Acknowledgements

My history thesis writing process this semester has been long and painful. I have realized that one must be a sadomasochist to truly succeed as a historian. Research is an arduous task that one can never actually finish. There are always more sources to peruse, different viewpoints and perspectives to investigate. After this is done, probably to one’s dissatisfaction, the historian must tie all this research together to make a well-documented, intelligent argument. During this whole process, the historian must realize that there will be ravenous, drooling scholars eagerly waiting the completion of this work. Not to praise it. Not to enjoy it. But to do the academic equivalent of a wolf pack pouncing on a sickly musk oxen. Ouch.
In light of this, I feel that is necessary for me to thank the people that have made the completion of this thesis possible. I have to begin by thanking my Mother and Father for continually praising my writing style and supporting all of my Hamilton College activities. I understand that they probably cringe at the thought of how over committed and under slept I am at college. But, rather than criticize my tendency to stretch myself out too thin, they have stood behind me the whole way and given me the strength to complete my thesis while still fulfilling my duties and responsibilities I possess through my extracurricular activities.
I want to thank my suitemates in Babbitt 17: Benjamin Turner, Christopher Takacs, Daniel Walker, Alon Hillel-Toch and honorary suitemate, Alan Clark. Thanks to Ben in particular for keeping a sense of good-natured thesis writing competition in the suite, inspiring me to continue writing and researching even when I felt that it was impossible to go on. Thanks to the rest of my suitemates for providing me with hours of absurd conversations, slap fights, paddle fights, door pranks, procrastination devices and wonderful memories such as Delta Iota Kappa, team kills, potential career damaging photographs and Canadian turkeys.
The Hamilton College professors and administrators also deserve a shout out. Thanks to Hans Peter Broedel for showing no mercy in the classroom and providing me with “fear of failure” as the inspirational device to complete this thesis. To the rest of the History Department for showing me that although history is a demanding and difficult subject it also provides a deep sense of satisfaction and enjoyment. Thanks to the faculty and administrators of Hamilton College for providing me with issues to write about in the Insights & Ideas section of The Spectator. This allowed me to keep my writing skills fresh and well toned.
Last, but not least, thank you to the entire female population of Hamilton College. Thanks for having zero interest in me as a man and potential mate this semester. Thanks in particular to the Women’s Field Hockey team for viewing me as their harmless older brother figure. Without their disinterest, I would have been plagued with time-consuming distractions and emotional baggage. The total lack of female companionship allowed me to stay focused on the task at hand. I trust that the Hamilton girls were acting in the pure interest of my academic career.
This process has been quite a ride and I can say that I’m happy to see that it is coming to an end. As a kid, I never believed that I could accomplish such a task. Well, I finally did it. So, what’s next?



Blake M. Erb ‘05