European History Commons^™

Political Interference In Military Operations During The Anglo-Zulu War Of 1879, Thomas Max Lansford

History Theses & Dissertations

This work examines the degree and effect of the reluctant cooperation of the British government and its colonial agencies with the British army during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. While it is clear that there was no civilian conspiracy to interfere with the army, it is also clear that several of the policies of the government and its colonial agencies hindered army operations. The study is based on the War Office narrative of military operations, on Colonial and War Office correspondence, and on the memoirs and diaries of several participants.

The Riga Mission: The Reports Of The First American Outpost On The Soviet Border, 1924-1933, Jeffrey Acosta

History Theses & Dissertations

From 1917 to 1933, the United States did not recognize the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In 1920 the United States established conditions for recognition. First, the Soviet Union had to pay all debts owed to the United States government and its citizens by previous Russian and Soviet governments. In addition, all propaganda and subversive activities sponsored by the Soviet Union in the United States had to cease. During this period, the Division of Eastern European Affairs (DEEA) studied and collected data about the Soviet Union from its main "outpost" at the United States Mission in Riga, Latvia. The Russian …

From Pillage To Conquest: The Normans In Ireland, 1167-1185, Ray E. Etheridge

History Theses & Dissertations

The history of Ireland and England has been intertwined since the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the last half of the twelfth century. It is easy to view this invasion as a well planned and state sponsored endeavor of the Angevin kings and the Anglo-Norman nobility. However, this is a great simplification of Irish Anglo- Norman history. It is the purpose of this study to determine to what extent and when the Anglo-Norman adventures in Ireland became an invasion. The two primary sources for doing so are the works of Gerald Cambrensis, and the anonymous Son of Dermot and the …

The Role Of The Court Of Justice In European Integration, Frances M. Jacobson

History Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the role of the Court of Justice in the major issues of European integration: dismantling technical barriers to the free flow of goods, protecting human rights within the European Community, and facilitating the free movement of capital, people and services. Success or failure of the Court is measured by whether the member states have implemented its rulings and whether the rulings have aided or hindered the development of a European internal market.

Specific actions of the Court of Justice are analyzed and placed within the context of European integration. The study begins with the European Coal and …

From Roman Britain To Norman England Continuity And Change - C. A. D. 284 - 1066, Gary Philip Priolo

History Theses & Dissertations

Prior to the Norman Conquest English Society was different in many ways. To understand these differences one must look at the various influences that over eight centuries combined to create Saxon England. This study examines how Saxon English society was created from the contributions of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, church, and Vikings.

Contemporary authors such as Bede and Gildas, and supporting archeological evidence indicate that the invaders and Christian missionaries had a significant impact on the native population of medieval Britain. Evidence suggests that the Romano-Britons were either killed or put to flight by the Anglo-Saxon settlers, the church first converted …

The Merchant Class Of London During The Hundred Years War, Rowena Breen

History Theses & Dissertations

The merchant class of London became an increasingly important and active body during the Hundred Years War, especially in the area of economic development. London's merchants held the most important governmental posts of the city, and were instrumental in the finance systems of London and the kingdom. In trade and commerce, London's merchants were at the forefront, instituting complex business transactions and opening new markets for themselves and for the kingdom at large. The ongoing conflict between England and France from 1337 to 1453 provided the merchants with many opportunities for their new developments and ventures. The artificially concentrated conditions …

John Of Gaunt And His Use Of Marriage, Christopher Park Ross

History Theses & Dissertations

The problem under examination is to determine to what extent were the public policy pursuits of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, designed to expand the patrimony and influence of the house of Lancaster. Gaunt's actions have been placed in a wider historical context. His claims to various European lands from Provence to Scotland have been examined. His use of the marriages of himself and of his children to strengthen the prestige of his house have been scrutinized. The result of this study has been to show Gaunt's loyalty to what he perceived to be the interests of his immediate …

Reform And Democracy: British And American Reactions To The French Revolution, 1789-1801, Martha Lingua Wheless

History Theses & Dissertations

The outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 had a profound effect on the countries of the western world. In Great Britain and America initial reaction to the Revolution was overwhelmingly positive, but as the events in France became increasingly violent opinions began to diverge. This thesis examines the diverse popular reactions to the French Revolution in both Great Britain and America. The role played by the governments of these nations in shaping public opinion is considered, as are the effects of the populaces' reactions on the government's policies, which culminated in the suppression of the parliamentary reform movement in …

Slavery And The Early Teutonic Codes A.D. 400-800: A Legal Paradigm Shift, Elizabeth Thompson Harris

History Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the institution of slavery in the customary legal codes of seven Germanic tribes: the Burgundians, Lombards, Franks, Anglo-Saxons, Alamanni, Bavarians, and Visigoths. It describes the status of slaves within each society and assesses various factors contributing to both the recrudescence of slavery throughout the period of the invasions and its subsequent demise during the ninth and tenth centuries. The research is based primarily on the titles within the Germanic codes themselves, chronicles, contemporary Roman historical writing, and Roman legislation.

An important legal transformation made evident throughout the Germanic codes testifies to the replacement of complete subjection by …

The Public Record Office: A Study Of The Creation Of The Office And The Construction Of Its Fireproof Repository, Kathryn A. Miller

History Theses & Dissertations

At the beginning of the nineteenth century Britain's public records were scattered among more than fifty depositories which were overcrowded, unorganized, neglected, and ill-suited to record preservation. The British government was not sympathetic to the condition or the importance of the records. How then did the British government become involved in creating the Public Record Office and building its first fireproof repository? This study takes the form of a chronology based extensively on the records of the Public Record Office, the Office of Works, and the British Sessional Papers.

Although the creation of the Public Record Office was part of …

The American-British Alliance Of World War Ii And The Debate Over European Strategy, Emory Allen Burton

History Theses & Dissertations

The American-British Alliance of World Mar II did not evolve by chance but was the result of deliberate steps wh1ch can be traced back to 1938 when naval coordination talks were conducted in London. These talks emerged from an American evaluation of defense commitments in the Pacific and recognition that British cooperation would be valued in a future war.

The theme of this study is the development of the alliance and how that process was influenced by the debate over the strategy for the war in Europe. The most important decision in this process was the Europe first policy. Roosevelt …

I.G. Farben's Petro-Chemical Plant And Concentration Camp At Auschwitz, Robert Simon Yavner

History Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the history of the petrochemical plant and concentration camp run by I.G. Farbenindustrie (the dominant German chemical company during World War II) at Auschwitz to decide upon the degree of Farben’s involvement with Hitler and the Holocaust. The study traces the construction of the plant to determine Farben's participation at Auschwitz. The main sources consulted were the transcripts of the postwar Farben trial at Nuremberg along with eyewitness accounts of members of the prosecution staff. Based on the court's verdict, one might conclude that I.G. Farben operated in a state of coercion during the war and could …

The Rhetorical Factors Applied To The Reorientation Of American Public Opinion Toward The Soviet Union Immediately After June 22, 1941, Stanley Paul Berry

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis asks the question: what rhetorical factors were applied to the reorientation of American public opinion toward the Soviet Union immediately after June 22, 1941. A brief review of American diplomatic trends leading to June 22, 1941 is provided. The term rhetoric is operationally defined and the limits establishing causation between persuasion and opinion are delineated. The national communication process is explained and a national opinion profile, as it existed in the spring of 1941, is described. Initial persuasive responses to the Russo-German war are addressed and analyzed. The primary persuasive goals are identified as improving the public's image …

Charles M. Davies (1828-1910): Cleric, Writer, Educator, Spiritualist, Thomas M. Costa

History Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Historical Development Of The Radical Anabaptist Movement, 1525-1535, Ronald Edward Sawyer

History Theses & Dissertations

The Anabaptist movement has been judged unfairly as a radical religious sect that brought destruction and chaos to sixteenth century continental European society. this judgment is based upon the events which occurred at Munster, 1534-35, when a group of Radical Anabaptists under the leadership of Jan Matthys and Jan Brockelson forcibly ruled the city.

This thesis shows that the actions and beliefs of the Radical Anabaptists at Munster represent only a small fraction of the Anabaptist movement. Much of this misunderstanding is due to the problem of defining and categorizing the Anabaptists. This study resolves the problem by tracing the …

Kazakh Nationalism In The Gorbachev Era, Steven O'Neal Sabol

History Theses & Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study is to survey specific manifestations of Kazakh nationalism in the Gorbachev era and ask what provoked a seemingly cooperative people to exert their nationalist sentiment. The two principal forms examined are the passage of the Kazakh Language Law in 1989, and the emergence of informal groups and alternative political parties in Kazakhstan.

The nationalism that was expressed by Kazakhs in the Gorbachev era was a resumption of the nationalism that was suspended or suppressed during seventy years of Soviet rule. The December 1986 demonstration in Alma-Ata irreparably altered ethnic relations in the republic and …

Emancipation & Renewal: English Catholicism In The Nineteenth Century, Cheryl E. Yielding

History Theses & Dissertations

English Catholics faced great difficulties and divisions in the nineteenth century. The chief problems were obtaining civil rights and the right to provide their children with a religious education, prejudice, the restoration of the hierarchy for more efficient government, and the split between Ultramontanes and Liberals. The influx of Irish added to these problems.

This thesis is concerned only with the English Catholics and those Irish Catholics living in England. The "Irish Question" is not dealt with, as the Irish Catholics had different problems and needs than their English brethren. The major emphasis is the prejudice encountered by English Catholics …

Jewish-Non-Military Resistance During The Holocaust, Debra J. Simmonds

History Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the issue of Jewish "passive " resistance during the Holocaust. Its main objective is to determine if in fact the majority of the Jews did "passively" resist the Nazis, and whether or not this was resistance.

Based on past Jewish responses during waves of persecution, specific Jewish responses during the Holocaust, and previous definitions of resistance, one can arrive at a definition describing this type of resistance. This definition shows that Jews did resist the Nazis with acts of non-military resistance. However, due to a lack of supportive evidence, one cannot assess …

Games And Gaming Of The Stuart Aristocracy, Vicky Ann Sanderlin

History Theses & Dissertations

Games and gaming provide insight into the lives of the people of the past. This thesis analyzes the games and gaming patterns of the aristocracy of Stuart England. This examination of gaming concentrates on the place of leisure games in the world of the elite. The study focuses on games suitable for inclement weather and includes both children's and adult's games from the period.

This thesis addresses three basic questions: 1) who were the gamesters, 2) when and where did they game, and 3) what games did they play and how did they play them? Answers to these questions have …

The Irish Land Question 1848-1870, Sara A. Coski

History Theses & Dissertations

This is a study of the Irish Land Question and the evolution of British policy aimed at solving it. In 1848 Parliament proposed legislation strictly in keeping with current ideas of laissez-faire, yet by 1870 they passed an act which totally reversed this policy.

This change in British policy was due to the combination of two forces. First the progressive ideas of Liberal Prime Minister, William E. Gladstone, and second, the violent Fenian atrocities that made the British more receptive to radical ideas. The Irish Land Act of 1870 represented a turning point in British policy toward Ireland as …

Civil Pageantry In The Reigns Of Elizabeth I And James I Of England, 1558-1625, Marjorie Ann Watkins

History Theses & Dissertations

Spectacle and pageantry played an important role in the monarchies of Elizabeth I and James I of England. Generally pageants served reciprocal purposes. It provided a way to let the realm view the state of the monarch's health and allowed the monarch to impress his subjects with royal grandeur. Additionally, it served as a vehicle for the manifestation of the public's desires concerning the direction which the country might move with the accession of a new monarch. Also, civic pageants provide the historian with an indication of popular like or dislike of a sovereign. In this thesis, a considerable amount …

Edmund Burke: Representative Of Bristol And New York Agent, Mary Ellen Ferratt Yoder

History Theses & Dissertations

Edmund Burke, the eighteenth-century philosopher and politician, participated as a member of the Marquis of Rockingham's political faction, as a member of England's Parliament for Bristol from 1774 to 1780 and as an agent for the colony of New York from 1771 to 1775. The purpose of this inquiry is to describe the relations between these two cities, Burke's motivations, his rationalization of his convictions and his prior allegiance to his patron in dealing with his constituencies during his ten years in service to these two cities. As a leader Burke was contradictory and inconsistent following Rockingham's leadership or independently …

French Diplomacy In Italy, 1450-1463, Mary Jane Callahan

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the intricacies of the diplomatic policies of the French in the Italian states of Naples, Milan and Genoa in the middle of the fifteenth century. The particular emphasis concerns French activity with regard to claims in Naples and Milan and control of Genoa during the latter years of the reign of Charles VII and the first two years of his son, Louis XI. The Kingdom of Naples was claimed by Rene of. Anjou, brother-in-law of Charles VII, as the named successor of the Neapolitan queen, Joanna II. Charles of Orleans, another brother-in-law, claimed the Duchy of Milan …

Urban Life In Edinburgh, 1500-1540, Mary Elizabeth Ball

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis seeks to determine the type of society existing in Edinburgh during the first four decades of the sixteenth century. It states the problems faced by the city and examines the role of the magistrates and burgh government in dealing with these problems.

Edinburgh was faced with litterbugs, wandering pets, arguments between citizens and other minor nuisances known even to modern cities. She also faced the more serious prob­lems of maintaining sanitary conditions, establishing a sound treasury, renovating areas suffering from urban blight, and apprehending and punishing criminals. In short, she faced most of the problems faced by the …

The Effect Of The French Revolution On Charles James Fox And The Direction Of British Politics, 1789-1794, Robert Breckenridge Daughtrey

History Theses & Dissertations

The incidence of the French Revolution in 1789 had a disruptive effect on the Whig party. Prior to the Revolution, the Whig party had been a unified group of politicians under the spiritual and intellectual guidance of Charles James Fox. This thesis endeavors to examine how the French Revolution caused the collapse of the Whig party during the years 1789- 1794. The work is devoted specifically to a study of the role of Charles James Fox during this period of British political history. One finds that throughout the years 1789-1794 Fox worked unceasingly to preserve party unity. During this time, …

Sir Robert Peel, 1846-1850: Unwilling Leader Of A Splinter Party, Donald A. Kerr

History Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the last four years (1846-1850) of the life of Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of England. Peel was one of the great political figures in England during the 1800s, a leader of the Conservative Party for more than fifteen years, and the leading political figure in the successful fight to repeal the Corn Laws in 1846.

Following the defeat of his government in 1846 however, he declined to provide further leadership either to the party or to the small group of his close followers known as the Peelites. The effects of Peel's continued presence …

The German Communist Struggle 1918-1923, Steven Ross Thulin

History Theses & Dissertations

This paper examines the formation and development of the German Communist movement during the first critical years of the Weimar Republic. Concentrating on leadership as the decisive factor, it traces the origins of German Communism from indigenous revolutionary Marxists in the Spartakan hierarchy and discusses the division of the KPD between conflicting Luxemburg and Liebknecht traditions. A leadership crisis characterized the KPD after the deaths of its prominent veteran leaders, leading to competition with Bolshevik presti.ge and a growing disadvantage for individual German party chiefs. Paul Levi in particular led the KPD to its highest point in 1921 within the …

The Problem Of Social Change As Seen In The Life And Work Of Jean Jaurès And George Sorel, Frances Boyce Glover

History Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to determine the place of the thought of Jean Jaures and Georges Sorel in the continuum of the French revolutionary search for a social and political order that would protect individual liberty and guarantee justices Biographical sketches, showing the influences that helped to shape the thought of Jaures and Sorel are followed by an analysis of their concepts of liberty and justice as the motivation for change, The major aspects of the works and careers of each are studied to determine how consistent they were. There was an underlying consistency in their thought. Both …

France, The United States And The Spanish-American War, Richard Henry Owens

History Theses & Dissertations

The present study is an examination of the effect of the Spanish-American War on the formal relations of France and the United States. Because France was the neighbor and friend of Spain and also at least an erstwhile friend of the United States, the war presented certain difficulties for the French government. At home colonialists and royalists sympathetic to Spain demanded overt support of the Spanish cause. The Spanish government looked to France first to lead a diplomatic coalition against the United States and then to mediate the dispute. The United States, meanwhile, urged Paris to follow a policy of …

The Influence Of Renaissance Neoplatonism On Michelangelo, Judith Carole Riley

History Theses & Dissertations

The problem of interpreting Michelangelo's art, and poetry in terms of the Renaissance philosophy of Neoplatonism has long been debated. After establishing that Michelangelo was personally acquainted with the major philosophers Marsillo Finco and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, selected major works by the artist are analyzed as to how they illustrate the major concepts of Neoplatonism. Supporting evidence, is drawn from Michelangelo ' poetry, in which he expressed his esthetic theory, which included the Platonic system of ideal forms; a hierarchical universe; the perfectibility of the human soul through contemplation; and the exercise of human love as preparation for divine …