Seth Arthurs

Martin Luther Pecha-kucha

Throughout the early sixteenth century, Luther challenged the moral and religious sanctity of Catholicism. Luther’s writings on Christian liberty often disputed what the Catholic Church taught. He argued that it is faith and not works that save one’s soul. Luther gained credibility by citing different passages from the Bible such as parts of Peter, Romans, and Corinthians. When Luther describes liberty he doesn’t use it in a physical sense, but rather a spiritual one. He explains that salvation isn’t something that you can purchase because it is by faith people are saved

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Grace Bone

Bloody Sunday, 1905

I will be talking about how I was a journalist in high school, and how I can relate to the journalist who was a witness of Bloody Sunday, 1905. I will explain the background of Bloody Sunday (the setting events), and what it entailed. Beyond this, I will explain how it started as a protest but wasn’t intended to start the Russian Revolution, but things don’t always go according to plan. 

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Madeline Desemone

History of Title IX (In Oregon)

I will be discussing the history of Title IX in Oregon, and its impacts on women in athletics then and now. It will include what Title IX actually says, how things were before Title IX was enacted, and how things have improved since then. 

HIST 340, History of Race, Ethnicity and Gender

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

James Flannigan

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz – Biographic

I aim to give an overview of the life story of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, delving into her astonishing abilities and drive to pursue knowledge. I then will explore a couple of her works and poems, pulling quotes that highlight what I think are the core foundation of her beliefs and outlook. Overall, I hope that my audience can come away understanding the important role that Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz played in advocating for women’s rights to education and changing society for the better.

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Stephen Andes

Return to schedule

Ramsey Gordon

Mans wealth and how it relates to political rights

The story that I am going to be telling for my ace day Pecha Kucha is going to be the story of why a man’s wealth was so important for possessing political rights. I think that this will be the best story for me to do for my presentation for a few reasons. It is important for why certain political leaders were political leaders, and if it was for their knowledge, or because of their wealth. The emotional impact that I am trying to leave the audience with is that we should not base our political decisions off just how much money someone has, but we should base it off their knowledge and their decision making. I think there is a lesson to be learned here, and it is exactly that. We should base who we vote for not based off their income or their net worth, but we should base it off their knowledge and how good they would be as a leader. I think that I will be able to successfully relate the primary source to my own life because I feel as if in my own life, I tend to lean towards and be around people who are wealthier, but don’t have my best interest at heart.  

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Alec Gums

Life of a Mill Worker in the 20th Century 

I will be presenting about the lives of mid-20th-century mill workers in Northern England, highlighting their resilience amidst grueling working conditions and economic struggles, aiming to evoke empathy and appreciation for their hardships and sacrifices.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Marlee Heiken

The history and impact of Oregon’s racial exclusion laws

I will present on the history of Oregon’s racial exclusion laws. I’ll include a personal story of how it took me may years to even notice the lace of black people here in Oregon and I’ll end the presentation with showing the impact that these laws have had on Oregon today. 

HIST 340, History of Race, Ethnicity and Gender

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Celia Hubbard

Oregon Women at Work

This research provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of women in the Oregonian workforce, and the fight that was fought in the early 1900’s for equality and the women that trail-blazed the path before us.

HIST 340, History of Race, Ethnicity and Gender

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Megan Lay

The Dinner Hour We Were Promised

I will lead with a brief overview of what my life may look like after college in terms of work and life. I will transition into looking at my source on women in the industrial era. I will talk about the conditions that forced families to seek the dual income during the industrial revolution and draw it to the present and how dual income is really a necessity for most families. Ultimately, I will show the connection between the industrial revolution and the traditional family model being a modern luxury.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Tracy Magill

Women and Child Labor

I will be talking about the start of women and child labor for how far we have came to now in today’s world.  Also will we analyzing an old painting of women working outside of a mill.  Then I will go into important dates of the evolution for women and child labor and how we got to where we are in today’s world. 

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Kalani Miller

God of the Valley: How Latin American “Liberation Theology” Differs from Theologies of Suffering

While some say that liberation theology is just another theology of suffering and differs only in geographical location, liberation theology is a unique grassroots theological movement in Latin America as seen in its’ focus on action before doctrine, its’ concentration on helping the poor, and its’ ties between politics and religions.

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Stephen Andes

W100

10 – 10:30 AM

Return to schedule

Kainalu Ortogero

Martin Luther and the Religious Wars 

I will be talking about Martin Luther and who he was and how he impacted the religious world during his time. I will also incorporate his potty language and how it was directed towards the corrupt catholic church. I will also go into depth about how and why the Catholic church of this time his corrupt and bad. Furthermore, I will talk about how Martin Luther played a role in the start of the religious war. He may not have done or meant it directly but it was indirectly. 

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Wyatt Pepiot

In The Trenches of The Great War

First I will talk about the causes of World War One and then move to talking about the soldiers. Then I will use my primary source from our textbook “A History Of Western Society” This source is about poetry that was written by soldiers in the trenches. Then I plan to expand on the aspects of trench warfare and the uses of deadly gases. Then I will End with the ending of the war and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Caleb Premo

Wollstonecraft versus Rousseau: Early Feminism in the Enlightenment 

In the world’s modern discourse, it is nearly impossible to avoid conversations about the nature of contemporary feminism. Despite the notion that feminism and the push for women’s rights is a fairly recent issue, Mary Wollstonecraft is arguably one of the key matriarchs of the modern feminist movement. Wollstonecraft highlights the hateful ideals surrounding women at the time in “A Vindication for Women’s Rights” to respond to the hateful ideals encouraged by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in “Emile.” With her main argument critiquing the fallibility of enlightenment logic, Wollstonecraft effectively mothers the main question surrounding feminist rhetoric: how can society claim to prioritize equality under God, when half of those on the planet are unequal? In focusing on the irony surrounding this backward logic, the argument between Wollstonecraft and Rousseau helps frame feminism today. 

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization ll

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Benjamin Randol

Muller v. Oregon: A Progressively Controversial Decision

I will be giving a Pecha-Kucha presentation on Muller v. Oregon, a landmark Supreme Court case in 1908 that ruled on women’s rights in the workplace. I will explain the context of the case, the case’s proceedings, the Supreme Court’s decision, and the legacy of that decision. I will also raise questions on some of the argumentation methods used in the court hearings. 

HIST 340, Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Culture

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Benjamin Randol

The Three Great Ones

I will be giving a Pecha-Kucha presentation, telling the history of Mexican Muralism Movement through the perspectives of three great artists during the era: Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siquieros. I will explain how these men, through some of their most famous artworks, showcased their pride for their country, their views on society and politics, and their hopes for the future of Mexico. 

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Keziah Santik

The Significance of Scatological Humor in the Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther, well-known for his vociferous theological statements opposing the papacy, was one of the founders of the Protestant Reformation. What most people are not aware of, however, was his frequently use of potty humor when describing his spiritual experiences and encounters with the pope. This was revolutionary for the time because it shattered the illusion that people had toward religious authority as the ultimate spiritual mediator between them and God. This shift in mindset brought about a great change in 14th century Europe, resulting in the many Christian denominations we have today.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization ll

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Samuel Sau

Luther: A Reformation of Mind, Faith, and Christianity

Christianity as we know today is as diverse as it is strong in America. We can see this especially prevalent among the Protestant community. However, in order to understand the meaning of Protestantism we must first understand the meanings and roots behind such a category of Christianity. This presentation on martin Luther and his many reformed ideas during his time and that of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, especially the leader, the Pope. We will discover how Luther battled with the longstanding ideas and traditions of the Catholic Church which would eventually give birth to what we know today as, Protestantism.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization ll

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

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Haleigh Wambolt

Mary Wollstonecraft and womens rights

My presentation is on Mary Wollstonecraft. She was an advocate for women’s rights until the late 20th century. She advocates educating children into the emerging middle-class ethos. Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Men (1790) criticizes aristocracy and promotes republicanism in reaction to Edmund Burke’s Reflection on the Revolution in France (1790), which was a defense of constitutional monarchy, aristocracy, and the Church of England. Among the first writings of feminist philosophy is a Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792. In it, Wollstonecraft makes the case that women should receive an education appropriate to their social status and assert that women are vital to the country because they raise its children and can be more than just wives-they can be their husbands’ “companions.” Most of Wollstonecraft’s early writings are devoted to education. She put together The Female Reader, an anthology of literary excerpts “for the improvement of young women.” In thoughts on the Education of Daughters (1787), her conduct book, and in Original stories from real life (1788), her children’s book, Wollstonecraft promotes teachings to kids in the values of developing middle-class ethos: Self-control, integrity, thrift, and social contentment. Both works stress the value of instilling reason in kids, demonstrating Wollstonecraft’s intellectual debt to the influential educational philosopher John Locke of the 17th century. Additionally, she advocates for women’s education in both texts-a contentious issue at the time that she would revisit throughout her career. According to Wollstonecraft, educated women make excellent mothers and spouses and will eventually make contributions to society. 

Again this is just a summary of some of the things I am going to talk about in my presentation. These are her contributions and her theories on education and women’s rights and equality. I will be adding more detail to the presentation and more in-depth detail about the effects on society that she made and her past life as well. 

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization ll

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Audri Ward

Leonard Defrance’s ‘A l’egide de Minerve’ An example of Change 

This presentation is based on Leonard Defrance’s painting ‘A l’egide de Minerve’, which shows a public square with many people, most of which are from different religions. This painting is significant because it takes place during the Enlightenment. This is important because previous to the Enlightenment most everybody had to be Catholic. This painting shows a major change. Change isn’t always easy and quick, but when people want change bad enough, they will do everything they can to make it happen.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization ll

Stephen Andes

Bucher Room

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Albert Allen

Aurelian: from Illyrian farmer to Restorer of the World

Aurelian served as Roman emperor between 270 and 275 AD, during a chaotic period of Roman history. During the 3rd Century, the empire almost fell due to civil war, barbarian invasions, economic crisis, epidemic disease, and new empires being formed out of previous Roman territory. Aurelian had lowly origins in the province of Illyria, but he quickly rose through the ranks of the Roman army due to his martial prowess and courage. A strict, brutal, and effective general, he was declared emperor by the army in 270. His career was a blaze of action. He repelled multiple barbarian invasions and defeated the two break-away states in Gaul and Palmyra, reuniting the empire. For this latter achievement the Roman Senate gave him the title “Restorer of the World.” In Rome, he built new walls to protect the city and constructed a brilliant temple to the Sun God. Aurelian’s reign was cut short, however, when he was assassinated in 275 due to false accusations against him. As Roman emperor, Aurelian’s career demonstrates how common men could reach the very heights of imperial power during this time of crisis.

HIST 375, Ancient Rome

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Maxwell Al-rubaie

The Epic of Gilgamesh and how we relate to it

i will talk about how the Epic of Gilgamesh and what motivated him to go on his journey and relate it to why others in the past (Hitler, Napoleon) and how us today (Russia and Ukraine, US and love for oil in the middle east). then I will go on to talk what motivates the everyday person, lastly I will compare Gilgameshs’ journey to the one of college.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Justin Ault

The Impact of Modern Imperialism on the Pacific

Despite the idea of colonial and Imperial powers not being thought of for our post WWII world, the Pacific is still riddled with the negative repercussions of Imperialism despite colonial influence being all but gone. With the influence that the Japanese and the Americans had in the Pacific, it is no shocker that the Pacific has come out worse for wear. With verifiable factors such as the conversion to some of the islands into pseudo industrial military complexes, with effective second class citizenship has meant that these island countries may never recover.

HIST 337, History of the South Pacific

Stephen Andes

P103

10 – 10:30 AM

Return to schedule

Justin Ault

Splotches of Color: Powerful Roman Women and the Ancient Roman Empire

During the long course of history that pervades the Ancient Roman Empire, the long line of powerful individuals is mostly kept towards influential males of the likes of Julius Caesar, Augustine, Octavian and others. However, what general history fails to include into the vital role that Roman Women had during this time period. One of the most influential women was Julia Avitae Mamae, who essentially served as the Queen Regent of Emperor Severus. Presenting on her important role during this turbulent period of the Roman Empire will serve as an important aspect that must be known to all, and serve as another facet of understanding of the Roman Empire.

HIST 375, Ancient Rome

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Isabella Cameron

The History of Christianity and Apologetics: How Knowing Christian Background Strengthens the Defense of Our Faith

Knowing the history of Christianity can help to strengthen and deepen our apologetic arguments. we define apologetics as “the systematic argumentative discourse in defense branch of theology devoted to defending, providing an answer for, and standing by the Christian faith no matter the circumstance”. We need apologetics because of ideas like Gnosticism and Arianism; ideas that contradict the truth of the Bible. Diving deeper into specific examples, we find that some people do not believe that the Jesus of History is the same as the Jesus of the Bible, or that the Bible hates women, or they don’t understand how a God of love would allow His followers to suffer in persecution even to the point of death. Apologetics is a necessary tool and by using history to strengthen it, We have a pretty unbeatable claim to Christianity.

HIST 331, History of Christianity I

Stephen Andes

P103

11 – 11:30 AM

Return to schedule

Sophia Castillo

Theodora

Telling the story of the primary source of Theodora. Explaining her and Justinian. Explain how she became empress. What she wanted to accomplish. How she accomplished her task. Her death and if/how it affected the people.

HIST 331, History of Christianity I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Maxwell Chapman

Pursuit of Divine purpose

I will be telling and comparing the story of Gilgamesh quest for immortality (Utnapishtim’s flood account) and Noah’s ark. Both of these people have unique stories of venturing into the unknown and coming back with greater wisdom. More importantly I want to speak about the overall message of why this is significant to us humans. I want to drive home the fact that everybody is capable of magnifcent things not just those who have already done it. The theme of the story is to strive for your divine purpose and live life righteously.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Emily Cole

Are Morals and Ethical Standards Heaven Worthy?

In the classical era, Persians adopted a new religion. This belief was known as Zoroastrianism. It became super popular in Iran. As time progressed Zoroastrianism ideas seeped its way into Christianity, Judaism and Islamic practices. These ideas came from a man name Zarathustra. . It has been thought that he was once a priest that left his duties because he wasn’t happy with the conservative form of religion. He traveled for many years and came to believe that Ahura Mazda was the “supreme god“. He felt Ahura Mazda chose him to be a prophet. Zarathustra began to write down details of Zoroastrianism. Some of these thoughts included that Ahura Mazda was the good spirit and how Ahriman was the evil spirit. He preached that being good and having morals were all that was needed to reach heaven. He preached that a person just has to be good. The Bible talks about needing to know Jesus Christ as Savior to get to go to heaven. The religion of Zoroastrianism is very deceptive as it only builds itself on being good and having moral values and ethical standards. It leaves out all the hard things like giving up oneself for the Lord Jesus to follow him and only concentrate on all the easy parts. If a person doesn’t believe he is sinning then more thought to be good. Even things that would be considered sin would be classified as good.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Ruby Daniels

Story of the flood from The Epic of Gilgamesh

In the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” the story of the flood is a pivotal episode that parallels the biblical narrative of Noah’s Ark. The gods, angered by humanity’s noise and overpopulation, decide to unleash a catastrophic flood to wipe out all life. The god Ea, however, warns the hero, Utnapishtim, instructing him to build a large boat to preserve the seed of all living things. Utnapishtim, along with his family, craftsmen, and animals, survives the flood. Afterward, he releases a series of birds to find dry land, and when a dove fails to return, indicating the existence of solid ground, they disembark. The flood narrative in the Epic of Gilgamesh explores themes of mortality, divine intervention, and the cyclical nature of life and death. This story is considered one of the earliest literary accounts of a great flood in human mythology.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Molly Haley

Confucianism and Good Governance

Confucius was one of the greatest Chinese philosophers of all time. He played a vital role in establishing the ethical, moral, and social standards that formed the basis of his way of living, which would later be called Confucianism. This was the first belief system of that time to highlight the importance of inner morality over other actions. Confucius also shared that ethics should play an important role in society, and that the importance of the individual consciousness, along with personal ethics should be implemented to start the foundation of a Good Government. To conclude this thought, the story of Confucianism and Good Governance is one of deep intrigue and one that needs to be shared.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

William Jewell

Gladiators in Ancient Rome

To start out I will be talking about the weapons and rules for gladiatorial combat. Next, I will be talking about the survival rates of gladiatorial combat along with the different types of combat or games there were. Lastly, I will be talking about key gladiatorial figures, their stories, and how they affected the games.

HIST 375, Ancient Rome

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Colby Knutzen

How St. Cyprian Has Shaped Our Views Today

We are going to explore the St. Cyprian’s views of death when the epidemic struck the Roman Empire. How he viewed what was happening then and why it was going on. Seeing how we can compare these views to our life in the present day.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Montanah Love

Disasters Provide Perspective on Life

Background information about Gilgamesh and his flood story.

How Gilgamesh’s story relates to the story of Noah’s Ark.

How disaster resets one’s life and perspective.

How difficulties such as fires and COVID have affected my life.

Why people should focus on life now and not just the future.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Noah Mancione

Ephrem the Syrian

This presentation attempts to examine a lesser-known historical figure that was important in influencing early christianity. In my presentation, we will look at Ephrem the Syrian and his influence on hymnography and development of early christianity. Through studying primary sources, we should gain a better understanding of how his early hymns were developed and use Ephrem’s background to combat the myth that Christianity was a product of Western Europe.

HIST 331, History of Christianity I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Mac Parrish

Mayan Creation Myth

At the beginning of time there was nothing under the sky other than the sea. Four gods come and raise lands and mountains out of the sea and start the process of creating life. They run into a few arrogant gods and multiple struggles that work against their goal. Not only does this myth relate to the Mayans of their time, but it also relates to us, showing that we really aren’t that different despite being more technologically advanced.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Christopher Rosebrook

A narrative of Harkhuf’s Expedition’s to Nubia

Harkhuf and his expeditions to Nubia are a fascinating part of ancient history. This project portrays Harkhuf’s journey in story form to capture the greatness of his journey. Through this historical story, the journey of Harkhuf will be brought to life in an epic adventure.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Byron Velazquez

Surviving the Waters

I will talk about a story presented in the History book called Traditions and Encounters.

The story is called The Flood Story: The Epic of Gilgamesh. The story will be presented in a storyboard that illustrates the important scenes of this story. The story talks about a flood that collapsed and destroyed the entire city, but a person had a warning from a divine entity that warned him about this disaster. This person had time to prepare and throw in what he believed would be vital to survive on a ship. After Surviving he had a reward which was immortality.

This story has a very notable similarity to Noah’s Ark since they are quite similar circumstances but have different outcomes.

I would like to talk about the differences and similarities that exist between both stories since as Christians we are very familiar with one of the two stories and comparing it with another story would help us expand our knowledge.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

Return to schedule

1 – 4 PM

Justin Walton

Finding Purpose in Creation

The Mayan people had a particular focus on agriculture in their lives. Maize was particularly important in everything that they did. Water was also the bloodline of the community as nothing grew without it. The story of the Popol Vuh is the Mayan creation story. After a failed attempt of creating humans, the Mayan gods were consoled by animals who advised them to use maize and water in their creation project. The first people were formed out of maize and water. The animals in this creation story are also significant as the lives of the Mayan people included all of nature, not just the crucial maize and water. While the Mayan gods couldn’t create humans out of nothing, God created the first human out of dust. In Mayan culture, the food and water give humans life, in Christianity it is God who gives us life. Just as agriculture was the focus point of the Mayan lifestyle, God is the focus point of the Christian’s life. In the Christian creation story, God created everything and needed no help. This contrasts the Mayan story in which the gods needed the help of the animals, plants, and water around them to create life.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Abigail Weston

Discovering Confucius

The story I will be telling is about a man who pursued a higher place of authority than he could receive, and in the process, he ended up leaving a lasting legacy on all of China. This story is one of the birth of Confucian Philosophy and the rebirth of unification in China. I am hoping to leave the audience with a unique perspective on Confucianism and the man Confucius. “Confucius on food Government” features the lesson of Confucius on the ideal ruler. In the eyes of Confucius, a righteous ruler retains benevolence, humanity, propriety, and filial piety. Confucius calls these characteristics Ren, Li, and Xiao. Duke Ai and Ji Kang both sought Confucius’s advice on how to “secure the submission of the people,” (Bentley, Ziegler, and Streets Salter 2015, 104) the answer they receive highlights these attributes. I plan to provide my audience with an unfamiliar perspective on Confucius’s life, his lasting message on government, and his impact on China and the world today.

HIST 161, World History I

Stephen Andes

P103

1 – 4 PM

Return to schedule

Benjamin Randol

The Story of a Colonel and How the Artillery He Commanded Forever Changed American Military History

Of all the new military technologies used during the American Civil War, the one that had the most influence on American military history was light artillery as its lighter structure enabled more maneuverability, the accuracy of new rifled guns made artillery units more crucial in battle, and the resulting victory of the Union lead to the creation of other mobile artillery technologies, including the modern tank.

HIST499- History Capstone

Dr. Melisa Berry

Bushnell History Symposium (L203: 2:30-4:30pm)

Benjamin Randol

The French Revolution: social, political, or economic revolution?

The French Revolution was more of a social revolution than a political or economic revolution, as we see in the social constructs before the revolution (Three Estates), the peasantry revolts and the “Great Fear”, and the new social reforms enacted by the Directory and Napoleon after the revolution.

HIST152- History of Western Civilization ll

Dr. Melisa Berry

Bushnell History Symposium (2:30pm – 4:30pm)

Celsie Smith

From Poverty to Respectability: How Boxer James J. Braddock’s Internal Wealth transformed Depression Era Boxing

Referred to as “The Cinderella Man” by newspapers, James J. Braddock was a washed-up boxer with a “fairytale” return to the spotlight who become the world heavyweight champion in 1935.  Impacted by the Depression, he experienced defeat and humility, and had to face the economic and social reality of his situation. Braddock’s commitment to make his children healthy, fed, and happy drove him to return to boxing, despite previous failures. Seeing Braddock face and triumph over not just his opponents, but his own economic, mental, physical, social, and spiritual challenges re-ignited hope for American citizens facing their own poverty.

HIST499- History Capstone

Dr. Melisa Berry

Bushnell History Symposium (L203 2:30pm – 4:30pm)

Miriam Gutierrez, Bethany LaFon, Kilano Loyd, Alvaro Molina, Peyton Ritchie & Hannah Scott

Contemporary Latin America: Critical Issues

Events and movements in the 21st Century have replaced the stereotypes commonly associated with Latin America: revolutions and coups, slums and poverty, burros and llamas.  Instead, the two-hundred year long experiment with democracy in the global marketplace has resulted in dramatic changes in politics, economics, religion, social relations, education, and the arts and literature. A panel of students will update significant changes and discuss the critical issues facing the region.

HIST 440, Latin American Civilization

Ron Palmer

P103

10:30 – 11:30 AM

Return to schedule

Benjamin Randol

Martin Luther: The Political Reformer

Most people know Martin Luther as the instigator of the Reformation whose ideas forever changed Christian theology and practice. However, few people realize the magnitude of influence that Luther’s ideas had on contemporary Western European politics, specifically, Luther’s doctrine of “Two Kingdoms”. In fact, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” was the most politically revolutionary doctrine during the Reformation for a few reasons. First, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” directly challenged the authority of the papacy, the leading governmental and religious body in all of Western Europe at the time. Second, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” also challenged many sacramental laws instituted by the Roman Catholic Church. Lastly, Luther’s “Two Kingdoms” doctrine was one of the first to advocate for the distancing between religion and politics that eventually led to the political practice of separation between church and state.

HIST 332, History of Christianity

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

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Benjamin Randol

The Greek Historian and the Persian King

Herodotus was one of the first and most famous historians in all of human history. His nine-book series, “The Histories” goes over a vast span of Near Eastern history. Specifically, Herodotus’s accounts detail the history of Ancient Greece and the Persian Empire, as well as the subsequent Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus also discusses influential figures and leaders during these times. One figure, in particular, is Persian King Xerxes I. However, The Histories’ veracity is questionable considering that Herodotus drew most of his historical accounts from interviewing witnesses or descendants of witnesses, all of whom have their own opinions about history. In actuality, Herodotus’ portrayal of King Xerxes in “The Histories” is inaccurate and unreliable for many reasons. First, Herodotus’ account of Xerxes is heavily biased as Herodotus was Greek and despised the Persians who invaded his homeland on multiple occasions. Second, contemporary accounts such as Thucydides’ historical accounts and the Book of Esther disprove Herodotus’ claims about Xerxes and question his methods of research. Lastly, historical and archaeological evidence further contradicts Herodotus’ claims about Xerxes.

HIST 370, Ancient Near East

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

Return to schedule

Anthony Wurst

Enuma Elish v Genesis: A Lesson From The Maori & Alutiiq

It has been asserted by some that Genesis owes compositional influence to the Mesopotamian creation epic, Enuma Elish. This talk will argue that the unbiased interpreter of evidence would be more convinced that the two creation epics are divergent editions of a shared memory. In support, we explore the historical & logical grounds for the assertion of inter-influence as well as expert opinion on the issue. This essay culminates in an exemplary model of recording a shared memory from indigenous peoples of the Pacific Rim. Taking these together reveals bias in the trend of modern scholarship on the issue.

HIST 370, Ancient Near Eastern & Mediterranean Civilizations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

P103

1 – 3 PM

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Kaitlynn Edrington

Fleischer Animation Studios and the American Dream

During the period 1921 to 1941, the idealism of the American Dream prevailed, and can be seen through the lens of early animated media. Current histography reinforces that early animation image ideals and successes come from the Walt Disney studios, excluding many studios in operation, and innovating the field before them, namely Fleischer Studios. Literature and academics have addressed Fleischer Studios and the founders Max and Dave Fleischer in relation to animation innovation and depictions, but often do not reflect on the influence their personal lives had on their work. Doing so removes the diverse voice their experience as Jewish immigrants/first generation Americans from tenement housing in Brooklynn New York gives to the images and depictions of American life they created. The works of Mark Langer among others bring context and regional comparison of the Fleischer Studio’s works to other studios at the time nationwide but does not fully acknowledge the impact of the founders and the studio as an entity as a reflection of American society. The innovations and inventions of Max Fleischer, the themes and topics shown through the medium of animation, and the business dealings that led to the quick rise to fame and later paved the way for their downfall provide a unique viewpoint to an up and rising form of media as well as depictions and reality of American social life. This paper and accompanying presentation aims to draw these points together and put on display the unique diverse image of American social life and the ideal of the American dream as told through early animation.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

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9:30 AM – Noon

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Emmalee Rusk

A History of John Hinckley v. United States and Incarceration of the Mentally Ill

John W. Hinckley Jr. attempted to kill President Ronald Reagan, killing White House Press Secretary James Bradley in the process. The jury of the trial of John W. Hinckley Jr. v. United States found him Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. This sent the people of the United States into an uproar as they desired justice.

The Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 was then put in place to restrict the use of the Insanity Plea. 

However, the Act is now under scrutiny for an unfounded relation between it and the mass incarceration of the mentally ill in U.S. jails and prisons today. This presentation comes to the defense of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 from these allegations through the history of John Hinckley and his attempted murder of President Reagan, the trial, and the affect of the Act.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

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9:30 AM – Noon

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Anthony Wurst

The 60s Student Movement: Ignoring Marxist Evil on Display

During the 1960s, many key formative movements happened in the life of our nation. One such movement was the communist student movement. In this project, I explored the communist student movement by attempting to answer the following question, “Didn’t the students of the 1960s know that communism was a catalyst for hundreds of millions of deaths and countlesss other human rights offenses?” In answering this query, we might speak in defense of the students that the former attempts at communism “did not do it right”, and further that the students would not have had access to real time information about the ills of Mao and Khrushchev during their time. But the evidence suggests that these are false assumptions. I reveal in this project some of the most prominent voices in the communist student movement of the 1960s to show what the students were being taught about commmunism. I then reveal some blaring, prominent, credible, and easily accessible sources of information on the contemporary ills of communism that the students should have used to respond in rejecting those teachings. I discuss the question of how this could have happened then, what we can learn from this dilemna and what encouragement the Bible has for us today on this subject. To finish, I welcome critical feedback and discussion.

HIST 317, Studies in American History: The 1960s

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

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9:30 AM – Noon

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Cameron Binaley

Bush and Obama: A Comparison of American Intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan

America has been at war with various countries and terrorist organizations in the Middle East since 2001. The most notable Middle Eastern wars America has been involved in are the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. This presentation compares and contrasts President Bush’s and President Obama’s forgein policy on how they dealt with Iraq, Afghanistan, and their allies.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

10 AM – 1 PM

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Alessia Righi

Leadership Under Attack: Iraq as an Unnecessary War

How would you feel if you were told that the Iraq War was unnecessary? Would you be shocked if the person making this statement was President Bush’s own press secretary? The following paper analyzes whether the Iraq war could have been avoided. Previous studies have examined the success of the war; however, little research was conducted in regard to the necessity of this military intervention. To tackle this question, the leadership of presidents Roosevelt and Bush in the aftermath of two attacks on US soil, respectively Pearl Harbor and 9/11, is scrutinized. Using information from both academic journals and governmental documents, this paper investigates if the decision of going to war was justified in these two different occasions. Three main factors were used in coming to a conclusion: the attack on US soil, the threat that the country was posing, and the public opinion. The findings uncovered by this research reveal that the Iraq war was unnecessary. We conclude that this military intervention could have been avoided and more than four thousand lives saved.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

10 AM – 1 PM

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Emmalee Rusk

“Danton”

History of Western Civilization II outlines a large and complex portion of history. In the conclusion of this class, a Reacting To The Past (RTTP) role-playing game was integrated into this course. In this specific Reacting To The Past game, “Rousseau, Burke and Revolution in France, 1791” the character elected to me by my professor was Georges-Jacques Danton. The use of this RTTP game in History of Western Civilization II allowed me to connect and understand Danton and his place in history better. Reacting To The Past provides a deeper dive into the understanding of history and to the understanding of crucial members of history.

HIST 152, History of Western Civilization II

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

10 AM – 1 PM

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Emmalee Rusk

World Wars handled with Realism Vs. Liberalism

“How many World War I or World War II documentaries did I have to watch in high school?” If you went to a high school anything like mine those documentaries were drawn from the shelf at least twice a year. In those documentaries, there was endless mention of the Fourteen Points and the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. The United States’ involvement in both World Wars was influential. However, did one U.S. President handle the conflict better than the other? Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry Truman handled international conflict with liberalism, realism, or both. In the United States involvement in the World Wars, the use of realist thinking of former Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman in World War II was more efficient than former President Woodrow Wilson’s liberal thinking used in World War I, which is shown in the actions’ correlation to civilian casualties, sensitivity, and understanding of the severity of the conflict and involvement in ending the wars successfully.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

10 AM – 1 PM

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Anthony Wurst

May The Strong Protect The Innocent

In his inaugural address, president John F. Kennedy promoted, “creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.”  The protection of indigenous peoples is a key measure by which the progress of modern society should be judged.  Non-Industrialized, indigenous peoples cannot defend themselves against the industrial military machines of modern society.  Therefore, by means of constructivist mechanisms, the popular morals and ethics of advanced military societies decide upon the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.  Constructivist approaches to international relations assert the power of groups to socialize the international community to new norms.  Recent scholarship states that constructivist “[b]eliefs about [c]hange”  in the international community are that change is “[p]ossible through socialization, diffusion of ideas, or internationalization of norms.”   Before it reaches the international level, this change begins in the hearts of the people.  The genesis of absolute, universally beneficial change is revealed to humankind by the Holy Spirit as taught by the scriptures in Romans 2:14,15 .  Has this mechanism of socialization provided enduring protection for the indigenous peoples whose rights have been infringed by the world’s greatest military machine, the USA?  In this essay, three court cases will be used to compare constructivist socializing of new norms between 1824 and 2017 with realist counterpoints.  We hope to prove that, though constructivism has yielded inconsistent results in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, it has provided significant protection.  While current academic literature suggests constructivist mechanisms are effective in socializing groups to new norms, a comparison of three court cases involving the US and indigenous peoples reveals constructivism has provided significant yet inconsistent protection, as seen through an examination of Johnson v. M’Intosh, Worcester v. Georgia and Republic of Marshall v. USA.

HIST 430, History of American International Relations

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P103

10 AM – 1 PM

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Emmalee Rusk

Charlotte Ray and the History of Females in the Courtroom

The sexism and racism women faced for generations in a court of law is heartbreaking and sickening. If it was not for brave women who stood up for their rights, women would have never been given true agency in the courtroom. An agency that did not rely only on a man’s perception of the law. Nor would women have an opportunity to make a difference in legal matters today. The first female African American lawyer in the United States, Charlotte Ray, adds to the narrative of how women gained their agency in the courtroom and rights in the United States of America. Charlotte Ray shows the fight for agency in the courtroom by fighting the social sexist and racist expectations of her time. Her actions and legacy would trigger the uproar of the feminist movements and the first successes of women in the courtroom which rippled through American history into the continually influential legislation passed by women for the people. The progressions and backslides of the allowance of women in the courtroom is important to our appreciation of women in the courtroom today.

HIST 317, Women in US History

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P114

10 – 11:30 AM

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Emmalee Rusk

Historiography of Manifest Destiny on the Oregon Trail

The historiography of the Oregon Trail has been inaccurate as it has been speckled with the doctrine of Manifest destiny. The Oregon trail needs to be understood in its entirety, recognizing some cause for the Manifest Destiny application, but also keeping historians accountable, as Edward Dickenson Baker did even in his time, for providing the more abundant collective of pioneers who went for other reasons. To understand the Oregon Trail in full it is unacceptable to use the Manifest Destiny narrative so un-proportionately to the truth. This ignores the vast majority of pioneers who had little to no interest in what would become the Manifest Destiny doctrine. The Oregon Trail has been over-romanticized with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny past its historical accuracy which is shown by the writings of the Oregon Trail pioneers themselves, the contradictions of Edward Dickenson Baker, and the political and moral context of the Oregon Trail time period.

HIST 490, Historical Methods and Research

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P114

10 – 11:30 AM

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Curtis Smith

The Military’s role on the Oregon Trail

In 1846, The United States Congress authorized funds for military posts along the Oregon Trail. The 1847 Whitman massacre showed the Army’s inability to handle complex matters. In 1849, the first military expedition set out and was plagued with problems including desertion. Attention from settling the West was further complicated by skirmishes with Indian tribes and later the Civil War.

HIST 499, Senior Capstone

Melisa Ortiz Berry

Bushnell History Symposium, P114

10 – 11:30 AM

Join the Zoom meeting here.

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