Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Effect Of Religious Opposition On The Mexican-American War (1846-1848), April L. Pickens

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

The Effect of Religious Opposition on the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848

By April Pickens, History Major

James Madison University

The Mexican-American War began in dubious circumstances, and some Americans disagreed with “Polk’s War” from the beginning. But it was the united efforts of three Protestant denominations—the Congregationalists, the Unitarians, and the Quakers—that finally turned a large segment of the populace against the war. They were able to do this with their multiplying publications, which wielded significant influence in the religiously aware society that existed in America after the Second Great Awakening. When sufficient numbers of ordinary citizens and politicians began voicing …

A Movement On The Verge: The Spark Of Stonewall, Tiffany Renee Nelson

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

The presentation is concentrated on the Stonewall Riots and the movement that was furthered by the riots. A narrative of the riots is given as well as a description of the formation of the modern gay and lesbian liberation movement in the United States. Focused in the 1960’s-1980’s time period, an overview of the formation of organizations devoted to the LGBT community and gay rights is presented, in addition to marches that took place to raise awareness. Briefly mentioned are the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in the gay community and how the outbreak contributed to growing gay pride. The essay attempts …

The American Allies: The Impact Of The Oneida Involvement In The American Revolution, Ashlen M. Clark

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

The American Revolution extended its grasp far past the white men who started it, forcing Natives across the colonies to become involved. Soon after the beginning of the Revolution the Iroquois Six Nations of New York were drawn into the conflict and forced to choose between the Americans, the British, or attempts at neutrality. After the war the Iroquois Six Nations emerged divided, broken, and severely less powerful than when they entered the strife. This paper examines the impact of the American Revolution on this Iroquoian division, specifically focusing on the Oneida Indian Tribe and the effects of their alliance …

Politics Of Identity And Oppression In Rhys’S Voyage In The Dark, Ellen Michelle Stringer

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

In this essay, “Politics of Identity and Oppression in Rhys’s Voyage in the Dark” I aim to explore the ways in which identity and the idea of the constructed ‘self’ are both created and continuously transformed by one’s experiences and memories. I argue that the protagonist of Rhys’s novel’s identity is ultimately shaped by her racialized experiences of growing up in the West Indies. In my discussion I analyze the color metaphors Rhys utilizes and the impact they have upon readers’ unconscious perceptions about race, ultimately aiming to deconstruct the commonly assumed/utilized dichotomy between white/black. I use these notions of …

The Islamic State Of Iraq And The Levant (Isil): Combatting The Challenge Of Post-Modern Islamic Terrorism, Colin M. Bowie

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

Author: Colin Bowie

Academic Major(s): International Affairs and Justice Studies

Institution: James Madison University

Presentation Title: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL): Combatting the Challenge of Postmodern Islamic Terrorism

Abstract: This 38-page white paper examines the causes behind the terrorist group ISIL and ultimately recommends a comprehensive policy to destroy the group and eliminate chances of its revival. The author reviews the history of Al Qaeda in Iraq and the unraveling of Syria during its civil conflict. ISIL’s rise, tactics and its manifestation as a group that actively holds territory is discussed. A literature review then analyzes …

Reaching Reality: Realistic Portrayals Of Racism, Paige Evans

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper argues that genre is essential to the accurate depiction of racism. By focusing on three landmark texts—Richard Wright’s Native Son, Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, and Percival Everett’s Erasure—an overview of the most powerful genres in this discussion is given. The first, Realism, is defined by its determination to show physical reality. The next, Surrealism, is associated with cognitive reality. Poststructuralism, the last genre included, is described as using the cognitive effects of Surrealism to actively commentate and critique the physical realities of Realism. It is this interaction that marks Poststructuralism as the genre best suited …