College of Arts & Humanities

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

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LEARNED BEHAVIOR: RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY AND THE EVOLUTION OF EDUCATION IN 19TH CENTURY BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 1825 - 1872
(2012) Ryan, Meghan Higgins; Mar, Lisa R; History; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This thesis examines the complex relationship between religion and racial/ethnic identity through the perspective of the evolving systems of public and private education in 19th century Baltimore. In doing so, this thesis argues that public education was constructed as a means of shaping a unified American identity, and that this purpose was understood by all relevant stakeholders. These stakeholders, regardless or their religious, racial or ethnic affiliation all fought to shape the public schools into something that validated their affiliations and included them in the definition of American citizenship.