The twelfth publication of Davidson History Journal includes work from the Spring 2024 semester. The editorial staff would like to thank Davidson’s History Department and all student contributors. Research projects are organized by course level, with increasing difficulty, and are listed alphabetically within each category.
100-Level Research Projects
Beyond Borders: Mexican Immigrants on the Road to the American Dream During the Great Depression. Written by Melanie Sanchez and edited by Crosby Boe.
During the Great Depression, the legal and social status of Mexican immigrants in the United States was deeply influenced by racial and political constructs, which disrupted their pursuit of the American Dream. While the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 created a racial hierarchy that excluded non-white immigrants, Mexicans were categorized as white for immigration purposes, complicating their assimilation and citizenship. Despite being essential to the American labor force, especially in agriculture and mining, Mexican immigrants faced racial discrimination and marginalization, exacerbating their struggles for equality and belonging in a nation built on exclusionary ideals.
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918: Its Role in Shaping Public Health and Highlighting Intersectional Disparities. Written by Anna Withee and edited by Julia Carey.
The influenza pandemic of 1918, much like the COVID-19 pandemic, reshaped public health practices and highlighted deep-rooted social inequalities, particularly in gender and race. Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as quarantines and masking became prominent, while healthcare workers faced increased exposure and discrimination in treating the pandemic’s victims. Though the 1918 pandemic lacked the immediate formation of a vaccine due to limited virological knowledge, it revealed significant flaws in healthcare systems and inequalities in medical care. These challenges prompted the development of new public health interventions that continue to influence contemporary healthcare, though issues of racial and gender discrimination persist.
The Power of Music During the Cold War Era: Recounting History, Calling Out Injustice, Uniting People, Sparking Protest, and Inspiring Reform. Written by Andrew Peck and edited by Maggie Jessen.
The music of the Cold War era served as a powerful medium for expressing American ideological conflicts, addressing issues like racism, inequality, and anti-war sentiments. Through artists like Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, music became a vehicle for protest and social change, challenging government policies and societal norms.
Transportation in Prokudin-Gorskii’s Imperial Photo-Survey. Written by Ella Peddy and edited by Ava Smith.
Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii’s early 20th-century photographic survey of the Russian Empire, conducted with Tsar Nicholas II’s approval, captured the contrast between modern and traditional transportation, from steamships to camel caravans. His work aimed to showcase the empire’s vast diversity while reinforcing its unity and justification for continued existence.
What Did Trauma from the Japanese Incarceration Look Like? Written by Charlie Bingham and edited by Taylor Winstead.
The incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II inflicted deep psychological and generational trauma, disrupting families, livelihoods, and cultural identity. This essay examines the emotional and social consequences of internment, including loss of trust in government, intergenerational silence, and enduring racial discrimination.
200-Level Research Projects
An Arm and a Leg: Sacrifice, Support, and the Projection of the “Idealized” Veteran in Maurice Barrès’ Pour les mutilés. Written by Ava Smith and edited by Maggie Jensen.
Maurice Barrès’ writing constructs an idealized vision of the WWI veteran, shaping early 20th-century French disability policy around a narrow prototype of youth, utility, and workforce reintegration. His influence on both state welfare systems and the broader cultural imagination underscores the lasting impact of such narratives, particularly in light of France’s ongoing challenges with disability inclusion.
A History of Oppression: How Systems, Tradition, and War Breed Gender Based Violence Within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Written by Tumaini Johnson and edited by Ansley Scott.
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises, yet it receives little international attention. Millions of displaced Congolese, particularly women, face extreme violence, including sexual assault and human trafficking, exacerbated by socio-cultural norms and ongoing war. Despite their vulnerability, refugee women struggle for recognition and protection, as gender-based violence remains largely unaddressed in global asylum policies.
A War That Never Ended: The Difficulties of a Salvadorian Refugee Finding Refuge in the U.S. Written by Priscila Magallan and edited by Crosby Boe.
The ongoing refugee crisis of Salvadorians stems from the violence and instability caused by the Salvadorian Civil War, U.S. intervention, and gang-related crime, forcing many to seek asylum in the United States despite restrictive immigration policies. While recent efforts by the Salvadorian government aim to curb gang violence, human rights concerns persist, highlighting the need for economic reforms and collaborative solutions to address the root causes of migration.
Booby Traps: US Military Efforts to Control Sex and Venereal Disease in WWII. Written by Phil Greenwood and edited by Taylor Winstead.
An analysis of the military’s sex and Venereal Disease prevention campaign during World War II reveals a unified agenda rather than contradictions or hypocrisy in its leadership. While the campaign’s messaging may appear to conflict with the practice of GI brothels, both elements reflect a concerted effort to cultivate a distinct military culture. The campaign aimed not only to prevent venereal disease but also to foster troop cohesion and solidarity through the promotion of military pride, vilification of “promiscuous women” as enemies of the state, and the shared experience of sexual pursuit abroad. These cultural goals contributed to the overall success of the campaign, despite its limited medical impact.
COVID-19’s Economic and Social Exacerbation on the Syrian Refugee. Written by Zarah Correa and edited by Julia Carey.
The emergence of COVID-19 in Syria exacerbated the country’s ongoing crisis, severely impacting the entire population and worsening the refugee situation. The pandemic intensified economic downturns in neighboring countries, global sanctions on Syria, and the strain on refugee camps and host communities. These challenges led to deteriorating labor conditions, reduced access to healthcare, and worsening living conditions for Syrian refugees in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq. The pandemic further diminished refugees’ quality of life, deepening the already dire humanitarian crisis.
From Cold War Refugees to Economic Immigrants: An Investigation into the Root Cause of the Underrepresented Chinese Refugees. Written by Zijin Wang and edited by Coco Austin.
This essay explores the underrepresentation of Chinese refugees in broader discussions of Asian refugees, arguing that several factors contribute to their detachment from the typical refugee image. These include the ambiguous shift from visitor to refugee status, U.S. government support driven by geopolitical interests, the overlap with narratives of illegal immigration, and the socioeconomic advantages many Chinese refugees possess. Together, these elements distinguish Chinese refugees from other groups, complicating their recognition and challenging conventional stereotypes of refugees.
“The priorities of the state should be to combat the diseases of the majority of the people:” the South African Cervical Cancer Crisis of the 1980s. Written by Jennevieve Culver and edited by Maggie Jessen.
This essay examines the high incidence of cervical cancer in 1980s South Africa as a reflection of the broader women’s health crisis and the limited availability of female healthcare resources. It explores disparities in access to care based on both geographic location and racial identity, revealing how apartheid-era policies deepened these inequalities. Finally, it argues that efforts to address the cervical cancer crisis were intertwined with the larger women’s rights movement, emerging as a byproduct of the broader struggle against apartheid.
400-Level Research Projects
The Onitsha Market Literature: Reimagined. Written by Zoë Clements and edited by Ava Smith.
This essay explores the historical and cultural significance of Onitsha Market Literature, a genre of popular writing that flourished in Nigeria’s Main Market during the mid-20th century. Tracing its roots to Onitsha’s development as a commercial and educational hub, the essay examines how colonial trade dynamics and rising literacy rates fueled a vibrant literary scene characterized by inexpensive booklets on love, morality, and self-help. Focusing on two specific texts—Beware of Women and Miss Cordelia—the analysis reveals a persistent tension between the literature’s democratic aspirations and its reinforcement of patriarchal norms. Through historical context and scholarly critique, the essay argues that Onitsha Market Literature reflects both the cultural vitality and ideological contradictions of a nation on the brink of independence.