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This thesis examines the trends in historical interpretation concerning the coming of the American Civil War. The main body of works examined were written between 1950 and 1976, beginning with Allan Nevins' Ordeal of the Union and concluding with David M. Potter's The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861. It also includes a brief survey of some works written after 1976. The main source for discovering the materials included were the bibliographies of both monographs and general histories published during and after the period 1950-1976. Also, perusal of the contents and book review sections of scholarly journals, in particular the Journal of Southern History and Civil War History, was helpful in discovering sources and placing works in a time chronology for the thesis narrative.

Benefits for soldiers follow the formation of ancient and present day armies raised for the purpose of extending the national or state will. Veterans' benefits for defenders of the U.S. emerged during the American colonial period. College benefits began after WWII with the GI Bill of Rights. This study examines the variations in purpose for nationally established educational benefits for veterans and the singular value to the veterans of these 5educational benefits. The study begins with an overview of the history of veterans' benefits. Primary emphasis is then placed on the educational portion of the World War II Servicemen's Readjustment Act and the current educational benefit, the Montgomery GI Bill. As the purpose of awarding educational benefits changed from World War II to the latest U.S. war, the Gulf War of 1990-1991, the economic value to the individual veteran also changed. The WWII GI Bill featured an educational provision intended to keep returning veterans out of the changing economy whereas current GI Bills is intended as a recruiting incentive for an all-volunteer force. Correspondingly, the economic value to the individual veteran has changed. Data supporting this study were extracted from historical documents in primary and secondary scholarly studies and writings, government documents, national newspapers and periodicals, Veterans Administration publications, service newspapers, and anecdotal writings. The study offers conclusions regarding the shifting purposes and economic value and recommends changes to current and future GI Bills. The conclusions of this study are: (a) the purpose of the Montgomery GI Bill is to serve as a recruitment tool for the armed force, whereas the WWII GI Bill emphasized concern over the return of millions of veterans to a changing wartime economy unable to offer full employment and, (b) the present GI Bill funds less than 50% of the costs for a 4-year degree while the first GI Bill fully funded a college degree, including tuition and living expenses.

Reviewing the scope and credibility of C. Wright Mills' provocative study, The Power Elite, for a seminar on U. S. in the Sixties prompted my interest in the validity of assessing the historical process by means of the elitist perspective. This coupled with my belief that the New Deal era ushered in a new chapter in the political history of the United States precipitated an investigation of the elitist perspective and how that perspective illuminated the conditions of historical change effected by the New Deal.

This thesis provides an historical review of the role and function of the philanthropic foundation as an institution of American society, stressing in particular the foundation response to social change. The period of emphasis is World War II to the present, although earlier history is also covered in some detail.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The study of the presidency would appear to be relatively simple. The sample population is relatively small, their performance is, for the most part, recorded and like the weather, it seems everyone has opinions about them. In reviewing current literature discussing presidential greatness, most historians and political scientists have generally looked to answer two questions: 1) Who were our greatest, and; 2) How should all be rank ordered? For the last 65+ years, presidential polls have been the main vehicle used to answer these questions. In doing so, researchers have generally reached out to the public and asked them to rank order the presidents from greatest to worst. The results at the top and bottom of these surveys have been relatively consistent. While the specific order may vary, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Franklin Delano Roosevelt are generally viewed as the best; with the likes of James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson and Warren Harding at or near the bottom of the rankings. As for the rest, they usually fit into one of four categories -- the near great, the average, the below average, or failures, with the one-term presidents who failed to be reelected normally being rated in the lower categories. This would seem to make sense, because they are often viewed as failed presidents. However, as surprising as it may seem, of the 43 men who have served as President of the United States, only fourteen were reelected and went on to serve past their initial term. Ten were defeated in their bid for a second term. Five failed in their attempt to win their party’s nomination to run for reelection and seven opted not to run for reelection. Additionally, five of the seven who died while in office, died during their first term and were not afforded the opportunity to run for a second term. It does not appear that any scholarly work has been done to collectively look at this group who make up a full third of the presidential population. This represents a sizable gap in political thinking to be rectified.

Few men in the history of American business have been more controversial than Jay Gould. His accomplishments and failures left an indelible mark on United States business life. Although much has been written about Gould's life and business career, no study has related a technical analysis of the Southwestern rail stock price movements to his railroad ventures in the Southwestern United States. It is the purpose of this study to present a historical review of Gould's acquisitions in the southwest and to explore the implications of these ventures on the public and business sectors of the American economy. Utilizing stock price changes, the thesis attempts to explain more fully the relationship of Gould's security trading practices to his Southwestern railroad system. Several technical patterns and interpretations are analyzed and compared for an overall view of his activities. Preliminary investigation by this thesis indicates a high degree of correlation between the stock price changes and Gould's formation of the South-western railroad system. Analysis of the moral implications of Gould's business ventures does not come within the scope of this study. In organizing the thesis, it was necessary to include only Gould's Southwestern rail activities and his associated railroad investments. Although many of Gould's purchases were simultaneous, the study analyzes each acquisition separately in hope of avoiding confusion. Sources containing business information on Jay Gould's activities included Railway Review and Railway Gazette, which provide many details on southwestern railroad events. Newspapers such as the St. Louis Evening Chronicle, the Austin Daily Democratic Statesman, and the Denver Tribune were used to portray Gould in view of his contemporaries. Government publications were valuable especially in the areas of public policy and its relationship to the railroads. The Commercial and Financial Chronicle was a valuable tool, as were the leading New York newspapers of the day. Secondary sources were utilized when other information was not available or obtainable. In the last chapters, the study evaluates a comparable modern railway problem and relates this analysis to Gould and his activities in the Southwest. Hopefully, the result will be a greater understanding of Jay Gould's achievement and failures.

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