Master of Arts in History
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The Master of Arts in History degree extends students' expertise in the discipline by effectively preparing them to
apply their skills in a variety of professions and contexts. Students deepen their knowledge of the process of "making"
history, through analyzing primary and secondary sources, evaluating historiography, applying research methods,
defining and researching a specific area of history, and effectively defending and articulating theses. Students have the
option of exploring history through traditional coursework, focused on research and writing, or by investigating subjects
pertinent to public history, such as understanding the latest technology for preserving and digitizing history. Emphasis
is also placed on strategies to keep the student on the cutting-edge of the field, such as using quantitative reasoning in
historical analysis and information systems to promote the dissemination of meaningful interpretation of the past.
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Browsing Master of Arts in History by Subject "African American Studies"
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Item Alabama’s Civilian Conservation Corps: The Political, Social, and Economic Impacts of Roosevelt’s Tree Army(Southern New Hampshire University, 2022-12-12) Muncher, Brittany A.; Buchanan, Katherine; Denning, Robert; Reynolds, GlennThe Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of the most successful New Deal programs in the state of Alabama, yet little research exists that explores the social, economic, and political impact its existence had across the state. Even less historical literature exists that discusses the experiences of the Black community and the influence of segregation in the implementation of the CCC in Alabama. The CCC not only challenged political and social standards that perpetuated racial prejudice, but it also provided substantial economic relief to many Alabamians and created a legacy of environmental and natural resource sustainability and appreciation. This project will provide a much-needed addition to both state history and Black history and will broaden the current literature on the CCC nationally. The chapters contained in this project provide contextual and foundational narratives, explain the impact of the CCC from social, political, and economic perspectives, and survey the implications of the program in relation to its impact on the Black community. Throughout the research process, a variety of primary and secondary sources were consulted to ensure that a comprehensive perspective of the CCC in Alabama is communicated effectively. Each of the sources have been audited for credibility, reliability, bias, argument strength, and use of primary source material. Each source was also evaluated in terms of perspective and historical lenses used to state their arguments, as well as relevancy to the topic of this project. Sources that vary from or even contradict the argument this project intends to make were not eliminated from the selected source materials. Including these sources potentially eliminates any misinterpretation or exclusion of primary materials that may alter the expected outcome of this research project. Ultimately, this research project seeks to fill a gap in the current historiography of the CCC in Alabama which is limited and excludes the perspectives of Black corpsmen.Item Slavery, Christianity, and the Exodus from the Black Church(Southern New Hampshire University, 2018-02-06) Hunter, Paul; Denning, Robert; Chung, Yun S.; Chan, ChristopherThe purpose of this thesis is to address the issue of African Americans leaving Christianity and finding solace in religious ideologies which do not represent the same Judeo-Christian and democratic values that traditionally have been espoused in this United States of America. From examining the material that is available on slavery, its association with Christianity in the United States and the western hemisphere, and information on alternative ideologies being embraced by African Americans, the intention of this research is to show that the exodus was in part due to the link be Christianity and slavery in the United States. In addition, it will be shown that African Americans are finding alternative religious and philosophical ideologies more favorable because they are addressing the needs of African Americans. Some of the religious organizations that African Americans are gravitating to outside of the realm of Christianity are making those disenchanted with Christianity believe that their alternative religious ideologies are more in line with their African ancestry. Along with this, the thesis will present some of the main arguments for and against Christianity. This aspect of the project will include the use of scriptures which from the Old and New Testament showing the biblical position on slavery and perspective on conduct to be afforded to others in and outside of the Christian faith. Afterwards, this thesis will provide the cost of having a presentation conducted at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. And lastly, there a summary will be provided along with information about the online presentation that will contain highlights of the project.Item The Hidden Truths of the Trail of Tears: A Story of Slavery(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-01-08) Wynn, Cassandra; Ricker, James; Denning, RobIn the world of history, slavery has always been a topic that is hard to talk about. It is given a few chapters in a history book and talked about only when relevant, but it is a topic of significant importance. When discussed, it is spoken of as a thing that happened with European settlers going to Africa to find enslaved people, which eventually turned into what we know as the Atlantic Slave Trade. We often do not hear or discuss the slavery between two groups that had more in common. Many Native American tribes, namely the Cherokee, practiced the enslavement of African and African American people. Slavery has influenced the relationship between African American Freedmen and the Cherokee Nation. This exhibit will explain why this occurred and what the Cherokee Nation's goal was to participate in this horrible institution. This project will begin at the time of the Trail of Tears up until the Reconstruction Era. Typically, when people think of the Trail of Tears, they think of Andrew Jackson, the Five Civilized Tribes, and the Indian Removal Act of 1830. What is usually not discussed is that thousands of enslaved people were part of the Trail of Tears. During the time, slavery was widespread, mainly among the white settlers. Slavery among Indigenous people may be a less talked about subject since Native Americans were suffering their mistreatment by the American government. This is, by no means, an excuse for someone to ignore or brush aside this issue, but a lot of the time in history, particular events are overshadowed by others. It is also because most History classes at the elementary and high school levels mention the Trail of Tears in passing. It is discussed as wholly Native American mistreatmentItem “We Just Came Apart”: How the Nonviolent Actions of the Civil Rights Movement Led to the “Revolutionary Violence” of Black Power(Southern New Hampshire University, 2023-01-10) Lucas, Danielle Rose; Bartee, Seth; Denning, Robert“‘We Just Came Apart’: How the Nonviolent Actions of the Civil Rights Movement Led to the ‘Revolutionary Violence’ of Black Power” is devoted to uncovering the relationship between the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements in order to identify how the shortcomings of the Civil Rights Movement led to the armed self-defense activism associated with Black Power. Both movements had a similar ideological basis that promoted equality for all Americans, yet the tactics that were pursued to achieve their respective goals were vastly different. In the historiography of the Civil Rights Era, Black Power has continually been vilified in the available literature and displayed historically as being ineffective when compared to Civil Rights. This project challenges that assumption and provides evidence for how successful Black Power activism actually was. In the primary sources of Black Power activities, such as the various newspaper articles from the Los Angeles Times that were reviewed, the media denounced the efficacy of the activists and their protests which led to this trend being shown in the early historical literature written on the topic. Secondary sources were used in the development of this project that both strengthened and challenged key conclusions, and primary sources were provided to support the conclusions found here when they conflicted with what other historians have previously found. “‘We Just Came Apart’” is devoted to reinterpreting how Black Power has been viewed in historical literature, as well as to link how the deficiencies of the Civil Rights Movement allowed Black Power to burgeon.