History Commons^™

Holding On To Culture: The Effects Of The 1837 Smallpox Epidemic On Mandan And Hidatsa, Jayne Reinhiller

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Mandan and Hidatsa tribes located in modern day North Dakota have a rich history characterized by elaborate social and religions structures and trade based economic systems; however, because of their stationary lifestyles and increased European and American trade, the Mandan and Hidatsa faced substantial loses during the 1837 smallpox epidemic. The tribal decimation altered both social and ceremonial structures resulting in a new and collective identity and a new ceremonial structure. Through the analysis of the anthropological studies of Alfred Bowers and the journals of fur traders and explorers like F. A. Chardon, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark, it …

A Blend Of Absurdism And Humanism: Defending Kurt Vonnegut’S Place In The Secondary Setting, Krisandra R. Johnson

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This essay argues that Kurt Vonnegut blends a unique humanist stance into his absurdist plots and characters, ultimately urging readers to confront the absurd with a kindness and human decency his protagonists often find rare. As a result of this absurd and humanist synthesis, I defend and promote Vonnegut’s place in the secondary English curriculum, despite his rank on many banned books lists, since his characters’ journeys correlate thematically with the growth and process of postmodern adolescents and encourage moral responsibility without sentimental manipulation.

Focusing on Cat’s Cradle, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and Slaughterhouse-Five as primary sources, specifically …