Need help - choosing a Masters Thesis
Hi, I'm new to the board. Just started Command and Staff College and I'm trying to come up with some ideas for a Masters Thesis. I can pretty much choose any topic but I'd like to pick something that I've got some knowledge about and some interest in (although I'm open to other ideas). Areas that interest me the most are Afghnistan, American Revolution, American Civil War and Vietnam. Appreciate any assistance in advance. s/f.
Deciding on a Masters topic
At the Command and Staff College level you have at hand the resources to do a bang up job on a new Masters thesis.
The WSJ journal article currently post here on SWJ on decentralizing Afghan governance via supporting the resistance efforts of village militias under the jiirga system might be compared to Revolutionary War America operating under a loose national "Confederation" which for purposes of a dynamic future American nation had to be shifted away from "state's rights" which is akin to the jiirga system in Afghanistan to what became our more centralized governance system.
To me as an old history and political science A&S student (undergraduate level) your topic could easily run away into a more complex doctoral dissertation...so governing and regularting the outline to keep it within your MA level of scope and scale will require your best skills, which I am sure you are up to.
Good luck, and I for one admire you openness in posting your intentions and interests and seeking comments here on and from SWJ participants.
George Singleton
1 Attachment(s)
British Southern Campaign of 1780 in the Carolinas
Hi Maddog,
Interesting (to me) topic, especially if you delve into alternative history and "what ifs" - and definitely a "small wars" topic. Would you be thinking of reversing the Battle of King's Mountain ?
My interest is that battle was the first major engagement of the ancestor of my dad's WWII unit (1/117 IR, now 1/278 ACR - East TN).
For those not well acquainted with King's Mountain, the TNGenWeb Project has an index to a number of sources - and also the Historical Statements Concerning The Battle Of Kings Mountain, Army War College, Historical Section, 1928.
As I read the references, that battle went something like so - attached (a much reduced version of a half-page size originial; so not as clear as I'd like).
Any corrections to my armchair conclusions are welcome.
If you go that way, your thesis would be of interest to me.
Cheers,
Mike
"Zation" has it's own issues
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Maddog
I'm leaning towards the British Southern Campaign of 1780 in the Carolinas. The part I'm still stuggling with is coming up with the question that I'm trying to answer. I think I'd like to write about whether the campaign could have been successful and how the British could have been successful in that campaign. Also thinking about comparing that strategy of "Americazation" with "Vietnamization" and the American strategy in Iraq in 2006 which could be described as "Iraqization". Any thoughts, advice or other ideas for a thesis based on my proposed topic from the board would be appreciated? Thanks again.
I'd stay away from trying to compare "zation" in Iraq, as someone said that history is still being written and current events can distract.
More difficult would be to add a third non-US "zation". E.g. Portugal in Africa, especially in the "sideshow" Guinea-Bissau. How about the Phillipines?
davidbfpo
With Zeal and Bayonets Only
This might be of interest, read a good review of it recently. Looking to get to it myself after The Accidental Guerrilla, The Unforgiving Minute, The Great Gamble, etc...:
http://www.amazon.com/Zeal-Bayonets-...=29PDIFJKNEBVE
Good to know as my SC and VA family fm Pvt. to Lt. Col. were on the US side there
Many facets of family tree, both my Mothers and Fathers sides, were in the Continental Armies of SC and Virginia opposing the British during the Revolutionary War.
Not to bore you with names and ranks, suffice it to say these ancestors ran from underage (14) drummer boy (at Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown, VA) to an againing Lt. Colonel from the highlands of SC.
One ancestor on Mom's side was a Scottish Lt. Colonel in the British Army in the Carolinas during the Revolutionary War. When the war ended he remained in North Carolina, married an American, and became an American settler/farmer himself. He had been a British mercinary soldier.
Be interested to read more on SWJ when you or others care to post it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Umar Al-Mokhtār
One of the interesting aspects of the Southern Campaign was the English misperception as to the extent of Loyalist support they would garner after they took Charleston. There is also the question of how did Nathanael Greene win the campaign without winning any of the battles (King’s Mountain and Cowpens both being conducted by others although one could argue Morgan’s victory was by extension Greene’s).
The Southern Campaign is finally getting some of the attention it deserves amongst mainstream Revolutionary War historians.