baseball and society influenced each other. There is a brief look at both America and Baseball prior to and during World War I to provide an understanding of America and Major League Baseball at the dawn of the 1920s. Economics, the role of entertainment, and segregation are examined separately from both America's and Baseball's prospective. The direct influences they have on one another and the importance of their connection is then discussed at length.Item Race follows the American flag: A critique of the United States foreign policy during the Philippine-American War(2011-05) Stinyard, Kevin; Belifiglio, Valentine; Travis, Paul D.; Hoye, TimothyThe intention of Race Follows the American Flag is to examine the political idea of power: the creation of the United States cultural identity and how that cultural identity creates both an imperialist focal point and also a foreign policy based on the racial composition of subjugated and would-be subjugated countries. Using Eric Voegelin's "theory of the state" as a foundation; this thesis will examine the conceptualization of racial identity in both American "culture" and its foreign policy and how this ideology has mitigated her apportionment with the country of the Philippines both prior, during and following America's war with the Philippines Islands. In addition this paper, beginning with a view of America's early nation building ideas, chronicle how this idea was a racial/political relationship and has influenced interactions between the United States and the Philippine Islands leading to and following war and how this lead to a racial based foreign policy in America's dealings with non-Anglo countries following the war. This paper will also attempt to show how those same ideals continue to influence United States foreign relations into the 21st century. Using different political theorists and concepts, this research will delve into the creation, usage and modification of the end concepts, this research will delve into the creation, usage and modification of the racially driven ideology within American foreign policy and how this ideology was and is a major factor in how the United States responded/responds to nations classified as "other" as well as those who were not integrated into American cultural ideology, but still considered "American".Item The relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of American since 1945: The economic, military, and political implications(1979-12) Pittman, Lilia Espinosa; Landry, Harral; Yarborough, Kemp; Belfiglio, ValentineItem So their remains may rest: Cherokee death rituals and repatriation(2009-05) Chowritmootoo, Michan; Travis, Paul D.; Kessler, Mark; Hoye, Timothy; Bridges, Phyllis"Practices that surround the burial of the dead represent some of the most conservative and traditional aspects of cultural behavior." Roy S. Dickens "So Their Remains May Rest" will explore early Cherokee customs and practices governing death, mourning, and burials in hopes of providing a better understanding of the effects of legislation in particular the "Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act" have had on the three federally recognized Cherokee bands, the non-recognized Cherokee bands, as well as on the anthropological and historical disciplines. In addition, this research will evaluate the effectiveness of the repatriation² legislation, particularly in relation to the Cherokees. This subject was selected with the anticipation that with the Cherokee's development of a written language there would be an abundance of primary sources with a native voice. Further research of this topic has shown (proven) the opposite to be true; what was discovered were papers, studies and diaries of European settlers, missionaries and scholars, (with) their observations often running contrary to one another. Thus presenting a challenge of finding a balance between the native voice and the dominate non-native voice. Much of the Native American chapter in America's history has been forgotten; with entire histories of vastly different and complex societies lumped together and relegated to the footnotes of our history books. So much information has been scattered, lost to pillagers, time and/or lack of interest that it is the goal of this research to help reconstruct some of the scattered information or at the very least supply someone else with a good starting point.Item "Stranger than fiction": Anglo-American-German relations and rivalries through invasion literature: 1890-1914(2012-12) Stewart, Michael; Travis, Paul D.; Blosser, JacobThe speculative literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are usually considered escapist fiction and not germane to historical study. This paper proposes that by studying the sub-genre of literature called "Invasion Literature." This paper postulates that one can understand the mindset of a nation's people during the time period the story is written in. Such stories not only influenced public mood but in turn were influenced by this mood, as their popularity during this time period reveals. This paper considers the Invasion Literature of three nations; the United States, Great Britain, and Germany. All three nations were under increasing pressure to either maintain their world power (in the case of Great Britain) or in the case of the United States and Germany, to increase their national power. This competition would result first in a naval arms race and eventually the First World War.Item The Texas Guard during martial law and a state of emergency: A select study focusing on Galveston, Sherman, Beaumont and Texas City(2001-05) Hudy, Trayce Darter; Belfiglio, Valentine; Travis, Paul D.; Devereaux, PatriciaTexas Volunteer, National, and State Guard troops hold a distinguished history of service to Texas and have proved to be invaluable in efforts to aid civil authorities during emergency situations and in extreme conditions when martial law has been enforced. This research focuses on use of Guard units during extreme racial incidents leading to the declaration of martial law as was found in Sherman in 1930 and in Beaumont in 1943. The Volunteer Guard was called to duty in Galveston in 1900 when a hurricane devastated that city. Martial law was immediately instated. In addition, troops were summoned to Texas City in 1947 after an explosion obstructed and prevented the functioning of civil processes. Although martial law was not declared during this crisis, a state of emergency was proclaimed. In all four instances, the Guard was praised for exemplary service to the State and control was rapidly restored to civil authorities.