The Stacks History Undergraduate Journal

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://digital.lib.washington.edu/handle/1773/47821

Browse

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

Seattle’s Golden Dreams: Contemporary Perceptions of the Northern Gold Rushes
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) David J Cronkite
The discovery of gold in Alaska in 1897 brought about major changes in Seattle as this sleepy logging town awoke from a period of depression and received a revitalizing jolt as it rapidly developed into an important port for trade with the Alaskan frontier. This sudden growth was celebrated throughout the gold rush years and even up until the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909, but by this time, Seattle's greatness was already fading. In spite of a hopeful and expectant population that foresaw Seattle as the new New York of the West, Seattle relapsed into its former struggles. Although numerous critics predicted that Seattle's ";boom"; was solely a consequence of the gold rush, and incapable of sustaining the city's growth and prosperity, Seattleites maintained not only a sense of hope, but of extreme optimism with respect to their city's future. This paper will examine the perceived benefits of the northern gold rushes as reflected in contemporary columns in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, arguing that, in the eyes of its inhabitants, Seattle was not only fast becoming a premier port city in the world, but her economic growth spurred on by the gold rushes was unmatched, so as to rival and outshine the competing ports of San Francisco and Portland. Additionally, the city's future bore every sign of an enduring continuation of these conditions. This paper will then proceed ten years into the future to consider the changes in these perceptions, showing that while much had changed, Seattle maintained the same expectant and hopeful view for the future.
Class and Contradiction: Merchants and Expression of Wealth in the Tokugawa Period
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Kate Carey
Class and Contradiction explores the society of the merchant class in Tokugawa Period Japan, focusing mainly on the evolution of the merchant class from a lowly social rank, marginalized by the government, to a wealthy, developed group. Despite their wealth, the merchant class was denied power during the Tokugawa Period because of their low status in the social hierarchy. Meanwhile, the samurai, members of the elite warrior class, became increasingly poor and indebted to the merchants in order to keep up with the extravagant lifestyle encouraged by the shogunate. A glaring and unintentional contradiction developed where the samurai had governmental power but little money, and the merchants were wealthy but had no power. In order to cope with the restrictions placed on them, the merchants created their own culture and art form where they could express themselves freely. The paper aims to expose the merchant class' frustration with the Tokugawa system as it was depicted in the art of woodblock printing, otherwise known as ukiyo-e. Why was ukiyo-e so popular? How did the merchants represent themselves and their social situation? How did they portray the samurai? The answers to these questions create an understanding for the mindset of the merchant during this frustrating time in history.
Filipinos in the Canneries: creating ethnic unity to break the contract system and colonial power
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Katie Kay Hall
A crucial aspect of Seattle's labor history lies in the story of Asian and Asian American workers who were arguably one of the most oppressed and exploited groups within Washington's labor industry. This study illuminates this part of Seattle's labor history and focuses on the leading role of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in formulating the Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union (CWFLU). The CWFLU's methods of unionism both recognized and challenged ethnic divides in the canneries, effectively undermining efforts to perpetually subjugate Asian and Asian American workers. These methods helped formulate a Filipino nationalist identity that allowed Filipinos to distance themselves from the oppressive confines of the ";colonial"; label. This study incorporates analysis of and findings from the CWFLU Local 7 records, immigration policies such as the Exclusion Acts of 1882 and 1924, and secondary research on the labor, immigration, and social history and structure of the Pacific Northwest. This method allows for an incorporation of the historical framework that led to the subjugation of Asian and Asian American workers and showcases how Filipino's actions in the 1930s were such a pioneering move. Racial tensions were created by oppressive labor and immigration structures. Furthermore, it reveals that the Filipino leaders of the CWFLU utilized these oppressive measures and tensions as a foundation for recruitment to form a unified front that put Asians and Asian Americans in control of their own jobs and economic opportunities within the canneries. This study provides important insight into a little researched aspect of Seattle's labor history, thus providing a more complete picture of this historical moment. Furthermore, it demonstrates how radical labor unionism was utilized by Filipinos as a way to break free from their ambiguous and oppressed stances in America.
Alcibiades and Socrates: A critical analysis of the socio-political atmosphere of Athens, and how it condemned them both
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Lachlan Huck
This paper explores the complex conditions that surrounded the demise of the Socrates placing the Athenian philosopher firmly in the socio-political setting of 5th century BCE Athens. Alcibiades, one of Socrates' confidantes and a polarizing character, provides the backdrop for the picture of Athens presented, and typifies the forces that condemned Socrates to death. Political misfortune deprived Athenians of the means to greatness, while leaving intact the hubris that had characterized the populace since the defeat of the Persians in the Greco-Persian War. Alcibiades most perfectly epitomized this new mentality, combining irresponsible political ambition with absolute moral corruption. Both Socrates and Alcibiades, however, proved incompatible with the already strained public mentality. In executing one and exiling the other, the Athenians proved they were incapable of rationality, destroying their paragon of wisdom and exiling the one person who most perfectly characterized Athens at the time. At its heart, Athens was becoming something new, and neither of the actors discussed were to witness the change of Athens or the rise of the Hellenistic kingdoms.
A Carnival of Destruction: Science, Technology, Literature, and Restraints on War and Weaponry
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Lisa Bergstrom
The period from 1850 to 1914 saw unprecedented scientific and technological advances and unprecedented, multinational conferences attempting to control the use in war of new, and more destructive, technology. Yet World War I made a mockery of the spirit and sometimes the letter of these conferences. As Europeans asked themselves in the wake of the death and destruction wrought by World War I, how could an era of such promise – of such noble, rational declarations of peace, of astounding scientific and technological progress, of glittering international exhibitions – end with a descent into madness? Combining research on pre-World War I arms control, science and technology, science fiction, and ethical movements, I attempt to show how the dissonant character of the era helps to explain the relative failure to control military-technological innovations, and, thus, the failure to prevent the future war prophesied by the new military-science fiction writers.
Manolis Andronikos: Greece's National Archaeologist
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Arna S. Elezovic
This paper explores five themes through a close examination of a single individual, Manolis Andronikos, known ‘Greece's National Archaeologist.' The five themes explored are: the process of creating a territorial state; the essential role of the outside powers; construction of an infrastructure; combining a monarchy with participatory government; and finally, overcoming regionalism to encourage centralization. The paper is an exploration of identity by examining how Manolis Andronikos's discovery of unpillaged tombs at the village of Vergina transformed Greek identity by incorporating Northern Greece, specifically Macedonia, into the national consciousness. Andronikos concluded that the archaeological artifacts in at least one tomb [e.g., human bones in a solid gold larnax (box)], belonged to Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, from the 4th century BCE. This purpose of the essay is not prove or disprove the validity of the claim; rather, it is to examine the impact of Andronikos's archaeological work and how he, as a person, scientist, and historian, transformed modern Greek identity by interpreting the evidence, and in so doing, linked the modern nation-state of Greece to its ancient and glorious past.
About the Editorial Board
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Clio's Purple and Gold: Journal of International Studies
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief
(University of Washington, 2011-5-13) Clio's Purple and Gold: Journal of International Studies

Browse

Recent Submissions