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Thesis and Sources for Johnstown Flood

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Thesis and Sources for Johnstown Flood
Presentation of Thesis and Sources

In my essay, I’m going to prove whether the Johnstown flood was an actual natural disaster or if the people believe it was a sign from God. I will support my thesis with facts from survivors and how they portrayed the flood. Useful verses from the Bible, Genesis, can also support my points of religious reasons being the cause of the flood. I will also use the statements from newspapers and articles explaining what they “suggest” happened.

The world’s worst known catastrophe occurred May 31, 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Due to a poorly designed and constructed dam, the flood was estimated to have killed more than 2,000 people. In the Book of Genesis, there was a flood to end all evil on the earth, which questions why the Johnstown flood occurred. In Genesis, Chapter 9, God establishes a covenant of faithfulness; promising he would never destroy the world again. The Johnstown Flood was a tragedy that happened due to an un-explainable damaged dam, but with similarities relating to the Genesis flood religious aspects could have also had a part in the catastrophe.

My Sources—
• Slattery, Gertrude Quinn. Johnstown and its Flood. Pennsylvania: Wilkes- Barre, 1936.
Slattery wrote this book so everyone will be able to have a sense of the Johnstown flood through her personal experience. She briefly explains her thoughts and how she was feeling at the time. Slattery breaks up the story into different sections; how the town was before and after the flood, the breakage of the dam and her reactions. It’s an interesting and captivating story. –A Primary source “Article” popular
• The Bible, Genesis. King James Version.
I will use the Bible as a primary source when relating to any religious points about the Johnstown flood.
• McCullough, David. The Johnstown Flood: The Incredible story behind one of the Most Devastating Disasters America has ever known. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc, 1968. Paperback.
McCullough’s book offers
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