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"The Age Demands It": Progressivism In Zion City, Illinois, A Conservative Protestant Theocracy, Gayle A. Kiszely

Dissertations (1934 -)

Historians have periodized the last decade of the nineteenth and first two decades of the twentieth centuries as the Progressive Era.The Era is characterized by booming industrialization, unregulated corporate capitalism, rapid urbanization, and immigration from countries other than northern Europe. These developments unleashed an explosion of reforms intended to solve the social problems that emanated from these unsettling developments. Reformers beseeched the courts and state and national legislatures to regulate banks and big businesses. Urban reformers and liberal religious leaders established settlement houses to uplift immigrants morally and socially. Other reformers espoused religious or secular communitarian philosophies to dignify labor, …

A Time Of Change: Public Education In Galena, Illinois During The Postwar Era, Brett H. Noble

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The years after World War II brought profound changes to American society. The expansion of government power, the influence of experts, and the demand to conform joined with technological innovations to revamp institutions throughout the United States. Public education underwent sweeping changes during this time. The revision of tax codes, curriculum initiatives, and improved transportation brought about the end of the one-room schoolhouse.

In Galena, Illinois, a small city in the state’s northwestern corner, the school system emerged from the war years in need of reform. Overcrowded schools and a skeletal and outdated curriculum brought calls from residents for improvement. …

Did Antebellum Illinois Free Banks Take Undue Risk With Their Bond Portfolios?: An Analysis Of Decision-Making Prior To The Civil War, Scott N. Clayman

Business and Economics Honors Papers

Free banks in Illinois could issue bank notes backed by state or U.S. bond collateral. A decline in bond prices as the Civil War approached resulted in banks being unable to redeem their noteholders in gold specie and subsequently resulted in bank failures. Previously economic historians believed that failures of free banks were due to wildcat banking rather than the portfolio allocation of free banks. Over time, other researchers have found that banks that took greater ex ante risk prior to the failure were more likely to fail. There were other price declines during the 1850s, in particular the Panic …

Markets And The Mormon Conflict: Nauvoo, Illinois, 1839-1846, Catherine Mary Wycoff

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the development of the economy during the period the Mormons were in Illinois, 1839-1846. It argues that the economy developed similarly to contemporary towns and that the Mormons in Nauvoo participated in the local and regional market. However, the doctrine of the gathering produced explosive population growth, including almost 5,000 immigrants from Britain. The economy was not able to absorb the number and this contributed to the exodus of the Mormons to the west in 1846. The main sources used are surviving account books, diaries, journals from merchants and farmers. The first chapter describes the settlement of …

American Identity In The Illinois Territory, 1809-1818, Daniel Northrup Finucane

Honors Theses

Many histories have been writen about Illinois, both by early inhabitants and modern scholars. The histories are quite inclusive, yet none specifically address the topic that I am examining. Scarce material exists regarding the Americanism of the early settlers in Illinois. But, in fashioning my argument on the subject, I have taken from a variety of these cources bits and pieces of information about geography, demographics, economics, politics, and social life. My hope is that these facts and arguments will help to substantiate my suggestions regarding the mindsets of territorial Illinoisians. The work coming closest to my focus is an …

A History Of The Nauvoo Legion In Illinois, John Sweeney Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The Nauvoo Legion was a branch of the Illinois state militia, located in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. To obey the state military service requirement, provide adequate protection for themselves, and display loyalty to the state, the inhabitants of Nauvoo organized a militia within their city. Having received necessary state approval, the citizens designated their militia the "Nauvoo Legion," which functioned from February, 1841 to January, 1845, when the Legion charter was repealed by the state legislature.

Organized and staffed mainly by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Legion was considered by some opponents as a …

A Historical Study Of The Mormon Temple At Nauvoo, Illinois, Don F. Colvin

Theses and Dissertations

The Nauvoo Temple was a unique structure, one which symbolized "Mormonism" in the early period of its history. In its time, the temple stood as the chief structure of the city of Nauvoo. It rivaled all buildings in Illinois and the West during its brief history.

This study reviews the entire history of the temple, from when it was first contemplated until its fateful destruction, and beyond. It sheds light on the setting in which the great edifice was built. Consideration is given to the struggles and sacrifices on the part of workmen and church members who freely gave to …

William Clayton: Missionary, Pioneer, And Public Servant, Paul E. Dahl

Theses and Dissertations

This work is a biography of William Clayton, an early missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a pioneer to the Great Basin. He was also a prominent individual in the political and economic development in the State of Deseret and the Territory of Utah. The purpose of the study is to write an account of Clayton's life and to show his contributions to both religious and profane history.

A History Of The Illinois High School Athletic Association And Its Relationship To The Public High School, Wilbur N. Allen

Graduate Thesis Collection

The stimulation of this study lies in the fact that no written history of the Illinois High School Athletic Association is now in existence. The present executive officers of the Illinois High School Athletic Association felt there was a definite need for such a record.