  The theory of the strong force, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) remains one of
the most important ways to understand the fundamental properties of ordinary
matter. However, at low momentum transfer Q2, in the regime where the strong
force becomes extremely strong, our understanding of QCD for ordinary nucleons
becomes hazy. Several cutting edge theories such as Chiral Perturbation Theory
and Lattice QCD have provided valuable predictions in this regime, but Lattice
QCD has not yet extended predictions of many important quantities to this
kinematic region, and Chiral Perturbation Theory has faced several important
disagreements with experimental data for the neutron over the last several
decades. It is therefore of extreme importance to have a benchmark of
experimental data in the low energy regime for the proton's behavior, as a test
of leading theories for the behavior of QCD in this regime. The E08-027 (g2p)
experiment ran at Jefferson Lab in 2012 with the goal of collecting this
valuable data. Full details of the g2p experiment and my experimental work at
the University of New Hampshire are presented in this thesis, as well as a
detailed description of the analysis process and the exciting benchmark
results, which serve as a direct test of all current and future theories of QCD
in the low-Q2 regime.
