https://www.echeat.com/ Themes for Grendel The story “Grendel” is about a monster, and his battles with a king named Horthgar. The story is in first person point of view, and because of this, we notice a lot about Grendel. We notice he is a sort of weird and very lonely person. This is because he lacks companionship. The only person he can hang out with is his mother, who can’t communicate with him, so he is always left by himself. It also doesn’t help that he has been living for a very long time. How old he is is unclear, but he himself hints at being old. I am going to be taking a look at the story and analyzing the different themes there are in the first three chapters. The first theme I’m going to cover is existentialism. This is a view where God is either dead, or he has abandoned us. Grendel continuously asks himself who he is as he battles his existentialist perspective on the world and himself. In the second paragraph of the text Grendel says “I alone exist” This is a sign that he became an existentialist because that implies he had either lost faith in God or just accepted that there was no such thing and he alone is responsible for what happens to his life. This is exactly what existentialism is. The next theme is self discovery. He comes to the realization that only his mother gives him attention while others seem to glance past or through him. Grendel makes an effort to make peace with the humans by bringing to them a dead body of one of their people. However, the people of Herot respond by attacking him with axes that had venom on them. He then embraces the role of the villain by “being the monster they want me to be” The final theme is loneliness. Like I had mentioned in the introduction, Grendel is a very old creature. For all those years he has had nobody to communicate to. All the animals he tries to talk to are scared of him, his own mother that lives with him can’t understand him, and humans, who he shares a language with, try to kill him at sight. In chapter two of the story, Grendel's mother shows up to help him just as he thinks he is about to die to the humans. When he wakes 2025-01-20T12:07:55.977-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Themes-for-Grendel-45601.aspx Mining of tin and coal has a long history in Britain, but the arrival of the Industrial Revolution saw unprecedented activity underground to find the fuel to feed the steam-powered machines that came to dominate industry and transport. The steam-powered pump was invented to drain mines in 1712. This allowed deeper mining and so greatly increased coal production. The Watt steam engine, patented in 1769, allowed steam 2024-11-05T10:34:29.823-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-industrial-Revolution-45592.aspx Black Lives Matter is a political and social movement in America that wants to highlight that racism, discrimination, and inequality still exist in the United States. We as Americans have to accept that the black experience is different from the white experience in this country. Imagine living in a country that you might love and hate at the same time. Imagine living in a place where the majority in charge look nothing like you and have no understanding of the life experiences that your skin color has inflicted upon you. There are stark examples of this bias in America; Justine Damon, a blonde white victim, was shot and killed by a police officer in Minneapolis; the officer was relieved of duty and brought up on manslaughter charges shortly after the incident. While Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville police, the consequences were far less severe or even nonexistent for those officers. America by Claude McKay was written in 1921 and summed up his love and hate for the country into which he migrated. "Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tigers tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests by youth." (McKay 471) Claude McKay speaks very clearly that he believes that the people in this country openly hate him. He describes his life as "hell" and says that America has strong-armed "bitterness" onto him. When he compares America to a tiger's tooth sinking into his neck, he is painting a picture for us of the physical pain he is feeling. "This cultured hell that tests my youth," (McKay 471) is more of the picture, and that verse speaks to his emotional and psychological pain. This "test" he is going through is not literal but metaphorical. Mr. McKay speaks in verse about his love for his newly adopted country and how it gives him the strength to survive the negative. "Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate," (McKay 471). The poet points out very clearly that America is big and strong, "like the tides." Therefore, the country that has inflicted physical and mental pain on him also helps him endure. While America may hate him, he does not return the feeling, "as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not 2022-04-04T13:45:31.3-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Black-Lives-Matter-A-political-and-social-movement-45558.aspx Get your original paper written from scratch starting at just $10 per page with an originality report and free edits included! In the life of any student, there’s a moment when you start considering the possibility of ordering your paper from a company specializing in custom writing services. 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Guarantees You Get When Ordering Essay When you place your essay order at the service, you are automatically provided with a full guarantee package, the main of which are satisfaction guarantee and money-back guarantee. The satisfaction guarantee means that your order can be revised until you’re completely happy with 2022-03-15T04:03:12.67-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Get-your-original-paper-written-from-scratch-45553.aspx 2022-03-12T02:03:16.083-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/razil-azil-el-45549.aspx Causes of War A 1911 history textbook seems to blame Mexico for hostilities. Excerpt #1: 1911 Henry William Elson and Cornelia Eliza MacMullan, The Story of Our Country (New York: Thompson Brown Company; Johnson, Blagen & Co., 1911), 132?133. Texas had now come into the Union, but there was still trouble with Mexico. That country seemed bent on a quarrel. President Polk did not desire it, he made an effort to settle the question by treaty; and this might have been done had Mexico been willing to yield certain points. "Texas has no right as an independent state to seek and receive admission into the United States," she said. And then she insisted that the dividing line should be the Nueces River, while Texas laid claim to the Rio Grande. President Polk, fearing an attack, sent General Zachary Taylor to the disputed territory. And not many days passed before General Taylor received a letter from the Mexican general, Ampudia. "Your Government has not only insulted but has provoked the Mexican nation," he wrote, "and in this case, by orders of my Government, I require you to break up your camp and retire to the other bank of the Nueces River. If you insist upon remaining upon the soil, it will clearly result that arms, and arms alone, must decide the question." What was General Taylor's answer? "The instruction under which I am acting will not permit me to go back from the position I now occupy. I regret the alternative which you offer, but, at the same time, wish it understood that I shall by no means avoid such an alternative, leaving the responsibility with those who rashly commence hostilities." It was not long after this that war was declared. General Taylor did not wait for more soldiers to arrive, but marched on and defeated the Mexicans near the mouth of the Rio Grande, although they outnumbered him. The enemy fled across the river, but Taylor pursued them and captured Matamoros. He then moved up the Rio Grande to besiege Monterey, one of the most strongly fortified cities of Mexico. In 1995, a history textbook shows disagreement and division over the war with Mexico. Example #2: 1995 James W. Davidson and Michael B. Stoff, The American Nation (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995), 366. In January 1846, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to cross the Nueces River and set up posts along the Rio Grande. Polk knew that Mexico claimed this 2021-12-02T12:33:52.187-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mex-Am-war-Accounts-Causes-of-war-45524.aspx Thanksgiving is a federal holiday which is observed across the US for its historical significance in a mutually beneficial relationship with the pilgrims and natives. Or we are told to believe. The common theory of the day is taught in school districts in mostly every state, and usually it portrays an image of acceptance and prosperous relationship between the two. The truth however is far removed from this fabled story. The story taught to kids begins with the Plymouth Colony, an English colony created by John Smith in 1620. The colony was made up of ~500-1000 puritans, a protestant group that believed in the reformation of the church but were persecuted for their different beliefs. On the other side of the story were the Wampanoag Nation, a group of Native American peoples that lived in the New England area for long before the settlers arrived. Massasoit, the leader of the nation, endorsed friendly relations with the colonists. The Natives helped the colonists find their way around an unfamiliar area and food gathering strategies (in both hunting and harvesting). This agreement was well found, as both groups were able to secure their own safety from one another. In honor of this alliance, a feast was to be called in celebration. In autumn, they shared a feast where both sides exchanged food in creating a stronger relationship in the future. While historians are unsure of what foods were present at the time, the modern culture of Thanksgiving has rooted with turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy (along with many others). 2021 marks the 400-year anniversary of this event, a tradition that millions of Americans still celebrate to this day. But Thanksgiving hides with it many loops and developments from there can very much change the perspective entirely. The first major issue was that the Native Americans were never actually invited. The feast, many times falsely assumed to be a binding one between groups, was not meant for the Native Americans. Instead, it was an annual feast celebrated by the colonists which the Wampanoag walked into and joined. Second, there were many feasts in relation to the colonists, and not all were friendly. According to insider.com, “Others pinpoint 1637 as the true origin of Thanksgiving, since the Massachusetts Bay Colony's governor, John Winthrop, declared a day to celebrate colonial soldiers who had just slaughtered hundreds of Pequot men, women, and children”. The “peaceful” relationship 2021-11-24T19:55:13.53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Thanksgiving-Day,-A-Remembrance-of-Genocide-45518.aspx Veterans Day. What is Veterans Day? Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs. What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov.11. It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former service members properly. (Source: https://www.military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day.html) The day is known and remembered throughout the United States as schools, most government offices, and many places of work close for the event, and military parades are held in major cities across the states and territories. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day includes all individuals who served through peace and war. It didn't always hold the same definition and name, but the core ideas of commemorating those who served in the Armed Forces has remained the same. The History: The day itself, the 11th of November, holds historical precedence dating back to the First World War. On this day in 1918, an armistice (or ceasefire) was signed between the Allied Nations in France, and the Central Powers in Germany. It unofficially marked the end of the Great War, and as such was dedicated Armistice Day by the 66th Congress following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. At the time however, it was meant to serve as a holiday commemorating the end of the war. Many nations, such as those in the British Commonwealth, celebrate a remembrance on a day close to November 11th as well. Armistice Day was later codified into law in 1938. By 1954 however, the idea of the Great War being "the war to end all wars" had long faded in the minds of the American public. Just three decades after World War 1, hostilities with the Axis had engulfed the globe in another World War, and in 1950 the United States' War on Communism had led them to fight in the brutal Korean campaigns. President Eisenhower and the 84th Congressional Session amended the 1938 act to change from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Veterans Day holds many traditions in its celebrations. Oftentimes at 11am, organizations will hold a moment of silence for veterans. US flags are flown at half-mast (halfway up the pole it is on) in remembrance of US servicemen. Many smaller traditions may occur varying from state, community, or organization contributing. Regardless of how it is 2021-11-10T07:46:27.54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Vererans-Day-11-November-2021-45516.aspx Veterans Day today represents an institute of servicemen who participated in wars fought across the world by the United States. As such, it is commemorated through a day of memorial with historical value. The day is known and remembered throughout the United States as schools and places of work close for the event, and military parades are held in major cities across the states and territories. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day includes all individuals who served through peace and war. It didn’t always hold the same definition and name, but the core ideas of commemorating those who served in the Armed Forces has remained the same. The day itself, the 11th of November, holds historical precedence dating back to the First World War. On this day in 1918, an armistice (or ceasefire) was signed between the Allied Nations in France, and the Central Powers in Germany. It unofficially marked the end of the Great War, and as such was dedicated Armistice Day by the 66th Congress following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. At the time however, it was meant to serve as a holiday commemorating the end of the war. Many nations, such as those in the British Commonwealth, celebrate a remembrance on a day close to November 11th as well. Armistice Day was later codified into law in 1938. By 1954 however, the idea of the Great War being “the war to end all wars” had long faded in the minds of the American public. Just three decades after World War 1, hostilities with the Axis had engulfed the globe in another World War, and in 1950 the United States’ War on Communism had led them to fight in the brutal Korean campaigns. President Eisenhower and the 84th Congressional Session amended the 1938 act to change from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Veterans Day holds many traditions in its celebrations. Oftentimes at 11am, organizations will hold a moment of silence for veterans. US flags are flown at half-mast (halfway up the pole it is on) in remembrance of US servicemen. Many smaller traditions may occur varying from state, community, or organization contributing. Regardless of how it is celebrated, it is important to ensure that it remains respectful, and the intentions are clear. Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. “Veterans Affairs.” Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 Mar. 2006, https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Veterans Day.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Veterans-Day. 2021-11-07T16:35:13.863-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Veterans-Day-45515.aspx Phoenix is the capital city of the Arizona state. The city is located along Salt River that is in the southern –central part of the state. The city significantly contributes to the economy of the state since it serves as a financial, communication and transport center. The city lies on an 1165 square kilometers area and borders Mexico to the North. Additionally, the city plays a prominent role in the history of the country since it is the area in which the Southern civil war took place. The area was initially occupied by the Native Americans who were later replaced by the building of the canals. The Americans were displaced since they were found to interfere with the construction of the trenches. Therefore, there was a civil war as the Spanish and American explorers fought with the Native Americans. The Spanish and the Americans fought the Native Americans to displace them from their settlement along the Salt River. This paper aims at exploring the effects of the civil war and determine how the war contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. The Economic History of Phoenix In the prehistory age, the city was occupied by the Native Americans who were nomads. Therefore, their economic practice was nomadic pastoralism through which they acquired food and a source of living. Eventually, the tribes left the land and left the imaginative fertile land without particular occupants. In the year 19th century, as the Spanish and the American explored the world, they passed through the region. In the year 1857, a businessman named Jack Swilling who was a militant during the American Civil War identified the potential of the land. Swilling built canals along the ruins that were left by the Native Americans who were also known as the Hohokam . The canals were used in the irrigation system to grow crops since the land was fertile and was along a river. Hence water for irrigation was available. In the 1870s, it was proved that the town had grown and thus there was a need for it to be upgraded. In 1881, the town was adopted as a city. The South Pacific Railroad passed through the city in the 1880s. In the 1890s, the mule-drawn trams were also introduced into the city. By the end of the century, the city had evolved into a major trading center in the state. In the early 20th century, there was 2019-02-19T01:57:54.31-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-effects-of-the-southern-civil-war-45477.aspx Barry Goldwater’s Policies One of the most attention-grabbing questions about an election is not related to which candidate or party won but why the voters voted the way they did or what the repercussions of the outcomes are. Nonetheless, finding the right answer to these questions is not always an easy undertaking for focusing only on the campaign incidents and events is not adequate. It is vital for one to put much emphasis on trying to determine the electorate’s behavior leading to the election to entirely have an undertaking of the election outcomes. It is defined by first analyzing the sources of individual voting patterns, and this is associated with the various policies that a party or candidates will lay before the electorate. In the USA, the Democrats and Republicans have each had their fair share of winning the presidency, and this is determined by various policies the party members formulate. Thus, the paper seeks to explore how Barry Goldwater’s policies played a vital role towards the populist winning of a Republican Presidential candidate during the 1980 election. Barry Goldwater served as the United States Senator for Arizona for five terms before he decided to have a shot at the nation’s top seat; the presidency in 1964. During his tenure as senator, Goldwater was known for being more leaned towards the conservative movement that was against the Republican Party’s agenda at the time. Even though he did not have a chance to win an election as the president, the policies he widely advocated for played a vital role in marshaling a new wave of young conservatives who voted for President Reagan, the winner of the 1980 general election. President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Nixon played a considerable role in ballooning the federal budget as they financed wars and various public welfare programs. Johnson increased the federal budget by billions of dollars, and this was double the amount that President Kennedy had added . According to Johnson, he wanted to build a Great Society and thus brought the need for a substantial federal budget that was affecting the entire nation. In the case of Nixon, his policies nearly destroyed the USA economy. He introduced harmful wage-price controls with the aim of restoring the economy towards a positive growth, but they were unsuccessful. He also played a vital role in the ending of the USA gold standard, and this allowed the USA to print money 2019-02-19T01:51:05.4-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-Barry-Goldwaters-policies-led-to-populist-support-of-the-Republican-ticket-in-the-1980-election_-45476.aspx Name: Class: Date: Professor: Formal Paper Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone is a publication by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. The 2006 release illustrates the civilian leadership during the reconstruction of Iraq after the end of the American invasion. In the book, Chandrasekaran explains the development, management, and the challenges that the leadership of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) experiences. The CPA program intended to facilitate civilian administration in Iraq and to address the increasing threats of insurgency in the country. The book offers a bureaucratic explanation about the first year after the American forces overthrew the administration of Saddam Hussein. During this period, the American army was the legal occupying authority that was responsible for the administration of Iraq. There was the need to establish the CPA within the Baghdad palace to facilitate the administration activities. The purpose of the CPA was to serve as a transitional government after the occupation by the United States forces. The United States was the leader of the Multinational Force during the invasion on March 19, 2003. The development of the CPA was due to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 of 2003. The purpose of the CPA was to facilitate judicial, executive, and legislative roles and authority between April 21, 2003, and June 28, 2004 (Chandrasekaran 290). The program is essential in the history of the United States as it was a creation of the United States Department of Defense. The administrator of the CPA transitional government was a direct appointee of the Secretary of Defense. The structure of the CPA was in four broad categories. These are CPA North, CPA Central, CPA South Central, and CPA South (Chandrasekaran 292). The operations in each region were semi-autonomous, but there were a clear and shared mission and vision for the reconstruction of Iraq. CPA had the significant role of managing the economy of Iraq. The United Nations Resolution 1483 gave CPA the authority to regulate the financial resources of Iraq; for example, the oil revenues (Chandrasekaran 212). CPA also had the role of privatization of the economy. As a result, foreign firms, most of the American multinational corporations, got the opportunity to invest in the country (Chandrasekaran 9). Even though the CPA had clear responsibilities, challenges arose in the leadership and management of the resources of the nation. The administration challenges are a significant factor for the failure of the CPA transitional government. Paul Bremer was 2018-05-10T14:09:39.287-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Formal-Paper-Imperial-Life-in-the-Emerald-City-Inside-Iraq’s-Green-Zone-45429.aspx Farming life is hard work, but the rewards for my family have served us well over the years; however, sometimes I think we, the farmers, are the forgotten population here in Oklahoma. It seems as long as I can remember since the end of World War I we have struggled, and our efforts to gain support have been unheard. The 1920’s were difficult; however, there was a glimmer of hope for relief with the McNary-Haugen Bill which would allow the government to purchase the surplus of farm commodities; however, this was vetoed by our WONDERFUL (not) President, Calvin Coolidge. It is now 1929, and things seem to be getting worse every day. My wife, Wilma, is an amazing woman, who works hard to take care of our three children and myself. We sustain our family by raising most of our food, canning fruits and vegetables for the winter months, and living from our garden in the summer months. We have chickens who produce eggs and poultry, cows who produce milk and beef, pigs who produce pork, and a very nice garden that supplies our vegetables. We also have a large 160-acre farm, growing wheat and cotton crops to help sustain the family. My wife is a hard worker who helps in any way she can to help sustain our family. She will even find creative ways to cloth our children, by piecing older clothing together to make new clothing. We also have the support of many of our friends and neighbors, who like us are going through very difficult times. We band together to help each other out, and to have fun and try to forget about the stress of our daily lives. We get together often to play games and allow our children to interact with other children. One of the favorite past-times for the adults is listening to the radio. We would listen to comedy shows and hear our President speak of the country and plans for something better. I recall hearing a radio address from President Hoover in late 1929, where he had pronounced the economy, “sound and prosperous”. I don’t know what land he was living in, but my family did not feel the, “sound and prosperous”, we were struggling to make ends meet. There was a sense of fear and uncertainty, and talk among 2017-03-25T20:16:29.373-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Great-Depression,-life-of-a-farmer-45301.aspx Contemporary U.S. History: Policemen of the World Student’s Name Institutional Affiliations Contemporary U.S. History: Policemen of the World Introduction The United States has a strong influence on other countries all over the globe. This is because America has the capital to provide aids, finances and influence policies in other nations. The U.S, military functions gained recognition after the civil war, and they were referred to as the world’s policemen. Their gain control over other countries won them an increase in roles and duties. These responsibilities include maintaining tranquility and order worldwide, and by doing this, they are considered as the policemen of the world. Up to now U.S. has is the ideal example of the policemen of the world. International events involving the US military from the past five years that can be traced back to a foreign policy created after the Civil War. After the Second World War, America took precautionary steps to prevent an outbreak of futures world by developing and implementing policies that would curb the development of nuclear weapons in the future. However, America have nuclear power despite it banning other nations from more development. Through this, it maintains control and superiority over other nations (Wolfe, 2012). Therefore, to maintain it dominant nature, America has implemented several foreign policies. These policies include preventing development of nuclear weapons in countries like Iran, China, and Syria and development of Strategic Defense Initiative. Just as the policies suggest, America has always tried to act as the world superpower. Moreover, due to fear of other countries acquiring capabilities similar to theirs, they decided to compel nations such as Iran and South Korea to stop development of mass destruction weapons. Three aspects of US history since 1865 that has led to the USA rise as a world superpower policeman For America to become and maintain the superpower position, it has to establish some regulations that would permit them to execute methods of control. These methods were aimed at controlling the production of weapons and military equipment. Several events take place throughout the decade that reflects the rise and role of America as a superpower (Nikou, 2014). They include anti-terrorism policies whereby every non-citizen or immigrants had to undergo extreme inspection and clearance measures. This eventually leads to the revision of immigration policies since America was viewed as the land of hope, which attracted many immigrants all around the globe, who sought to raise their livelihood (Nikou, 2014). Therefore, America 2017-02-21T00:21:17.133-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Contemporary-U_S_-History-Policemen-of-the-World-45287.aspx Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date The War That Made America by Fred Anderson Introduction This works in review is 'The War That Made America' by Fred Anderson. The book is a historical look back at the war that occurred between the French and the Indians in 1754. 'The story by Fred Anderson on the war of the French and the Indians' is the author's most recently released book and is the subject for discussion in this case study. The book is a summarized version of the war that took place in the British North America between the Indians (who fought for Britain) and the French. The book is also a shorter version of an earlier book of his; 'Crucible of War'. The war novel tells the story of a conflict that was sparked off almost by accident and later on became one of the most important battles in the history of North America. The book also illustrates very clearly the uncertainty associated with war; nobody can accurately predict the exact outcome of war before it happens. The book explores the themes covered in war and simultaneously provides the reader with accurate information on the history of North America. Fred Anderson is a famous writer and historian with American origin. He was born in 1949 In North America. He has a Ph.D. in history from the prestigious Harvard University and from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He teaches at the University of Colorado, Boulder as a professor of history. The historian has written five books, all of which are based on historical events and are also written as they occurred. The author specializes in historically accurate events especially wars and battles and not fantasy and adventure tales. He is well established and credible academician and is one of the most conversant people in the field of American history. In his historical novel, Fred Anderson portrays the image of George Washington as a young man who was solely shaped by the seven year battle where he participated. The author oversimplifies the character of George Washington in the novel as he was significantly influenced by other factors. He was also significantly influenced by the Virginian society which was founded on slavery in America. It is this society that funded and sent George Washington on his initial battle against the French. The novel is a unique and captivating way of learning about the history of America though it offers a 2017-02-16T23:33:49.717-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-War-That-Made-America-by-Fred-Anderson-45284.aspx When the United States was first starting off as a country, most of its inhabitants had immigrated from either Western or Northern Europe. As time passed, change was bound to come. Around 1880, immigrants began coming to the country from different areas including China, Japan, and Southern and Eastern Europe. In a matter of 20 years, the percentage of immigrants from Northern and Western Europe dropped from 93% to only 61%. Tension soon formed because of the cultural differences between early immigrants and new immigrants. Life for more recent immigrants was difficult for a multitude of reasons including employment issues, hardships at home, and the opposition of most of America’s citizens. However, the supporters of immigration lessened the hardships faced by immigrants. Many people came to America for employment opportunities because of economic problems in their native countries. Their hopes of finding work in the new country were not fulfilled, though. Because of the large amount of people looking for work, unemployment rates were up. If new immigrants did find jobs, they would most likely be working in construction. Jobs such as these offered few advantages. Most construction companies paid their workers very little money, and the little money they were given was spent on groceries and rent. Workers were being offered as little as $1.25 a day for difficult manual labor. Life at home for immigrants was not much better than life at work. Cities provided the most jobs, so the unemployed flocked to cities to find any work they could get. This inevitably led to the need for more housing. Tenements provided shelter for multiple families in cities. Sometimes called “dens of death”, tenements had little-to-no light or ventilation. These small, apartment-like rooms were hardly large enough for a single family, much less multiple families. The tight space and little ventilation were unhealthy, as these two factors helped germs and diseases spread faster. These conditions were certainly different from what immigrants had hoped and dreamt about: a land full of riches and opportunity. The dreams of opportunity were crushed by those who did not approve of having immigrants of different cultures. The difficulties started for immigrants even before entering the country. 2016-02-18T16:48:55.873-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reasons-for-Immigration-in-Early-America-35178.aspx Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia in 1856. Wilson was the last U.S. president to have viewed the civil war. He was 4 years old when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. His father served the Confederacy as a chaplain .Wilson was an eyewitness to the hardship and damage of war during his childhood. Wilson’s childhood was not an easy one. Wilson was a slow learner as a child. It is believed he suffered from dyslexia, but he overcame the problem. Woodrow Wilson spent most of his life in school. Wilson had health problems throughout his life. He had regular problems with his breathing and blood circulation. In 1873, Wilson left Davidson College due to illness. He had to recover at his parents’ home. The University of Virginia while Wilson suffered a physical breakdown and had to leave school. After graduating from college, Wilson studied law on his own and passed the Georgia bar exam to become a lawyer in 1882. He was unhappy as a lawyer and went back to school in 1883. After graduating he went on to become the president of Princeton University. President Wilson earned over a dozen degrees in his lifetime. He was also the author many books. President Wilson looked like a formal professor, but he liked to tell jokes and burst into a song. President Wilson became governor of New Jersey in 1910. The Democratic Party leaders thought he would be easy to manage, but he was not. While president, Wilson lowered tariffs, established a graduated income tax, created the Federal Reserve System and established the FTC. This was all done in his first two years in office. In 1912, Wilson won the presidency due to a three way contest with Taft and Roosevelt. In 1913, Wilson sent U.S. troops into Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua this was his attempt to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. In 1914, Wilson’s first wife died and he went into a deep depression. He married his second wife, Edith Galt, in 1915. In August 1914, World War one began. On May 7, 1915 a German U-boat sinks the Lusitania and Wilson demanded an apology. In 1916, Wilson was reelected as President. He campaigned on an antiwar platform. Wilson was trying to keep U.S. out of war. Wilson sent “Blackjack” 2015-04-06T21:05:04.28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Woodrow-wilson-biography-35101.aspx November 20, 1969 We have made it to the island and managed to escape the White Man’s Coast Guard. Their ships tried to stop us from landing on Alcatraz. This time the White Man will not take away our land. My family and many more will join us. We are only 79 members who have landed, but more of our People will come. We will take back what was always ours before the Whites stole our lands. Tonight we shall build the great fire and hold a powwow with songs of triumph! May the 2015-04-06T20:59:23.367-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/1968-indian-civil-rights-movement-story-35100.aspx In August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. electrified America with his seventeen-minute “I Have A Dream” speech. He dramatically delivered one of the most memorable speeches of all time from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It is worthy of a lengthy study as we can all learn effective rhetorical skills from MLK’s historic masterpiece. The central argument of the speech is that ALL people need to be treated equally. Although it was not the case in America at the time, MLK felt that it must be the case for the future. He argued passionately and powerfully. The entire speech falls into two big parts. MLK uses pathos in both parts to link emotionally with the audience. The first half portrays that racial injustice and segregation is absolutely horrible. For instance, in the beginning of the speech, MLK says that the life of African Americans are “crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” and that they are living on a “lonely island of poverty” in the midst of a “vast ocean of material prosperity” (1). This strikes the whites hard emotionally as they listened to MLK’s descriptions of African American’s sadness because they will think that they are the ones responsible for injustice situation. The second half of the speech paints the dream of a better, fairer future of racial harmony and integration. As seen in the essay, “With this faith we will be able to work together,… to struggle together,…to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day” (5). The intensity of King’s speech is built through the rhythmic repetition. “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities” (4). Each repetition builds on the one before and is reinforced by MLK’s ever increasing passion. “Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia… Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi… let freedom ring” (6). MLK paints a picture of his vision and hope in the audience’s mind by repeating “Let freedom ring!” followed by optimist statements. Overall, the speech is very much loaded with rhetorical techniques. MLK as an accomplished civil rights leader is also 2014-10-12T01:17:30.693-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-MLK’s-“I-Have-a-Dream”-35054.aspx 2014-04-08T19:36:48.993-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analyze-the-responses-of-franklin-roosevelt-s-administration-to-the-problems-of-the-great-depression_____-35013.aspx Segregation of African american had been present in the United States since the early 1600’s. In the mid-nineteenth century, African American leaders have proposed many different theories and methods to address the injustices posed by the white majority on to the African American population. The individuals who led the fight against discrimination includes Booker T. Washington and William E.B, who took completely different approaches in order to deal with this unfair treatment of African Americans. Du Bois. Booker T. Washington took a more gradual approach towards African American equality while Du Bois took a more immediate stance. His approach was appropriate for the time because he advocated for African American’s rights right after the Civil War while there was an infinite amount of hard feelings towards former slaves. W.E.B Du Bois’ approach was too extreme for his time. When he advocated for the rights of African American’s it was about twenty years after the Civil War. Even twenty years later there were still great amounts of ill will towards former slaves. Du Bois tried to force his ideas on whites too much too fast. He wanted instant gratification while Washington settled for the long term. Despite their differences, both Booker T. Washington and William E.B. Du Bois took steps to improve their fellow African Americans’ lives from 1877-1915. W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington were two of the most notable leaders who advocated as black assimilation into white America through the education of the black community. They encouraged black individuals to blend into society by becoming skilled workers. They also believed that by doing so the black community would be accepted by whites and would raise in social level. According to Document A, the school enrollment by race was much lower for blacks in the period before when Washington and Du Bois became a great impact on the educational system. Beginning around 1905, there was an upward spike in Black schooled children which is credited to the efforts and influence from Washington and Du Bois. From 1890-1910, the percentage of illiteracy in blacks decreased by over half as shown in Document B. Du Bois and Washington also helped reduce the racial discriminations against blacks. Based on document F, to urge on racial discrimination Du Bois founded the Niagara Movement in 1905. The fecal matter hardened 2014-03-07T15:15:45.507-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Booker-T_-Washington-vs_-W_E_B-DuBois-35005.aspx Jessie Wyrick History 1032 The Evolution of the Federal Government From reconstruction to the roaring twenties, the federal government evolved drastically. The American people went through many changes of opinions about what the federal government should and shouldn't do. Technology and business developed astonishingly and this caused more opinions to be built by the people. The importance of social issues also had ups and downs. The different stages of the governments evolving power sways in such a way that shows there is no tolerable middle-ground. During reconstruction, the North was desperately trying to pass laws to make the freed slaves equal, laws which the South blatantly disregarded. The federal government approved the 14th amendment of the constitution, which made the freedmen citizens of the United States. This amendment meant to guarantee equal protection under law, but it was a compromise between radicals and moderates; radicals wanted black suffrage. That came when Grant was elected in 1868, the 15th amendment was approved which would give blacks the right to vote officially. For a short time after the Civil War, the laws passed by the Republican Northerners looked a success. There were blacks voting and holding office, and also many white Republicans were elected in the South. But through all of this there was still much violence against blacks and white Republicans, thus formed the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. The Northerners responded with more legislation, which would outlaw organizations that were depriving civil rights. These laws did eradicate the KKK, but there was still much racism throughout the country. Then came an economic depression, which distracted the Northern leaders from reconstruction. All the while, the Southern movement to eliminate the black vote thrived. Democrats came into power and the Southerners elected many of the same leaders as before the Civil War. They still opposed the North but could not beat them, as the end of the war indicated. Alas, the strict laws of reconstruction were continuously ignored or loop-holed by the South, and the Northerners gave up from fear of further secession of the Southern states (Liberty 587-622). The New South actually wasn't very new. Although the federal government had tried reform, people in the south were very resistant to the new policies. Although slavery was abolished, sharecropping was a very similar substitute. In the Bargain of 1877, which concluded reconstruction and appointed Hayes as president, southern officials agreed to recognize blacks as 2013-10-22T09:42:29.037-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Evolving-of-Federal-Government-Reconstruction-to-Jazz-Age-34976.aspx It is a fair comment to acknowledge that President Johnson’s decision to escalate the war in Vietnam was influenced by domestic politics. Clearly it is the case that all President’s foreign policy decisions are somewhat affected by domestic politics, this was abundantly clear in the case of Johnson. The most obvious and clear example of this in Johnson case, is related to his Great Society legislation. There is an expression often used in relation to Johnsons stance on both the war in Vietnam and the Great Society legislation, that he wanted his “guns and his butter”. The Great Society dealt with issues with affected the poor and the minorities in America, including the environment, education, poverty, etc. This bill had just started to go through the process of getting through congress. Johnson felt at the time that he had a two year window of opportunity to get this legislation through Congress, however he was fearful that the scale of escalation that he was planning for Vietnam, would mean that he would have to scale back on the Great Society. He was well aware that similar programs were being put in place by Wilson and Roosevelt, before they were put on the back burner, because of the wars in which they were engaged. “With the Medicare and voting rights bills before Congress, with the Great Society still unfinished, LBJ would not convert to a war footing, would not sacrifice his domestic agenda. Franklin Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson had both become war presidents; they had abandoned the New Deal and the New Freedom to achieve military victories. Johnson would not make that sacrifice” Johnson realised that if he was to raise the issue of the true costs of the escalation of the war that he would not be able to go through with his Great Society plan. Many Southern Senators who would use it as an excuse to block civil rights legislation, also many would demand a betting balancing of the books. “And so- to avoid a Vietnam versus Great Society debate that might destroy his social and civil rights legislation- Johnson (shutting Bundy up) signed off on Westmoreland’s minimum numbers, but sidled into war with minimum fuss: no prime-time speech, no new resolution, no call-up of reserves, no tax increase, no drumming up of support. Announce at noon: ‘No change in policy’.” For this reason he decided to keep the escalation of 2013-08-10T18:32:54.93-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/To-what-extent-did-domestic-politics-influence-President-Johnson’s-decisions-to-escalate-the-war-34925.aspx The 1968 Tet Offensive is widely regarded as the most significant event which occurred during the Vietnam War and a major turning point. The United States had been fighting a ground war in Vietnam for three years prior to the launching of the Tet offensive in January 1968. The Tet offensive was a stark change in strategy by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Vietcong, who had been fighting a guerrilla campaign up to this point. “Communists used new weapons, new tactics and actually stayed to fight for prolonged periods.” Over the course of this essay many important questions will be posed which are vital, in terms of understanding why Tet was of such massive importance. What aims did the North Vietnamese government have for the Tet offensive and what did they expect it to achieve? Did they achieve these goals? What role did the US media have to play in altering the popular opinion of the US population on the war? How much of an impact did US grandstanding and deception to the US people before the Tet offensive, have on the losing the people’s trust in their ability to win the war? We will first look at what the planning process of the North Vietnamese was and discuss what they hoped to achieve with the attacks. The North Vietnamese had not taken the decision to launch this attack lightly and the original plan for what they called ‘The General Offensive-General Uprising’ was created by General Nguyen Chi Thanh. It called for “amassing both military and political strength to carry out a series of surprise attacks in places where the enemy least expected, specifically Saigon, Hue and Danang; drawing out and striking at US forces in the mountainous region of Tri Thien, Tay Nguyen(Central Highlands) and in the south-east region.” “The decision to embark on the General Offensive-General Uprising was not taken at one particular meeting. Rather it was a process which began in Spring 1967 when the Vietnamese communist leadership came to accept that it could not afford to prolong the war indefinitely.” It was only after Thanh’s death on 6 July 1967, that Defence Minister Vo Nguyen Giap took control of overseeing the application of the plan. The ultimate communist aim for Tet before it was enacted was that they were striving for “a withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam to 2013-08-10T18:14:26.08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-was-the-Tet-Offensive-of-such-significant-importance-34922.aspx The Cuban Missile Crisis is widely considered as the closest the world has come to nuclear war. Former US Secretary of State Dean Rusk, called it “the most dangerous crisis the world has ever seen, the only time when the nuclear superpowers came ‘eyeball to eyeball’.” Over the years many people have analysed the causes the crisis, however most of the scholarship has regarded it as a conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, while the Cuban aspect has been pushed aside as a lesser involvement. However if one is to delve more deeply into the subject, it becomes blatantly obvious that the Cuban involvement in the standoff is of more significance than others have tried to claim. The common themes about the crisis’s origins have ranged from the Soviets desire to counter balance its strategic inferiority, to Khrushchev using Cuba as a platform to negotiate with America in matters outside of Cuba, specifically Berlin. “in part to offset American superiority in ICBM’s in part to protect Cuba and in part to salvage what remained of his foreign policy models, Khrushchev moved in the spring of 1962 to position intermediate range missiles in Cuba.” While these are valid points, the aspect which shall be examined in this study, deals with the hypothesis that the crisis stemmed from Cuban fears of a US invasion of the island. There are many valid reasons why Fidel Castro would have feared an invasion, which will be dealt with in chronological order over the course of the study. The first stems from Castro’s revolution, and the United States decision that he was too dangerous a neighbour to leave to his own devises. This will then lead onto US covert attempts to disrupt Castro’s government, and destabilise Cuba. Following this, the Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961, is an extremely important incident which greatly contributed to Cuban fear and ultimately Soviet missiles being allowed on Cuban soil. The final aspect which needs close examination before the actual Cuban Missile Crisis took place in October 1962, was Operation Mongoose, a CIA undertaking which was “the covert effort engineered by Attorney General Robert Kennedy to disrupt the Cuban economy and stir unrest on the island.” When discussing the notion that the Cuban Missile Crisis was the result of American attempts to quash the Cuban revolution, we must first examine the revolution and its 2013-08-10T17:17:42.047-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Was-the-cuban-missile-crisis-the-result-of-Castro-s-fear-of-a-US-invasion-34913.aspx 2013-04-26T23:12:28.49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/An-essay-about-Astronaut-Hygiene-and-the-space-toilet_-34868.aspx You know how it feels when your stomach rumbles? Well, imagine that you are in the army 2013-04-01T15:11:01.71-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Revolutionary-War-The-Valley-Forge-Encampment-A-Winter-of-Suffering-34841.aspx The Fundamental Aspects Upholding A Democratic Republic What key elements compose a democracy? What is required to run a successful democracy? To answer these questions, we must first answer: what is a democracy? Some define it as a specific orientation of politics for those in favor of a government by the people or elected representatives. According to Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." (Lincoln). Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous; it is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the establishment of freedom. Certain components distinguish democracy from other types of governance. This includes: people who have sovereignty, a government based upon consent of the governed, rulership of the majority, however serving to protect the rights of minorities--whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation, guarantee of basic human rights for all, free and fair elections, equality before law, constitutional limits on the power of government, social, economic, and political pluralism, and values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise (McGann). Although experiencing minor improvements in terms of democracy, progression of liberty for racial minorities, and improvement in voting conditions. These features make having a democratic system preferable over a dictatorship or monarchy. People want to be involved and feel like they have a say in the matters of the nation. It is clear now how a democracy differs from other types of government systems. However, what are the primary components that sustain democratic systems? The first one is Participation. Citizens under the oppressive rule of a tyrant will generally stay out of the tyrant’s way. Why question the ultimate authority? Democracy is built off the idea that everyone should be engaged; everyone can help shape the country to their preference. Everyone can do successful planning, decision making, and evaluation of the country’s needs and modify anything they don’t like. The government also gets clear feedback, increasing the efficiency of their job. What role does a government play in a democracy? To prevent too much power from getting into the hands of one person or a group of individuals, it is split into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. 2013-03-11T00:49:42.053-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Fundamental-Aspects-Upholding-A-Democratic-Republic-34830.aspx 2013-03-01T20:13:33.11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/woman-in-society-gender-roles-34823.aspx 2013-03-01T20:07:43.83-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/american-revolustion-34822.aspx Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were two colonies that developed into very different societies by 1600 , although both were established by English colonists, due to differences in government, economy, and religion. The Virginia and Massachusetts Bay colonies greatly differed in governmental structure. Puritans who were fleeing from harassment in England established the Massachusetts Bay colonies. The first colony that the Puritans set up was north of Plymouth, at Massachusetts Bay. However, after finding a gap in the charter they received from King Charles I the Puritans moved their capital to Salem, Massachusetts. This colony was self-governed and was separate from English joint-stock companies and/or proprietors. A conservative hierarchical system was formed by Puritans based on "god's will" and family structure. Colonists were ruled by their social superiors both in religion and in family status. Unlike in any Massachusetts Bay colonies, in Virginia the setup colonies were under indirect rule of the King of England who appointed wealthy, trusted landowners to rule settlers. The King appointed governors to rule the land. By 1634, the colony adopted England's court-council system. Justices of the peace were responsibly for creating local taxes, managing the payroll of officials, and managing public works. Justices were chosen by the governor, as were sheriffs. The colonists favored an elected assembly and after many repetitive petitions King James, I gave in and allowed a representative government to be instated. In 1650, this representative government split up into two branches: the House of Burgesses and the Governor's Council. Another way that the two sets of colonies developed differently was in terms of economy. Shortly before arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, Governor John Winthrop reprimanded class hatred and economic greed. He strongly believed in the rich giving to the poor to try to create as close as possible to an economically equal society. However, this sense of equality excluded Native Americans. The Puritans forced the Indians, who had no sense of landownership, to sell their lands. Many of these natives then became assimilated into the Puritan culture. The Massachusetts Bay colonies did not use slaves. To server their labor needs they heavily relied on families, but even more specifically, children. The average family would consist of a large amount of children that were responsible for farming, while the male head of the household served as a supervisor and manager. Virginia 2012-11-02T17:41:46.52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-Virgina-and-Massachussets-Bay-Colonies-34734.aspx Introduction The Cuban Missile Crisis originated because of a number of different issues, stemming from the ongoing struggle between The United States of America and The Soviet Union and between Capitalism and Communism. There were various events and circumstances which caused this standoff. Firstly, the decision to place missiles on Cuban soil was taken by the Soviets as a means to offset their strategic inferiority. The second main cause was the fact that America felt threatened by a Castro lead Communist Cuba. Their continued efforts to oust Castro, was a significant factor in creating a very real fear in Castro of a US invasion of Cuba. This led him to form strong bonds with the Soviets and subsequently allowing them to place missiles in Cuba. We also look at Americas failed attempt to remove Castro with their ‘Bay of Pigs’, invasion of Cuba, in 1961. A final factor in the cause of the crisis is the possibility of the Soviets using the missiles as a means of strengthening their power, with regards to negotiating with America in matters outside of Cuba. The first aspect to look at when dealing with this question is Soviet insecurity and strategic inferiority with the US. The Soviets had many reasons to feel insecure or threatened in the period directly preceding the Cuban Missile Crisis. Khrushchev had long known that the Soviets had a disproportionally lower amount of missiles than the Americans, however it was not until after events surrounding the building of the Berlin Wall, that Kennedy, who had long publicly maintained that the Soviets had the advantage of the missile gap, made it known that it was in fact the Americans who had the numerical advantage. “the United States had a growing missile gap in its favour and the USSR lacked sufficient intercontinental missiles to offset the American advantage.” Because the missile gap was publicly revealed to be in America’s favour, the Soviets needed to find a way to repair the imbalance of strategic power. Khrushchev was also very perturbed by the existence of American missiles in Turkey and Italy, which were capable of strikes on the Soviet Union. The missiles in Turkey were just ninety miles off the Soviet coast, and Khrushchev feared because the US had the clear advantage in first strike capabilities. “both 2012-08-11T19:33:06.753-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Origins-of-the-Cuban-Missile-Crisis-34622.aspx Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart was born on January 23, 1915 and died on December 7, 1985. He served 22 years, 8 months, and 19 days as a supreme court judge. Stewart was a republican and was nominated a president Eisenhower. Stewart was the son of the Republican mayor of Cincinnati, so he was raised on politics. Though his background was ideologically conservative, Stewart was often cast as a centrist on the Court. Often he would vote with liberal justices on First Amendment issues and then side with conservative justices on matters of equal protection. Stewart was born in Jackson, Michigan while his family was on vacation. His father, James G. Stewart, was a prominent Republican from Cincinnati Ohio. His father served as Mayor of Cincinnati for seven years and was later a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.1 Stewart attended the Hotchkiss school, graduating in 1933. Then, he went on to Yale University, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and Skull and Bones graduating class of 1937. Here he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and served as chairman of the student newspaper, The Yale Daily News. He graduated from Yale law school in 1941, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Stewart’s first interaction with law was when he first began to work in a New York law firm. His actual legal career had begun when the United States entered World War II, at that time he served as an officer in the Navy and on occasion Stewart performed legal services in courts-martial. Soon after the War Stewart practiced law in New York, however during his short study in New York Stewart returned to Cincinnati and joined a law firm there to continue his practice. Potter practiced law in Cincinnati until 1954. After his yield in law he was elected to the City Counsel twice and served as Vice Mayor from, 1952 to 1953. 2 In 1943, he married Mary Ann Bertles in a ceremony at Bruton Episcopal Church in Williamsburg Virginia. They eventually had a daughter, Harriet, and two sons, Potter, Jr. and David. Potter Stewart was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in 1954 by Dwight D. Eisenhower. Stewart then served for four years. Potter joined the Supreme Court at the age of forty- three, he is one of the 2012-07-06T18:37:02.607-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Supreme-Court-Justice-Potter-Stewart-34596.aspx The 1960’s were one of the most significant decades in the twentieth century. The sixties were filled with new music, clothes, and an overall change in the way people acted, but most importantly it was a decade filled with civil rights movements. On February 1, 1960, four black freshmen from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College in Greensboro went to a Woolworth’s lunch counter and sat down politely and asked for service. The waitress refused to serve them and the students remained sitting there until the store closed for the night. The very next day they returned, this time with some more black students and even a few white ones. They were all well dressed, doing their homework, while crowds began to form outside the store. A columnist for the segregation minded Richmond News Leader wrote, “Here were the colored students in coats, white shirts, and ties and one of them was reading Goethe and one was taking notes from a biology text. And here, on the sidewalk outside was a gang of white boys come to heckle, a ragtail rabble, slack-jawed, black-jacketed, grinning fit to kill, and some of them, God save the mark, were waving the proud and honored flag of the Southern States in the last war fought by gentlemen. Eheu! It gives one pause”(Chalmers 21). As one can see, African-Americans didn’t have it easy trying to gain their civil rights. Several Acts were passed in the 60’s, such as Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. This was also, unfortunately, the time that the assassinations of important leaders took place. The deaths of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., all happened in the 60’s. Slavery in the United States existed from the early senventeenth century until 1865. It was put to an end by the combination of the Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and then the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution. Although blacks may have been freed from slavery, it didn’t mean that they were treated the same as everyone else. In 1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson, the Supreme Court defined separate but equal standards. Rarely was anything equal though. Segregation went on until the landmark case, Brown vs. Board of Education, declared that separate schools based on race was unconstitutional (Microsoft). This case “…became the cornerstone of sweeping changes (Chalmers 17)” because the decade following the Brown decision “…witnessed a 2012-01-13T12:45:02.11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Civil-Rights-in-the-1960-s-34426.aspx Although Britain’s North American colonies had enjoyed considerable prosperity during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, beginning with the Stamp Act in 1765 the British government began to put pressures on them, largely in the form of taxes and new trade restrictions, that drew increasingly resistance. (Out of Many, 133) One big reason that the loyal British citizens in North America were transformed into rebels is because of the taxes. It was not the prices of the tax, because Britain had one of the lowest taxes in the world at that time, it was the fact that Parliament had so much representation over them. The British Empire was a mercantile market. They wanted to control everything that was going on in the country. They also wanted control over the people. The whole purpose of the Parliament was to exploit the colonies. Here is a famous example that was taken from the book, of the Parliament exploiting the colonies. Parliament had passed a tea act, and colonists were major consumers of tea, but because of the tax on it that remained from the Townshend duties, the colonial market for tea had collapsed, bringing the East India Company to the brink of bankruptcy. This company was the sole agent of British power in India, and British Parliament could not let it fail. The British then transformed a scheme in which they offered tea to Americans at prices that would tempt even the most patriotic back on the beverage. The radicals argued that this was merely a device to make palatable the payment of unconstitutional taxes-further evidence of the British conspiracy to corrupt the colonists. This was called the “Boston Tea Party.”(Out of Many, 150) Another reason that led to rebellion was the persistent source of conflict between troops and townsmen over jobs. There was a point when British soldiers were permitted to work jobs off duty. This in turn put the colonials in competition with the people that already disgusted them. Here is an example I took from the book on this issue. In early March 1770, on off-duty soldier walked into a ropewalk in search of a job. The proprietor told him using an obscenity that he could clean the outhouse. The soldier left but returned with his friends, and a small riot began. On March the 5th a group of colonials gathered around the Customs House and began taunting 2012-01-13T12:41:43.003-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-Review-of-American-History-34425.aspx MacArthur was a famous general. He served in the United States Army for almost fifty years he receives high honors. He won many victories. He was a controversial man because of his personality. He was an actor as well as a soldier. General Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 26, 1880. . He was born in the barracks because his father was an army officer who fought for the union during the civil war. 1922 he was married with rich women, Henrietta Louise Cromwell brooks. Douglas Macarthur first went to West Point in 1899 because he also wanted to be in the military. 1903 he graduated from West Point with the highest grades ever in the schools history. He achieved the high honor 1st caption. After graduation from West Point he became a 2nd lieutenant of engineer. He helped his father. In 1913 he joined Roosevelt’s war Department staff. He participated in the U.S Occupation of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914. In World War I he earned two distinguished service crosses and seven silver stars. One reason Douglas MacArthur was very important was because of all his awards for World War I. He returned from Germany to the United States in 1919, and he became superintendent of West Point. He was the youngest man with that job. He became army chief of the staff in 1930. He was youngest man with that job. Also His biggest mistake was the attack on the Bonus Army. In 1932, a group of United States World War I veterans started a protest in Washington D.C. They were called the Bonus Army. It was during the Depression and they didn’t have jobs. They wanted early payments for veteran’s bonus. The police tried to get rid of marches but there were shootings and injuries. Macarthur put on his best uniform and he wore every medal he owned. He got on a white horse to lead his troops. He drove the help marcher’s out with bayonets, sabers, rifle fire, and tear gas. He attacked the marcher’s wives and children. He became very unpopular after this. It was worse because Hoover had ordered him twice to not enter the Anacostia flats camp. Lot of people didn’t like MacArthur because they thought he wanted to control the government. He went to the Philippines and made a Philippines army. His Philippine army fell apart in the 2012-01-10T09:38:19.793-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Douglas-MacArtuther-a-Famous-General-34415.aspx At a time when the black community was being afforded a free status, but not one of ?equality, many leaders arose to appeal to the white governing body for social equality. ?The transition from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century gave birth to two of ?these leaders, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Although these two remarkable men ?were both in search of a common goal, their roads leading to this goal were significantly ?different. This is most evident in Booker T. Washington's The Atlanta Exposition Address ? and W.E.B. Du Bois response to this, The Souls of Black Folk. Booker T. Washington’s gradualism stance gives him a popular appeal among both blacks and whites, although W.E.B. Du Bois has the upper hand when it came to ideology dealing with economic prosperity among blacks. Washington favors the humble, ask nicely, appreciate what you’re given, and say thank ?you approach to obtaining social equality. Washington addresses the issue with caution, ?in doing so he not only comes across as an advocate of Blacks gaining “all privileges of ?the law”(Up from Slavery, 457), but also of Blacks being prepared “for the exercises of ?these privileges.”(457) By taking this approach Washington is gaining the appeal ?within the black community as well as the white community. In contrast to this effective stance, Du Bois asks constantly with a loud and firm voice. Du Bois even goes as far as to say that if the Black community wants social equality they must simply complain. “Ceaseless agitation”( The Souls of Black Folk 563 ) he feels will do more in the fight for equality than “voluntarily throwing away”(563) the reasonable rights they are entitled to. The opposing approaches of Washington and Du Bois are far from unnoticeable, and receive recognition from both sides. In Washington’s Atlanta Compromise Address he comments that the “wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and ?that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the ?result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing.”(457) This ?statement, delivered at a time when blacks and whites have separate water fountains, ?blacks were lynched, and the majority of blacks were illiterate, directly condemns the ?blunt complaining with which Du Bois is supporting. Du Bois criticism is illustrated ?in The Souls of Black Folk; “The way for 2011-12-06T15:03:59.473-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Booker-T_-Washington-Vs_-W_E_B_-Du-Bois-34375.aspx The national bank was observed by Jackson to jeopardize economic stability and served as a monopoly on country’s currency. Jackson explained his decision by vetoing of the bank renewal bill declaring that some of the powers and privileges possessed by the national bank are unauthorized by the Constitution. Jackson is a strict constructionist, and he views the bank as unconstitutional because it was not written in the constitution; similar views as Thomas Jefferson. His situation against the bank brought him great deal of criticism from power quarters, especially within the judicial and legislative branch. He was viewed to be a monarchical president, using presidential power only to veto against the bank liberally. He’s pushing the power of executive branch to the limit without considering checks and balances that plays into the constitution. First, he should’ve discuss within the cabinet and then releasing a veto to the bank. Yet, check and balances applied to his veto because the legislative branch can gather enough votes to override AJ’s veto. For me, Jackson shows courage and determination with his duty as a president. Even though he push the limit of executive branch’s power, he shows that he has the determination to protect the citizen of America. His view of the 2nd bank as being unauthorized and monopolizing on the country’s currency may be controversial. Yet, as a president, being pronounce and forceful is crucial of necessary. His intention was not to farm the American people; yet he’s concern with the power that the bank has and therefore his action was intense and in prompt. I fully agree with his actions, because president needs to be courageous in making decisions. One devastating act that Jackson made is the Indian removal act. He forced native americans (Cherokees) move from their lands started with the state of Georgia westward. Thousands of people died; thus it’s called the trail of tears. This act was caused because of the friction happening between white people and native americans in Georgia. The whites desire their land and possession in Georgia, reclaiming their land; but the Cherokee protested and took the case to the U.S. Supreme court. The court, led by John Marshall as Chief Justice favor the Cherokee, however, AJ forced the native Americans to give up their land. AJ did sacrifice thousands of native americans, where they died during the migration westward. Yet, he once again shows eagerness and 2011-12-04T09:30:49.267-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Andrew-Jackson-s-Presidency-Bank-War-and-IRA-34372.aspx Before his great voyages, Christopher Columbus drew up a plan of a western sea route from Europe to India relying on the classical theory of the earth’s sphericity and on incorrect calculations by 15th-century scientists, thinking it would be shorter than existing routes. Not everybody would have believed this idea, but Christopher was willing to try any thing to find the Indies. In 1485, after proposing the idea to the Portuguese king, the king rejected his plan. Columbus then moved to Castile, Spain where he knew he would have the support, mainly of Andalusian merchants and bankers, and be able to get a government oceanic expedition organized under his command. Columbus, being an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, was famous for his many expeditions. He was the oldest son of Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa he exact date of his birth is unknown but researches know it is between August 25th and October 31st, between 1435 and 1460. Genoa, Italy is said to be his Birthplace. Said to have blue eyes, blond hair, and had an exceptionally good physical condition. He was married once but she had died so he began another relationship but never remarried. He had two kids, one being from his first wife. He started out on sea at the age of 14. He also did not have a reputation of swearing. He died on May 20th, 1506 in Valladolid; Spain that was apparently age related. He wrote of his adventures in Castilian because this is the language he spoke but could also read Latin. He received little formal education and was mostly a self-taught man. The first voyage began on Aug. 3rd, 1492 from Palos, Spain and crossing the Atlantic to the island of San Salvador in the Bahamian archipelago which is the stretch of islands in San Salvador. This expedition consisted of 90 men on the vessels Santa María, Pinta, and Niña. They visited many of the Bohemian islands. They discovered and explored a section of the northeastern coast of Cuba, and on Dec. 6th reached the island of Hispaniola and moved along its northern shore. He completed this exploration of the northern shore on the Niña on January 4th to January 16th, 1493. On March 15th, 1493, he returned to his homeland in Castile, Spain. He wrote of his adventures in Castilian because this is the language he spoke but could also read Latin. This first 2011-11-27T19:04:51.287-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Christopher-Columbus-34363.aspx This essay discusses what the “pursuit of happiness” might have meant to Voltaire. I Introduction At least for Americans, the ‘pursuit of happiness’ is an unalienable right granted to them in the Declaration of Independence. This is somewhat astonishing if we consider it for a moment—how can anyone grant happiness to another as a right? Nevertheless, the words are there for all to see. The idea of the pursuit of happiness didn’t originate with the signers of the Declaration, but is a product of the thinkers of the Enlightenment, that amazing period (the 17th and 18th Centuries up until about the time of the French Revolution) in European history, when new discoveries were being made, and new philosophies transformed the human experience. This paper looks briefly at Voltaire, and what the idea of the ‘pursuit of happiness’ might have meant to him. II Discussion The words that Thomas Jefferson put into the Declaration of Independence were those of the thinkers of the Enlightenment, Voltaire among them. They are closely tied to two other words, “life” and “liberty.” Perhaps we should start there, for it’s obvious that one must be alive and at liberty before he can pursue happiness. Voltaire and other thinkers of his time shared a basic belief in the power of human reason. It was this idea, that men were capable of thinking for themselves that led many of the thinkers and philosophers of the period, Voltaire prominent among them, to renounce the Roman Catholic Church. This does not mean, as many people think, that Voltaire was an atheist. On the contrary, he was raised and taught be Jesuits and retained a deep reverence for them; he also apparently believed in God and the immortal soul. It was the corruption of the priests and the Church itself that he attacked. I think we can infer that he saw the Church as an institution that stood for irrationality in an age of reason. Church doctrine, after all, is based on faith, and faith is not susceptible to proof; that’s what the word means. But Voltaire was living at a time when philosophers had propounded a new idea: that knowledge is not innate (inborn) but comes “only from experience and observation guided by reason.” (“The Age of Reason,” PG). The great truths of the human condition were to be discovered by 2011-10-30T21:13:16.017-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Voltaire-and-the-Pursuit-of-Happiness-34225.aspx This paper discusses some of the issues surrounding the grant process with regard to Native Americans. It also discusses Native American issues with regard to politics and legislation. U.S. Government Grants to Native Americans I Introduction The history of the U.S. government’s involvement with the indigenous people of the nation is a sorry one indeed. In the push West, an entire culture was destroyed, and the survivors herded onto reservations, where many continue to live in poverty. The government, which assumed the attitude of a caretaker toward the Native Americans long ago, continues this support through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior. This paper considers the case of “Alexander Eaglefly”, who is the Chief of the “Mohave Desert Indian Tribe”, and who has just received a grant from “Joe Lackluster,” the bureau chief of the local Interior Department office; the grant is in the amount of $128,500. We’ll answer the following questions: What was the process by which Mr. Eaglefly received the grant? What is the power the Congress used to issue it; i.e., what are the legislative issues behind funding the grant? What impact would party politics have on the process? What is the power of oversight? Which PACs and SIGS might have been involved in this issue, and how? How could the President have used his executive power in this situation? And finally, how might the judiciary become involved? II The Process of Receiving the Grant In the last 200 years, Congress has passed more legislation dealing with Native Americans than with any other group. The primary responsibility for Indian affairs rests with the Department of the Interior (DOI); specifically the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The responsibility and authority for managing funds held in trust for Indian Tribes and individuals, which was a primary function of the BIA, was transferred to the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians in 1996. (“Bureau of Indian Affairs,” PG). (Note that the government continues to hold money “in trust” for the Indians. In effect, the Indians cannot determine their own future.) The vast majority of Native Americans live in extreme poverty, usually on the money doled out by the government; they remain largely unassimilated into mainstream American life. “The BIA provides services directly or through contracts, grants [my emphasis], or compacts to 554 Tribes with diverse needs, 2011-10-26T23:15:03.13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/U_S_-Government-Grants-to-Native-Americans-34152.aspx This is an essay about the Donner Party, written in a narrative, not academic, style. (11+ pages; 3 sources; 2 additional suggested readings) The Donner Party The tale of the Donner Party and its tragic journey is one of the great stories of American history. It is at once horrifying and inspiring, an almost legendary account of human behavior at its worst, and its best. In the accounts of the settlers that went west with the ill-fated wagon train, we can see some of the issues that continue to plague society today. There were squabbles over the route; squabbles over food; squabbles over the workload. But there were also larger issues: the dislike of some of the emigrants for the Germans in the party; the factionalism that developed, often along societal lines; and the greed of several men who put their own profits before the lives of the settlers. We see the same ugliness surfacing in the men who attempted to rescue the snowbound emigrants. More than once, boastful men proved themselves to be craven, and rescue attempts fell apart. Courage and cowardice, greed and selflessness, seem to have been side by side throughout this extraordinary episode. The Donner Party’s history, at least at the beginning, is not that different from the stories of others going west in the 1800’s. But it almost seems as though the train was destined to fail. First, there was infighting from the beginning. The man finally picked to lead the train, George Donner (known as “Uncle George”), was not the man best qualified. That title goes to James Reed, younger, stronger, tougher, and more experienced. But Reed was disliked because of his wealth. Donner too was wealthy, but Reed made an ostentatious display of his money, while Donner did not. Early historians, such as McGlashan, whose History of the Donner Party was published in 1896; and George Stewart, whose Ordeal by Hunger (1934) is widely acknowledged to be a classic about the emigrants, both say that Reed had a wagon that he called the Pioneer Palace. It was supposedly a two-story affair that towered over the other wagons, contained unheard-of luxuries, and was the epitome of comfort. In a much more recent history, Frank Mullen suggests that James Reed would not have set out on such a trek with a wagon that would 2011-10-26T13:26:32.46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Donner-Party-34119.aspx This paper compares and contrasts two books about slavery on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in the late 17th Century. (4 pages; two sources; MLA citation style) I Introduction Two books, one by Betty Wood (The Origins of American Slavery) and the other by Breen and Innes (Myne Owne Ground), describe the conditions of blacks on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in the late 17th Century. This paper discusses the books briefly. II How are the Arguments Different/Similar? The arguments used by the authors are similar in one sense: they repeatedly point out that it is unfair to view slavery from our modern perspective. Instead, they remind us that for the people of the period, slave owing was a matter of economic survival, and set their works in that context. The greatest difference lies in the authors’ choices with regard to the amount of material they cover. Wood discuses the question of slavery in a large, global perspective; Breen and Innes concentrate on the specific area of Virginia that is of interest to them. III The Most Convincing or Illuminating Argument; Why? Although both books do a good job of explaining why the English colonists felt slavery was necessary (they needed workers for their farms—tobacco in particular), that was not the aspect that I found most intriguing. In Wood’s book, it was her decision to ask a very fundamental question that seemed most illuminating to me: “Why did the English colonists feel able to enslave people of West African descent? … What was it about West Africans that made them … suitable … even ideal, candidates for enslavement?” (P. 6). It seems that most books about slavery start with it as an accepted fact; no one ever asks why that should be so. Wood argues that although the English had serfs, the feudal system was dying out by the 16th century, and slavery was unknown. She suggests that the beginnings of slavery were found in the Bible, when Noah’s son Ham was punished for seeing his father naked; the punishment was that Ham’s son Canaan, and his descendents, would be “a servant of servants.” (Wood, p. 11). Thus sin and slavery were linked. In addition, captives of war, particularly the Crusades, were thought of as property to be killed or otherwise disposed of, including being sold. In short, the idea began to take hold 2011-10-26T13:25:52.1-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Two-Views-of-Slavery-34118.aspx This paper considers the life experience and how it differed for women, Native Americans, blacks, and whites in Colonial America. I Introduction It’s said that the victors get to write history, and in large part it’s true. We don’t generally think of the history of the West from the Apache’s viewpoint, for instance. Let’s consider briefly what life was like for Native Americans, whites, women, African-Americans; elites and commoners. Let’s also think about how memory plays tricks on our perceptions of events. II Discussion The experiences of the groups listed above were very different, and yet it’s almost impossible to generalize about any of them, and say that it was “all bad” or “all good,” with the possible exception of the Native Americans, for whom the arrival of the Europeans was almost universally a disaster. The Native Americans in many cases were friendly to the newcomers, helped them, gave them food, and were directly responsible for their survival. Their “reward” for their generosity was often conflict and death. In the Chesapeake area, for example, the Algonquian tribes faced a protracted war with the English. Other tribes died of the diseases that the Europeans brought to them. The Native Americans suffered greatly in Colonial America, as indeed they have throughout American history. Let’s consider the people who really were at the top: the rich white men. (Nothing much changes, does it?) It was rich white men who wrote the Constitution, since only landowners were considered “stable” enough to deal with the task of making laws. It was felt they had a real stake in the future of the country, and could be trusted to work for the betterment of all. Women in Colonial America had no legal standing; they belonged to their husbands. Although obviously they influenced their society indirectly, it took them until the 20th Century to win the right to vote, and that was after nearly 80 years of struggle. The African-American experience is Colonial America was not completely devoid of merit. In the Chesapeake area, we find a society in which the white settlers in the area treated blacks as equals. There was a great deal of intermingling on social occasions, some interracial relationships; in one case a black man won a legal case against a white man. Elsewhere, though, blacks fared badly, as the institution of slavery was put 2011-10-26T13:11:03.047-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Vantage-Points-of-History-34106.aspx This paper examines briefly the conflicts that arose in the American colonies in the 17th and 18th Centuries. (3 pages; 1 source; MLA citation style) I Introduction The study of the American colonies is fascinating because it shows how a disparate group of people, working together, can create a nation. We tend to think of the colonies as just the original 13 states on the Eastern seaboard, but there were Spanish holdings in the West. They play an important part in explaining the tensions that existed in the 17th and 18th Centuries. II Discussion In the 17th Century, tension in the colonies arose from two principal factors: the interaction between the newcomers (and their religions) and the Native Americans; and the attempts to establish trade. In the 18th Century, much of the tension centered on the issue of slavery. For most of the time France, Spain and England were the principal movers in these conflicts. In the 1600’s, the Spanish established colonies in the West, particularly in New Mexico. They were looking for the fabled “cities of gold,” and when it became clear that no such places existed, they began to try to convert the native population. In one particular instance, the people of Pueblo Acoma resisted, with the result that the Spanish conquered the town by force, killing 800 men, women and children. (Faragher, p. 52). In the Spanish colonies, the tension in these earliest days stemmed from religion. In the French colonies things were much different. Although they had missionaries with them, they didn’t force conversion as the Spanish did; they saw it as an adjunct to native life. The French intermarried with the Native Americans and developed an extensive fur-trading system in the northeastern United States and Canada. The English, on the other hand, who were also coming to North America, saw themselves as conquerors. Those who settled on the Chesapeake survived only because the Algonquian Confederacy, led by Powhatan, helped them through the first winter. But the settlers plundered food from the tribes, and in retaliation Powhatan decided to starve them out. By spring 1610 the Algonquians had reduced the number of settlers to 60; the rest were dead. But the English were committed to a protracted war against the Native Americans and resolved to stay; the tension here is a result of the English attitude that 2011-10-26T13:10:17.943-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Tensions-in-the-American-Colonies-34105.aspx This paper explores the reasons why the colonists revolted; what was radical about the Revolution and what was conservative. (2.5 pages; 1 source; MLA citation style) I Introduction The American Colonists fought a war to found the United States. Rebelling against the crown, taking up arms and in many cases dying for their beliefs. An armed insurrection is not undertaken lightly; it is a last resort. II Discussion The colonies were prosperous during the 17th and 18th Centuries, but “beginning with the Stamp Act in 1765 the British government began to put pressures on them … that drew increasing resistance.” (Mack, p. 133). The British committed what are known as the “Intolerable Acts,” which including closing the port of Boston, and suspending the Massachusetts government, that were designed to make it clear to the colonists that Britain intended to make laws and take actions which would affect the colonies for all time. They planned to make policies for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” (Faragher,p. 133). In addition to the Intolerable Acts, Parliament passed the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. The Sugar Act put a duty on the importation of sugar and thus affected mostly merchants, but the Stamp Act affected huge numbers of people. The Stamp Act required “the purchase of specially embossed paper” for all types of paper, including newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards. The tax had to be paid in cash; it had to be paid immediately; and it was imposed when the colonial economy was in a stagnant period. Because it affected everyone, it became the trigger for sweeping resistance and increasing calls for independence. In short, the colonies refused to allow themselves to be governed at a distance, or to obey laws they had no hand in creating. The American Revolution was radical in the sense that it was a real revolution: it sought to overthrow the government by means of an armed revolt. It also sought to establish a government that was unlike anything else in the world: a confederation of colonies united into a single nation, with an elected government. This was a radical departure from anything that had been done in Europe. The Revolution was conservative in that for many years, there was no desire on the part of the colonists for independence. Though they resisted, they would 2011-10-26T13:09:19.43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Significance-and-Meaning-of-the-American-Revolution-34104.aspx This brief paper discusses the ways in which the Constitution supports the Revolution and the ways it negates it; it also discusses slavery in connection with it. (2.5 pages; 1 source; MLA citation style) I Introduction The constitution was written as a means to unite a loose confederation of states into a nation, and as such it was an experiment unlike any other in the history of government. Because it was necessary to find a means to compromise so many different ideas, it supported some revolutionary ideas and negated others. It unfortunately also allowed the southern states to retain their slaves, thus setting in motion a conflict that would not be resolved for another 80 years. II Discussion The idea of the Revolution was that the American colonies should be able to govern themselves. They were separated by 3,000 miles from the government in England, and felt that they should have the right govern themselves. They also believed that every man should be able to determine his own future; the principle of equality is stated in the opening words of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal…” The Constitution did establish a self-governing nation, true, but the men who wrote the document were members of white, and wealthy: they were members of the elite. There were no African Americans, women or Native Americans among them. (Faragher, p. 197). So, although the idea was to create a nation that was truly representative, an elite framed the Constitution itself. In addition, the Revolution was fought because the colonists didn’t want to have to live by laws they didn’t create. But in forming the new government, the Constitution of necessity constructed a representative democracy, in which one person represents many others. This would seem to run directly contrary to the reasons the Revolution was fought in the first place. However, the Constitution does support the basic idea of the Revolution, which is to create a new nation. Slavery was made a part of the Constitution because it was necessary to keep the states united and the process of creating the country moving forward. Among other things, the South, with its scarce population, wanted slaves counted as part of their population for purposes of representation, but excluded for tax purposes. They also wanted 2011-10-26T13:08:35.07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Constitution-34103.aspx This paper compares the lives of poor northern women with the lives of southern slaves. (3+ pages; 2 sources; MLA citation style) I Introduction Life in the United States has always been marked by class distinctions. What we are witnessing today—a vast amount of money going to the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the poor—is not new. It’s a phenomenon that has been part of American economics since the founding of the nation. This paper examines the life of the poor, especially poor women, in the North and contrasts it with the live of the slaves in the South. It also discusses how the two systems varied. II Discussion Christine Stansell’s book City of Women, as its title implies, deals mostly with the lives of working women in New York City. The earliest period she describes (1789-1820) was characterized by a tremendous growth in the city, in size, importance, wealth—and the number of poor who struggled to make a living there. In a time when women simply did not work outside the home, a family was dependent on the husband’s salary, and many times his work was seasonal (sailor, builder, etc.) and the family would be without any income during the winter. This meant that poor women somehow had to find work, even in a society that disapproved of the idea and refused to understand why it might be necessary. Wealthy married women, however, were at the other end of the scale. Invoking images of themselves as protectors of the home and the bearer and guardian of the children, they did well: “For privileged women, this perspective on woman’s social role was to foster the cult of domesticity.” (Stansell, p. 22). In the decades before the Civil War, the continuing development of the city brought with it a continuing dependence of women on men. But capitalism and patriarchy didn’t mesh well: “By 1860, both class struggle and conflicts between the sexes had created a different political economy of gender in New York, one in which laboring women turned certain conditions of their very subordination into new kinds of initiatives.” (Stansell, p. 217). Women began to fight for their rights just as the nation was coming apart. Ironically, northern women generally agreed to put aside their struggle for equality until after the conflict. However, the mere fact that they could organize 2011-10-26T12:37:40.7-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Northern-Poverty-and-Southern-Slavery-34086.aspx This paper compares the lives of women in NYC in the early 1800’s to the slaves on southern plantations. 3+ pages; 2 sources; MLA citation style. I Introduction Many writers have referred to slavery in the United States as the “peculiar” institution. The use of the word indicates that it is considered almost unique. However, there is a parallel system: that of poor working women in New York City in the early 1800’s. Obviously the two are not identical, but there are sufficient similarities to make a comparison viable. This paper will compare the lives of working women in the North to the slaves in the South, and discuss similarities and differences in the two systems. II Similarities There are at least two similarities that are striking, and they are related to one another. The first is the idea that someone can legally own another person; coupled to that is the idea that violence is an acceptable way to resolve disputes with the person who is owned. In the South, slavery was legal and planters held an army of slaves in bondage to work the land. In the North, slavery was not recognized as a legal institution, but many women were little better than slaves, held in bondage by the ideas, passions and prejudices of a patriarchal society that was also extremely misogynistic. Although not formally slaves, women were expected to obey their husbands (or their men) in everything. Women had their existence primarily “within the sphere of the family.” (Stansell, p. 217). And in that sphere, as in the master/slave relationship, men could (and did) beat their wives if they disobeyed. Violence in the two systems had a similar object: keeping the women and slaves under control. Although it would seem logical for an oppressed class, such as the slaves, to band together in a general revolt, they were unable to do so. First, they were poorly fed and clothed, kept deliberately weak so that rebellion was physically beyond them. It seems illogical to buy a slave and then treat him/her badly, but the slaveholders knew they were hated, and took measures to protect themselves. It’s a sad fact that they could always buy more slaves. Second, the slaves would have faced armed opponents with little else than their bare hands. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is a sort 2011-10-26T12:33:57.45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Northern-Poverty-Southern-Slavery-34084.aspx KNOWN HIP-HOP ARTIST BRUTALLY TOSSES FAN OFFSTAGE Akon finally has a trial date after injuring two fans at a June 2007 concert Aliune Thiam, known as Akon, a well loved hip-hop artists, shows his true colors when he brutally tosses a fifteen year old fan offstage at a concert in June 2007. Another fan, after having the tossed boy collide with her, suffered from a severe concussion. It has been sixteen months and the ‘star’ has finally been given a trial date. Akon asked for a jury trial with his lawyer on September 3, 2008 at Fishkill Town Court and is due back for his trial on December 1, 2008. The thirty-five year old singer pleads ‘not guilty’ to the misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second degree harassment. Andrea Zellan, Akons million dollar lawyer says, ‘Akon looks forward to putting this incident behind him’. I’m sure he does, but what about the poor fans who are now suffering injuries to their bodies and spirits?  Akon fan-tossing case set for trial 09/04/2008 01:00 AM EDT akon Akon is headed to trial on criminal charges he tossed a fan offstage at an upstate concert last summer. The 35-year-old singer is accused of tossing a teenager off the stage during a June 2007 concert at a minor league baseball stadium near Poughkeepsie. Another concertgoer said she suffered a concussion when the boy landed on her. Akon, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, asked for the jury trial during a brief appearance with his lawyer in Fishkill Town Court yesterday. He’s due back in court for trial Dec. 1 unless a deal is negotiated in the meantime. He pleaded not guilty in December to misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, a violation. In court yesterday, Judge Harold Epstein met privately with Akon’s lawyer, Andrea Zellan, and Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Anthony Parisi before announcing the case would go to trial unless a deal is reached. “We are pleased that Judge Epstein adjourned the case to a date certain for either a trial or a negotiated resolution,” Zellan said in a prepared statement. “Akon looks forward to putting this incident behind him, and in the meantime he will continue to meet every requirement set forth by the court.” Akon’s hits include “Smack That” with Eminem and “I Wanna Love You” with Snoop Dogg. His most recent album, Konvicted, was 2008-09-08T21:34:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Hip-Hop-Aliune-Thiam-33697.aspx Assertion: Assertion is a common modern propaganda technique. Assertion is a wholehearted or energetic statement given like a fact even though it may not be true. Assertions very often are stated with an air of confidence as to ward off questions and make people believe they are in no need of an explanation. This might have been used by yellow journalists when reporting on the Cuban rebellion during the blowing up of the USS Maine- when the reporters were saying it was torpedoed rather than blown up by a boiler. Bandwagon: Bandwagon known as one of the most familiar techniques in both wartimes as well as peace and plays an important part in modern advertising. Bandwagon is the appeal to follow the crowd; to do something merely because others are doing it as well. Bandwagon propaganda tries to convince people that one side is the better because more people are on that side. This could have been used when telling the public to follow or go against the rebellion. "All your neighbors are rushing down to Mistri Motors to take advantage of this year-end sale. You come, too!" Card stacking: Card stacking, also known as selective omission (often used by children with their parents), involves showing only information that is helpful to their subject and leaving out any information that could damage their argument. Whenever the journalists needed to sway the crowd to believe something about an ‘attack’ or about what Cubans might have been doing, this would have been a very good tactic to use. FEAR Plays on deep-seated fears; warns the audience that disaster will result if they do not follow a particular course of action. By keeping people afraid, yellow journalists were able to have a hand in starting the Spanish American war. Example: an insurance company pamphlet includes pictures of houses destroyed floods, followed up by details about home-owners’ insurance. Glittering Generalities: Glittering generalities occurs most often in politics and political propaganda. Glittering generalities are words that have different positive meaning for different subjects, but are connected to highly valued ideas. When these words are used, they command agreement without thinking, simply because such an important concept is involved. Comparing the Cuban rebellion to any other historical happening, journalists could have made the public feel however they wanted them to about the rebellion. Examples: democracy, patriotism, family Lesser of Two Evils: The "lesser of two evils" technique attempts to convince us of a certain opinion by portraying it as the 2008-09-08T21:33:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Types-of-Propoganda-33696.aspx America & World History Final Exam Essay The Best and Worst of Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson Saturday, May 31, 2008 Period 1 Final Exam Essay Woodrow Wilson served as our twenty-eighth president for eight years showing the United States his loyalty, leadership ability and response to tough times. Woodrow Wilson did many great things for the United States, one of them being his support of the women’s suffrage. For many years women led rallies in front of the white house, begging the president to support their cause. Finally, in 1918, Wilson finally announced his support of the cause, promising women the right to vote. Between the time in 1919 that the senate finally passed the amendment and the time Wilsons support was announced, women saw three results: increased activism among local groups, new, bold ideas to build enthusiasm and rebirth of the national movement. However, though Wilson had his shining moment with women, he also had some darker days- Although in 1912, Wilson won the support of the NAACP’s black intellectuals and white liberals by promising to treat blacks equally and to speak out against lynching, Wilson did not elect any black officials for his cabinet and instilled segregation facilities, only separating and betraying blacks, not keeping his promises. I believe that if a president is going to make a promise for a change, he needs to either follow through or withdraw his promise with an apology publicly. Theodore Roosevelt, our twenty sixth p[resident also had his shining moments, for instance, setting aside 194 acres of land for national parks, forests and preserves. By putting aside so much land, Roosevelt showed the United States that he was really serious about being president and wanted to not only better the day, but better the future as well. However, even though he worked hard to preserve America’s future, he did it no justice by pushing William Taft to run for office. Taft had no confidence or desire to be president and though he did a decent job when in office, I believe it was wrong to push him to become something he didn’t want. Without any drive to become president, he was unable to show America the spark that said “I am here for you and will lead you through the rough times”. Taft was our twenty seventh president and his biggest mistake while in office was allowing his 2008-09-04T23:44:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Best-and-Worst-of-Roosevelt,-Taft-and-Wilson-33690.aspx Was America justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima? With the war in Europe ending shortly after Adolf Hitler committing suicide in his office, America is under pressure to end the war in Asia but Japan is still putting up fierce resistance. On August 6, around 8:00 AM, an American B-29 flew over Hiroshima, Japan carrying the world’s most feared weapons, a weapon which can flatten a whole city in seconds, Equivalent to 13 kilotons of TNT. This new technology is called an atomic bomb. The primary target of “Little Boy” (the atomic bomb) was Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima was of industrial and military significance. A number of military camps were located nearby, including the headquarters of the Fifth Division and Field Marshal Shunroku Hata's 2nd General Army Headquarters, which commanded the defense of all of southern Japan. Hiroshima was a strategic military position and it was critical that America captured it. Hiroshima was one of several Japanese cities left deliberately untouched by American fire-bombing, so America could measure the damage caused by the atomic bomb. As the pressure is building up in the war in Asia, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was more necessary because it will bring the war in Asia to an end so American troops can go home along with troops from Europe. America had calculated that 500,000 to 1,000,000 American troops would be killed in order to mount a successful full scale invasion of Japan. Those figures do not include Japanese troops and civilians which could be killed during the fighting in Japan. Also, America wanted revenge from the Japanese for the surprise bombing at Pearl Harbor. Immediate use of the atomic bomb after it being invented convinced the world of its horror and prevented future use when nuclear stockpiles were far larger. Along side with that reason, the two target cities would have been firebombed anyway and it was only a matter of time that Hiroshima would be destroyed entirely. With only two bombs ready and one under construction by late August 1945, it was too risky to “waste” one in a demonstration over an unpopulated area. The final and most important is that America had to keep the USSR military forces out of Asia incase of the USSR spreads communism throughout China, Manchuria and Korea whilst moving towards Japan. America should not have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima because the bomb had 2008-05-18T12:50:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dropping-The-Atomic-Bomb-33596.aspx The Roaring Twenties Americans, in the years following the end of World War I found themselves in an era, where the people simply wished to detach themselves from the troubles of Europeans and the rest of the world. During the years of the Twenties, the economy was prosperous, there was widespread social reform, new aspects of culture were established, and people found better ways to improve their lifestyle and enjoy life. The 1920's exemplified the changing attitudes of American's toward foreign relations, society, and leisure activities. Following the end of World War I, many Americans demanded that the United States stay out of European affairs in the future. The United States Senate even refused to accept the Treaty of Versailles which officially ended World War I and provided for the establishment of the League of Nations. The Senate chose to refuse the Treaty in the fear that it could result in the involvement of the United States in future European wars. Americans simply did not wish to deal with, nor tolerate the problems of Europe and abroad. There were many problems running rampant throughout the country following the conclusion of the war. One of the greatest problems which arose was the Red Scare which was seen as an international communist conspiracy that was blamed for various protest movements and union activities in 1919 and 1920. The Red Scare was touched off by a national distrust of foreigners. Many Americas also kept a close eye on the increasing activities of the Klu Klux Klan who were terrorizing foreigners, blacks, Jews and Roman Catholics. Once Americans put the war behind them, they were able to forget the problems of European affairs, and focus on the country, their town, and themselves. Americans found themselves in a period of reform, both socially and culturally. Many feared that morality had crumbled completely. Before World War I, women wore their hair long, had ankle length dresses, and long cotton stockings. In the twenties, they wore short, tight dresses, and rolled their silk stockings down to their knees. They wore flashy lipstick and other cosmetics. Eventually, women were even granted the right to vote with the passing of the 19th Amendment. It was up to this time period that women were not seen as an important aspect in American society. As 2008-01-27T00:54:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Roaring-Twenties--33506.aspx American Presidency Cyle Parker Dr. Mark Leeper December 12th 2007 All the Worlds’ a Stage; A Foreign Policy FOR America? In depth look at Presidential Policies and Action between the United States & neighboring Soviet nations in the 21st Century Often on the world stage, the relationships and tensions that play out between the superpowers of the globe has always been complex. How each leader of each respected nation handles these crises sets the foundation from which future leaders will derive effective solutions. There is the natural inclination to achieve dominance on the world stage, while trying to keep a stable relationship with neighboring world powers. The United States and the USSR had been recognized as superpowers since the end of World War II. “Boosting America into a foreign policy arms race, the United States’ Manhattan Project led to atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.” (Cohen, 20) In 1949, the USSR surprised the world by breaking the United States’ monopoly on atomic weapons by exploding their own atomic bomb. In 1952, the United States developed and exploded a thermonuclear weapon, also known as the hydrogen bomb. In the following year, the USSR followed suit by detonating their hydrogen bomb. On a global playground for men with big guns, quickly it was realized that our two countries had major ideological differences. The American system of free market capitalism was in stark contrast to Soviet communism. (Cohen 54, 84) The American economy was built, made and sustained by self-made men who had brought themselves from “rags-to-riches”. This stereotype was further perpetuated by American authors of the time and living examples of true life heroes of American industry such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. The USSR’s communist ideology was based on the belief that every person should have the same social status as everyone else with no citizens outranking in elite classes. Both countries began to stockpile nuclear weapons and the period known as the “Cold War” began when World War II ended. What culminating actions on either side caused this “warm tension” to become a period in our nation’s history blemished with tales of espionage and counter-espionage between our two countries, each trying to get political and technological advantage over the other? This unofficial conflict lasted throughout each presidential administration predating Jimmy Carters induction until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 during the Bush Sr. 2007-12-17T12:30:13-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/All-the-Worlds’-a-Stage-A-Foreign-Policy-FOR-America-33473.aspx Parker Cyle Dr. Mark Leeper December 12th 2007 American Presidency: T-TH Take Home Examination: Section A Through a series of conferences, preliminary debates and caucuses each of the presidential parties select chosen candidates to race in the candidacy for the President of the United States. Coined as the 'Primary election' in political circles across the country, this is the process through which Americas policy conscious elite will vote in droves to secure their parties’ presidential nomination. With great satisfaction in the current term I am able to observe with a considerable wealth of favorable anticipation as individual states are changing the dynamic of political precedence dramatically. The registered voters of each region cast ballots for their parties designated nominees. Unfortunately as national tradition would have it, primary elections have been kicked off in the state of New Hampshire since the earlier fifties. This creates for a mundane and predictable succession of voter habits throughout the nation. With the current trend of excess capital and guerrilla warfare media campaigns the primary election structure has demonstrated time and time again it’s stronghold on influencing America’s politics. The process dictates a lucid timeline for which the candidates are required to address the public and provide answers to the questions that will ultimately shape the policies and legislation passed during their anticipated terms as president. For the voters of this country this proves to be an invaluable “look under the hood”. Without a solid span of time from which one can form an educated inference there is no margin for comment and would ultimately prove our founders and critics of past days true in the notion that the average American is incapable of choosing effective leaders. Many aspiring politicians enter the primary race each year; however there should be stricter requirements in order to minimize the number of frivolous campaigns that plague each primary election. Too often the American public is inundated with hypocrisy and double talk from race runners whose names are only in the hat to add shock value to media presence. Their presence overshadows the politicians who are purely in the race for the long haul. A wise decision on the forethought of our founding fathers currently structure only allows from the nominated individuals, one person (who is selected by the party delegates at the national conventions) to continue in the race to the White House. The voting body 2007-12-17T12:28:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Presidency-Exam-33472.aspx Events, Policies and Actions Which Help/Hindered U.S-Soviet Relations during the Administrations of: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century T-TH 2pm Cyle Parker Dr. Lin Chang February 2, 2005 Events, Policies and Actions between the United States and the USSR during the Carter, Regan and Bush Sr. Administrations The relationship between superpowers has always been complex. There is the natural inclination to achieve dominance on the world stage, while trying to keep a stable relationship with other world powers. The United States and the USSR had been recognized as superpowers since the end of World War II. The United States’ Manhattan Project led to atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. In 1949, the USSR surprised the world by breaking the United States’ monopoly on atomic weapons and exploding their own atomic bomb. In 1952, the United States developed and exploded a thermonuclear weapon, also known as the hydrogen bomb. The next year, the USSR followed suit by detonating their own hydrogen bomb. The countries had major ideological differences. The American system of free-market capitalism was in stark contrast to Soviet communism. The American economy was built, made and sustained by self-made men who had brought themselves from “rags-to-riches”. This idea was encouraged and glorified by Horatio Alger in books while people like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were living examples. The USSR’s communist ideology was based on the belief that every person should have the same social status as everyone else with no people of a higher caste so to speak. Both countries began to stockpile nuclear weapons and the period known as the “Cold War” began when World War II ended. It was a period of espionage and counter-espionage between the two countries, each trying to get political and technological advantage over the other. This unofficial conflict lasted until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 during the Bush Sr. administration. This essay will examine the events, policies and actions during each of the Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations that eased tensions between the countries or kept them apart. Carter Administration James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia1. He had 3 siblings, 2 sisters (Gloria and Ruth) and a brother named William1. He was a southern Democrat, also sometimes known as a Dixie-Crat. Following his high school education in 2007-12-17T07:25:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Events,-Policies-and-Actions-Which-Help-Hindered-U_S_-Soviet-33471.aspx The temperance movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries was an organized effort to encourage moderation in the consumption of intoxicating liquors or press for complete abstinence. The movement's ranks were mostly filled by women who, with their children, had endured the effects of uncontrolled drinking by many of their husbands. These organizations used many arguments to convince their countrymen of the evils of alcohol. They argued that alcohol was a cause of poverty. They said that drunk workers often lost their jobs; or that they would spend their wages on alcohol instead of their homes and families. “Men spent money on alcohol that their families needed for basic necessities, and drunken husbands often abused their wives and children (American History, A Survey, Alan Brinkley, PG 32,7 2003). The temperance societies also claimed that drinking led to hell. Temperance supporters argued that alcohol produced insanity and crime. It destroyed families, hurting women and children. They claimed that drunkenness was a worse evil than slavery. The temperance movement continued into the 20th century, when it would achieve its greatest victory; the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the United States. Producing a system of universal education became one of the outstanding movements of the mid 19th century. Horace Mann, the greatest of the educational reformers, was the first secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education. He used his position to enact major educational reform. He spearheaded the Common School Movement, ensuring that every child could receive a basic education funded by local taxes. Mann reorganized the Massachusetts school system, lengthened the academic year, doubled teachers’ salaries, enriched the curriculum and introduced new methods of professional training for teachers (American History, A Survey, Alan Brinkley, PG 330, 2003). His influence soon spread beyond Massachusetts as more states took up the idea of universal schooling. Dorothea Dix, an advocate for treating the mentally ill humanely fought for better treatment of mentally ill persons. Dix spent a few years studying the conditions in prison and insane asylums in Massachusetts. She discovered that a large number of people suffering from mental illness were confined in prisons and were receiving no medical treatment. Even in mental asylums the patients were often confined in cages and bound with ropes and chains. 2007-12-09T19:14:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Women-Movement-19th-Century-33463.aspx RACISM The Holocaust is known as the most devastating even to happen in this world’s history. Millions of people were killed. Adolf Hitler, the German dictator during World War II, targeted mainly Jews. Now days, racism still exist. It isn’t targeted to just one race. The main race targeted in the United States would be African Americans. The era of civil rights movement mainly started in the 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963 is what I believe to be one of the greatest speeches of all time, and one of the greatest advances for African American people. While this peaceful act was taking place, the Birmingham Police Commissioner made a bold decision and used powerful fire hoses and released police dogs to attack black civil rights activists. Although the civil rights activists made great pushes towards freedom, the greatest problem which remains in our great nation is that of Racism and/or Racial Profiling. Over the years, racism has been a growing problem in all parts of the United States. Back in the 60s there were such problems as segregated schools, which meant only kids of certain color could attend a certain school. Also blacks had to drink from different bubblers and white kids did in some public places. There were many things and rules that were terribly wrong at this time. The most current problem in today’s society is that which is called Racial Profiling. Racial Profiling is the discriminatory practice by police of treating blackness as an indication of possible criminality. This has been the most recent focus of legislative action. There has been a significant amount of coverage taking place in the media. This is referred to as media blackface. As far as the police go, the racial profiling is pretty direct. The individual officers act on racial stereotypes against racial minorities, specifically African Americans. Also this goes on in the media, when a news channel might exaggerate or over-represent the number of black people when the subject at hand has something to do with some type of political punishment. The media tends to do this sometimes and many people get upset over this time of racial profiling. Some examples of issues that are used to define blackface are the black drug abuser 2007-12-04T22:23:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Racism-and-the-Holocaust-33455.aspx In eighteenth century colonial America, the ability to read and write became more common and a necessity to some. Americans exchanged ideas and debates on political issues with the growing print industry. Increasingly more printed materials provided both the need and want for the public to become literate. The ability to read and write for the general public was revolutionary. The growing literacy among the common people brought about changes and challenges to existing political and religious institutions. The widespread literacy found in eighteenth century colonial American society gives a close connection to Benjamin Franklin as he took the roles of both a beloved writer and publisher, as he wrote and published some of the most popular books in the era, and a man who brought many others with him on the road to literacy. As early as the settlements of the Puritans in Massachusetts, literacy has been an important aspect of the colonial life. The Bible was essential to Puritan belief. By the time of The Great Awakening, this belief no longer remained in the Puritan society. The importance of people having the ability to read and interpret the Bible on their own was stressed by the religious leaders. However, the need for literacy not only pertained to religious believers but also the general public, or more specifically, the white male population. Living in colonial America was no longer merely a fight for survival and free white males were now much more involved in politics than ever. It was during this time that Benjamin Franklin brought countless contributions to the influential print industry. Eric Foner, the author of Give Me Liberty, states in the book that “The ‘political nation’ was dominated by the American gentry, whose members addressed each other in letters, speeches, newspaper articles, and pamphlets.” The concern for political information was delivered through printed materials. At this time in British North America, widespread literacy created an enormous market for printing industry and thus the press expanded rapidly. According to Foner, as the colonies prepared for the American Revolution, about seventy-five percent of the adult male could read and write, and a majority of American families owned at least one book. As Benjamin Franklin describes in his autobiography, “the schools opened I think in the same year 1749. The scholars encreasing fast, the House was soon found too small.” 2007-12-02T20:51:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benjamin-Franklin-and-Widespread-Literacy-in-Eighteenth-Cent-33450.aspx We should support the Captains of Industry because they are helping America tremendously by enriching us with minerals and making the society wealthier. Andrew Carnegie, also known as the steel king, founded the Carnegie Steel Company in 1870s. The company made steel more abundant in a wooden America. Carnegie then built railroads for trains, and bridges for people. Andrew Carnegie recently founded establishments for many libraries, schools, and universities in America. He also devoted his life to large-scale philanthropy, with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, and scientific research. John Davison Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and founded the Standard Oil Company which helped many railroad companies, in order for him to become the richest person, he had to crush other competitors (American beauty rose) and used horizontal integration to collect shipping fees. However, Rockefeller has devoted a great amount of money into the modern systematic approach on philanthropy, foundations that 2007-11-25T01:11:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Captains-of-Industry-Editorial-33437.aspx During the 19th and 20th centuries there are countries that have more power than other countries, the likely hood of imperialism that occurs in those countries are very high and with the greed of some, bloodshed will be inevitable. The world does not just revolve around one country, there are many countries in each continent, there are many different cultures in each country, and in each culture there are different religions among the people. In the Conquest of the United States… by William Graham Sumner “We assume that what we like must come as a welcome blessing to Spanish-Americans and Filipinos. This is grossly and obviously untrue” (Document F). In other words people like their own ways better, and does not like to be corrected for what they do not understand. There is an old saying “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed” (Mohandas K. Gandhi) some countries will inherit imperialism because they would want to benefit from others but does not want others to benefit from them. They will fight for what they want, but not for what is right. In the poem by William Jennings Bryant “Take up the sword and rifle, send forth your ships with speed, to join the nations’ scramble, and vie with them in greed;” (Document D). This expresses that there will be disputes that will start because of each countries greed. Also in the Political cartoon “Uncle Sam Wished to add another star to his flag” (Document I). This expresses that Americans also are greedy. Americans in this time period have experienced many imperialism ideas and also some Anti-imperialism ideas. Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan wrote a book in 1890 entitled “The influence of Sea Power upon History” told the English, Germans, Japanese, and especially his fellow Americans that to imperialize others you need to have control over the sea which required a very strong navy force and structure. Later on Rudyard Kipling, a British poet who was very laureate of imperialism drove America down the slippery path by expressing in “The white Man’s Burden” that the citizens of America should uplift the underprivileged and underfed and underclad of the world; in William Mckinley’s speech “that we could not leave them to themselves, they were unfit for self-government and, they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there” (Document A). 2007-11-24T23:57:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Imperialism-in-19th-and-20th-century-33436.aspx [size=15:5623715336]During the period 1929 to 1990, the lives of the black people changed a lot, and overall by 1990, their lives had greatly improved. In 1920, 10% of the US population was black and most of them lived in the southern states. As a result of the [i:5623715336]Jim Crow[/i:5623715336] segregation laws, they suffered the worst education, the lowest jobs, and they lived in separate areas of cities, known as ghettoes. There was a constant risk of attack by the Ku Klux Klan, and the lynchings of black people for petty crimes (without trial) were common public events. Black people lived lives totally apart from white people. Even in the army during the Second World War, the Jim Crow Army was for the black people and the main army for the whites. Despite the black people fighting for their country, they were still victims of bullying by most of the GIs in the army. During the Second World War, the membership of the NAACP, (the movement for black people’s civil rights) had increased by 9 times by 1945. As a result of this, extra pressure was put on the government to improve the situation of the black people. Despite this, the only improvement made, was the law which made segregation in weapon factories illegal. The black people of USA still faced mass segregation economically, socially and politically. And although they had the right to vote, a written test had to be passed in order to confirm their right to vote. With poor education, this was virtually impossible for most African Americans. Small victories were won all the time. One example is the Bus Boycott in 1956. Black people were forced to move to the back of public buses, in order to make room for the whites. In 1955, Rosa Parks, a middle aged African American, refused to move to the back because of her tiredness. After causing outrage, she was arrested which drew much public attention. As a way of protest, for 13 months after, the black people boycotted the buses in Montgomery under the leadership of Martin Luther King, and since 75% of the bus users were black, this had a huge effect on the bus company. As a result, in 1956, the law was passed to make segregation on buses illegal. However, many of the transport companies refused to comply, so the law was passed in 1957 which enforced 2007-11-08T23:35:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/African-Americans-Civil-Rights-in-USA,-1929-1990_-33400.aspx There are many reasons to study United States History. A few are, so that we do not commit the same mistakes as our ancestors, to know our heritage, learn about our freedoms, and to learn to become a citizen in our nation. We need history so that we will not commit the same mistakes as our ancestors. A sad thing is that sometimes even though we know what has happened in the past, we do it again, hoping that it will work this time. And usually it doesn’t work and the same mistake is 2007-10-29T00:21:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Why-Study-American-History--33370.aspx Columbus’s Voyage Christopher Columbus was a Spanish explorer born in Genoa Italy, between August and October, in 1451. He was the oldest son of Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa with four brothers and one sister. He did not receive much formal education though he did learn to read and write in Spanish and read Latin while he was at sea because most maps were written in Latin. Also he could write in Castilian. Columbus’s father was a wool weaver and was lower middle class. He was described as a very optimistic man, as was his son, but lacked his son’s strong will. Christopher worked for his father until he was 22 then pursued his dream to become a sea captain. In 1475, Columbus began his first sea voyage to the Aegean Island of Chios. One year later, he survived a shipwreck off Cape St. Vincent and had to swim to shore. Imagine what would have happened to the Americas if he had died. In 1479, Christopher married Felipa Perestello e Moniz and in 1480, He had a son of his own, Diego. Felipa died in 1485, and a while later Columbus became in a relationship with Beatriz Enriquez de Harana of Cordabo, and had his second son, Ferdinand. Columbus and Enriquez never were married, but Columbus supported her. Columbus loved being a sea captain but he longed for more. He wanted riches and glory. Back then to get to India they had to go all the way around Africa which slowed trade. So Columbus decided to try and go the opposite way, across the Atlantic Ocean. He was not trying to prove the world round but to find a faster route to India. In 1484, he asked King John of Portugal to support his voyage west, but he was rejected. So he went to Spain with Diego to look for help from Queen Elizabeth and her husband King Ferdinand. Even though they first rejected Christopher’s idea, they gave him a small grant to live on, and he remained determined to convince them. In January 1492, Christopher convinced Elizabeth and Ferdinand, after being rejected twice, to give him support on his voyage west. He took three ships; the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. When everything was prepared they set sail from Palos. The first sight of land came at on October 12th from the Pinta. They most likely landed in the Bahamas on 2007-09-19T21:28:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Columbus-s-Voyage-33330.aspx The year was 1838; more than six hundred wagons loaded with Cherokee Indians were hauled into the west in the cold October rain. They were forced to leave their homes and everything they held dear and were accustomed to their entire lives. The removal of Native Americans from their lands by the Indian Removal Act of 1830 violated their political, legal, and human rights. Taking away freedom and land without consent from Native Americans was a violation of their political rights. Native Americans had no freedom. If anything they were captives. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 ordered soldiers to imprison Native Americans in stockades. They had no say to change this. They protested and went to courts, but they had no power in U.S. government and their personal votes did not count. The courts ruled against them although Chief Justice John Marshall declared, "...that an Indian tribe or nation within the United States is not a foreign state in the sense of the constitution...". They were considered a part of the United States, yet no democracy existed for the Native Americans. Their reasoning and advocated desires were ignored. Isn't that a violation of political rights? Stealing lands from Native Americans and being dishonest with treaties was a violation of their legal rights. The Native Americans had been living on that land for years--way before the U.S. even existed! The Native Americans helped white Americans and established formal treaties with the U.S. that guaranteed them their residence, privileges, and peace from intruders. However, a letter from Cherokee Chief John Ross says otherwise...In his letter, Ross protests to the Senate and House of Representatives of how trespassers have looted, hurt, and even killed members of his tribe. Despite the treaties--and the laws enforcing them-- Native Americans were still being disturbed, and although, the treaties were still active during the Removal Act; their lands were still taken. The U.S. took what had not belonged to them and committed document fraud towards the Native Americans. There is nothing legal about that. In consequence to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, human rights of Native Americans were violated. They were not treated as human beings and their cause had been devalued, and even considered subordinate to the United States by Andrew Jackson in his defense of the Removal Policy in 1830. Jackson referred to them as 'savages' and were lowered to the state of livestock 2007-08-24T02:05:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Indian-Removal-Act-of-1830-Native-American-Perspective-33316.aspx African American Women and the Second Great Migration In 1941, A. Phillip Randolph’s March on Washington movement forced the nation to take notice of African Americans. Following the march, Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order that mandated the end of racial discrimination in defense industries. The agency in charge of enforcing the executive order, the Fair Employment Practices Committee, was weak. Still, the agency provided a forum for African Americans whose complaints, until then, would have fallen on deaf ears. Although discrimination against African American people was prevalent throughout the United States at this time, nowhere were racial tensions as high as they were in the South. In numbers large enough to be coined the “Second Great Migration” African American people left the south and headed north and west to find employment in defense industries. With the political and social climate slowly beginning to change, the “Second Great Migration” of African Americans from the South to northern and western cities had a unique character. Unlike the “Great Migration” which took place during World War I, the World War II migration included a vast number of women.# During the first migration African American men outnumbered women three to one. By the second migration this was no longer the case as increasingly men sent for their wives, families traveled together, and women even sometimes traveled alone. Although they are often ignored in accounts of migration out of the South, women had many of the same motivations to leave the South that men had. Just as men longed to escape the agricultural work of the South, women too hoped to escape low-wage domestic labor. Women, like men, wished to flee the harsh realities of racism. The music and other media that enticed men to head west also enticed women. Often the reality was that life for men and women out West was little different from life in the South, but the hopes and dreams that encouraged men to leave their homes in the South also encouraged women. While men hoped to get out of the fields, women hoped to get out of the kitchen.# World War II had an important impact on gender roles in the United States. Women, both black and white, were asked to challenge feminine roles and do “men’s” work in wartime industries. For African American 2007-07-18T02:20:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/African-American-Women-and-the-Second-Great-Migration-33283.aspx Civil Rights and African American Life So how did African-Americans get looked down on? Well it was in 1619 when Africans were brought to America as slaves for the white settlement. While slavery was eradicated after the Civil war the racism and segregation side of it still occurred. During the 20th century the fight for equality for African-Americans led to massive civil rights campaigns. While many of you may have heard of Martin Luther King there may have been things that were left out and today I will tell you a little more about the man that America calls their hero. Martin Luther King was born on the 15th January 1929. While he was originally known as Michael Luther King, he later changed his name to Martin. While Martin was formerly a preacher he became a figurehead of modern civil rights movement by 1957. He married Coretta Scott and raised four children. Both Martins father and grandfather were Baptist preachers and both were involved in the civil rights movement. Martin was very close to his family and at the time of his grandmas death jumped out of the second floor of his home but was fortunately not hurt. After graduating he considered careers in medicine and law but entered the ministry. As a boy Martin suffered racial discrimination. He recalls on one occasion he and his schoolteacher were ordered to give up their seats on the bus to white passengers. Martin did not want to move but at the time it was legal for segregation and Martins school teacher pointed out that they should obey the law. Martin Luther King practiced non violent means of getting his message across. Non violent can also be known as Passive resistance. So what is resistance? Passive resistance is the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through peaceful protests, boycotts, non-cooperation, civil disobedience and other methods without resorting to any means of violence. While studying, Martin heard a lecture regarding Mahatma Gandhi and the non violent civil disobedience campaign that he had used against the British in India. After reading and researching several books on the outline of Gandhi’s methods King came to the conclusion that the same process could be engaged by the black population in America to acquire civil rights and equality. On the 1st of December 1955, Rosa Parks who was an African-American was coming home from a hard days work as a 2007-07-17T10:32:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Civil-Rights-and-African-American-Life-33278.aspx Adlai Stevenson vs. Valerian Zorin In times of crisis and difficult political situations these two men stood tall and strong for their country to ensure peace for the people of this world. Adlai Stevenson of the United States and Valerian Zorin of the Soviet Union eventually went head to head in a session of the United Nations Security Council, but both had great political careers serving as ambassadors for two countries on opposite sides of the Cold War spectrum prior to that encounter. Khrushchev had not instructed Zorin to change his position of not being truthful to the Security Council about the missiles in Cuba. That would play out to be a key flaw in the Soviet plans to continue the construction of missile sites in Cuba. That one flaw caused the collapse of the Soviet operations in Cuba and ended Khrushchev’s time as their Premier because of the end result that the missiles had to be withdrawn. In the days before the encounter Zorin had denied the existence of the weapons. Then the day of the encounter between the two Zorin offered a statement that the weapons in Cuba do not even exist. The Americans assumed that Zorin was not aware that Americans knew the weapons existed and that the Soviet’s Foreign Ministry had not told Zorin to adjust his position. The result of that breakdown was the Soviet Union was now in position where the world began to question their credibility. The blame should not be solely placed on Zorin. The real culprit was the Soviet Union as a whole because Zorin only presented to the United Nations what he was instructed to present. That was one of Zorin’s final debates while being the Soviet ambassador to the United Nations and it was unfortunate that he was misinformed by his country in such a crucial time. Adlai was not even close to winning the United Nations Security Council debate as well as the support of the world at the beginning of the session. United States President, John F Kennedy told his assistants to tell Adlai to stick it to Zorin and don’t let him off. Well the assistants did not have faith in Adlai at all, but the special assistant mentioned that you can’t Adlai out this late, he knows the score and how much time is left in the game. Adlai entered the room of the Security Council 2007-06-24T22:36:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Adlai-Stevenson-vs_-Valerian-Zorin-33266.aspx Imagine a routine morning. One wakes up, showers, eats, travels to work or school, and expects a typical day—no one anticipates anything special to occur. Fast forward to approximately eight in the morning, while sipping coffee or sitting in class, a loud sound spreads throughout the air and he lies on his back, flesh ripping from his burned and damaged skin. Around him wails hundreds of other dying and suffering innocents. And it seemed like a normal Monday. Those horrors occurred to the innocent civilians of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the United States dropped the atomic bomb. Three days later, the problem plagued the people of Nagasaki, as well. The question arises, “Why?” The answer, while complex, boils down to one main point: protection. The United States feared an eminent battle with the Soviet Union, and used the bomb as a means of intimidation for protection. Through study of time, it stands assured that, while the bombing of Nagasaki proved unnecessary, the bombing of Hiroshima worked in America’s (and, ultimately democracy’s) favor. First of all, the atomic bomb failed to win the Pacific War; the U.S. won the war several months before, but they waited for an official surrender from Japan. Japan also desired to end the war. By seeking out help from the Soviet Union, who established peace a year earlier in the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, they sought to end the fighting once and for all. Truman knew all of this and, after the Potsdam Conference, sent a message to Japan permitting only an unconditional surrender with no guaranteed safety for the emperor. A day before sending the message, Truman okayed the use of the atomic bomb on Japan. Clearly, Japanese opinions mattered naught in this situation and, therefore; all of the noble stories associated with the atomic bomb (lives saved and war winning cause) proved lies. Then why drop a bomb murdering more than 300,000 people? Repeating pre World War One days, America used militarism to coerce a final, submissive surrender from Japan (allowing the U.S. to beat its chest), while attempting to frighten the Soviets. The U.S.S.R. craved more power and the U.S. did not want to concede it, therefore; as barbaric as it seems, the Soviet Union needed to witness a sign of authority from America. Threats 2007-05-25T21:47:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Sickening-Truth-of-the-Atomic-Bomb-33233.aspx Imperialism battles waged at the turn of the century portraying many prominent voices. Henry Cabot Lodge strongly believed in imperialism as it possessed power for good. William McKinley stood middle ground to promote imperialism while not condoning it. Then, of course, there existed the Anti-Imperialist League, thus; much conflict abrood. The question of ethical practices of sacrificing innocent lives for financial gain became a major issue, one that plagues people today, despite its uselessness. A forerunner for imperialism, Henry Cabot Lodge believed strongly in foreign policy and its great importance to the nation’s financial (and thus overall) wellbeing. He stated, “There is no higher aim or purpose for man or for nations than to buy and sell, to trade jack-knives and make everything cheap.” He utilized the Monroe Doctrine, among many sources including Washington’s Neutrality Policy, to prove his pro-imperialism thoughts by informing people that the Monroe Doctrine only applied to Europe. He believed that Europe possessed no privilege to enter the Western Hemisphere, but America maintained the rights and power to extend wherever it desires. It was America’s “destiny”. He saw a never-ending landscape of an American future; it expanded west at one point, and thus, in Lodge’s eyes, must colonize and imperialize further out, past oceans, to promote trade and become a world power of green. He states, “But from the Rio Grande to the Arctic Ocean there should be but one flag and one country.” Also, he believed that the U.S. needed to control Hawaii, occupy Samoa, build a Nicaraguan canal, and promote a strong navy. Another face in the imperialism and foreign policy debate included William McKinley. He used many arguments to justify intervention in Cuba including: horror in Cuba commencement, trade losses, aggravation to the citizens, and shock of the citizens, but the greatest issue that he deduced remained money. McKinley thought that the social struggles in Cuba caused hardships to the land, affecting U.S. interests–sugar, and thus not protecting his people. He also attempted to appeal to the kindred of hearts (in Congress–what a challenge) by claiming that this struggle in Cuba needed to cease to save the Cubans and endangered the lives of Americans by not securing them financially. Whether that remained true or not, the physical lives of Americans stood threatened, 2007-05-25T21:42:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Justification-for-Conflict--33231.aspx The post world war era caused for much stress and strife between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each one tried to overpower or contain the other, and a standoff existed for many years. Many policies and plans burst came with the diverse ideas of foreign policy at that time including the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and George Kennan’s philosophies. Most of them seemed quite similar, though all possessed some differences, but the main purpose all maintained included the ultimate goal of the Cold War: Communism containment. First of all, the Truman Doctrine proclaimed that any nation, not already Communist, attacked or coerced by a Communist nation received U.S. aid and defense. To Truman, and other politicians, it stood as America’s responsibility to defend those nations in order to contain Communism. Greece seemed like a nation in need of that aid, as they faced attacks from a small band of Communist soldiers. Truman wanted to offer financial aid to supply the small Greek army with equipment so that Greece could defend itself and thus promote peace and democracy, ultimately shunning Communism. Turkey, Greece’s neighbor, needed economic assistance as well, but not for direct defense. With the growing marketplaces, Turkey required modernization, which it could not afford alone. If Turkey stayed in the pre/postwar era (it mattered not, as neither stood as great times of economic development) then they remained weak, opening themselves up to an easy takeover. Truman, obviously, thought this bad, and knew that if one Middle Eastern country fell into Communism, a mere few moments awaited before the rest of the region suffered the same fate. Besides the overall objective of containing Communism, Truman knew that no other nation in the world could realistically help Greece and Turkey, because no others really thrived economically yet (besides the Soviet Union). Because the Soviet Union and America stood as the world’s strongest powers at that time, Truman cited two distinctly different ways of life. The first he described maintained that the majority made decisions and that all people kept all of their rights, liberties, and freedoms. The second way required that decisions became decided through a minority that overpowered the majority. Freedoms died there, while oppression thrived. Truman believed that the U.S. must support countries aiming to maintain freedoms for the people, and that the support from the U.S. must be primarily financial. He, once again, knew that if the 2007-05-25T21:40:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Chilly-Politics--33230.aspx 1877’s Supreme Court case Munn v. Illinois created much controversy. It dealt with whether or not the Illinois legislature possessed the constitutional rights to control charges for grain storage. After examining many perspectives, including merchants, farmers, and the government, the judge and some justices still differed in views. They faced tough questions with trying answers. Did the government hold the right to manage private institutions? For that matter, what defined a private or public institution? This problem plagues America today, in situations like eminent domain, but clearly neither federal nor state officials retain the right to control non-government establishments. One important perspective included farmers. After facing several decades of suffering-falling crop price levels, increasing necessary expenses, and capricious charges from monopolistic services (chiefly railroads)-the Midwestern cultivators formed the Illinois State Farmer’s Association. At a convention in 1873, they passed a series of resolutions, dealing with grievances, in hopes to better their essential occupation. Mainly, they grew exasperated with the corrupt railroads, but concluded that all railways needed to connect, thus lessening the difficulties of travel and trade. Also, the farmers wanted tariffs for iron, steel, lumber, and other railroad and machinery materials to cease, and to gain railroad support for this matter. Meanwhile, they desired legislative support for themselves and strong punishment for the law-breaking and unconstitutional railroads. Most importantly, they decided that railroads needed government regulations to subdue the public by implementing equal train fares. Therefore, the case four years later should have overjoyed the farmers; although Munn v. Illinois centered on grain storage, one implication of the ruling included railroads. Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite determined whether the state of Illinois carried the right to decide “maximum of charges for the storage of grain in warehouses.” By citing the fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law . . .”, he noted that government already limited its power, a notion as old as the Magna Carta. He remarked that almost every U.S. State Constitution maintains this principle and to deny it destroys a part of citizenship. However, Waite continued with a description of a “body politic” as defined by the Massachusetts Constitution, though the case lied in Illinois. Simply stated, a body politic exists when all citizens live and work 2007-05-25T21:37:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Agrarian-Protests-of-the-Nineteenth-Century-and-Today-33229.aspx While the war in Europe and the Japanese battle raged on, the United States faced a difficult decision. Should they engage in war or maintain their level of neutrality? Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew that America’s involvement in the war stood as an inevitability, however; despite the president’s mentality, most Americans felt neutrality stood as the only way to handle the growing conflict afar. On October 5, 1937, President Roosevelt delivered his Quarantine the Aggressors Speech in which he described the military provokers as the “reign of terror” promoting “international lawlessness.” He outed their unjust habits of breaking treaties by invading territories, and noted that these countries executed this with no formal declarations of war. They fought like bullies on the proverbial playground. Also, these nations used their force and dominating willpower to mindlessly slaughter millions of civilians—all to increase their power and strength. They attacked every foreign ship they encountered whether provoked or not, and worst of all, denied the very thing they claimed to fight for. Many nations claimed to combat for freedom—to better their land—but, while they themselves achieved this (if one calls a military state better) they denied these simple liberties to the people they oppressed. Roosevelt neglected to list the aggressive nation’s names because of this. He delivered his speech years before war officially broke out in Europe—let alone the U.S.—and did not desire a larger conflict yet. He did not want, at that point, to get involved, and naming names while laying blame would have engaged the U.S. America lacked the proper readiness for war. Roosevelt worked to prepare America though. By stating that 90% of the world desired and strived for peace, he appealed to man’s sense of ethics and morality. He explained that the 90% of peace-loving people could not allow the 10% of anarchists to win, and, thus offered the path to peace. Roosevelt’s solution entailed taking a stand against international instability. A plan of neutrality could not suffice. America would work together for a triumph of morals and international peace. A reestablishment of the sanctity of treaties and national morality needed to occur. Also, to defeat the international anarchy, laws, that all obeyed, needed establishment in order to maintain stability and peace. This would aid in ending aggression and respecting other’s rights (like nations 2007-05-25T21:35:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Aggressively-Neutral--33228.aspx Throughout America’s many years of growth and expansion, vast scores of ideas presented themselves unto the country. One such idea, prominent and essential to the nation, became temperance (prohibition). Prohibition included the end of alcohol sale, manufacture, and transportation, which stood wonderful as alcohol exists as an evil drink perverting society. Therefore, prohibition’s purpose proved solid and upright, with intentions to lead America towards a united society of greater liberties, and thus, needs implementation in modern American life. Prohibition did not sprout from the air; the country believed in and supported its amazing potential long before the Eighteenth Amendment. Its goals included bettering the individual which, in turn, bettered society and the nation as a whole. When Abraham Lincoln developed his immortal Emancipation Proclamation, he enacted the powers of prohibition and, eventually, ended the vile and monstrous act of slavery. This, in time, cleaned up the nation, making it a better society; however, Lincoln cultivated greater ideas. He desired a nation free from the burden and strife of liquor, and knew that by abolishing alcohol the United States could rise to a truly beautiful state. He believed, “The victory against the liquor traffic shall be complete when there shall be neither slaves nor drunkards upon the earth, and how proud the title of that land which may truly claim to be the birthplace and the cradle of both these revolutions . . .” (qtd. in Holmes 40). America, at that time, traveled the path to the victory Lincoln spoke of, and found much support and a greater sense of nationalistic pride. A plethora of people supported prohibition, especially with groups like the Anti-Saloon League and the Women Christian’s Temperance Union. Even the “evil” men of big business supported prohibition; all of the major railroads and factories of the country maintained an alcohol abstinence policy, because they understood the evils and hindrances of the drink. Furthermore, by the time the Eighteenth Amendment passed, thirty-three of the forty-eight states already possessed prohibition legislature, meaning a resounding eighty-seven percent of the nation proudly stood dry (Holmes 42). America knew the reasons for the necessity of banning the filth of alcohol. Alcohol also possesses a direct correlation to crime. Breweries proved one of the most powerful industries at the turn of the century, and thus proved very competitive. In order 2007-05-23T02:57:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Victories-of-Prohibition-33218.aspx American Military History Military Occupations are divided into two major parts within the different branches of the military. They are military enlisted occupations and military officer occupations. Among the two their 152 different occupations, 91 in the enlisted and 61 in the officer occupations. The branches of the military are as follows: the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. “The military enlisted occupations carry out the fundamental operations of the military. They are people like the infantrymen, dental specialists, mechanics, graph designers and illustrators, computer systems specialists, and air traffic controllers in the military work force. The enlisted occupations are usually high school graduates and are required to meet minimum physical and aptitude standards before enlisting. The general enlistment qualifications are as follows: Age, you must be between 17 and 35 years. Consent of parents or legal guardian required if 17. Must be either (1) U.S. citizen, or (2) an immigrant alien legally admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence and possessing immigration and naturalization documents. Physical condition must meet minimum physical standards, although some military occupations have additional physical standards. The height for both males and females at a maximum of 6’8”, and for males at a minimum of 5’0”, and for females a minimum of 4’10”. The weight is minimum and maximum for the various services according to height, wrist size, and or percentage of body fat. For males a maximum weight of 255lb and a minimum weight of 100lb. For females a maximum weight of 227lb and a minimum weight of 90lb. The requirements of vision in general must have at least 20400 or 20200 vision if it can be corrected to 2020 with eye glasses or contacts. Vision requirements are also based on depth perception as well as color blindness. Overall health must be in good health and ass a medical exam. Certain diseases or conditions may exclude persons from enlistment; for example, diabetes, severe allergies, epilepsy, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Must have high school diploma, desired by all services and is a requirement under most enlisted options. Must male the minimum entry score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Must meet standards designed to screen out persons likely to become disciplinary problems standards cover court convictions, juvenile delinquency, arrests, and drug use.”(U.S. Department of 2007-04-25T21:07:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Military-History-33159.aspx History of Education in the United States Of America At the turn of the 20th century the United States of America inherited a large flux of immigrants seeking opportunity in a nation recently converted from an agrarian economy to one of industrialization. Urbanization had taken over the country as well, however, these were not the only major changes occurring. Along with the new immigrants came and increase in student enrollment in secondary schools, rising from 358,000 in the 1889-1890 academic year to 2.5 million by 1919 (Tozer, p. 85). As more and more immigrants entered the States, prejudices evolved towards them from a national fear of competing for jobs with foreigners and hate deriving from WWI. The mounting immigrant population would create numerous conflicts that the public would rely on schools to solve. One such conflict was the traditional methods of teaching, such as the “Toe the Line” idea, that seemed (much like factory work) to have a decomposing effect upon students. Education of the time was viewed as “faculty psychology”, meaning the mind had many “faculties” that could be built-up through exercise (Tozer, pg. 104). This approach basically used the pupils’ memories to strengthen intelligence and capability to think rationally. Although this technique was very inflexible, the concept intellectual exercise was a benefit. Educators realized a response was necessary for urbanization, industrialization and vast immigration; this would come about from new psychological tactics to reject the classical curriculum (and its rote learning) into student needs. The new thought was progressive education and it had four main components: 1) traditional curriculum should be replaced with a varied curriculum based on student needs 2) Learning should not be rote, but based on activities 3) School goals should reflect societal conditions and 4) Schooling should help solve social problems (Tozer, pg. 107). The incorporation of the new progressive education ideology into the schools of America was strongly divided between two interpretations, those being developmental-democracy and social-efficiency. The design for developmental-democracy consisted around direct participation of society and citizens would solve problems from rational thought (Tozer, p. 106). The prominent leader of this movement was John Dewey, for he believed within democracy (much like Jefferson) people must be educated to actively participate in society, however, for the education these people received to be triumphant, the people must contribute to 2007-04-25T20:52:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Education-in-the-United-States-Of-America-33154.aspx The Origins of the Cold War The Cold War, which lasted from the mid-1940s until the end of the 1980s, was a battle for longevity amid democratic and communistic governments. After WWII the western powers attempted to curtail the spread of communism but faced fierce opposition from Eastern Europe which sought to prevent the expansion of democracy. The origins of the Cold War can be traced through the motives of the US and USSR, containment policy, and the division of Germany. America’s emergence as a world power was a salient instigating factor of the conflict. When America replaced Britain as the supreme world power it was forced to take on British responsibilities. Thus, when the Soviet Union, under Stalin, attempted to extend its control into central Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, the United States inherited Britain’s task of restraining Russian expansion. Restriction was key in preventing the spread of communism; which threatened the existence of capitalistic and democratic nations such as the US. America was reasonable in its restrictions. It made no attempt to roll back Soviet power where it already existed. However, the United States had goals to make international governments resemble that of it’s own; including self-determination, autonomy, free trade, unlimited sea access and investment capability, and an Open Door policy in the economic sphere. As the strongest nation in the world the United States would benefit handsomely if an international order based in such goals were established. Conversely, from the Soviet perspective, extending the borders of the USSR and dominating the formerly independent states of Eastern Europe would provide needed security and would be adequate compensation for the fearful losses the Soviet people had endured in the war. Thus, the Soviets understood American resistance to their expansion as a threat to their security and legitimate aims. Moreover, objections over the acquisition Poland and other states were reasonably interpreted as an attempt to undermine regimes friendly to Russia and to encircle the Soviet Union with hostile neighbors. Consequently, in retaliation, it endeavored to topple administrations affable to the United States in Western Europe and elsewhere. The growth of the communist parties in France and Italy clearly taking orders from Moscow led Americans to believe that Stalin was engaged in an international plot to destroy capitalism and democracy by subversion. Soon evidence of this hostility transpired. In February of 1946, both Stalin and his foreign minister 2007-04-25T19:37:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Origins-of-the-Cold-War-33131.aspx General Patton's Famous Speech Men, this stuff we hear about America wanting to stay out of the war, not wanting to fight, is a lot of bullshit. Americans love to fight - traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble player; the fastest runner; the big league ball players; the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win - all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost, not ever will lose a war, for the very thought of losing is hateful to an American. You are not all going to die. Only two percent of you here today would die in a major battle. Death must not be feared. Every man is frightened at first in battle. If he says he isn't, he's a goddamn liar. Some men are cowards, yes! But they fight just the same, or get the hell shamed out of them watching men who do fight who are just as scared. The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared. Some get over their fright in a minute under fire, some take an hour. For some it takes days. But the real man never lets fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to this country and his innate manhood. All through your army career you men have bitched about "This chickenshit drilling." That is all for a purpose. Drilling and discipline must be maintained in any army if for only one reason -- INSTANT OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS AND TO CREATE CONSTANT ALERTNESS. I don't give a damn for a man who is not always on his toes. You men are veterans or you wouldn't be here. You are ready. A man to continue breathing must be alert at all times. If not, sometime a German son-of-a-bitch will sneak up behind him and beat him to death with a sock full of shit. There are 400 neatly marked graves somewhere in Sicily all because one man went to sleep on his job -- but they were German graves for we caught the bastard asleep before his officers did. An Army is a team. Lives, sleeps, eats, 2007-04-25T19:30:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/General-Patton-s-Famous-Speech-33126.aspx The United States and the Nicaraguan Revolution By late 1978 the Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) had began to rise against the opposition. A revolution was in its beginning. The Somoza dictatorship had been overthrown and the Sandinistas were coming into power. The Sandinistas were labeled communist because they received aid from Cuba and practiced guerilla warfare based on an interpretation of the Cuban revolution. The United States foreign policy against Nicaragua was unlawful and the degrading to our country. The way the United States handled this foreign situation was wrong and more people should have been prosecuted for these actions. For more than 3 decades the Somoza family ruled over Nicaragua. They ruled under a brutal dictatorship. They owned 25% of industry and 40% of workable land. “The economic dictatorship of this Somoza monopoly antagonized other capitalist, who were prevented by its stranglehold from developing the economy to satisfy their own drive for profit.” (2 www.rwl-us.org). This shows that the Somoza family only cared about the Somoza’s well being. The Somoza family was put into place by US imperialism. In 1927, Augusto Cesar Sandino was a revolutionary who denounced the president because he was allowing the United States military to occupy their land. General Sandino would began to raise an army to support this cause. In 1932, with the United States approval, President Somoza -Garcia was elected into office. Sandino by now had international attention towards his cause so he was becoming a threat to Somoza’s government. Somoza would have to negotiate with Sandino. These negotiations led to Sandino being executed under Somoza’s orders. The Somoza’s would go onto rule without any more revolutionary uprisings for 4 decades. In July if 1962 the Sandinista National Liberation Front(FSLN) was formed. They identified themselves “Marxist” and set itself the task of “national democratic revolution.” The FSLN started as a small group of peasants but grew into an organization that became victorious over the Somoza dynasty. In 1979, after the FSLN won over Somoza(Daniel Ortega was the FSLN president) thing began to change and things looked better for the common citizen. Before 1978, Nicaragua had no public health care, no public education or social security. By 1983, Nicaragua was named “the model country in health care”, had social security and public health for all. By 1981, the Regan administration was worried about Marxism in this organization so 2007-04-23T04:26:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-United-States-and-the-Nicaraguan-Revolution-33109.aspx The Debate Over American Imperialism During the late nineteenth century America was a growing and prosperous country. The Civil War had ended and the United States was once again unified. As the United States gained more money and power, it looked to overseas trade to monopolize on their raw materials. The United States began to trade with Japan, China Latin America and other countries to acquire these distant resources. In order to protect these investments, the U.S. had place upon these foreign countries their political influence. The United States went to war with Spain in order to protect their investments. In the Spanish-American War the United States gained control of the Philippians, Cuba, and Puerto Rico all three territories were filled with coveted materials. While many agreed with America becoming an imperialist country, many believed it was against America’s best interest to do so. As America was becoming a world power, it set it eyes on foreign trade. In order to protect its investments the United States had to influence foreign countries government and thus become imperialistic. Many believed that a growing country, such as the U.S., would not be able to survive or become stronger if it did not extend its trade and influence. U.S. Navy officer, Alfred T. Mahan once said, “America must look outward. The growing production of the country demands it. An increasing volume of public sentiment demands it.” In document two Mahan, believes that the people of the U.S. are behind imperialism. After the Spanish-American War, the United States had acquired new territories. The United States did not want lose these possessions and desired to show the world that they are powerful. In document three, President McKinley speaks of how the U.S. should not give up the Philippines. McKinley says that if the U.S. gives the Philippines back to Spain it would be cowardly and dishonorable. If France or Germany were to acquire this foreign land it would be aiding there commercial rivals. McKinley also says that if they were left to govern themselves it would lead to anarchy and would be worse off then before. President McKinley expresses “White Mans Burden,” and believes it was his countries God given right to govern the Philippines. President McKinley chose imperialism to secure trade with Asian countries. Many believed in imperialism for economic reason 2007-04-23T04:03:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Debate-Over-American-Imperialism-33095.aspx The Assassination of John F. Kennedy For the American people, John F. Kennedy was the bright future. He was a young man that they was as holding the torch for this country. When he was elected, he brought youth and a relaing calm to the White House for the first time in our nation's history. Not only did John Kennedy bring youth to our nation's capitol, but he also brought change and new ideas to improve the nation. During his first term in office, Kennedy improved peace talks with the Soviet Union, and was also working on ideas to halt the Vietnam War; however, his work could not be done in a single term as president. Kennedy had to start campaigning for reelection, and decided to make a trip to Dallas to campaign. The President arrived in Dallas to a crowd of elated people lining the streets hoping to get a glimpse of the President. As his motorcade proceeded down Elm Street, Governor Connally's wife said, "You can't say that Dallas isn't friendly to you today Mr. President." (Untied Press International 14) With that, John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States was assassinated .November 22, 1963 would be the day Camelot would come crumbling down. Our nation and the people all over the world mourned the death of our young and inspiring President. It has been thirty years since the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and many people are still uncertain as to who is actually responsible for his assassination. Over the years there have been numerous theories that the CIA and the FBI were somehow linked to the assassination. Most of these theories have been disproven by other theories. The government's theory is that Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone, assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Lee Harvey Oswald's past may answer some questions as to why he is considered to be the assassin of John Kennedy. Lee Harvey Oswald was born on October 18, 1939, to a lower- middle class family. Oswald's father died two months before he was born; this left Oswald to be taken care of by only his mother, Marguerite. Marguerite had a hard time dealing with the death of Lee's Father, which left her all alone to raise Lee and his two brothers, Robert Oswald and John Pic, a son from her first marriage (Beck 71). Marguerite checked Robert and John into an 2007-04-19T21:31:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Assassination-of-John-F_-Kennedy-33059.aspx History of the American Flag According to popular legend, the first American flag was made by Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress who was acquainted with George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, and other influential Philadelphians. In May 1776, so the story goes, General Washington and two representatives from the Continental Congress visited Ross at her upholstery shop and showed her a rough design of the flag. Although Washington initially favored using a star with six points, Ross advocated for a five-pointed star, which could be cut with just one quick snip of the scissors, and the gentlemen were won over. Unfortunately, historians have never been able to verify this charming version of events, although it is known that Ross made flags for the navy of Pennsylvania. The story of Washington's visit to the flag maker became popular about the time of the country's first centennial, after William Canby, a grandson of Ross, told about her role in shaping U.S. history in a speech given at the Philadelphia Historical Society in March 1870. What is known is that the first unofficial national flag, called the Grand Union Flag or the Continental Colors, was raised at the behest of General Washington near his headquarters outside Boston, Mass., on Jan. 1, 1776. The flag had 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes and the British Union Flag (a predecessor of the Union Jack) in the canton. Another early flag had a rattlesnake on a background of 13 red and white stripes with the motto “Don't Tread on Me.” The first official national flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, or Old Glory, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The blue canton contained 13 stars, representing the original 13 colonies, but the layout varied. Although nobody knows for sure who designed the flag, it may have been Continental Congress member Francis Hopkinson. After Vermont and Kentucky were admitted to the Union in 1791 and 1792, respectively, two more stars and two more stripes were added in 1795. This 15-star, 15-stripe flag was the “star-spangled banner” that inspired lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem that later became the U.S. national anthem. In 1818, after five more states had gained admittance, Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring that the number of stars equal the number of 2007-04-18T23:25:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-American-Flag-33033.aspx America: Medians of the Millennium Every ten years America is questioned, recorded, and given a basic overview of how well the country is flourishing financially and economically. The Census Bureau goes through strenuous hours of work and study to provide statistics and comparisons informing citizens of our progress and downfalls of the past century. In an essay by Andrew Hacker, a renowned professor at Queens College, he describes the 1990 census report by creating fictional family of characters called the Medians. The Medians, in his essay represent the average household of America as the census report of 1990 portrayed them. Hacker presents the average income, job insecurity and basic way of life in which he ends with predicting a slow change for the worse by the next report in the year 2000. With the economy slowly dipping into a possible recession I can see the prediction made by Hacker eventually becoming a reality. If constructed, how would the median family of the new millennium live and what would their future have in store for them? Through research of the latest 2000 report, Hacker would be rather surprised that there has not been a drastic decline financially and socially. On that note, nor has there been a drastic incline either. Of course not everything is as it was in the early 90’s but for the most part the median family are still treading the same water, just on the edge of a possible troubling future. In an article from the Wall Street Journal, Patrick Barta delivers the results and his views on the 2000 report. The article is titled American Poverty Fell To Lowest Level Since ‘73. Barta begins his article with the fact that the poverty level has reached the lowest point since 1973. He talks about how 31.1 million Americans now live in poverty which is down an amazing 1.1 million from the early 1990’s (Barta). Barta doesn’t go into allot of detail of his views, but along with Hacker he sees the potential for trouble in the future. The reason for this pecimistic outlook is simple. One major factor would be the high-tech boom that opened jobs and sent dot-comer’s incomes through the roof is now slowly folding if not already fizzled into nothing. Unemployment is on the rise and layoffs continue. 2007-04-18T22:49:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-Medians-of-the-Millennium-33026.aspx African Americans in The Civil and Spanish American Wars African Americans were not always a major part of the Armed Forces. They were not a big factor in the military until the Civil War, when The Emancipation Proclamation opened the door full-fledged for Blacks to participate in the military. Both black slaves and freemen saw this opportunity to serve in the military as a chance to relinquish their chains and to help the nation develop as a whole. There was widespread resistance by whites on both the Union and Confederate sides in accepting Blacks as part of the military. Blacks joined the military for a variety of different reasons including challenge, education, manliness, job opportunity, and to escape living conditions. By the time The Spanish-American War came in 1898, African Americans were already participating in the military. When the U.S. beat the Spanish they received Spain’s colonies. This sets up the initial stage of the U.S.’s Empire. This essay will tell prove that with the help of African Americans the U.S. military is stronger as a whole, as shown in the Civil War and Spanish American War. Leadership and honor were some of the prime reasons that African-Americans wanted to serve in the U. S. Military. When the island of CUBA was seeking its independence from SPAIN in 1898, the black military units were ready to serve. It took the explosion of the American battleship, the U. S. S. Maine, killing 260 Americans (22 which were black) on February 15, 1898 in Havana Harbor that the United States a reason for declaring war. The preparation for the war was fast, and on April 24, 1898 declared war on Spain. Congress also activated ten regiments of all black troops. Only four of the regiments saw action in the short war. It was no surprise, under the circumstances, that among the first units ordered to Cuba were the four black regiments. They were selected primarily on the basis of recent experience and their record on the Plains, but there was also the judgment of the War Department that blacks were immune to the diseases of the tropics and capable of more activity in high, humid temperatures. This thinking resulted in an effort to recruit blacks for the war. The soldiers themselves welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate their qualities and win respect for their race. These regiments were vital parts in 2007-04-18T15:04:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/African-Americans-in-The-Civil-and-Spanish-American-Wars-32990.aspx James Madison & The Creation Of The American Republic A quarter of a millennium ago, the founding fathers of the United States of America created a new republic of democracy. This revolutionary form of government aimed at putting power into the hands of the common citizen and also to deter tyranny as much as possible. These noble men set forth on a task to create a form of government that was virtually unimaginable to the entire planet. Amongst these men was James Madison, whose intellect and sincerity catapulted his ideas about republics into common law. For his tireless effort, Mr. Madison has been named the Father of the Constitution. A noble gesture indeed, however this title is ominously lacking considering just how dramatically involved he was in the shaping of our Constitution and our great nation. James Madison is not only the Father of the Constitution; he is the Father of the ideals of Republicanism and Democracy. This view is shared by noted historian Jack Rakove, who said Madison had a “reputation as the most original, creative, and penetrating political thinker of his generation (RAK-XII).” Mr. Rakove’s novel, James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic, further paints Madison in an image of epic intellect and capability. The text exemplifies Madison in this way; rising to each and every occasion to further promote his republican ideas regarding the new government and nation. While his efforts took many losses and were a continuous source of debate, his steadfastness on the security of the Union and the liberties granted within garnered an acceptance of sorts amongst his colleagues. His merit and effort have enriched our lives and therefore he is more than the Father of the Constitution, James Madison is the Father of America. Rakove begins with brief background data of Madison’s family, beginning with John Maddison. Mr. Maddison was a savvy businessman who profited incredibly from the heads-right system. John’s son, James Madison Sr., owned a lavish plantation near Charlottesville sprawling thousands of acres. Madison Jr. was thus reared in a rather lavish household with numerous resources to propel his growth. This rich lineage granted Madison Jr. many benefits that most colonists would never see. He started his education at a school in nearby King & Queen County for five years, was tutored at home for another two and completed his education at the College of New Jersey. His decision 2007-04-18T02:25:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/James-Madison-amp-The-Creation-Of-The-American-Republic-32963.aspx The 1920s and the Spread of the Automobile Although automobiles were developed before the 1920s, this is when the automobiles created a revolution in US life. Almost every American during the nineteen twenties thought driving a car was exciting, and they eagerly listened to the radio to see if any new speeds were broken for that day. This paper will be about how the automobile changed America, and about advertising. First, it changed the economy. They opened up new companies to meet the growing demand for vehicles. Since the Assembly line was perfected by and used by Ford and others. This made cars affordable to many American families. Also families didn’t need to pay with cash they could use consumer credit and installment payments. In 1924, Walter Percy Chrysler founded Chrysler Corp. It made an Imperial 80, which was considered the fastest car, and had 112-horse power. They also produced the Royal sedan, which sold for $1,535. Other companies that opened up in the 1920s and are still around today are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Lincoln, and the Olds-mobile. Some that opened up in the 1920s but aren’t around today are Nash, Stanley, and the Packard. The Nash was famous for innovative features such as twin ignition systems. The Stanley was famous for the Steamer that was powered by steam, and it cost $2,000. The Packard was a luxury car with a V-12 engine, and its Boatel speedster cost $5,210 in 1929. The most popular car was the Model A Ford was introduced in 1927. Ford advertised it so greatly that it made almost everyone want one. Henry Ford was going to show the model of the car at a Hotel lobby, but the enormous public interest made him move it to Madison Square Garden. The police were even called out to control the crowds. First, it was only made in black, but then it was made in Florentine cream, violet, Arabian sand, and Niagara blue. The invention of cars also produced more crimes since the criminals could now drive away from the scene. The automobile also changed family life, leisure time, and cities forever. Now people weren’t restricted to shopping in neighborhood stores, or attending the nearest church, or living close to their jobs. This made new communities spring up called suburbs. Also made people move across the country. People also changed 2007-04-18T02:10:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-1920s-and-the-Spread-of-the-Automobile-32955.aspx America in the 1960s The Nineteen Sixties was a decade that changed America forever. The people reformed the decade not so much by the government. The Sixties contained more spiritualism, people were against the Vietnam war, protests, civil rights, and new beliefs on every aspect of living. The topics that arose during the sixties were not small; when they were accomplished or challenged the outcome changed American society forever. Most legislative bills passed in the sixties still remain today. The Domino Effect was the scare of the spread of communism in East Asia during the Vietnam War; the theory was spread and made to sound like communism would take over the world in time. This theory is one of the reason the United States entered the Vietnam war (The American crusade, propelled as it was by the " Domino Theory," and the naïve assumption that the entire region would collapse to the communist if they one in Vietnam, disregarded the complex nationalistic diversity of South East Asia). (#3 pg.43) The American government also believed if countries fell to communist rule the surrounding regions would rush to make peace. The regions in China are an abundant source of natural resources, if the regions made peace or fell to communist rule it would only greater escalate the situation forcing America into the war (" There would be a domino effect," as former secretary of state John Foster Dulles called it. Other countries in Southeast Asia- al weaker than Vietnam would rush to make piece with the Chinese communist. In the long run as most Asians see it, This would mean the resources of South East Asia would fall to the Chinese Communist Block). (#4 pg. 87) The Vietnam War went on for several more years without a good outcome to America, most people describe it as a waste of time, waste of money, and a waste of life. The Tat Offensive an attack by North Vietnam against South Vietnam shocked the American Government and people, these attack gave the country a visual of how strong the communist rebellion was (Tat Offensive went down in history as a U.S. victory but it emphasized the strength of communist resistance and the high cost of continuing the war effort in Vietnam). (#3 pg. 22) The offensive was a series of attacks on Vietnamese cities dividing the country in two (Despite it's psychological effect, the campaign failed, 2007-04-18T01:59:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-in-the-1960s--32950.aspx Capitalism and African American History At the base of the South African and American systems of racial discrimination is an understanding and internalization of the structural implications of capitalism and its accompanying spirit. Applying Karl Marx's and Adam Smith's definition of capitalism in conjunction with Max Weber's understanding of the "spirit of capitalism", it is here affirmed that a golden thread of capitalist thought serves both as initiator and sustainer of ideals necessary for the systematic oppression of "black people" in both South Africa and the United States. This oppression adheres to a cult of philosophy that is grounded in a doctrine of class determinacy characterized by racial particularization. Thus, parallel to the thread of capitalism evolves a sociological internalization of black inferiority that resides in the radicalization of class. This categorization of race is created and is constantly being reformed by the temporal adaptations of the capitalist. The adaptations and eugenic biases of South African and American capitalist's are institutionalized within government and government comes to function as the apparatus through which the capitalist conditions societal economic relations in order to secure profits. A socio-historical argument will be developed based on the analysis of historical developments in both South Africa and the United States. Capitalism, in accordance to Marxian theory is an economy or social structure in which a minority of society owns the means of production. Where capital is explained as the raw materials or machinery used in the production of "new instruments of labor," the minority, termed the capitalists and identified as the bourgeois, utilize capital, the means of production, to create wealth. In this economy, the Proletariat, the trades people, shopkeepers, and peasants; those who because of lack of capital are not able to compete in the capitalist economy, are forced to sell their labor as a commodity to the capitalists in order to survive. As far as capitalism is marked by the accumulation of wealth, Weberian doctrine in conjunction with Marxian classifications of the capitalist society provides a complete understanding of a uniquely western type of capitalism. Proceeding from Weber's understanding of profit and accumulation of wealth and consequently the "spirit of capitalism" money becomes, "of [a] prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on." Weber expands upon his definition of the Spirit of Capitalism 2007-04-18T01:28:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Capitalism-and-African-American-History-32949.aspx American Government: A Critique of The Supreme Court The American Supreme Court is a well-rounded look at the creation and nature of the Supreme Court. The author , Robert G. McCloskey, starts off with a look at how people felt about the Court when it was created, giving the reader a feel for the time. It continues on to explain the importance of the creation event using specific details. By making the reader feel proud of being a part of such a great system, the reader is drawn into the book and grows anxious to read on. As the reader goes on information is given about what kind of power was intended for the Supreme Court and a debate is formulated about whether the Court is Constitutionally just. The point is made that the Constitution gives Congress the power to create any court system it feels necessary but the question is asked, does the constitution guarantee the Supreme Court’s has final authority. Many of the Forefathers seem to have created the Court in the hope that it would keep the other branches of the government in check according to the Constitution. As the first section goes on, explaining the nature of the Supreme court’s power, and telling of the checks and balances that keep the court from gaining more power than is necessary, by only allowing the court to rule on an issue if it is presented in the form of a case. It points out that the power given is that of a court’s power as well as something more. A number of facts are debated, such as whether or not the court should play a large part in directing the states. The overall nature of the courts power is covered and presented in a form, which is at times confusing and roundabout, but always backed up by reasoning and examples that justify the court’s power or lack thereof. The next section goes on to tell of how the power of the Court was viewed by the people in the beginning of the courts’ history and how the court itself did not allow itself a great deal of power. The Court went as far as to turn power that it felt was unconstitutional down. While the public did not always see a reason for the 2007-04-18T00:55:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Government-A-Critique-of-The-Supreme-Court-32940.aspx Did the American Revolution Produce a Christian Nation? Two essays in the book Taking Sides (Book titles must be underlined or italicized) are presented in the debate overas to whether or not the American Revolution produced a Christian nation. Nathan Hatch believes that the Revolution and Christianity went hand in hand, while Jon Butler suggests that the Revolution did not produce a Christian nation because prior to the Revolution the colonists never called themselves a Christian nation. So did the Revolution produce a Christian nation? It is my belief that the Revolution did not produce a Christian nation and that the United States of America is not a Christian nation now in our day in age. It is best to only justify the left margin, unless you are writing a magazine or newspaper article. Nathan Hatch offers many examples of how the American Revolution created a Christian nation. He uses the revivals of John Leland and also offers the expansion of the many denominations that occurred after the Revolution. Hatch believed that the American Revolution and Christianity were inseparable. He adds that churches were instrumental in education and moral discipline, therefore predating the laws of the new nation. Hatch believes that the wearing away of authority lead to the development of the colonists or lay people. That it was the lay people who now embodied what church would be, changing the church to their values and beliefs. Hatch believes the Revolution established or set a path for different religions to develop without being persecuted. Jon Butler on the other hand believes that the American Revolution had nothing to do with creating a Christian nation. He states that on 20% of the population were members of a church and that many pastors would fib on their numbers to the Anglican Church in England. Also there were laws that forbid people from speaking out against the church or Christianity, which in Butler's belief shows just how pathetic Christianity was in America. He states that the numbers of Christians were very low and that Americans opposed a Christian national identity. Butler says that the attachment of these laws existed to compel Christian attachment but did nothing to measure the Christian commitment of the people. Butler also states that the British colonies actually supported the Christian church before the war, even though only about 20% went to church. After the war the states 2007-04-03T22:02:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Did-the-American-Revolution-Produce-a-Christian-Nation-32896.aspx Gambling and the Mafia What effects the economy is an endless number of things, but an interesting topic that we decided to do is how gambling and the Mafia effect the economy. The Mafia or otherwise know as organized crime is a society that seeks to operate outside the control of the American people and their governments. It’s actions are not impulsive but rather the result of intricate conspiracies, carried on over many years and aimed at gaining control over fields of activity in order to earn large profits. Just to give you a little better look into the Mafia we have provided some mobster vocabulary. To whack, is to kill someone, the commision, they are the ruling body of the US Mafia, omerta, is an oath of loyalty, la cosa nostra, is a tradition of organized crime, and a street tax, is a fee imposed by the mob for breaking the law. The way the Mafia affects the economy is generally the Mafia tries to gain control of a particular part of a market. This is bad for the market because it well end up creating monopolies and will prevent other firms to enter the market, that could also lead to price gouging. A lot of the Mafia “families” also sells drugs and other illegal goods. This is also bad because it brings drugs into the country. Another Mafia business is “street taxes,” the fees imposed on the people for breaking their rules. These taxes, if they are not paid can result in murder and or severe beating. This is obviously not good because no one wants to pay money to save a beating, and it also takes money from the economy. But this is also a pretty inelastic thing because of course you’re going to pay anything to keep yourself from getting beaten. Gambling and the Mafia are related because illegal gambling is one of the Mafia’s largest industries. Illegal Gambling is any gambling in violation of state law. It is an operation involving five or more people to run. Illegal Gambling is also a project in operation more than thirty days a year or it produces revenue of more than 2,000 dollars a day. Gambling is a transaction that is based on one party’s gain, and another party’s loss. The positive effects of 2007-03-20T03:33:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gambling-and-the-Mafia-32842.aspx An opinionated four page essay that summarizes and questions various events that went on during 9/11/01. Also looks back at the life of the World Trade Center. ------------------------------------------------------- One of the worst tragedies to ever strike our country happened on September 11th, 2001. A total of four (4) planes were brought down by terrorists causing 2,986 total fatalities. The terrorist attacks were organized by al-Qaeda and their leader Osama Bin Laden, who also was in charge of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City. This event took place in the same location but caused much more devastation with 2,595 people losing their lives just from the Twin Towers on 9/11. Two (2) of the four planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one in each tower, bursting the towers into flames and people fleeing for their lives. An estimated two-hundred (200) people jumped to their deaths from the falling towers. However, while all of this was going on, President George Bush was having a visit with an elementary school in Sarasota, Florida. What made it even worse was that Bush was completely aware of the attacks that terrorists had done against the United States of America. So then why, at 9:03 a.m.—fifteen minutes after it was clear the United States was under terrorist attack—did President Bush sit down with a classroom of second-graders and begin a 20-minute pre-planned photo op? No one knows the answer to that question. In fact, no one has even asked Bush about it. However, we can clearly make out that the government response was poor to this event but that may have been since Washington, D.C. had problems on their own. A plane had crashed into the Pentagon causing a total of 189 deaths. There was one plane, Flight 93, that knew they were next to be hijacked so they did something about it. The passengers of Flight 93 fought back against the terrorists and prevented them from the plane reaching its intended target, instead crashing it into a filed outside of Shanksville, PA. The 9/11 attacks were not the first that the World Trade Center had been a victim of, the towers were bombed for the first time on February 26, 1993. If the towers had already been bombed once before, why were we not ready for another attack on the same site? What possible motive did the terrorists have? The 2007-03-18T15:01:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/World-Trade-Center-September-11th,-2001-32808.aspx History of the Abolitionsist Movement in America The abolitionist movement in the United States sought to eradicate slavery using a wide range of tactics and organizations. The antislavery movement mobilized many African Americans and some whites who sought to end the institution of slavery. Although both black and white abolitionists often worked together, the relationship between them was intricate. The struggle for black abolitionists was much more personal because they wanted to end slavery and also wanted to gain equal rights for blacks. However, many white abolitionists only sought to end slavery and did not fight for equality for blacks. From these exceedingly contrasting perspectives and the continuation of slavery, the sentiment of many abolitionists became more militant and radical; some abolitionists began to use more violent methods of resistance to abolish slavery. Before the 1830s most antislavery activists stressed gradual emancipation. These feelings were expressed mainly by Southern whites, some possessing a fear of free blacks not being ready for freedom and others holding beliefs that slavery would gradually disappear (Notes, 10/18/00). Generally, only black abolitionists demanded an immediate end to slavery. This difference in opinion contributed to some blacks taking more violent measures to gain freedom and equality. Further contributing to the more aggressive tactics were the goals of the white abolitionists. Many white abolitionists were not able to accept blacks as their equals and did not fight for black equality, which led to increased tension between blacks and whites. More militant tactics, such as uprising and revolts, were gaining support in the nineteenth century. Nat Turner was a black abolitionist that supported the use of aggressive and forceful tactics. In 1831, in Virginia, he led an insurrection and more than 55 white people were killed. It was very bloody and violent and angered many whites from its brutality (Nash, 275). Yet, many blacks felt that the only thing that would get a response was an uprising and taking drastic measures. In Christiana, Pennsylvania, the Fugitive Slave Laws were passed. These laws stated that whites could recapture their runaway slaves. Blacks were outraged by the passing of these laws and rioted in response to this (Roots of Resistance). This demonstrated how blacks would react in manners that were more forceful and these tactics were used by a number of other abolitionists, however, many still used different approaches to battling slavery. Many abolitionists used writing to end slavery. In 1827, the 2007-03-08T01:24:54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Abolitionsist-Movement-in-America-32787.aspx American Indian History of the Algonquins The Algonquin was a northern tribe that settled in Canada some time around the 1400’s, and now have settled in Quebec and nearby Ontario. The Algonquians history was not exactly a pleasant one they suffered many hardships and obstacles to over come. Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent French settlement on the St. Lawrence at Tadoussac in 1603. Champlain was so impressed with the Algonquin's furs that he explored the St. Lawrence as far west as the Lachine Rapids. Champlain left for France shortly afterwards, but upon his return in 1608, he immediately moved his fur trade upstream to a new post at Quebec to shorten the distance that the Algonquin were required to travel for trade. He soon discovered that Algonquin victories over the Iroquois were not that common, and it was the Mohawk, not the Algonquin, who dominated the upper river. So Samuel usually did not help the Algonquian fight. The Algonquin usually avoided the river because of the threat of Mohawk war parties. The Algonquin fought with the French and helped them when times where ruff, but it wasn’t long until the French that they needed to get rid of them and move them away from there villages, so the French turned against the Algonquians. In 1649 French and Indian refugees streamed down the Ottawa Valley to the relative safety of Montreal. During 1650 the remaining Algonquin in the upper Ottawa Valley were attacked and overrun. The survivors retreated, either far to headwaters of the rivers feeding the Upper Ottawa River where the Cree afforded a certain amount of support and protection. During the next twenty years, the Algonquin pretty much dropped out of sight so far as the French were concerned. Learning from their earlier mistakes, the French insisted that this agreement also include their allies and trading partners. This not only allowed French traders and missionaries to travel to the western Great Lakes, but also permitted the Algonquin to begin a slow return to northern part of the Ottawa Valley. Conquest and returning had been hard on them, and not many were left maybe only 2000. The epidemics which struck Sillery in 1676 and 1679 had reduced the Christian Algonquin survivors to only a handful, most of whom were subsequently absorbed by the Abenaki at St. Francois after the closure of the Sillery mission in 1685. During 2007-03-08T01:19:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Indian-History-of-the-Algonquins-32786.aspx History of the Boston Massacre It may be a proper introduction to this narrative, briefly to represent the state of things for some time previous to the said Massacre; and this seems necessary in order to the forming a just idea of the causes of it. At the end of the late [French and Indian] war, in which this province bore so distinguished a part, a happy union subsisted between Great Britain and the colonies. This was unfortunately interrupted by the Stamp Act; but it was in some measure restored by the repeal of it. It was again interrupted by other acts of parliament for taxing America; and by the appointment of a Board of Commissioners, in pursuance of an act, which by the face of it was made for the relief and encouragement of commerce, but which in its operation, it was apprehended, would have, and it has in fact had, a contrary effect. By the said act the said Commissioners were "to be resident in some convenient part of his Majesty's dominions in America." This must be understood to be in some part convenient for the whole. But it does not appear that, in fixing the place of their residence, the convenience of the whole was at all consulted, for Boston, being very far from the centre of the colonies, could not be the place most convenient for the whole. Judging by the act, it may seem this town was intended to be favored, by the Commissioners being appointed to reside here; and that the consequence of that residence would be the relief and encouragement of commerce; but the reverse has been the constant and uniform effect of it; so that the commerce of the town, from the embarrassments in which it has been lately involved, is greatly reduced. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The residence of the Commissioners here has been detrimental, not only to the commerce, but to the political interests of the town and province; and not only so, but we can trace from it the causes of the late horrid massacre. Soon after their arrival here in November, 1767, instead of confining themselves to the proper business of their office, they became partizans of Governor Bernard in his political schemes; and had the weakness and temerity to infringe upon one of the most essential rights of the house of commons of this province-that of giving 2007-03-08T00:23:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Boston-Massacre-32773.aspx Thomas Jefferson and American History “Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.” Those are the words of Thomas Jefferson; one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and among the first Americans to have to defend the newly won liberties of Americans from intrusion against a greater world power. It makes Thomas Jefferson one of the most prominent leaders and individuals in the United States. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in the state of Virginia. His family was perhaps one of the earliest emigrants from England. He inherited his family’s land and property, putting him into the upper class. He attended William and Mary College in Williamsburg, but with no record left the college and soon applied himself to the study of law under the tuition of George Wythe. Through his expertise, Thomas Jefferson acquired many of the skills that made him the distinguished man he is now. He immediately became acquainted with the whole round of civil and common law. His talents were well known early in his life, which permitted him to remain in a private station, or to pursue the ordinary routine of this profession. His country demanded his services; at the age 25 in 1769, he entered the House of Burgesses in Virginia, and then first inscribed his name as a champion of his country’s rights. His journey to becoming one of the founding fathers begins. During this time, the American colonies felt a strong dislike towards England. Thomas Jefferson commenced his political career, and in a few words, he outlines the reason, which impelled him to enter the lists, with other American patriots, against the parent country, England. Thomas Jefferson says, “No alternative was presented, but resistance or unconditional submission. Between these there could be no hesitation. They closed in the appeal to arms.” In 1733, Mr. Jefferson became a member of the first committee of correspondence, established by the provincial assemblies. In 1744 he published a “Summary View of the Rights of British America,” a valuable production among those intended to show the dangers which threatened the liberties of the country, and to encourage the people in their defense. He argued on the basis of natural rights theory; Jefferson claimed that colonial allegiance to the king 2007-03-08T00:16:38-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Thomas-Jefferson-and-American-History-32769.aspx Analysis of Puritan Society Over time Puritanism has come to be associated with prudishness, harshness, fanaticism, and superstition. Although this is partially true it tends to be exaggerated. The Puritans tried to create a model religious society and in doing this some of their actions were misconstrued. The Puritans wanted to create a theocracy, where all of the society’s inhabitants adhered to the doctrine of God. The Puritans believed in Calvinism and therefore one of their main goals was to force the Anglican Church to adopt the tenets of Calvinism. The aspirations of the Puritans were basically, to create a Christian commonwealth, a so-called “city on a hill” that would stand as a beacon to all others for inspiration. In most areas the Puritans accomplished all of their aspirations Led by John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Massachusetts Puritans sought to create their “Christian City” with laws and rules based on their religious ideals. Each town had its own congregation and its own minister, who preached to them Calvinist precepts. This system of local congregations that selected their ministers and ran their own affairs became known as Congregational churches. The ministers and government officials worked together to maintain holiness, purity, and order. Only church members, those considered the elect or predestined for salvation, could vote or hold political office. The government, in turn, protected the church by levying taxes to support it and by making church attendance mandatory. The Puritans not only tried to live and honest and pious life but tried to force others to do so as well. The puritans accomplished much of what they set out to do and in some ways accomplished more than they set out to do. The Puritans of Massachusetts Bay were the first people to attempt a publicly supported and controlled local school system. The Puritans also added to the arts. It was under Puritan rule that the first English dramatic production entirely in music was presented. Puritan poetry such as that of Anne Bradstreet is also a noteworthy accomplishment. One area in which the Puritans fell short of their ideals is in superstition. During the Salem Witch Hunt about 20 people were executed and this spread hysteria throughout the colony. This crazed fanaticism is what 2007-03-06T22:24:36-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Puritan-Society-32748.aspx America and the Cold War The conflict in ideologies between capitalism and communism resulted in one of the greatest conflicts of the twentieth century. The belief that freedom and democracy would die under communist rule caused the United States to start a conflict that would last for decades. The decisions made by the United States in W.W.II caused tensions to rise between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. Fear of Communism in capitalist nations, caused the United states government to use propaganda to raise Cold War anxieties. Furthermore, the American media influenced the attitudes of Americans, making a hatred of communism spread though the nation. Thus, the United States caused the conflict known as the Cold War. The political relations going on in Europe during and directly after World War II had an enormous effect on laying the foundation for the Cold War. War time conferences such as Yalta and Terhran harshened the relationship between the communists and the capitalists. At the end of W.W.II American policy towards the Soviets changed drastically. The change in presidents in 1945 caused relations with Russia to worsen. Also, other political contributions to the Cold War entailed the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. The division of Europe between the west and east drew physical borders which outlined that the war of misinformation that had began. Also treaties of the post war world further separated the two super powers of the world for the decades to follow. The waging of hot wars through other countries also strengthened Cold War hatred. The first of the cold war tensions arose out of W.W.II conferences between the Soviet Union, America and, Great Britain. Tehran, the first major conference which lead America to start the Cold War, included all three of these nations. At this conference the reshaping of post-war Europe was discussed. Later in February of 1945, the big three met again at Yalta. At this conference European boundaries, German reparations, and Polish elections were agreed upon. Stalin, the Russian leader, agreed to hold free and fair elections. Later after Roosevelt, who attended these conferences, died Truman became president. He accused the Soviet leader, Stalin, of not holding up to his agreements at Yalta. Stalin wanted to use Poland as a buffer zone to prevent any future invasions from happening through this area. During W.W.II the Soviets had lost 27 million, and Stalin made it clear 2007-03-05T14:27:29-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-and-the-Cold-War-32746.aspx American Involvement in The Vietnam War The Vietnam War is without a doubt one of the most memorable wars yet to date. Because of the time period the war took place there are many survivors that are still living. The basic reason I chose to do my individual project on the war was basically because it took place while I was a child. However, another reason I chose this topic was because I actually know a person who was in the war. The Vietnam War was basically a military struggle fought in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. The war involved the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front in conflict with United States forces and the South Vietnamese army. From 1946 until 1954, the Vietnamese had struggled for their independence from France during the First Indochina War. At the end of this war, the country was temporarily divided into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam came under the control of the Vietnamese Communists who had opposed France and who aimed for a unified Vietnam under Communist rule. Vietnamese who had collaborated with the French controlled the South. Now what you might be asking yourself is “Why did the United States get involved in the war.” Well the truth is that The United States became involved because it believed that if all of the country fell under a Communist government, Communism would spread throughout Southeast Asia and beyond. This belief was known as the "domino theory." The U.S. government, therefore, supported the South Vietnamese government. This government’s repressive policies led to rebellion in the South, and the NLF was formed as an opposition group with close ties to North Vietnam. In 1965 the United States sent in troops to prevent the South Vietnamese government from collapsing. Ultimately, however, the United States failed to achieve its goal, and in 1975 Vietnam was reunified under Communist control; in 1976 it officially became the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the conflict, approximately 3 to 4 million Vietnamese on both sides were killed, in addition to another 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians who were drawn into the war. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives. In 1955, the United States picked a man by the name of Ngo Dinh Diem to head the anti-Communist regime in South Vietnam. With U.S. encouragement, Diem 2007-03-04T17:18:20-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Involvement-in-The-Vietnam-War-32703.aspx "I die even as a camel dies. I die in bed, in shame. May the eyes of cowards never find rest in sleep!" Last Words of Khalid bin Al-Waleed, Sword of Allah Muslim history is replete with great military achievements and glorious feats of arms. In the annals of war there are no battles which surpass, in brilliance and decisiveness, the battles of Islam; no commanders who surpass, in courage and skill, the gifted generals of Islam. The sword has always held a place of honour in Muslim culture. And yet very little is known in the world today about the military history of Islam. There is not a single work by a trained military mind, written after proper research and a thorough examination of the ground, describing in detail the famous battles of Islam. In fact there has been no real research. There is a void. I became conscious of this void in early 1964 when I was Chief Instructor at the Staff College, Quetta. Having always been a keen student of Military History, which subject I used to direct, among others, at the Staff College, I felt that I was perhaps better qualified than many Muslim soldiers to undertake the task of filling this gap in literature. The whole of Muslim military history would take several hundred volumes, but at least a beginning could be made; and I decided to accept the challenge. I would start at the beginning; and I would describe the campaigns of Khalid bin Al Waleed (may Allah be pleased with him). I found that a good deal of material was available on the early battles of Islam, but it was all in Arabic. Not all early Muslim historians have been translated; and where translations exist, they are often inaccurate and sometimes downright dishonest. For such research one would have to know the language in which the original accounts were written. So I learned Arabic. I then prepared a bibliography to include all the early historians, but excluded from it all writers, Muslim or Christian, who lived and wrote after the Tenth Century. Since the latter obtained all their information from the former, I decided to concentrate exclusively on the early sources and thus avoid being influenced in any way by the opinions and conjectures of later writers. The preparation of the bibliography was relatively easy; the real problem was the procurement of the 2007-02-22T07:00:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abraham-Lincoln--32691.aspx Martin Luther King & Malcolm X Comparison Essay (DRAFT ONE) Back in the 1960’s African-Americans were inferior to the white people. White people had the control over black people. People started taking actions against it. The black people now wanted equal rights since they were born here and had the citizenship, and all rights to stay in United States. People were very racist and didn’t considered black people as normal human beings. For every attempt of expressing their desire and need for equality, all efforts were shot down. There was no unity, no one to rally the hearts and minds of blacks and whites alike. But then a preacher from Montgomery Alabama leaded the largest civil rights movement. Through the gentle voice and outstanding personality, Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the strongest and most influential civil rights activists. But he was not the only one to work in equality for African-Americans, there were others fighting for the same cause. One of the other most famous activists was Malcolm X; a converted Muslim from Harlem, New York. Both were similar to each other, but at the same time different in many ways. Malcolm was a man who spoke of a violent revolution because he thought it would bring racial change for the black race. He was a dark charisma, an angry, implacable man whose good will or forgiveness or even pity the white race could neither earn nor buy. He viewed white supremacists as enemies. He says that whites were inherently enemies of the Negroes. In his speeches he is talking about them, and how they hired people to break into black people’s house and kill them. Malcolm X is not asking blacks to beg for equality and ask to end segregation, he’s saying that they should unite together and fight against their enemies. He also makes a point that they don’t hang you because of you are Christian, Jew, Muslim. They hang you because you are black. Considering that, he wants the blacks to take action against it, and overcome this problem. "Anything you can think of that you want to change right now, the only way you can do it is with a ballot or a bullet. And if you're not ready to 2007-02-16T05:55:18-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Martin-Luther-King-and-Malcolm-X-Got-it-from-here-combined-32629.aspx The modern American military saw the need to be quicker, more efficient and more powerful. In order to accomplish this they had to become more technologically advanced. Three examples of technology that show how the American military has accomplished this is; the Nimitz Class Super Carrier (Nimitz), the M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2), and the Tomahawk® Land Attack Cruise Missile (Tomahawk). Aircraft carriers are an important part in protecting and enforcing the policies of the United States. The Nimitz-class super carriers, able to rapidly mobilize an air wing of up 80 planes, have advanced technology unmatched by any other Navy in the world. The propulsion system as well as the catapults and arresting gear are just a few of the advancements that helped these carriers to be known as “national treasures”. The Nimitz has a propulsion system of two nuclear reactors giving her virtually unlimited range, endurance and the speed of over 30 knots. The ship’s four catapults and arresting gear engines enable her to launch and recover up to four aircraft per minute. The on-board NATO Sea Sparrow, comprised of two launchers with eight missiles each, is a radar-guided, short to medium range missile capable of attacking enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. Close-In Weapon Systems have individual search and track radar. The Gatling guns are capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute. The M1A2 is a powerful force rolling onto the battlefield at speeds of up to 50 mph. Equipped with an overpressure clean-air conditioning air system, a radiological warning system, and a chemical agent detector, this tank provides its four man crew protection from Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical warfare. The technology used in the M1A2 was developed for each crew member’s tasks specifically. The commander is suited with six periscopes and an Independent Thermal Viewer providing him independent stabilized day and night vision with a 360 degree view, automatic sector scanning, automatic target cueing of the gunner’s sight, and a complete back-up fire control system. The gunner’s fire control system is integrated with a laser range finder. The laser range finder collects range data such as; the range measurement – to 10 meters of accuracy, lead angle measurement, the bend of the gun, and wind velocity. After the gunner and commander enter ammunition type, temperature, and the barometric pressure, the computer calculates the fire 2007-02-05T15:28:30-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Technological-advances-in-the-American-Military-32594.aspx The Texas City Disaster, as it is known today, is the worst industrial accident in America’s history. Texas City, home of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the United States, almost disappeared from existence on the morning of April 16, 1947. The losses from this disaster were unprecedented, from the number of those killed or wounded to the billions of dollars in damage. There has not been a documented American industrial accident of this magnitude since. The nightmare began when the SS Grandcamp, bearing a cargo of ammonium nitrate fertilizer destined for Europe, caught fire while in the Texas City harbor. The local fire department responded to the dockside fire as they had done many times before with success. The colorful flames and smoke attracted a large crowd of curious children and adults. The people of Texas City have become unconcerned about fires on the dock, they happened all the time. It had become a common saying, “let’s go watch the firefighters work their magic.” Nobody knew about the highly explosive ammonium nitrate onboard the very ship that was on fire. The label was simply marked fertilizer after all. There was nothing on the labels to indicate the volatile nature of what was in those bags. As the onlookers watched, the ship exploded sending a column of smoke over two thousand feet high into the air. A second explosion sent out a violent shockwave. Within minutes the entire industrial complex was on fire. Buildings were collapsing, trapping people inside. Pipelines were bursting spraying their contents onto anyone and everything around. The water in the bay that had been compressed by the shockwave from the two explosions returned in the form a tidal wave twenty feet high. Between the violent explosions, fierce fires, and the rushing water, some people literally disintegrated like the fire chief standing atop the ship when it exploded. Though exact numbers could never be established, estimates are as high as 600 dead and over 5,000 injured. As if the fatalities and casualties were not enough, the damage caused by the incident was wide spread and would take years to recover from. Earthquake like tremors were reported as far north as Palestine, Texas, as far east as the Louisiana – Mississippi boarder in Slidell, Lousiana, 2007-02-05T15:19:51-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/1947-Texas-City-Disaster-32593.aspx Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson’s ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a “guided republic” which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. After fighting hard to rid America of British domination, Jefferson was determined to create a government that was responsible to, and derived its powers from, a free people. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Jefferson is thought by many to be the founder of the Democratic Party. He was foremost among the influential men who believed that laws should be made by those who are to obey them. Thomas Jefferson pushed hard to create a government that would serve and protect all its constituents. A “guided republic” is a form of government where an essentially omnipotent council determines the legislation passed by the legislative body. Though the legislative and executive branches may be elected by the people, they supervising power is not and therefore has the ability to rule in any way they please. The council can, and often does, refuse the rights to freedom of press, speech, and religion. They may prevent bills that attempt to revive these powers and, in the same sense, may prohibit people from speaking about ideas that oppose those of the council. This governing group does not hesitate to use violent force to protect their power. At its worst, a “guided republic” is a tyrannical form of government, whose people are denied basic rights to life. The people in a “guided republic” are not the constituents but the subjects of their government. Thomas Jefferson believed that all Americans should have the “freedom of language and sentiment…as derived from the laws of nature” . In his most famous document, the Declaration of Independence, he stated “that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain [inherent and] inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” . Jefferson was a strong advocate of a bill of rights within the Constitution. In a letter to James Madison, he says that he “did not like…the omission 2007-02-03T23:48:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Thomas-Jeferson--32587.aspx The Revolt of the Pueblo Indians The Pueblo Revolt was in 1680. The Pueblo Revolt was the result of Pueblo Indians rebelling against the mistreatment by the Spanish people. The Indians were starving and dying from disease because of the Spanish people. The Pueblo Indians did not want the Spanish people in New Mexico. They wanted to go back to their religion and the Indian ways. These actions by the Spanish people are what led to the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. There were many reasons why the Indians wanted the Spaniards off their land. The Indians were mistreated in many ways. One of the reasons they wanted the Spaniards off their land was that they were forced to work for the Spaniards as well as raise their own crops. Another reasons they wanted them off their land was that the Spanish people brought diseases to the Indian people. The diseases killed many Indians. The diseases that were brought to the Indian people were small pox, measles, whooping cough, and many other diseases. In one year 3,000 Indian people died from small pox alone. The Pueblo Indians did not have an immune system built up to fight against these diseases. Another reason was that the Navajos and Apaches were raiding the Pueblo Indians. The Pueblo Indians blamed the Spanish for this because they couldn’t defend them. They raided them because they wanted their food. They wanted their food because they could not trade with them anymore. The last reason they wanted the Spanish out was the weather. There was a five year drought between 1667 and 1672. The crops would not grow and the Indians were starving to death. They were not allowed to do their rain dance either because the Catholic priests would not allow them. The Indians were also forced to become Christianized. The Spaniards burned down the kivas and forced them to become Christians. The Indians wanted to go back to their own religion to bring rain. In 1675 the priests asked the governor to arrest the Pueblos religious leaders because the priests did not want the Indians to practice their religion. The governor sent out soldiers to arrest the religious leaders called medicine men. They arrested 47 men and brought them to Santa Fe. 2007-02-02T18:42:59-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Revolt-of-the-Pueblo-Indians-32569.aspx Overview of American Government America as we know it includes a vast network of representative governments. During the colonial period of early America, Virginia was the first to introduce a representative assembly. This first glimpse of democracy influenced the shape of America today. It eventually caused the colonies to drift away from monarchial England, and to establish a democratic government. Ironically, from this government, slavery and racism sprouted. In an attempt to make Virginia a more pleasant place to live, the governor was instructed to create an assembly with the power to make laws. The assembly included two members from each plantation to serve as burgesses, or representatives. Convening in 1619 it became the first colonial, representative body (p.13). This was a significant step in the formation of America. A group of men representing the residents of a particular land would make laws that were meant for them. This was democracy at its earliest stage in America. Everywhere one goes today in America, there is democracy. Whether a church council, school club or the state general assembly, a representative group is always present. Democracy shapes America. One could view the first democratic group responsible for today's freedom. This was the assembly formed by George Yeardly (p.13). Perhaps, if the Virginia Company had not instructed the governor to establish an assembly, the idea of democracy might not have instilled into the minds of the colonists. Surely, without this first appearance, it is questionable that an idea suppressed for centuries under the English monarchy would surface anywhere else. Moreover, it led the way for other settlements to adopt a similar code. Another way the representative body shaped America was slavery. Most representatives approved slavery and practiced it. The early burgesses of the Virginian assembly received land as their pay wages (p.14). They needed people to work their newly acquired lands. Therefore, indentured servants were common on their plantations. The whole idea of indentured servants and their later inadequacy eventually led to the flood of black slaves to America. Because these representatives owned servants and slaves themselves, slavery was easily passed into law. It has a huge impact on the racial tension in America today. Because of the representative government approved slavery, it existed in America. Virginia's first representative body helped form present America because it set an example of democracy for other colonies and broke from the common practice of lordship and monarchy. It eventually caused the 2007-02-02T18:12:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Overview-of-American-Government-32552.aspx A True Look At The Kennedy Assassination November 22, 1963 was a day no American will ever forget. Most people remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. At precisely 12:30 P.M. [Central Standard Time], the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. Constituted by Lyndon B Johnson, and led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Warren Commission was assembled to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This commission was conceived “in recognition of the right of people everywhere to full and truthful knowledge concerning these events.” This statement has been challenged by many over the past 40 years. The commission’s relatively short investigation and controversial evidence has left much room for doubt among the American people. The Warren Commission arrived at twelve distinct conclusions after investigating the case. Among the most controversial are conclusion numbers one, two, three, four and ten. Conclusions one and four state that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin, firing shots from the sixth floor window at the southeast corner of the Texas School Book Depository. These conclusions were based on witnesses, many of whom happened to disappear shortly after interviewed; evidence and pictures from an autopsy preformed on the president, which were never disclosed to the public; and Oswald’s background information, which conveniently “fit the mold”. Another questionable conclusion in the Warren Report is conclusion number two; “the weight of the evidence indicates that there were three shots fired,” was left completely unexplained, with no supporting evidence. Conclusion three states that of the three supposed shots fired, one wounded both Texas Governor, John Connally and President Kennedy. However, it also states that Governor Connally’s statements leave room for doubt as to which bullet hit him. Although these conclusions leave questions unanswered, the most debated conclusion of the Warren Report is number ten. “In its entire investigation the Commission has found no evidence of conspiracy, subversion, or disloyalty to the U.S. Government by a Federal, State, or local official.” Similar to conclusion number two, there is no supporting documentation under this claim. Under all but three conclusions in the Warren Report supporting evidence is provided immediately following. It is 2007-01-11T19:43:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-True-Look-At-The-Kennedy-Assassination-32372.aspx The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro In the years leading to the U.S. Civil War, the controversy over slavery became not only a social issue, but also a political and legal one as well. Opponents and proponents of slavery each looked to the American constitution, as well as the prevailing culture of the time, for direction in dealing with this matter. One such person who based their landmark works on this was Frederick Douglas, an emancipated slave, who fought tirelessly for the abolishment of slavery. In 1852, Frederick Douglas was asked to speak at a July 4th celebration. In his speech, he made it known clearly, his despise for the treatment of Black slaves of the day, as well as the irony and hypocrisy, which was especially evident on that day. He explained that this hypocrisy aimed at the black population was evident on several fronts, and so, he refers to the fourth of July as "the birthday of your National Independence and your political freedom." However, Frederick Douglas never lost hope. Although in his speeches and writing he eludes greatly to the detestable and horrid facts black enslavement, he nonetheless saw a silver lining. "There is hope in the thought," Douglas said, after he explicated how America is a new and young nation, despite it being around the "old age for a man". Since the United States was recently formed, there is still plenty of room for reform and changes that would not have been possible had America been older. America, he said, was still in the "impressible stage of her existence." As bleak and grim as the conditions were for blacks at the time, was nonetheless optimistic about the idea that blacks will one day be accepted and absorbed in all the ranks of society. He likened this to the analogy of rivers, which, he said, were like nations. Even though a river cannot be turned aside, "it may dry up". If a nation "dries up", there will be nothing left of that nation, except a "withered branch". This withered branch is a symbol of what the nation believed in and what could happen to it if it unfairly cast aside certain members of its society. Douglas also pointed out that the Declaration of Independence was one of the most valuable factors in the 2007-01-11T04:01:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Meaning-of-July-Fourth-for-the-Negro-32342.aspx The Rise of the Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan was a very powerful and organized secret society that began in the years directly following the Civil War, and is a society whose influence is still felt today. Although the reasons for the rise of the Klan vary from source to source, there is one common thread, which is that it rose from fear. The KKK grew as a response to three major changes in the South after the Civil War. Changes to the social, cultural and economic trends put southern whites in fear of being on the same level as their former slaves (Constructing the American Past Pg. 2). They were afraid to be over run by the newly freed black slaves. Every Klan’s man was to take an oath before entering in which states that the Klan’s purpose was to “To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers.” (Constructing Pg. 4). The whites were scared of the blacks, and were making it by attempting to bully them into yet another submissive role. This was a time of trouble for the southern whites. They were not used to being placed as equal to any black person. This is another cause for the formation of the KKK. In a time of hardship the whites needed to ban together and find a scapegoat. In this case, the blacks were being blamed for the dramatic change in the entire south. The change in industry, society, and even the change in the land, was blamed on the poor newly freed blacks. The blacks were blamed for the many deaths that the south had in the Civil War, the many people who were widowed, orphaned, or hit by its tradegy (100 Years, Pg. 37-39). Interestingly though, the Klan was not made up of only wealthy southern whites. Most of its members were from a lesser class, a class that would most likely be at the same level of the newly freed black slaves. These farmers had always been able to say that at least they were better than the blacks, but after the Civil War, 2007-01-11T03:42:09-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Rise-of-the-Ku-Klux-Klan-32337.aspx American History of the Korean War As history has shown the effects of war are both devastating and long lasting. In the case of the Korean War, these effects are still seen today as hostilities continue even after 50 years. The Korean War was a war that had developed from an interesting situation after World War II. Towards the end of World War II, the Soviet Union had entered the war to seize control over Japanese territories which included Korea. The strategic position of Korea led the United States to step in to stop communism from spreading. A truce was agreed upon in which the Soviet Union would occupy all of Korea north of the 38 parallel and the United States would occupy all of Korea south of the 38 parallel. From this event began the separation of Korea into a democratic and communist party which would later erupt into a war. Strangely enough, the initial objective of the Soviet Union and the United States was to establish a unified Korea and then evacuate all military forces, but ironically, their actions led to a greater division of Korea and increased tensions between the communist ideologies of the north and the democratic ideologies of the south. As time progress and tensions mounted, different factions began to struggle for power until Kim Il Sung seized power and became a political figure in the north. At the same time in the southern part of Korea, Syngman Rhee took political power and advocated anticommunism. Now that there were two provisional governments in place in Korea, it was decided in 1948 by the United Nations that a general election decide who would be the political figurehead of Korea. After the votes were tallied, it was declared that Kim Il Sung was the president of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea although the communist party and communist countries supported him. The election of Sung led to the permanent division of Korea at the 38 parallel. The election of 1948 and the official division of Korea were the two main events which set the stage for a civil war along with the fact that both North and South Korea were preparing their armies. On June 25, 1950 the first shot was fired, by which side is still unknown today, and the Korean War had begun. In the early stages of the war, both the United States and the Soviet 2007-01-09T02:36:54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-History-of-the-Korean-War-32312.aspx John Locke Versus the Declaration Of Independance In 1689, John Locke published, what proved to be, a valuable document for the American Revolution as well as life in present day America, known as the Second Treatise of Government. In his document he creates a model of his ideal civil government, which is created by the people to ensure their “natural rights” of life, liberty, and property. This government may also be dissolved upon the decision of the people, when it is believed that the sovereignty has ceased to function properly. Locke’s model government is based on his idea of the “state of nature”; perfect freedom, the state all men are in naturally. This idea infers that all men will govern themselves accordingly, however chaos and anarchy would always occur. Men, in the “state of nature”, all have the drive and want to acquire more then which they already possess. Men, also, have the same capabilities of doing so, which ultimately creates conflict between men. This is where the idea of the “politic society” comes into play. The “politic society” is where men forfeit their individual right to govern themselves, and instead create a “social contract” amongst one another. The “social contract” is a binding agreement between the government and the governed, in which the governed agree to sacrifice their individual political power and obey laws, while the government agrees to provide protection of property and enforce/create laws that promote the common good. The government is prohibited from doing which the governed does not consent nor comply with. Once government goes above or beyond its prescribed capabilities, it is then that it should be dissolved. Locke insists the government may be dissolved in any instance, if does not receive consent from its governed during: legislative alteration, executive hindering its legislative, alteration of elective process the executive, failure to enforce existing laws, and subjection to foreign powers. It is evident that, while Thomas Jefferson was formulating his document, The Declaration of Independence, he was highly influenced by Locke’s views within his Second Treatise of Government. In fact, the preamble to The Declaration of Independence encompasses Locke’s ideas of the “state of nature” and the “politic society” as demonstrated here: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are 2007-01-08T20:50:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/John-Locke-Versus-the-Declaration-Of-Independance-32280.aspx Analyzing the American Dream in Society The American Dream is a passion that burns strongly inside those with desire to learn and prosper. Because of the plethora of opportunities we have in America, the American Dream is a reality to many people today. The validity of the American Dream differs from person to person, depending on their dedication and worth ethic. Nevertheless, the American Dream is a reachable goal for everyone, however, whether or not it is achieved depends on the person. What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its fulfillment? The American Dream has come to represent the attainment of countless goals that are specific to each individual. For example, one person might consider a purchased home their version of the American Dream, another might view it as the financial ability to run his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dry definition of the American Dream. What it does universally represent, however, is the opportunity for people to seek out their individual desires under the political rule of democracy. The American Dream was made possible because of the abundance of opportunities given to us the by the government and our economic systems. Living in America, we are very fortunate to have endless freedoms, which contribute to the validity of the American Dream. In the United States, we have a democracy, which ensures that the power lies within the people. Because of the privilege of having a democracy, we have opportunity after opportunity to climb the ladder of success. Many countries do not have a democracy, which provides us with the opportunity to fulfill the American Dream. For example, China is a system that does not permit any freedoms that might challenge the control of the ruling Communist Party. They punish anyone who tries to do so. These issues are directly opposing to American values. China's government does not allow freedom of expression or association, peaceful demonstration or independent labor unions; it does employ detention and various torture methods. These make the American Dream impossible to exist (www.china.org). I am surrounded by examples of the American dream fulfilled. For example, my father was born in Tehran, Iran. He went to a Jesuit school in Iranian till he was 17. In 1977, the Iranian government began to transform, causing many problems between governmental leaders and traditional religious groups in Tehran. Because of this 2007-01-06T20:58:25-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analyzing-the-American-Dream-in-Society-32253.aspx The Decade of the 1950s in American History The 1950's were an important decade full of historic events and changes in technology. Important historic and cultural events such as the approval of the hydrogen bomb and transcontinental television in 1950, the signing of the Immigration and Naturalization Act in 1952, the end of fighting in Korea in 1953, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a public bus in 1955, and Alaska and Hawaii becoming states in 1959 were some of the most vital. Part of the 1950's boom in consumerism included housing. People could afford single family dwellings and suburbia was born. A small suburban community called Levittown was built by William Levitt for returning servicemen and their families. An influence of Frank Lloyd Wright is seen in the popular Ranch style house . Designers like Bauhaus , who helped create the International style , influenced Ludwig Mies van der Rohe , Philip Johnson , Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen . Louis Kahn , architect of the Salk Institute, was a noted architect during this period. America had just begun her recovery from World War II, when suddenly the Korean Conflict developed. The USSR became a major enemy in the Cold War. Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to know that Communists had infiltrated the United States government at the highest levels. Americans were feeling a sense of national anxiety. Was America the greatest country in the world? Was life in America the best it had ever been? As the decade passed, literature reflected the conflict of self-satisfaction with 50's Happy Days and cultural self-doubt about conformity and the true worth of American values. During the fifties, American education underwent dramatic and world shattering changes. Until 1954, an official policy of "separate but equal " educational opportunities for blacks had been determined to be the correct method to insure that all children in America received an adequate and equal education in the public schools. In 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren and other members of the Supreme Court wrote in Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that separate facilities for blacks did not make those facilities equal according to the Constitution. Integration was begun across the nation. Fifties clothing was conservative. Men wore gray flannel suits and women wore dresses with pinched in waists and high heels. French fashion designers 2007-01-04T23:20:39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Decade-of-the-1950s-in-American-History-32228.aspx Complete History of the Cold War Cold War is the term used to describe the intense rivalry that developed after World War II between groups of Communist and non-Communist nations. On one side were the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) and its Communist allies, often referred to as the Eastern bloc. On the other side were the United States and its democratic allies, usually referred to as the Western bloc. The struggle was called the Cold War because it did not actually lead to fighting, or "hot" war, on a wide scale. The Cold War was characterized by mutual distrust, suspicion, and misunderstandings by both the United States and the Soviet Union, and their allies. At times, these conditions increased the likelihood of a third world war. The United States accused the Soviet Union of seeking to expand Communism throughout the world. The Soviets, meanwhile, charged the United States with practicing imperialism and with attempting to stop revolutionary activity in other countries. Each bloc's vision of the world also contributed to East-West tension. The United States wanted a world of independent nations based on democratic principles. The Soviet Union, however, attempted to tightly control areas it considered vital to its national interest, including much of Eastern Europe. For a discussion of the principles of Communism and democracy, see Communism and Democracy. Though the Cold War did not begin until the end of World War II, in 1945, relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had been strained since 1917. In that year, a revolution in Russia established a Communist dictatorship there. During the 1920's and the 1930's, the Soviets called for world revolution and the destruction of capitalism, which was the economic system of the United States. The United States did not grant diplomatic recognition to the Soviet Union until 1933. In 1941, during World War II, Germany attacked the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union then joined the Western Allies in fighting Germany. For a time early in 1945, it seemed possible that a lasting friendship might develop between the United States and the Soviet Union based on their wartime cooperation. However, major differences continued to exist between the two, particularly with regard to Eastern Europe. As a result of these differences, the United States adopted a "get tough" policy toward the Soviet Union after the war ended. The Soviets responded by accusing the United States and the 2007-01-04T18:26:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Complete-History-of-the-Cold-War-32223.aspx History in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass In Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Mr. Douglass gives many examples of cruelty towards slaves as he shows many reasons that could have been used to abolish slavery. Throughout the well-written narrative, Douglass uses examples from the severe whippings that took place constantly to a form of brainwashing by the slaveholders over the slaves describing the terrible conditions that the slaves were faced with in the south in the first half of the 1800’s. The purpose of this narrative was most likely to give others not affiliated with slaves an explicit view of what actually happened to the slaves physically, mentally, and emotionally to show the explicit importance of knowledge to the liberation of slaves. Frederick Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in 1818 in Tuchahoe, Maryland, entered slavery from birth. Unaware of his actual date of birth, like most all the other slaves at that time, Douglass was forced to face the dread of being a slave early in his life. The very fact that the slaveholders did not give their slaves an actual birth date was one of the first examples not of brainwashing but a form of brain molding that was customary for all slaveholders to take part of. Since the slaves did not know their birthday, they were more easily treated like cattle or other property of the plantation, which was the objective of the slaveholders. The slaveholders felt that the more ignorant and little minded that slaves were, then the more effective they would be in the fields. This example of depriving the slaves of their natural right as humans to know their date of birth was just the beginning of the many examples that Frederick Douglass used to show reasons for the abolishment of slavery. Douglass’ mother, slave Harriet Bailey, was immediately separated from him while he was still an infant. Frederick’s father was said to be a white man, but throughout the entire narrative, Douglass does not positively confirm it. He does this probably for the fact that if he does not acknowledge that his father was white, then he is not forced into thinking his mother was most likely raped by a white man. A majority of southern slaveholders took part in sexual relations with their slaves because 2007-01-03T21:33:25-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-in-the-Narrative-of-the-Life-of-Frederick-Douglass-32206.aspx Mafia Activity in American History Although many arrests have been made, organized crime and the Mafia are still very active. Organized crime and its families, particularly the Italian mafia, have increased their illegal activities significantly over the past few decades. The Mafia and organized crime go hand and hand, one cannot be spoken without the other. Both of these forms of criminal actions have been recognized since the late 1800's, and police say it is not disappearing too fast. (Widener 6) Migration from Italy, has brought over many Italian criminals and crime tactics. The Italian Mafia has always been based on the island of Sicily and the southern mainland provinces of Calabria and Campania. (Worsnop 273) Traffic in drugs, chiefly heroin, provides the bulk of the Italian Mafia's revenue from Sicily. Cocaine is becoming more important, however, as drug lords from Colombia try to expand beyond the Americas. To gain a foothold in Europe, the Colombians have got to strike deals with the Mafia, which ironically guards its home turf. (273) Italy in general, has added to the crime list of the Mafia for over 100 years. The famous Al Capone, the Italian-American gangster of the Prohibition era, also known as Scarface because of a knife cut to his cheek. (Nash 79) He was born Alphonse Capone in Naples, Italy, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He left school at an early age and spent nearly ten years "hanging-out" with gangs. In the 1920's he took over a Chicago organization dealing in illegal liquor, gambling, and prostitution from the gangster Johnny Torrio. (80) Convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to 11 years in prison, he was released in 1939. After obtaining syphilis, he went on to reside in Miami Beach, Florida. (80) Many Italian families are a major influence on the organized crime melting pot. Families such as the Colombo's, the Gambino's, the Bannanno's, and the Luchesse's have migrated from Italy, and play an important role in the organized crime system. (Worsnop 267) The Colombo family, which consists of approximately 100 members is currently led by Victor Orena. Victor is currently acting as boss due to the absence of Carmine Persico, who is serving a prison sentence for racketeering. (268) The Colombo families main activities include loan sharking, gambling, smuggling, and narcotics. This family 2007-01-03T21:25:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mafia-Activity-in-American-History-32203.aspx American History of John Wayne The definition of a true American. It can’t be found in any text, the possibilities are too vast. There are those who consider place of birth and citizenship, those who feel that residency is the only factor, and there are some that will not make a judgment unless an entire life is laid out. The definition is simpler than many people will choose to admit. John “Duke” Wayne once stated,”A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job (Pilar Wayne, vii).” To Wayne, that creed meant living his life as someone who would represent America well. That is the mind set of a red blooded American. John Wayne epitomized a true American by his concrete ideals regarding integrity and leading an good life along with his unconditional love for America. John Wayne was constantly asked of his basic philosophy on life, to which he always responded with advice he received from his father. “1) Always keep your word. 2) A gentleman never insults anybody intentionally. 3) Don’t go around looking for trouble but if you get into a fight, make sure you win it. (Eyles, 11)” The words were simple and true, and seemed present in Wayne’s actions and speech throughout his life. He was patient with fans, even through provocation from them. His image on screen shown through to his personal life when he would talk about “having a good horse under you...the sound of a kid calling you Dad for the first time...(Eyles, 12)”. John Wayne was the ideal American, full of strengths, weaknesses, and national pride. John Wayne’s love for America was a known fact. He said at a Republican convention,” I am proud of every day in my life I wake up in the United States of America (Eyles, 11).” Such an outward expression of patriotism lent support to those who were in doubt, Communism was a large issue in American society and Wayne opposed it completely. He did not want to see the America that he loved fall into any state of anarchy and this public display of his affection for America was admirable and right. This adoration also showed in Wayne’s movies. After making the Alamo, Wayne told the press,”I 2006-12-20T01:48:33-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-History-of-John-Wayne-32103.aspx 19th Century Feminism in America In the nineteenth century, in America, the role women would play in our society began to change dramatically. This was the beginning of a whole new world for women, and America in general. Women began to realize that there were opportunities for them outside of the home, and that they could have a place in the world as well as men. It was a time when the feministic view was being born and traditional views of women were changing. First, women would play a part in working to help slaves gain their freedom in the anti-slavery movement. They felt they could identify with the way slaves were being treated, therefore wanted to help them. Middle class women then would begin to realize that they were just the same as men, and wanted to be treated that way, and partake in the same activities. This included getting an education, working and being able to support themselves without the help of men. This changed not only the traditional roles of women in society, but also their role in the family. With women wanting the right to vote, work and go to school, middle class life as they new it would be drastically changed. Women would no longer be in the home with the children cooking and cleaning; they wanted to get out into the world. There was still an extremely long way to go before women were to be accepted in society, and this was just the beginning. In 1830‘s, there was a radical anti-slavery movement, which demanded the cessation of slavery on the grounds that every man was the owner of himself. That is, that every human being is the only person who has jurisdiction over his or her own body. Angelina Grimke, Sarah Grimke, and Abbey Kelley were a few of the major feminists during this time. These women became the first women in America to do lecture tours before audiences, that included men, about anti-slavery. They believed that women should be grateful to slaves because giving them freedom would lead to society’s granting of women’s freedom. This made people start to see the similarities between how slaves were treated and how women were treated, and began to strike up feminist views among many people. It was evident that 2006-12-19T16:23:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/19th-Century-Feminism-in-America-32081.aspx History of Racism in America The era of civil rights movement mainly started in the 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963 is what I believe too be one of the greatest speeches of all time, and one of the greatest advances for African American people. While this peaceful act was taking place, the Birmingham Police Commissioner made a bold decision and used powerful fire hoses and released police dogs to attack black civil rights activists. Although the civil rights activists made great pushes towards freedom, the greatest problem which remains in our great nation is that of Racism and/or Racial Profiling. Over the years, racism has been a growing problem in all parts of the United States. Back in the 60s there were such problems as segregated schools, which meant only kids of certain color could attend a certain school. Also blacks had to drink from different bubblers and white kids did in some public places. There were many things and rules that were terribly wrong at this time. The most current problem in today’s society is that which is called Racial Profiling. Racial Profiling is the discriminatory practice by police of treating blackness as an indication of possible criminality. This has been the most recent focus of legislative action. There has been a significant amount of coverage taking place in the media. This is referred to as media blackface. As far as the police go, the racial profiling is pretty direct. The individual officers act on racial stereotypes against racial minorities, specifically African Americans. Also this goes on in the media, when a news channel might exaggerate or over-represent the number of black people when the subject at hand has something to do with some type of political punishment. The media tends to do this sometimes and many people get upset over this time of racial profiling. Some examples of issues that are used to define blackface are the black drug abuser or drug dealer, a black criminal, blacks on welfare, and the black affirmative action recipient. The significance of this racial profiling, is that whatever the issue may be - crime, welfare, or drug abuse; the people that are subjected to this believe that these types of issues 2006-12-18T17:38:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Racism-in-America-32002.aspx Agent Orange in The Vietnam War In 1962, the United States Military began to use a potentially toxic chemical known as Agent Orange. The toxic chemical was used a defoliant to destroy crops and eliminate ground cover during the Vietnam War. Vietnamese troops would hide underneath the thick forest and make it impossible for United States troops to spot them. So in 1962 the Army began using Agent Orange as a way of eliminating that problem. The government had very little knowledge about the deadly chemical but went ahead and used it anyway. They had no idea of the disastrous long-term effects that it would have on men, women and children. But the hardest group hit by the chemical was not Vietnamese civilians but United States troops. In 1962, Project Ranch Hand was being deployed all over Vietnam. The idea was to destroy the forest on the battle field and make it easier for the United States troops to see the Vietnamese soldiers. The term “agent orange” was given to the chemical because of the bright orange canisters that it was stored in. (Online, Mar 27. 1999) The orange canisters were used to distinguish the chemicals in the warehouses so that they would not be confused with anything else. During the Vietnam War, 11.2 million gallons of Agent Orange were used as defoliants throughout Vietnam and Southeast Asia. (Online, lewispublishing, Mar 27. 1999) Approximately 2.6 million United States soldiers served in South Vietnam and nearby areas during the war. (Online, lewispublishing, Mar 27. 1999) As the planes would drop the massive amounts of Agent Orange onto Vietnam, United States soldiers would unknowingly walk to certain disaster. The deadly chemical affected everyone from ground troops to pilots to seamen. The hardest hit of course were the ground troops. In some cases the defoliant was dropped almost right on top of them while in the field. At that time they may have had some idea that it might be potentially hazardous but they were not certain. As the soldiers were carrying out their orders they would inevitably breathe in the toxic fumes. The chemical would be sprayed over huge areas sometimes in a 10-mile radius destroying everything in its path. Through out the Vietnam War soldiers were beginning to complain of severe medical problems. The army was not certain of the causes but believed them to be from the people of Vietnam or 2006-12-13T01:04:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Agent-Orange-in-The-Vietnam-War-31978.aspx American Involvemnet in Vietnam A country in shock as it watches the first living room war. The media is spreading it everywhere. For the first time in history the United States of America witnesses the Vietnam War. The colleges are ripped especially Kent State after the terrible shooting which occurred there. Media is good for some things but not all. They can be informational and tell things that are the truth or they can tell the most horrible lies that cause bad things to happen. The US government is no help either by concealing the nature and objective of missions to Vietnam. 2006-12-08T03:16:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Involvemnet-in-Vietnam-31951.aspx History of the Ku Klux Klan in America In the play Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill, the Tyrone family is haunted not by what is present in flesh facing them, but by memories and constant reminders of what has been the downfall of the family for years. “ No it can never be now. But it was once, before you-“ (72) [James Tyrone referring to the Morphine addiction of his wife, Mary, which attributed to the undoing of the family]. Their trials and tribulations are well documented by O’Neill through the proficient utilization of theme, characterization, plot, setting, and style. Throughout the play, O’Neill’s theme is one of a disclosure into the life of a seemingly normal family on the outside yet convoluted with bitterness on the inside. It portrays the actions of a dysfunctional family and brings us on a reflective journey from when the fledgling family had started, devoted to one another with high hopes for the future, to what it is today, a family engulfed in turmoil. “Who would have thought Jamie would grow up to disgrace us…Its such a pity…You brought him up to be a boozer.” (110) In this excerpt from Mary’s conversation with James regarding their son, it is obvious that their life had taken a 180-degree turn from when their offspring were mere children with promise. Characterization throughout the play helps us not only to understand the characters’ actions but also to see into the soul of each and to comprehend their thoughts and emotions, essentially assessing the motives for their actions. Early in the play, Mary is perceived to be a common, traditional housewife “She is dressed simply…she has the simple, unaffected charm of a shy covenant-girl youthfulness she has never lost-an innate worldly innocence.” (13) Yet as the play progresses, she is portrayed in a different light. “I hope, sometime, without meaning it, I will take an overdose. I never could do it deliberately. The Blessed Virgin could never forgive me, then.” (121) It is apparent in this muttering by Mary to herself that her addiction has seized control over her and that she no longer can bear the pain. James Tyrone is faced with many a problem. Through this tough time he is faced with personal, family, and financial conflicts, thus attributing to the plot. Besides having to deal with his wife’s addiction, his sons’ ill health 2006-12-08T03:04:26-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Ku-Klux-Klan-in-America-31946.aspx Law and Prohibition in the 1920s in America I have always taken an interest in the Roaring Twenties and that is why I decided to write my English term paper on an event that occurred in the 1920s. What follows is my term paper which concentrates on prohibition and why it was not effective, namely because of lack of enforcement, growth of crime, and the increase in the drinking rate. I hope this may be of some help to you. “Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve” (Thorton, 15). On Midnight of January 16, 1920, one of the personal habits and customs of most Americans suddenly came to a halt. The Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect and all importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of intoxicating liquor was put to an end. Shortly following the enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was put into effect. This determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. This act also set up guidelines for enforcement (Bowen, 154). Prohibition was meant to reduce the consumption of alcohol, seen by some as the devil’s advocate, and thereby reduce crime, poverty, death rates, and improve the economy and the quality of life. “National prohibition of alcohol -- the ‘noble experiment’ -- was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America” (Thorton, 1). This, however, was undoubtedly to no avail. The Prohibition amendment of the 1920s was ineffective because it was unenforceable, it caused the explosive growth of crime, and it increased the amount of alcohol consumption. “It is impossible to tell whether prohibition is a good thing or a bad thing. It has never been enforced in this country” (LaGuardia). After the Volstead Act was put into place to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement, the Federal Prohibition Bureau was formulated in order to see that the Volstead Act was enforced. Nevertheless, these laws were flagrantly violated by bootleggers and commoners alike. Bootleggers smuggled liquor from oversees and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, and produced their own. Many people hid their liquor 2006-12-07T19:41:14-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Law-and-Prohibition-in-the-1920s-in-America-31940.aspx The Civil Rights Act of 1991 The constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights were suppose to be enough to guarantee equal rights for all people, however, after the emancipation of slaves the government needed to ensure the equality of the freed people so created the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Since then there has been Civil Rights Acts in 1871, 1957, 1964, 1972, and 1991. Each act reinforces the one before it, and adds one or two new provisions. This repetitive action shows that the only way people pay attention to a civil rights act is if another is brought to light, and remind society that everyone is supposed to be treated equally. The most recent Civil Rights Act of 1991 was a compromise culminating from two years of negotiations, and a failed proposal in 1990. This original act “targeted six 1989 Supreme Court decisions that narrowed the reach and remedies of laws prohibiting employment discrimination and made it harder to prove job discrimination and easier to challenge affirmative-action programs” (Congressional Quarterly 1990, 462). It was passed in the Senate after 8 weeks of discussion with a vote of 65-34, and passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 273-154 on August 3. Both houses passed it despite the Bush Administration’s constant pledge that he would be against the bill. Most Congressional members, however, believed that Bush would not risk the political cost of vetoing a Civil Rights Act, Bush took a risk and did veto the piece of legislature. In text accompanying the veto Bush states his reasons for his actions. He first states his position on discrimination saying that “discrimination whether on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, or disability is worse than wrong” (Congressional Quarterly 1990, p. 472) so as to make clear that he is not against the anti-discrimination part of the bill. He gives his reason as saying that “despite the use of the term ‘civil rights’ in the title of S 2104, the bill actually employs a maze of highly legalistic language to introduce the destructive force of quotas into our nation’s employment system” (Congressional Quarterly 1990, p. 472). Bush felt that the possibility of job quotas being made outweighed the benefits of a non-discriminatory work environment. Bush felt strongly enough about job quotas to 2006-12-05T16:09:01-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Civil-Rights-Act-of-1991-31899.aspx Civil Rights Activists Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were both civil rights activists, yet one man’s solution to the problems faced by African Americans in late-nineteenth-century America, was better than the other’s. That man was Booker T. Washington. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery where as W.E.B. Du Bois was born a free man. Their different backgrounds created very dissimilar ideas of how the African Americans would achieve full civil liberties and equal rights. Having studied at Hampton Institute in Virginia, Booker T. Washington was motivated to spend his time promoting Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. W.E.B. Du Bois on the other hand, graduated from Fisk University in Tennessee and then became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard. Washington preached that in order to gain understanding from whites, African Americans would have to concentrate on creating economic security by improving vocational skills. He told blacks to disregard their want for political equality. Du Bois, had a different type of audience and he led them to request full civil freedoms, an end to discrimination, and the recognition of human brotherhood. He mocked and jeered at Washington’s ideas. Washington’s ideas were nothing to be made fun of. He spoke to a people who had very little education, if any, yet had potential to learn. He spoke to people that were good at blue-collar jobs. He spoke from his heart to a nation of African Americans who deserved their rights, but needed his wise words to help them. Proof that Washington spoke on behalf of the whole African American community is in a speech he gave. He said: “To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition…cast down your bucket where you are-cast it down…in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic services, and in the professions…no race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem…” Here he is reaching out to everyone with a profound message. W.EB. Du Bois’ message was quite unlike Booker T. Washington’s. In fact he turned Washington’s views upside down. In The Negro Problem he wrote that the point of “education isn’t to turn men into carpenters, but it is to turn carpenters 2006-12-05T16:03:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Civil-Rights-Activists-Booker-T-Washington-and-WEB-Du-Bois-31896.aspx Native American Story of Black Elk Black Elk tells a story about his family, his tribe, his people, and the circle of life. But most of all Black Elk speaks about his life and his spiritual journey. This is a story of a shaman and as he speaks we go deeper and deeper into his vision from his colorful words we are able to catch a glimpse of Native American religion and their spirituality. By the symbols and Black Elk’s poetic words, we are able to get a clear idea what his religion is about and how it affects them in their daily life. Black Elk speaks about his culture and his traditional way of life. Appreciating nature and giving thanks to mother earth is what the Native American strives on and lives for. Unlike the white man who came to America looking to control and take over, using all the natural resources and taking what is in front of their eyes, the Native American is about balance and taking enough so there would be more for tomorrow. Appreciating earth and nature is where most of their religion and symbols come from. The buffalo hide is a symbol for all the good things in life. The Native American uses buffalo and bison for everything, from food to clothing, they do not waste anything. The eagle on the other hand is a symbol for lifting of the spirit. Because of their soaring and mountainous flight. The morning star is another symbol that is important in their culture. The one, who sees the morning star, is the one with wisdom. Seeing Venus is a symbol of attaining wisdom. The Native American not only celebrates nature, but spirits as well. They celebrate the west, which is the color of black. It symbolizing rain and giving life. The north is the color white, it symbolize wind and the winter. The east is the color red, and it symbolizes the sun and the summer time. The south is the color yellow and it represents warmth. These are the four spirits. The Native American uses chants to go into a spiritual stage to contact with the spirits. Having leaders and medicine men chanting and going into “dream time” is a big part of Native American culture. Black Elk for most of the book was caught between the ecstasy of his vision and the tragic world in which 2006-12-05T15:35:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Native-American-Story-of-Black-Elk-31883.aspx Analysis of The Education of Henry Adams While reading the book, The Education of Henry Adams, I found it to be amusing, and interesting at the same time. Henry Adams had a unique way of looking at history and events that happened in his life. There were two themes in the book that I thought were very interesting. The first was how he defined “education”, and the second was his Dynamic Theory of History. The term education to Adams was not going to school and learning how to read and write. It was a continuing experience through out one’s life. It involves people you come into contact as well as events that take place in your life. He states that in order to gain those experiences you first have to lose your innocence. As he was growing up in Quincy, he lived a carefree life naively enjoying the freedoms of a child. Then things started to change with his visit to Washington with his father. He experienced slavery for the first time, and it was then that he started to lose his innocence, and become confused about life. He wondered how men could treat other men that way. Another event that further disillusioned Adams was the corruptness of politicians. The Free Soil Party agreed to support a pro-slavery democrat for the office of Governor of Massachusetts in return for the democrats to support a Free Soil candidate for the United States Senate. Adams’ points out that this is his first lesson in “practical politics”. After Adams lost his innocence he talks about a struggle to confront exploitation of the weak. This is a big topic for Adams because of his anti-slavery stance. He also feels that this is one of the main struggles in life because there is always someone trying to take advantage of people. The issue of gold came up several times in his life and he saw that there was always someone trying to make money while taking advantage of the commoners. Every one of these experiences gave him a little more education. To Adams formal education is worthless. He has many experiences with it, going to Harvard, and studying law in Europe. He feels that one’s own experiences are how one is educated. This 2006-12-04T20:33:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-The-Education-of-Henry-Adams-31851.aspx A nations’ success is based upon a variety of factors including geography. The Atlantic Ocean, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, the Great Lakes, and diverse climates have influenced Colonial Development. They have helped colonies thrive by providing natural resources, extensive waterways for trade and exploration, and a fertile land for prosperous agriculture. The Atlantic Ocean had encouraged successful development of colonies on the Eastern Coast of the United States. A region that was affected by the Atlantic Ocean was the Mid-Atlantic, referring to the land between New England and parts of Virginia. In the Mid-Atlantic, rivers flowed into the Atlantic Ocean creating routes for trade and colonization. Large cities formed where bodies of water connected with the Atlantic Ocean because ports could be formed and there was a food supply, fish. Baltimore is located on the Chesapeake Bay and served as a commercial port and grew exponentially during the 18th and 19th centuries. Sugar was imported from colonies in the Caribbean to Baltimore to be redistributed to other colonies. The shelf life of sugar, flour, and other goods being imported increased because Baltimore was closer to the Caribbean in relation to where New York was. Because of the prolonged self life, profits on sugar increased. Baltimore soon became a major industrial city, bringing in large amounts of money and goods for the growing United States. Colonization of the American West was motivated by economics and the belief that America had the right to expand its’ borders. From British Columbia to New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains were a primary location for Americans to expand into because of its’ vast economic opportunities. Fur was the primary attraction of the Rocky Mountains and many companies took advantage of the opportunity to set establish trading posts. The Northwest Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company had trading posts in the Rockies and these became some of the first white settlements in the region. In 1859, with the discovery of gold, the mining industry increased. Not only were there significant deposits of gold, but there was copper, lead, silver, and zinc which was also being mined. The Mississippi River and its’ many tributaries form an extensive internal waterway that flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River acts as a border for several states, including Arkansas, Iowa, and Illinois. Before 2006-11-26T01:19:06-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Influence-of-Geography-on-Colonial-Development-31836.aspx The Black Panther Party Who really are the Black Panthers? I believe the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was a great asset to their community during the 1960’s. What was the Black Panther Party for Self Defense? They were a group of revolutionists who believed their "destinies should be taken into their own hands," they eventually set up community programs to help the populace. I also Believe that the Panthers are legends who inspire many people all over the world from when they began on into today. The Black Panther Party for self Defense was founded in Oakland California in October 1966, by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. These two people believed it was a time for a change in the society in which they lived in. They believed with the mistreatment of black people at the time they thought they could legally defend themselves. That same year, they recorded their goals on a paper they passed out known as the 10 point program. Eventually they adapted for use the Black Panther symbol established the preceding year. They also studied Malcolm X, Fanon, and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, and law in order to create a basic plan on how to legally defend themselves. What was the Black Panther Party For Self Defense? Many don’t know this but, the Black Panther Party is a group for reconstructing the black community to which they feel fits their needs. Such examples are point numbers; 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 on the 10 Point Program. Basically, what was wanted from the panthers was, "the right for citizens within the community to determine their own destinies." Many believed and still believe the Black Panthers were a young radical group that was armed to kill white people with no moral behind them. J. Edgar Hoover referred to them as a young radical group of "Shines, who are trying to decimate the population of the government." The Panthers were a group of Black people who wanted to and did contribute to the community on a basis where they could work together "like ants in a colony," socially or politically to end suppression, oppression and corruption of the people within the poverty stricken community. The Black Panthers Contributed to the community in many ways whether it was feeding and clothing their community citizens, providing entertainment, healthcare, supplying work, or giving education to the children 2006-11-17T02:51:48-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Black-Panther-Party--31809.aspx History on the Founding Fathers of America Philadelphia, PA. 1787, the Founding Fathers set before them foundation for a new nation. This nation was to be formed in the interest of its people: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Important here is how the United States was formed to provide its people these “unalienable rights.” Formation of the United States did not arise solely on the genius of the Founding Fathers. They adopted ideas from political writers and philosophers around the globe, but none so more than those of British theorists. Theorists such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke provided solid work to expand on. Others assisted the Founding Fathers on the significance of law. They set precedent by taking theories that were only written of, but never applied, and instituting them towards the formulation of the United States. The state of nature was believed to be a state of constant war; the only path to escaping the state of nature is the creation of society. From society, government is borne. Hobbes and Locke were the first to formulate this theory; the Founding Fathers were in agreement as well. To create government man had to bestow certain individual(s) with the authority to govern, therefore creating a social contract, “a set of bilateral agreements between each pair of participants to transfer their rights of self-rule to, and authorize all the acts of, whatever individual or assembly is later elected sovereign by the majority of the group.” The social contract is key to American government in that it led to popular sovereignty, sovereignty to be held by the people and by those who govern. This very concept of popular sovereignty, sovereignty amongst the people, drew directly from the writings of Hobbes, Locke and furthermore in relation to Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos (V.C.T.). The Founding Fathers took further considerations to Locke and V.C.T., applying that government is established by, a fiduciary trust to Locke, and trusteeship in V.C.T. Both arrangements call forth those who govern are granted power 2006-11-17T02:43:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-on-the-Founding-Fathers-of-America-31804.aspx American Cold War History Harry S. Truman was the most influential figure in early Cold War politics. His policies on Soviet expansion and cooperation with western bloc countries set the stage for how other Cold War era presidents would act. It is through his handling of the Korean conflict and the issue of communism, both domestic and abroad, he can be considered the father of Cold War politics. The beginnings of communist distrust in America may be found in the Red Scare of 1919. The Red Scare of 1919 began out of a growing distrust of Bolshevism and strong desire by many groups to preserve America’s status quo and throw out the foreign influences that might subvert it (1). People only became more outraged by such frivolous comments by Bolshevik leaders like Vladimir Lenis that “it is necessary to break eggs to make an omelet”(2). Under mounting public pressure the attorney general, Mitchell A. Palmer, conducted anti-alien raids across America. It was not until the arrest and deportation of hundreds of aliens that the national hysteria began to die down as a result of growing public disapproval. Despite the end of the first Red Scare a feeling of Bolshevik distrust continued to pervade America throughout the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. At the end of the Second World War America had emerged as the world’s most powerful nation. While most of the world lay in shambles, America served as a sort of economic crutch, providing trade and industry to war stricken nations that could no long do so themselves. With programs such as the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), European Recovery Program (ERP), and the Truman Doctrine the United States was clearly making a concerted effort to re-establish trade with and re-stabilize the countries of Europe. The Marshal Plan, which later evolved into the European Recovery Act, was especially important not only from an American economic standpoint but from a political one as well. By raising living standards and increasing productivity in Western Europe, the Marshall Plan curbed Communism, stimulated trade and economic growth, helped preserve political stability, and made possible a vigorous and enduring North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Given its objectives, it was the most successful foreign aid program in American history (3). With the dissolution of the Russian, British, and American alliance, 2006-11-17T02:26:51-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Cold-War-History-31795.aspx History of the American Indian Seminole Tribe The Seminoles 2006-11-15T22:37:31-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-American-Indian-Seminole-Tribe-31748.aspx History of the Western Frontier The western frontier was a newly acquired asset with unlimited potential for the United States. Rich with mineral resources, fertile land, and overall open space, the frontier was to be prosperous indefinitely, but it was first necessary to determine which action would be initiated. Agriculture was the only true necessity for survival, and with the land, large farms could be created to produce food for the nation. For this reason, farmers and their agricultural agenda should have had the precedence in setting up the western frontier. During the time period between 1840-1890, immigrants were crowding into our nation, causing a population boom, especially in urban areas. Our nation was growing, industry was improving, and transportation, especially through railroads, was progressing rapidly. Following the Civil War, many settlers, including immigrants and freedmen, were moving west to begin a new life farming. But, the United States was wastefully granting the railroad companies fertile lands which were more suitable for agriculture. With the arrival of thousands of immigrants each year into the United States, food was obviously a necessity for the nation. With all the land for which to cultivate in the west, farming was a sensible way to begin setting up the frontier. The government should have allowed farmers to choose their land on which to farm, and then support the nation with a steady food supply. The government could have still given out free land, like they did, as long as the farmers would supply the nation with a partial amount of their crops. In this way, if the farmers were allowed to choose their land first, the production of food would have been more efficient and prosperous, and the nation would have gained more profit. With the profit gained from such a prosperous agricultural region, the government could have then funded other areas of westward expansion, such as railroad construction. Once the boundaries were created and farms were stable, the railroads could have then been built through the less fertile lands, such as the deserts in the Southwest. This method would have been logical, and in this way it would have also been easy to transport the goods to the East for consumption. The railroads would run around and between the farms, instead of the farms being created around a railroad. With a 2006-11-04T18:46:37-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Western-Frontier-31688.aspx Historical Significance of Grand Central Station When the words “railroad station,” are mentioned, the first thing that appears in most peoples’ minds is Grand Central Terminal in New York City. It has become known as the crossroads of the world. In the 1830’s it was becoming apparent that there was the need for an alternative to water travel because of the geographical expansion of the country. This lead to railroads, which could be extended easily, unlike canals that had to be dredged. From 1850 to the end of the nineteenth century, American railroads grew from 9,000 miles to 193,000 miles of track. In 1853, all of the smaller New York railroads merged into the New York Central Railroad. Cornelius Vanderbilt acquired a large amount of stock in the New York Central. Daniel Drew, a rival of Vanderbilt’s, tried to block all additional acquisition by Vanderbilt but failed. In New York City, the destination for freight trains was St. John’s Park Depot, a three-story stone building constructed for the Hudson River Railroad in 1868. On the top of it was a bronze statue of Vanderbilt himself. The statue now stands on the south side of Grand Central, looking out on Park Avenue S. Passenger trains merged at Fourth Avenue and continued down to 42nd street. The Harlem Railroad Depot was located here. Vanderbilt acquired the Depot in the Harlem Railroad takeover. It gave him ownership to what was to become the busiest piece of land in the world. His railroad was now the only one with a direct route into Manhattan. In 1856 New York City banned trains from south of 42nd street because of the high numbers of accidents. Passengers continued downtown on a forty-five minute horse-drawn carriage ride. The two terminals for the Hudson River and Harlem lines proved to be inadequate for the volume of freight and passengers at hand. The large fleet was in need of a large central depot to bring both lines together. It would need to be big enough to accommodate and represent the New York Central, the Hudson, and the Harlem. The site selected for Vanderbilt’s Grand Central Depot was where the Harlem Depot already stood. The location was criticized by the public as being “the end of the earth,” 2006-11-02T15:54:30-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Historical-Significance-of-Grand-Central-Station-31675.aspx The History of Royal Oak Township The history of Royal Oak Township parallels the development of Detroit and Oakland County. As the economy of the area changed from that of agriculture in the 1800’s and early 1900’s to one dependent the transportation industry so did the economy of Royal Oak Township. African Americans families settled in Detroit before 1796, when the British took ownership of the city and found them in residence. By 1860, the African American population in Detroit had grown to 1403 persons, with a few African American families settling on scattered farm locations throughout the region. These farmland holdings were sold to whites, with the exception of an area spanning eight mile centered around Wyoming Avenue. As stated in the Oakland County Book of History, Royal Oak 2006-10-28T19:18:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-History-of-Royal-Oak-Township-31586.aspx A History of the Slave Trade "I am the son of a white man and a black slave, born in Tukahoe, Maryland, on February 7th, 1711. I never knew his father and was separated from my mother at the age of 8. I can still remember the nights of unrest; she would put me to sleep with grim stories of her father and the journey they took across the Atlantic. On other nights she would raise my spirits with tales of hope and how life wouldn't always be like this. I could tell there was a burning desire in her that was screaming, "Why does my family suffer like this. Why must my people endure this torture." I lived with his grandmother on a plantation until the age of eleven, when I was sent to a rich white man in Baltimore. It was to my fortune that the wife of my owner defied state law by teaching me to read. My possessor was also considerate enough to teach me many other skills that would be very useful later in my life like agricultural techniques and work with carving and repairing various wooden items. When my master died in 1737 I was sent to his Newport, Rhode Island to process wood. My new master was very generous to me and kept me in good health and took time each day to preach the important values of the Bible to me. After some years, I gained enough expertise and Master promoted me to be his assistant. It was an exciting job, I would carve out and assemble several parts of a ship not only for the food that I would not get with out my work, but I engaged I even engaged in conversations with my master about our opinions of the world. He explained to me the current situation the colonies were in and how we were helping the grand scheme of things. He called it our place in the slave trade. As the years went by, our relationship slowly but surely became more and more informal. One night he decided to share an underground history book explaining the history of the colonies and the slave trade. It read: "Ever sine the early seventeenth century when the English began to colonize the Americas there was a demand for cheap labor to fuel the soon-to-be booming economy and trade of the New World. When the 2006-10-27T19:05:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-History-of-the-Slave-Trade-31558.aspx Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was the oldest son of Domenico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa. Christopher was born between August and October 1451, in Genoa, Italy. Christopher also had two younger brothers, Bartholomew and Diego. Christopher received little formal education and was a largely self-taught man. Later, he learned to read Latin and write Castilian. In 1475, Columbus began his first sea voyage to the Aegean Island of Chios. One year later, he survived a shipwreck off Cape St. Vincent so he had to swim to shore. In 1477, Columbus sailed to England and Ireland with Portuguese marines. In 1479, Christopher married Felipa Perestello e Moniz from a poor noble Portuguese family. Their son, Diego, was born in 1480. Felipa died in 1485, and Columbus later began a relationship with Beatriz Enriquez de Harana of Cordabo, with whom Christopher had his second son, Ferdinand. Columbus and Enriquez never were married, but Columbus supported her. In the mid-1480’s, Christopher had become focused on his plans of discovery. His biggest dream was to find a westward route to Asia. In 1484, he had asked King John of Portugal to back his voyage west, but he was refused. The next year, he set out to Spain with his son, Diego to look for help from Queen Elizabeth of Castile and her husband, King Ferdinand of Aragon. Even though the Spanish monarchs first rejected Christopher’s request, but they gave him a small grant to live on, and he remained determined to convince them. In January of 1492, Christopher gained the support of Elizabeth and Ferdinand, after being rejected twice by the Spanish monarchs. On August 3rd, the fleet of three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, set forth from Palos, on the Tinto River in southern Spain. The first sight of land came at dawn on October 12th from the Pinta Ship. The place of the first Caribbean landfall was most likely modern, San Salvador or Waitling Island in the Bahamas. Thinking he has reached the East Indies, Columbus referred to the native residents of the island as “Indians,” a name often used to identify local people of the New World. The three ships sailed along the other Bahama Islands and landed in Cuba, which Columbus mistakenly called Mainland of Cathay (China). There were a little gold there, and his exploration continued by sea to Ayti on December 6th, 2006-10-22T18:06:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Christopher-Columbus-31548.aspx Historical Exploration of Woman's Suffrage My name is Stephanie Lotzman and I am a very interested in gaining suffrage for woman. Suffrage is officially taken away from us in 1868, when the Fourteenth amendment defines “citizens” and “voters” as “male.” This amendment gives all citizens protection by the constitution against unjust State laws. It also causes the Women’s Rights Movement to be split into two factions. One is a more radical New York-based National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, and Julia Ward Howe organize the more conservative American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), which is centered in Boston. In this same year, the Wyoming territory is organized with a woman suffrage provision. In 1890, Wyoming is admitted to the Union with its suffrage provision still standing. The best thing for me to do is support whichever group I feel has the most chance of winning our battle. In 1874 Annie Wittenmyer founds the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). With Frances Willard at its head in 1876, the WCTU becomes an important force in the fight for woman suffrage. Our group finally gets a woman suffrage amendment introduced in the United States Congress in 1878. The NWSA and the AWSA reunite in 1890 as the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) under the leadership of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. During this same year, Jane Adams and Ellen Gates Starr found the Hull House, a settlement house project in Chicago's 19th Ward. Within one year, there are more than a hundred settlement houses, largely operated by women, throughout the United States. The settlement house movement and the Progressive campaign of which it was a part cause thousands of college-educated white women to partake in lifetime careers in social work. It also made women an important voice to be reckoned with in American politics. Some women find that writing books helps their cause. In 1895 Elizabeth Cady Stanton publishes The Woman's Bible. After its publication, NAWSA moves to distance itself from this suffrage leader because many conservative suffragists consider her to be too radical and potentially damaging to the suffrage campaign. From this time, Stanton, who had resigned as NAWSA president in 1892, is no longer invited to sit on the stage at NAWSA conventions. Soon after this Mary Dreier, Rheta Childe Dorr, Leonora O'Reilly, and others form the Women's Trade Union League of New York, 2006-10-03T20:07:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Historical-Exploration-of-Woman-s-Suffrage-31479.aspx In the late 1820s and 1830s a religious revival called the Second Great Awakening had a strong impact on pre- Civil War American religion and reform. The revival was a response to rapid immigration, industrialization and urbanization. Of the major reforms four stand out greatly. They are temperance, rehabilitation, abolitionism and women’s rights. Methodist and Baptist groups experienced a surge of membership without delaying a move toward laissez-faire and competitiveness on the part of the Anglican, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches. The success of the Methodists and Baptists lay for the most part in their reliance on traveling preachers who brought the message of the church to the people, converting great numbers through emotionally charged revivals. The age of evangelicalism had arrived, with the Protestants and upper middle class women leading the charge, making this one of the most impact reforms in American history. The temperance movement was organized to reduce the drinking of liquor or total abstinence. The movement was supported mainly by women who were the most effected by the drinking of their husbands. Alcohol was blamed for society’s problems such as, health problems, poverty, and crime. Temperance associations were established in New York and Massachusetts with the help of churches. Some 6,000 local temperance groups were up and running by the 1830’s. Also, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League quickly picked up steam. As their political power grew, they changed from moral persuasion to making the government to control liquor. In fact, they succeeded in getting many liquor laws passed with help from churches and factories who saw poor productivity from drunken workers. Some distinguished figures are Susan B Anthony, Frances e. Willard, and Carry Nation. Some effects that remained permanent are government regulation, instruction on alcoholism in schools, study of alcoholism. The rehabilitation movement helped to improve the lives of the destitute. Group leaders wanted to create institutions for specific illnesses. In colonial times, orphans mentally challenged people, and criminals were cared by their own families and remained part of the community. Reformers wanted these people placed in specialized institutions where they could be trained or improved. Prison reforms included rehabilitation of criminals attempted to counter the tendency of prisons to create more hardened criminals. Work was seen as way to reform criminals. Hence, asylums, orphanages, prisons, and reformatories were developed. However, the earlier places had inhumane living conditions. But a 2006-09-20T22:59:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Second-Great-Awakening--31464.aspx Since the years after American colonization, the drive of technology and technological advances has been a large part of our history. There have been society-changing inventions that have made millionaires, thriving cities, and one of the world’s most advanced countries. The fore mentioned inventions and expansions include the cotton gin, the market expanding telegraph, steamboat, canals, railroads, farming advances in the steel plow and McCormick reaper. But the most impacting invention is the light bulb and the use of electricity as power which led to many other inventions. In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which helped to make the South a money-making machine. The gin made it possible for farmers to grow short-staple cotton for a profit. Short-staple cotton was the only cotton that grew well in the interior regions. Cotton was in great demand in England and the North, which made this gin a major breakthrough. Large amounts of cotton were supplies to them; making Southern farmers a tremendous profit. Non slaveholding farmers began cultivating this cash- crop in fertile areas. Wealthy planters bought huge areas of land and put an massive slave labor force to work. By 1820, this system altered the South into a roaring Cotton kingdom and hastened the expansion of slavery. During the market revolution in the mid- 19th century, many new inventions and technologies, produced in America, contributed vastly to the change in American life. Samuel F.B. Morse created the telegraph in 1837 and ran a successful test in 1844 that made it conclusive that it will work. The new communication device was used by businessmen to transmit orders and relay fresh information on prices and sales. The telegraph was used by railroads to keep trains moving regularly and to warn engineers of safety hazards. 23,000 miles of telegraph wire was across the country by 1853. The steamboat, invented by Robert Fulton, was a better industry. Farmers and manufacturers both used the steamboat to ship their goods to market more directly. Also, ships can go up and down rivers and could make the return trip because of the steam engines. By 1830, about 200 steamboats traveled the nation’s western rivers which flowed into the Mississippi, making voyage time and freight rates much lower. With this tremendous transportation power in water, waterways had to be created where they did not exist. By 1841, there were more 2006-09-20T22:46:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Drive-Of-Technology-31460.aspx Federalism in Early America The Federalist Papers and Federalism The Federalist Papers were mostly the product of two young men: Alexander Hamilton of New York, age 32, and James Madison of Virginia, age 36. Both men sometimes wrote four papers in a single week. An older scholar, John Jay, later named as first chief justice of the Supreme Court, wrote five of the papers. Hamilton, who had been an aide to Washington during the Revolution, asked Madison and Jay to help him in this project. Their purpose was to persuade the New York convention to ratify the just-drafted Constitution. They would separately write a series of letters to New York newspapers, under the pseudonym, "Publius." In the letters they would explain and defend the Constitution. Hamilton started the idea and outlined the sequence of topics to be discussed, and addressed most of them in fifty-one of the letters. Madison's Twenty-nine letters have proved to be the most memorable in their balance and ideas of governmental power. It is not clear whether The Federalist Papers, written between October 1787 and May 1788 had any effect on New York's and Virginia's ratification of the Constitution. Encyclopedia Britannica defines Federalism as, "A mode of political organization that unites independent states within a larger political framework while still allowing each state to maintain it's own political integrity" (712). Having just won a revolution against an oppressive monarchy, the American colonists were in willing to replace it with another monarchy style of government. On the other hand, their experience with the disorganization under the Articles of Confederation, due to unfair competition between the individual states, made them a little more receptive to an increase in national powers. A number of Federalist Papers argued that a new kind of balance, never achieved elsewhere was possible. The Papers were themselves a balance or compromise between the nationalist ideas of Hamilton, who wrote more for the commercial interests of New York, and the uneasiness of Madison, who shared the skepticism of distant authority widely held by Virginia farmers. In American Government and Politics Today, Madison proposed that, instead of the absolute sovereignty of each state under the Articles of Confederation. The states would retain a residual sovereignty in all areas which did not require national concern. The very process of ratification of the Constitution, he argued, symbolized the concept of federalism (77). He said: This assent and ratification is 2006-09-20T03:45:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Federalism-in-Early-America-31455.aspx Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King Jr., was written in response to the objections of several white clergymen. The contents of the letter explain King’s actions, and tries to clarify and explain that the protest for desegregation was necessary and by no means untimely. In his essay, King attacks the evils of segregation. Segregation is believed to be politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, as well as morally wrong and sinful. The letter states that segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. King believes that any law that degrades human personality is an unjust law. The evil of segregation rears its head in the bombing of Negro homes and churches, the treatment of Negroes in court, and in the police brutality toward Negroes. King feels that it is necessary for a non-violent approach to be taken, in order for the lines of communication to open between the town and the people. Through non-violent action, crisis is formed and communities are forced to confront the issue. The issue can no longer be ignored if there is such direct action. King strongly believes that the situation needs to be discussed rather than left as is. King is greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership. He expected all churches to unite and support the protest for desegregation, and was hurt when the white churches rejected that idea. King believes that integration is morally right, and all men are brothers in the sight of God, regardless of skin color. The white church is a disappointment because it has become lax; it has conformed to the opinion of the white moderate. The white moderate believes in ‘order’ rather than justice. The moderate lives by the concept of time, and constantly advises the Negro to ‘wait for a better season’. It is the silence of both the moderate and the church that King is so disappointed in. King believes that the world will not only have to repent for the words and actions of the bad people, but for the silence of the good people as well. King addresses the argument of the movement being untimely. King states that Negroes have been waiting for over three hundred years for their constitutional and God-given rights. King believes that it is reasonable for one who has never felt the pains of segregation to say ‘wait’, but for one who 2006-09-20T03:40:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Martin-Luther-King-Jr_-s-quot-Letter-from-Birmingham-Jail-q-31453.aspx Stories and Accounts of the Great Derpression “Movies were only a dime, but we didn’t have a dime.” In Lamore, North Dakota not much went on. Aileen Muir was born on Dec 12, 1916. Her father, Gale Muir, was a carpenter who made enough to get by and support his family. When the thirties came, jobs became hard for Gale to find. He always had work. It was just scarce. When Roosevelt started WPA, Gale was the head of a group hired to build sidewalks. He was paid fifty-four dollars a month while the other workers made forty. “Times were hard, but we always ate. Most of the food we grew ourselves. We had potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and other veggies. My dad built water canals to the plants and he used to pump the water by hand.” Unlike a lot of families, Aileen had meats to eat. Some came from their own animals, but every winter her dad would buy meat which would last the winter. “The girls used to wear dresses and the boys wore overalls. We only lived a little way from school so we didn’t have to walk that far. I was fortunate. I never had to give up school. Our neighbors, the Tanners, had two boys who couldn’t go to school because they had to work on the farm.” Aileen’s mother Bessie would make all the children’s clothes. She would reuse old material to save money. “We wore the same clothes all week, and saved our best clothes to wear to church. The only time we spent money was if we had to, but at Christmas people would spent a little more.” GRANDMOTHER EDNA 1929 “When the banks closed and my father lost his money, he had two concerns. He had written two checks; one was to pay for the new indoor plumbing and the other was to pay the hospital for my birth. He was really glad when the checks didn’t bounce. He didn’t want to be poor and in dept.” Edna grew up about ten miles outside of Plant City, Florida, a small farming town. Her father, Dan Murril, was farmer who grew corn and oranges. He also raised hogs and cattle which he sold and let the family eat. "A lot of what we ate 2006-08-31T19:27:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Stories-and-Accounts-of-the-Great-Derpression-31413.aspx Analysis of the Draft Riots in 1863 There was a pressing need for more people to participate in the Civil War of 1863, which compelled the United States Congress to pass legislation, known as the Enrollment (Conscription) Act, on 3 March 1963. Opponents of the administration and opponents of President Abraham Lincoln vigorously attacked the bill (the Conscription Act), criticizing with particular emphasis a provision that enabled draftees to obtain exemption from service by supplying a substitute or by the payment of $300. Pressed by the inflationary war economy, the city’s laborers, mostly Irish immigrants, were demanding higher wages from the owners of the docks and factories only to find their jobs threatened by the installation of new machinery and the hiring of blacks and new immigrants. Conscription was the immediate cause for the significance disturbances in New York riots known as New York’s Bloodiest Week. On March 3, 1863, the United States Congress enacted the Enrollment (Conscription) Act. It declared all able-bodied men between 20 and 45 liable to military service for three years. These men were drafted into two classes; the first being all men between 20 and 35, and the second being married men over 35 (only to be called on the never to come date when the first class was depleted). The purpose of this Act was to spur volunteerism (which worked, statistically speaking). Each state was broken down into congressional districts and if enough volunteers Filled the quota, no draft took place in that district. Unfortunately, this led to numerous instances of fraud and other abnormalities on all sides. Many enrollees took inaccurate population counts, some officials padded the rolls with fictitious names to fill the quota, and many men just took off. As exemptions were also granted for medical reasons, and that of being the sole family provider, doctors were bribed, affidavits were filed falsely, and many other abuses took place. The poor saw the draft as a heavy burden that the rich could escape the draft by hiring substitutes. One of the evil loopholes of the Conscription Act was the option for those who could afford it to hire a substitute to take the drafted man’s spot. In the South, at times the price for a substitute was over $1000. And in the North, high prices paid for substitutes by states and local communities. 2006-08-27T23:53:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Draft-Riots-in-1863-31350.aspx Differences Between New England and Chesapeake Settlers When first English settlers began arriving in America in the 1700's they mainly settled in two regions - New England and the Chesapeake. Even though both groups of people were English by origin, they had developed two very different societies. Each group had it's own beliefs and expectations of what they will find in this new world, and the results of their settlement were very different as well. When the ship headed for Virginia left England in 1635, it was filled mostly with men in their twenties and thirties. The ship's name - "Merchant's Hope" very much explains the reason for which these people were heading to the New World. They were looking to find gold, silver and other riches there. Almost all of them had left their families in England to go forth with this opportunity for profit. These people did not think about permanently settling there, and very few of them had prepared for this trip as a whole. Over half of the people had died during the trip. Captain John Smith said "There was no talk…but dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold…", (History of Virginia). This statement basically summarizes what was happening in Virginia after the ship had arrived. Even though there was no gold found, many people established such industries as tobacco and indigo growing. Others desperate with their search for gold were not able to survive, and many of them died during the long, harsh winters. Soon after class differences developed among the settlers of Virginia. The Tidewater plantation owners had become very rich. They produced huge amounts of tobacco, and had a lot of indentured servants. The plantation owners had been the only lawmakers and voters in the colony. They passed laws in their own favor, but increased taxes for the farmers. They also protected Indian rights to maintain a prosperous fur trade. On the other hand, Piedmont farmers had been left with smaller, less productive tobacco farms. They had very few indentured servants. They had no power in the government, because only large plantation owners were allowed to vote. The farmers were in need of more land, and they had to fight with Indians over land rights. This had led to the Bacon's Rebellion of 1676. "For having…raised great unjust taxes…for the advancement of private favorites…for having abused…the magistrates of justice, by advancing to courts, 2006-08-27T16:29:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Differences-Between-New-England-and-Chesapeake-Settlers-31316.aspx Early Treatment of Native Americans by Settlers John Smith and William Bradford’s treatment towards the natives was obviously very different. This essay will discuss a couple of these differences in detail. John Smith’s treatment towards the natives is extremely bad. In fact, he gets captured and almost killed by them. William Bradford on the other hand, treats them well and makes friends with the natives. As John Smith lands on what is later known as Virginia, he fights with the natives and rob them of their crops and goods. It states in the text “So marching towards their houses, they might see great heaps of corn; much ado he had to restrain his hungry soldiers from present taking of it, expecting as it happened that the savages would assault them, as not long after, they did with a most hideous noise”. (Smith, Pgs. 41-42) In contrast, Bradford, before he did anything, made a Mayflower Compact and made general laws that the natives and the Pilgrims were to abide by. His men and the natives made friends and exchanged cultural ideas. So, while Smith was being captured by the natives, Bradford was learning new things about the natives culture. Another thing that made Smith’s treatment of the natives bad was that he treated them like they were kids. Smith gives them a compass, and he states that “Much they marveled at the playing of the fly and needle which they could see so plainly and yet not touch it because of the glass that covered them” (Smith, Pg. 44). Also, Smith calls the natives savages every time he refers to them. Bradford, however, treated the natives as human beings, as equals. He sets up laws with the natives, so everything would be peaceful. The Pilgrims and the natives exchanged ideas. Squanto, one of the natives, helped them greatly. “He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit” (Bradford, Pg 99). In conclusion, Smith’s treatment toward the natives overlooked the possibility of harmony. Bradford’s treatment did exactly the opposite. It promoted harmony between the Pilgrims and the natives. The reason why John Smith and William Bradford treated the natives differently was because 2006-08-25T16:59:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Early-Treatment-of-Native-Americans-by-Settlers-31262.aspx United States' Social Transformation in the 1800s During the 1800’s, the United States underwent a transformation and change unlike any the country had ever seen in our history either before or since. It is my intention to describe some of the key issues that made this transformation possible and also to address some of the problems that surfaced from this expansion. I will be utilizing the document-based questions as a basis of my explaining this growth and change in America. I believe that John Louis O’Sullivan’s editorial from the New York Morning News in 1845 describes it all in that he declares without any reservation that our destiny is to express our freedom and liberty by possessing the land that God had given to us. In effect, it was our duty and our right to go West and carry that torch of freedom with across the whole continent, no matter what the difficulties we would encounter along the way. In reality, Americans endured hardships and enormous problems every step of the way. For example, as we drove westward, we began to infringe upon the Native American. It was of course the Indians who found no other alternative but to defend their land and their way of life. Thousands of men, women and children died during our quest to take it all from the Indians. They believed the ‘Great Spirit’ gave the land to them. They simply fought and died for what they believed was already theirs! Equally important to understand was the fact that these brave Americans were embarking on a new adventure, a new way of life. Many were enticed by the promise of land. The land represented something that was their own to develop, to grow vegetables, to stock the land with cows, etc. By taking the chance of going west, many believed they would make a better life for themselves and for their family. Others, such as those not only from the East but also from China, arrived on the West Coast in their search for gold, for good fortune. Many of these men came with nothing but a knife and a basket, hoping against hope they would find gold on the bottom of the basket as they shook the dirt loose. Despite the hardships, the failures, the many who died or were 2006-08-25T16:49:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/United-States-Social-Transformation-in-the-1800s-31258.aspx William McKinley, Born January 29,1843 and was the 25th President of the United Sates Of America. He became US President in 1897 and served in the union army during the civil war, which were the Yankees. He also studied and practiced law in Ohio and became an active member of the Republican Party which was one of the United Sates two main political parties, formed to support protective tariffs and industrial expansion. The period of 1877-1891,William McKinley served seven terms in the house of representatives which is the lower house of a legislative body and also served two terms as Ohio state governor in the years 1891-95. In 1896, the Republican Party nominated McKinley, as it’s presidential candidate. He successfully conducted what became known as ‘Front Porch’ from his home in Canton, Ohio and over 250,00 travelled there to hear him speak and collect a campaign button, ribbon or umbrella or one of the other items of campaign memorabilia that he gave away. President McKinley gained and earned over half of the 14 million popular votes cast. “I have never been in doubt since I was old enough to think intelligently that I would someday be made president…” Anarchism was a political movement aiming to replace government power with voluntary cooperation among a society’s individuals and groups. Anarchists in the late 19th and early 20th century frequently used assassination in their attempts to achieve their aims and anarchist Leon Czolgosz came to buffalo, New York with a deadly and catastrophic mission that could take anarchism Sky High. He believed that government was evil and he planned to stamp out that evil, beginning with the beloved president McKinley. It was the first year of the new century and it was a perfect time to reflect on the nation’s rise in world power and to discuss the future. The Pan American Exposition was a world’s fair that celebrated the America’s industrial progress and achievement and it had enticed many visitors from around the world. In Cleveland Ohio on May 6th Emma Goldman who was an anarchist gave a speech and she outlined the principles and methods of anarchism and in this speech she stated. “We desire complete liberty and this can never be achieved as long as there is an existing government” Toward the end of her speech she stated that most Anarchists are not 2006-08-25T14:25:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/William-Mckinley-Assassination-31256.aspx Comparing Male and Female Lifestyles in the Colonies Colonial women had it harder. Women had to overcome many more difficult obstacles than men, in order to prove themselves as being worthy. The obstacles varied between women of different background, including their status in class, as well as their race. They all had one thing in common though, which was the fact that they were all bound together by certain laws. These laws deemed them incapable of numerous abilities due to the fact that their gender was female. Thus, women's roles were seen as being limited to wives, mother's and household managers. The first colonists to arrive were men. After their arrival, it became obvious that in order for colonization, women had to be present. So, the arrival of the first women in America was constituted by the need for wives for the settlers of the new land. The women were sold to the settlers. Marriage was a girl's future. It took place early. Women that had previously been married were in demand, because they were then thought of as being experienced housekeepers, and child raisers. Marriage was termed as a "civil death" for women, because they had absolutely no rights in the relationship. They could own nothing, not even clothes, for they wore their husband's clothes. Although there were certain obligations that were to be maintained by both partners, they were certainly not equal. Husbands were required to protect and provide for their wives. Wives, in exchange, were to submit to any male authority and to assist their husbands in by productive behavior and frugality. In spite of all of the restrictions placed on women, they were able to make significant contributions, with the exception of the black enslaved women. The free white women were the first to have established schools, orphanages and the first to have acted as doctors, dealing with medical treatment of various ailments. Some women that spoke out, were effective in other ways, such as Anne Hutchinson, a colonist who had arrived in 1634. She was not admired by most, because she was an independent woman who liked to speak her mind about religious issues. She was viewed upon as the most notorious woman to challenge the authority of ministers. Although she was a woman, the government felt threatened. They believed that people would only be saved through hard work, good deeds, and righteousness, and were trying 2006-08-09T12:16:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-Male-and-Female-Lifestyles-in-the-Colonies-31184.aspx The American Revolution: A Significant Separation The United States of America has remained a successful and industrious nation ruled by the principles of federalism for the past 200 years. The Framers of the Constitution proposed the federal system in an attempt to guarantee democracy and liberty throughout a sparsely populated nation. By granting enumerated powers to the national government and reserving all other rights to the states, a balance of power was obtained and continues to rule this great country. The relations between the national and state governments have been a central feature of American politics. With the adoption of the Constitution in 1787, America encountered a persistent controversy that has been the source of political disagreement. Ever since the framers of the Constitution were busy working on this important document, they found themselves torn between two views of what federalism meant. A famous American statesman known as Alexander Hamilton argued for a powerful national government. He believed that because people had created the national government, and since the most pressing needs were the development of a national economy and the conduct of foreign affairs, the superiority of a central authority had to be recognized. However, defending the states’ rights was Thomas Jefferson who believed that although the people were the ultimate sovereigns, the principal threat to their liberties was likely to come from the national government. Consequently, Jefferson felt the powers of the federal government needed to be strictly limited. As a result of geography and populace distribution, a representative democracy was established. This system corresponded with a federal republic. Through Federalism, localities across America are all capable of responding adequately to the desires of their citizens. Governments are more flexible and therefore respond appropriately to people’s needs. The division of powers between states and the federal government was a beneficial decision that protected the Constitutional way of life. This separation prevents any form of utilitarianism, and allows efficient responses by the government to the people. With the absence of an explicit definition for each power bestowed to the national and state government, the vagueness of this governmental partition continues to prosper in society. The Framers of the Constitution were determined to create a strong national government, however they also wanted to preserve the decision-making powers of the states. As a result of this substantial conflict, they chose to 2006-08-07T12:14:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-American-Revolution-A-Significant-Separation-31121.aspx Martin Luther King Jr's Place in American History King, Martin Luther, Jr. (1929-1968), American clergyman and Nobel Prize winner, one of the principal leaders of the American civil rights movement and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. King’s challenges to segregation and racial discrimination in the 1950s and 1960s helped convince many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States. After his assassination in 1968, King became a symbol of protest in the struggle for racial justice. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the eldest son of Martin Luther King, Sr., a Baptist minister, and Alberta Williams King. His father served as pastor of a large Atlanta church, Ebenezer Baptist, which had been founded by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s maternal grandfather. King, Jr. was ordained as a Baptist minister at age 18. King attended local segregated public schools, where he excelled. He entered nearby Morehouse College at age 15 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1948. After graduating with honors from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania in 1951, he went to Boston University where he earned a doctoral degree in systematic theology in 1955. King’s public-speaking abilities—which would become renowned as his stature grew in the civil rights movement—developed slowly during his collegiate years. He won a second-place prize in a speech contest while an undergraduate at Morehouse, but received Cs in two public-speaking courses in his first year at Crozer. By the end of his third year at Crozer, however, professors were praising King for the powerful impression he made in public speeches and discussions. Throughout his education, King was exposed to influences that related Christian theology to the struggles of oppressed peoples. At Morehouse, Crozer, and Boston University, he studied the teachings on nonviolent protest of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi. King also read and heard the sermons of white Protestant ministers who preached against American racism. Benjamin E. Mays, president of Morehouse and a leader in the national community of racially liberal clergymen, was especially important in shaping King’s theological development. While in Boston, King met Coretta Scott, a music student and native of Alabama. They were married in 1953 and would have four children. In 1954 King accepted his first pastorate at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, a church with a well-educated congregation that had recently been led by a minister who had protested against segregation. Montgomery’s black community had 2006-08-06T23:19:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-s-Place-in-American-History-31091.aspx The Clinton Scandal: "There is no improper relationship" The evidence against President Clinton for sexual misconduct was very strong. There had been too many scandals that have surrounded his presidency. This forced the citizens of the United States to deny his plea of innocence. In the spring of 1995, Monica Lewinsky graduated from Lewis and Clark College. She then started an unpaid internship at the White House. Allegedly in November of that year, she became involved in a sexual relationship with President Clinton. Shortly after this point Lewinsky was hired as a full-time White House employee. She left the White House for a public affairs position at the Pentagon. Here she became friends with Linda Tripp, a former White House employee, who worked in the same office. During this time President Clinton apparently sent gifts to Lewinsky, most importantly in the case against him a dress, which she saved as a souvenir, had the President's DNA on it. With things heating up in the Paula Jones case, the President asked Lewinsky to lie about visits to his office. Turning her back on Lewinsky, Tripp taped telephone conversations between herself and Lewinsky about the affairs with Mr. Clinton to setup him up. Lewinsky, allegedly quoting Mr. Clinton, said, "Look them in the eye and deny it." After anonymous tips are given to a firm connected with the Paula Jones case, Lewinsky decided to leave the government and find a new job. On January 7, 1998, Monica Lewinsky signed a sworn affidavit in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, stating she did not have an affair with the President. Following this, Linda Tripp brought the recorded phone conversations to Independent Counsel for the Paula Jones case, Kenneth Starr. With assistance from the FBI, Tripp wore a wire while Lewinsky lead her step-by-step through her entire sexual relationship with Mr. Clinton. The following day, Lewinsky gives Tripp points on how to respond to Paula Jones' lawyer's questions. After receiving news of this Starr requested from a federal panel, the ability of an expansion of his ongoing investigation. The following day, President Clinton, who was under oath, denied an affair with Lewinsky. Four days later, the story of the tapes became public knowledge. The President stated in an interview with Jim Lehrer of PBS on the same day, "There is no improper relationship"(Clinton 1998). He also stated in this interview that he "didn't ask anybody not to 2006-08-06T23:15:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Clinton-Scandal-quot-There-is-no-improper-relationship-31090.aspx Factors Spawning the Great Depression The Great Depression was the worst economic slump ever in U.S. history, and one which spread to virtually all of the industrialized world. The depression began in late 1929 and lasted for about a decade. Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920's, and the extensive stock market speculation that took place during the latter part that same decade. The maldistribution of wealth in the 1920's existed on many levels. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle-class, between industry and agriculture within the United States, and between the U.S. and Europe. This imbalance of wealth created an unstable economy. The excessive speculation in the late 1920's kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually lead to large market crashes. These market crashes, combined with the maldistribution of wealth, caused the American economy to capsize. The "roaring twenties" was an era when our country prospered tremendously. The nation's total realized income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 19291. However, the rewards of the "Coolidge Prosperity" of the 1920's were not shared evenly among all Americans. According to a study done by the Brookings Institute, in 1929 the top 0.1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%2. That same top 0.1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of Americans had no savings at all3. Automotive industry mogul Henry Ford provides a striking example of the unequal distribution of wealth between the rich and the middle-class. Henry Ford reported a personal income of $14 million4 in the same year that the average personal income was $7505. By present day standards, where the average yearly income in the U.S. is around $18,5006, Mr. Ford would be earning over $345 million a year! This maldistribution of income between the rich and the middle class grew throughout the 1920's. While the disposable income per capita rose 9% from 1920 to 1929, those with income within the top 1% enjoyed a stupendous 75% increase in per capita disposable income7. A major reason for this large and growing gap between the rich and the working-class people was the increased manufacturing output throughout this period. From 1923-1929 the average output per worker increased 32% in manufacturing8. During that 2006-08-06T10:02:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Factors-Spawning-the-Great-Depression-31065.aspx The New England and Chesapeake Colonies in Early America By the 1700s two distinct societies were forming in colonial North America. Although both settled by people of English origin, the two regions had major differences in development. But by the 1700s, New England and the Chesapeake region were differing through social, economic, and religious diversity. The social differences of the two regions evolved over the time leading up to the 1700s. New England, which was mostly populated with families, centered their focus on religion and brotherly affection (document A). In contrast, the Chesapeake region was a source of economic competition, such as the drop in the price of tobacco in 1660-1680. Opportunities began to diminish in the 1670s and by 1676 one quarter of Virginia’s free white men were landless. New England’s major concern was to portray the image of “city upon a hill” (Document A); they wanted the world to look upon them as a community of one. The reason for English settlement in the Chesapeake region was for the gold mines. These proved to be a means of individual prosperity, which was the major attraction of the young males, the majority of the population (Document C). On the other hand the English settled the New England region for religious benefits. This region met their desire to be a close-knit community with religious foundation. As the century drew to a close the Chesapeake region began to decline as the number of workers increased as well as the products that caused the prices to drop. The New England region was mainly based upon the dependence of families upon each other which was a reason for its success. The religious aspects of the two regions differ slightly for one major reason. The people and families on the New England area had to sign an oath that they will participate in the ministry. This meant that they were saying that they promise that when they become part of their community they will have a certain amount of time spent with the church. The Chesapeake region was much more individual and therefore it was church was not as an important part of everyday life as it was in New England. As the 18th century approached, these two regions of the colonies grew farther and farther apart. 2006-08-05T11:28:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-New-England-and-Chesapeake-Colonies-in-Early-America-31035.aspx Tobacco Use in America Increases Tobacco was introduced into the American colonies in the early 1600s. The tobacco plant soon became the leading crop and trading commodity in America. Tobacco was widely accepted up until the 1960s when research found that there was health effects directly associated with tobacco use. However, since the 1970s tobacco use has increased dramatically. An increasing amount of tobacco users has caused an increasing number of deaths in America because it has been proven to cause cancer. In the 1990s there has been a dramatic increase of users, especially teenagers. The tobacco report by Thriveonline.com says “a 15-fold increase in smokeless tobacco has been noted in adolescents aged 17 to 19” (Thrive Online). The United States Department of Health and Human Services says “more than 80% of current adult tobacco users started smoking cigarettes before age 18 years” (CDC Foundation). Most tobacco users are addicted before they reach the age of 21. The tobacco industry focuses their advertisements on teenagers. They spend close to six million dollars a year. Deaths caused by tobacco use have also increased. Cigarette smoking is the main cause of cancer deaths in America. The American Cancer Society says, “Lung cancer mortality rates are about 23 times higher for current male smokers and 13 times higher for current female smokers compared to lifelong never-smokers. In addition to being responsible for 87% of lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney, and bladder. Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, is a major cause of heart disease, and is associated with conditions ranging from colds and gastric ulcers to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and cerebrovascular disease (related to blood circulation)” (ACS). There are approximately 400,000 deaths a year caused by smoking tobacco in the United States (Who Smokes?). Statistically men are more prone to using tobacco than women. In the United States the number one cause of death for men is tobacco related illnesses. One of the main reasons why there is an increase of tobacco users is the fact that they are addictive. Tobacco use is addictive because the chemical nicotine. Cigarettes are especially addictive, the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information states in their article 2006-08-05T11:26:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Tobacco-Use-in-America-Increases-31034.aspx The World Trade Center Attacks in American History On September 11, 2001, Americas World Trade Centers was attacked by a faceless enemy, and the people of America stood in shock and mourning. On lookers watched in horror and disbelief, struggling to comprehend what was happening. But at the time there was no answer. All over the country people turned on their televisions and watched as another Bowing 767 crashed into the second tower. The question that’s in the back of my head is why did the building collapse after the planes crashed into the towers? If the engineers and architects had designed the Twin Towers differently could a tragedy like this have been avoided? The World Trade Center was built around columns that were closely spaced around the perimeter of the towers. Engineers used light weight steel trusses between the elevator and the columns of each floor. The trusses were designed to support the concrete floor and tie together the perimeter to the core of the building. After the planes initial impact nobody thought the impossible was going to happen. Visually you could tell the crash destroyed many floors and took off a significant number of columns. After the planes crashed the jet fuel enflamed the building with temperatures the building could not withstand. The sprinkler systems in buildings such as these are designed to put out office fires, not explosions caused by a plane crash. Eventually, the fire weakened the structure of the skyscraper, and combined with the damage of the impact, caused the floors to collapse one floor after another leaving behind a pile of steel and smoke. More than 2,200 people died in the 9-11 tragedy because they were trapped above the crashed floors. The stairwells were filled with sheetrock and burning materials. This rubble completely blocked the stairwells and prevented evacuation. This wallboard system was very well engineered for a fire, but not a fire that was caused by the impact of a 767. The initial impact was great enough to collapse this system which would have stopped fire and smoke from spreading to the stairwells. Once theses walls where breached, the victims had no chance. There is also the possibility the breached walls allowed the burning fuel to reach the stairwells. What’s the answer to this problem? It’s as simple as building stronger walls made of either new steel or 2006-08-05T11:22:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-World-Trade-Center-Attacks-in-American-History-31032.aspx Black Storytellers When I went to the performance of the “Black Storytellers,” I was surprised at how much fun it was. It was so interesting hearing the stories that were passed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. The people who put on this spectacular performance also do workshops and seminars to promote black storytelling in order to preserve African oral tradition. This is what they call their “Mission Statement.” The first part of the performance entailed a man playing a drum incredibly well. A lady starts to sing, “humba a way a.” Then people come from the sides and start singing. They holler, “I have a story to tell.” The first story was about how ships came to take Africans as slaves. Twee, wanted to be free and spoke and sang songs about freedom. The story talked about a ship which came with new African slaves to be sold. The people wouldn’t leave the ship and they stomped their feet and refused to set foot on land. Twee decided he was going back to Africa, so he kissed his grandmother goodbye and walked back to Africa on the bottom of the ocean. People followed him back along the bottom of the ocean. The myth is that now oceans are salty because of the tears shed by Twee and his followers who made the journey. The second story was a very cute story and the person who told it did it so well. It started off with the question, “Why do mosquitos buzz?” A long time ago when animals could talk, it was the job of the Owl to wake the sun. Anyway, Mosquito kept talking in Iguana’s ear, so Iguana put a stick in his ear because he didn’t want to hear Mosquito. Python thought Iguana was mad at him, so he went into a rabbit hole. Because of this, Rabbit got scared and ran out. Crow saw this and thought something was wrong so he crowed which sounded an alarm to everyone. When Monkey saw this, he got alarmed and fell on Owlette, Owl’s baby. Because of this, Owl would not call the sun. Through much dilemma in trying to find out the cause of all this, Lion found out that Mosquito was the 2006-08-05T10:24:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Black-Storytellers--31012.aspx Influence of the Federalist Papers on the Constitution The Federalist papers were written and ratified in the years of 1787 to 1788. They were created mostly by two of the most influential men of the post-Revolution period. It helped the budding nation create a unified and agreeably strong central government: Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist who wrote fifty-six papers, and James Madison, a Democratic Republican who wrote twenty-one papers; John Jay also had a hand in the writing of five papers. Every paper was written under the pen name Publius. However, today it is known that it was these three men who were the genius behind the works. Hamilton and Madison diligently worked together to write these papers. As time went on, they divided into two different political parties and a strong rivalry ensued. Although their opposition surfaced during the second presidential term, their separate papers foreshadow their eventual contention. Through their papers it became evident that they interpreted the Constitution much differently. Either through loose construction in the form of a strong federal government or strict construction in the idea that states’ rights should be the most important factor of the new national government. They also foresaw Hamilton and Madison’s splitting disagreements. Alexander Hamilton was a strong-willed Federalist, who had the genius necessary for becoming president. However, he was tragically killed by Aaron Burr in a duel. He was the most influential Federalist of his time and his National Debt still stands today. However, it has increased greatly since his time. Hamilton believed that the Constitution needed a loose construction or interpretation. This belief on the national government was evident in his Federalist writing. In paper No. 23, “The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union”, he explains that there are principle purposes with which the national government was obligated to do. These purposes were the common defense of its members, the preservation of the public peace against both internal and external attacks, the regulation of commerce with other nations and interstate trade, and the supervision over discussions and problems stemming from political or commercial intercourse with foreign countries. He believed that the government should be in charge of the States in that they protected while governing. He also asked his fellow 2006-08-01T19:05:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Influence-of-the-Federalist-Papers-on-the-Constitution-30963.aspx Common Themes among Imperialism, Colonialism and Slavery A study of imperialism and colonialism at the turn of the century in the United States will draw many parallels to the treatment of African Americans in the South. Although many arguments for imperialism appear to have an economic basis, prejudice and white-race superiority are just below the surface. The United States has a history of the white Christian being superior from the first moment the land was discovered and the Indians were met. The words in the definition of imperialism include; power, control and intent, with an empire existing when a strong nation or society impose control over a weaker one. (Gilded Age, p.22). These same terms come to mind with African slavery. In the 1890s, the United States acquired an island empire. Hawaii, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, as well as, the protectorate over Cuba. Each has its own story of motives on the part of the United States, but the common denominator in each location is the national ideology that emphasizes the racial inferiority of non-whites. (Gilded Age, p.12) In the 1880, the US brought back its navy, and by 1890 congress had given money for three new battleships. With this new strength, the US perceived its mission to be protecting is commerce. (Gilded Age, p.263) As the ability to protect commerce grew, so did the need to expand beyond the domestic market. According to Secretary of State James G. Blaine in 1890, “the great demand is expansion. I mean expansion of trade with countries where we can find profitable exchanges.” (Gilded Age, p.264) The desire to enlarge markets for the prosperity and growth of the country was only one portion of a larger ideology. Americans had long believed nonwhites to be inferior, and hence incapable of providing government or properly using their land and resources. (Gilded Age, p.264) Setting out with missionaries and businessmen after 1820, the attempt to “civilize, Christianize, and enlighten” (Gilded Age, p. 270) led the United States to Hawaii. The native culture, religion and language in Hawaii were believed inferior, and the process of “Americanization” began. Before long all public education was in English, children were taught American values, and by 1886 Hawaiians were the minority in their own land. (Gilded Age, p.271) 2006-08-01T18:31:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Common-Themes-among-Imperialism,-Colonialism-and-Slavery-30942.aspx Effects of the American Indians on European Colonization When examining the effects of American Indians on European exploration and early colonialism, it is difficult to overstate its importance. It is believed that the first human in the Americas can be dated to 30,000 – 15,000 B.C. In the thousands of years that elapsed between the native settlement of North America and the arrival of the Europeans in the fifteenth century, the Indian people developed and adapted a life-style that allowed them to thrive as a people. Although quite different from its Anglo-Saxon counterpart, cultural, economic, political, and spiritual components of the native Americans were well-established. The influences of this society on the “New World” would have far reaching effects that would extend through the colonial era and beyond. Before examining the effects of American Indians on European settlement, its important to acknowledge the influence it played on exploration itself. Since Columbus was looking for the Far East, he may have viewed an uninhabited America as nothing more than a roadblock that he’d like to have avoided. However, with the help of the Indians and Aztecs, he (and others) soon realized that the newly discovered territory was a land of riches waiting to be exploited. Precious metals, a lucrative fur trade, and an abundance of natural resources made the occupation of the Americas a priority of Spain. Without this potential for enormous wealth, “… likely that the Spanish would not have colonized New Spain at all except to establish a few supply bases…” (Axtell, p.19). Other European countries were soon racing to establish new world colonies of their own. In essence, the natives did the work and the Europeans moved in to claim the spoils. One can only imagine the affect a ‘barren wasteland’ view of the Americas would have had on future exploration and the timeline of American colonization. The eventual success and expansion of the colonization of America would be dependent upon the ability of the new inhabitants to feed large numbers of people. Thus, farming was crucial to the success of the new colonies. Although the Indians had by this time cleared plenty of land for crops, it was their techniques and adaptations over the centuries that enhanced productivity. Not only had native crops adapted to the American climate, the skilled Indian farmers 2006-08-01T18:30:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Effects-of-the-American-Indians-on-European-Colonization-30941.aspx History of the First American Colonies The early colonists of America faced many hardships that were documented by two prominent men, John Smith and William Bradford. These historical accounts were Smith’s “The General History of Virginia” and Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation.” Smith describes his experiences of establishing the Jamestown Colony around 1607. Bradford’s account of his settlement in 1620 describes the lives of the people as they traveled to and settled in Massachusetts. As the reader becomes more familiar with these two historical accounts, it is evident that there are many similarities and differences. In “The General History of Virginia,” John Smith discusses his many adventures. First, he describes their arrival upon the Virginia shore. This section exemplifies how their hardships continued even after their arrival. Smith also writes about their lack of food, extreme heat, and how hard they had to work to make shelter. “With this lodging and diet, our extreme toil in bearing and planting palisades, so strained and bruised us, and our continual labor in the extremity of the heat has so weakened us, as were cause sufficient to have made us as miserable in our native country or any other place.” He explains how the limited amount of supplies was due to the fact that the voyage lasted longer than expected and they lost the opportunity of the planting season. He also reports how he delegated the jobs of building the commonwealth while leaving the greatest task for himself so others would not complain. Furthermore, he describes his experiences with the Indians. At first Smith wanted to trade with the Indians, so he could get supplies for his men. Then he realized the danger of dealing with the Indians when his men were killed and he was captured. He used his intelligence to prevent his early death by giving the king a compass. The king stopped John’s death and they eventually became friends. “Then Powhatan more like a devil than man, with some two hundred more as black as himself, came unto him and told him now they were friends...” Even though Smith did not talk of God often he did make it clear that he believed that God was protecting them. This is evident in the following quote; “God, the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so changed the hearts of the savages...” While all of these experiences were difficult to face, 2006-08-01T10:28:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-First-American-Colonies-30935.aspx Were the American Colonies Ready for Independence? To decide whether or not the colonies were ready for independence at that stage of American history is very strange. The colonies of that time were very different in a lot of ways. Many of those ways were so big that if they would have waited a few more years, the problems would have never arose and a lot of the differences would have been solved rather easy. But instead the colonies wanted to become united in such a way that the differences were set-aside until the Declaration of Independence was signed. After the declaration was signed the problems arose and the colonies began to have many problems with itself as a whole. The problem that I found by signing this so early was that I don’t think that the colonies were sure of what was really to be enforced of the declaration. One of the mainstream problems that I found by doing this was that they were not sure of who was to be independent. Were the slaves that the colonies received from England to be independent? Or was it only the people that had some sort of high power with the colonies, someone that really meant something to all this. This is some of the things that seem to have been very questionable when the colonies were said to be set free. To clarify the word free, it does mean being able to do anything and have no limitations, but why were the slaves still being called slaves? An additional problem that I found with signing this is that the people that signed the declaration were not the ones that went out and later fought for the independence. The people that signed it were very high class, powerful men. By having some of the middle class people sign it would have put more significance in the declaration because these men may have put more into the declaration and more into not letting the war with the British ever occur. But instead, the men of elevated class, and dominant role signed the declaration, and then soon after the Colonies fought the British for its freedom. But when they fought, the men who signed that powerful document were not the individuals that later went out and fought the British 2006-08-01T09:47:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Were-the-American-Colonies-Ready-for-Independence-30923.aspx Analysis of Roosevelt's Progressive Era The Progressive Era provided a solid effort to improve the life of Americans by emerging presidents and multiple reforms. Through the progressive politicians, trusts were busted and relief was given to small businesses. Working and societal conditions were forever reformed during the Progressive Era. During the Progressive Era Americans had a positive effect on their countries development with the help of leaders such as Roosevelt and Taft. Roosevelt is immortalized on Mount Rushmore now and forever because of his progressive tactics in his term. Roosevelt’s Anti-Trust policy of 1902 pledged government intervention to break up illegal monopolies and regulate corporations for the public good. Roosevelt felt that “bad” trusts threatened competition and markets. His ingenious “square dealings” and “gentlemen’s agreements” controlled many firms. In 1903, he opened a new cabinet position was created to address the concerns of business and labor (Department of Commerce and Labor). Within the department, the Bureau of Corporations was empowered to investigate and report on illegal activities of corporations. In 1903, the Elkins Act empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to act against discriminating rebates as a response to the abuse of economic power by railroads proposed another problem for Roosevelt. In 1906, the Meat Inspection Act provided for federal and sanitary regulations and inspections in meant packing facilities. Also, the Pure Food and Drug Act prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of adulterated labeled foods and drugs in accordance with consumer demands. These acts provided much needed relief and rights for the consumer from the poisonous industries and frauds of meatpacking, food, and drugs. In conclusion to all of these accomplishments during Roosevelt’s term, Theodore Roosevelt’s progressive tendencies brought new meaning to government regulation and provided a successful contribution to the Progressive Era. In the 1910 elections, the progressive eras would make gains in bringing Woodrow Wilson into the Presidential office in 1912. The Wilson administration brought together many of the policies and initiatives of the previous Republican administrations, and reform efforts in Congress by both parties. Wilson achieved a lower tariff reform with the Underwood-Simmons Act in 1913 and a graduated income tax through the 16th amendment. The Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act not only pared rates down to an average of 23 percent but also spurred competition and reduce prices for consumers. 2006-07-31T19:01:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Roosevelt-s-Progressive-Era-30903.aspx New Immigration in the 1880s New Immigration began in the 1880s and lasted until the early 1900s. The reasons for the migratory movements were the close of the frontier and the forcible restriction of America’s native population to reservations. The main reason was due to the industrial growth experienced by the United States from the end of the Civil War. The majority of the immigrants were Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox or Jewish. Italians came in the greatest numbers, with Jews second. Violence against Jews in Russia was a major factor in their emigration after 1881. Poles, Russians, Slovaks, Slovenes, Serbs, Croatians, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, and other Slavs made up one quarter of the new immigration. Poles made up the largest number of people in the Slavic category and had over one million immigrants in the United States before the World War I. Asian people also entered after 1880. Some other factors of migration was interest groups in the United States encouraged it. By 1882 fare from England to the United States was between $12 and $15, which was often paid by a relative who had already made the voyage. There were also political and cultural reasons for emigrating such as conscription, denial of cultural or religious rights, and political persecution. By 1897, steamship travel to the United States was cut to five and a half days, compared to forty-four days by sailing vessel in 1850. Another distinguishing feature of much of the “new immigration” was that it was mostly males between the ages of fourteen and forty-four years old. The number of immigrants to the United States in the years of 1881-90 were 5,246,613, 1891-1900 were 3,687,564, 1901-10 were 8,795,386, and 1911-20 were 5,735,811. The widely used receiving center for them was Castle Garden, on the Southern tip of Manhattan. This receiving center allowed the United States Government to keep better track of its immigrants. Clerks would record the names, nationalities, and destinations of immigrants. Doctors would give routine check ups and physicals to make sure that the immigrants were healthy. In 1890 construction of the buildings on Ellis Island began, and it took nearly ten years to be completed. Even though Ellis Island was one of seventy receiving stations in the country at the time, it handled ninety percent of all immigrants. In 1893 several laws were expanded and refined. Ships carrying passengers with contagious or 2006-07-31T18:58:52-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/New-Immigration-in-the-1880s-30902.aspx The J.F.K. Assassination: Lone-Nut Gunman or Conspiracy On Friday, November 22nd 1963 at 12:30 P.M. the 35th president of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) assassinated while he rode in an open limousine though the streets of Dallas. This event, which abruptly and severely altered the course of history, it has created more controversy than any other single event. Some haunting questions still remain. "Who did it?" "Why did they do it?" "How was it done?" "Was there a cover up" The official answers complied by the Warren Commission have never satisfied the majority of the world's population. Even though the case went down in the records as an assassination still many people believe that Oswald was not working alone and had the help or was not even part of the assassination, but was the fall guy. This quote I found I feel has a great importance because it does make a great point, “. . . if you put the murdered President of the United States on one side of a scale and that wretched waif Oswald on the other side, it doesn't balance. You want to add something weightier to Oswald. It would invest the President's death with meaning, endowing him with martyrdom. He would have died for something. . . . A conspiracy would, of course, do the job nicely.” — William Manchester. This quote has great meaning because it does prove a point that Oswald, the convicted assassin, had no motive, at-least his motive still has never been discovered, not even to this day. We can never even have the chance to ask questions anymore because Oswald was assassinated by Jack Ruby on November 24 1963, so the secrets that he with-held will never be revealed the worlds unsatisfied people. In this following essay I will try to show you my opinion on who was responsible for the assassination of President JFK and the theory on how the government said it actually happened. I will support facts on the side of the conspiracy theory and the side of the lone gunman theory. I will try to show you, the reader, how each theory is presented and the flaws that they each have, then I will reveal to you my opinion on which theory I personally believe is right. Kennedy had made many enemies while he 2006-07-31T12:30:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-J_F_K_-Assassination-Lone-Nut-Gunman-or-Conspiracy-30875.aspx History of the Algonquian Tribe of Native Americans The Algonquin was a northern tribe that settled in Canada some time around the 1400’s, and now have settled in Quebec and nearby Ontario. The Algonquians history was not exactly a pleasant one they suffered many hardships and obstacles to over come. Samuel de Champlain established the first permanent French settlement on the St. Lawrence at Tadoussac in 1603. Champlain was so impressed with the Algonquin's furs that he explored the St. Lawrence as far west as the Lachine Rapids. Champlain left for France shortly afterwards, but upon his return in 1608, he immediately moved his fur trade upstream to a new post at Quebec to shorten the distance that the Algonquin were required to travel for trade. He soon discovered that Algonquin victories over the Iroquois were not that common, and it was the Mohawk, not the Algonquin, who dominated the upper river. So Samuel usually did not help the Algonquian fight. The Algonquin usually avoided the river because of the threat of Mohawk war parties. The Algonquin fought with the French and helped them when times where ruff, but it wasn’t long until the French that they needed to get rid of them and move them away from there villages, so the French turned against the Algonquians. In 1649 French and Indian refugees streamed down the Ottawa Valley to the relative safety of Montreal. During 1650 the remaining Algonquin in the upper Ottawa Valley were attacked and overrun. The survivors retreated, either far to headwaters of the rivers feeding the Upper Ottawa River where the Cree afforded a certain amount of support and protection. During the next twenty years, the Algonquin pretty much dropped out of sight so far as the French were concerned. Learning from their earlier mistakes, the French insisted that this agreement also include their allies and trading partners. This not only allowed French traders and missionaries to travel to the western Great Lakes, but also permitted the Algonquin to begin a slow return to northern part of the Ottawa Valley. Conquest and returning had been hard on them, and not many were left maybe only 2000. The epidemics which struck Sillery in 1676 and 1679 had reduced the Christian Algonquin survivors to only a handful, most of whom were subsequently absorbed by the Abenaki at St. Francois after the closure of the Sillery mission in 2006-07-31T08:18:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-Algonquian-Tribe-of-Native-Americans-30857.aspx History on the Articles of Confederation And Constitution The first constitution and government of the colonies, the Articles of Confederation, was drafted by John Dickinson in 1776, during the Second Continental Congress, and was ratified by all thirteen states on March 1, 1781, remaining the unifying document of the states until June 21, 1788. The Articles provided for a loose confederation of the independent states, which gave limited powers to a central government. The Articles created a weak government and proved to have many major failures. However, the Articles did provide some successes as a tool of government. The present U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention to modify and address the failures of the Articles of Confederation. Historians have argued over whether the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution provided for a more democratic government. Opposing to what most Americans believe, the Articles were more democratic because they gave more power to the states and the people. Some of the failures of the Articles of Confederation can be reviewed through the borders and restricted powers that Congress possessed under the Confederation. First and foremost, Congress had no power to levy taxes on the states; instead it depended on donations made by the states. The states repulsed the idea of federal taxation, which led to overwhelming increase in the currency by 98 percent, because Congress did not have enough funding. Another handicap of Congress was that it wasn’t able to control interstate or foreign commerce, which resulted in doubt and higher prices for merchants and consumers. Congress could pass laws, but were not able to force the states to obey with them. Consequently, the government was dependent on the willingness of the different states to comply with them, and often times, the states refused to cooperate. Congress did not have the power to draft troops; they were needy on states to contribute forces. Although Congress did have the power to coin money, very little money was coined under this government. Many other weaknesses still existed under the Articles of Confederation. First of all, under the Articles, there was no executive head of the government. Therefore, having a strong central government was nearly impossible, because there was no executive to be in charge of over the nation. In addition to, there was no judicial system with any federal courts. The Articles of Confederation required ratification by all 2006-07-30T20:25:36-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-on-the-Articles-of-Confederation-And-Constitution-30821.aspx Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was an important part of literature during the 1920’s. The Harlem Renaissance took place in Harlem, New York in the 20’s and was lead by African-American writers and changed the way African-Americans were view by people. The Harlem Renaissance was a literary movement led by African-Americans in the New York area, especially Harlem. Many African-American writers began getting noticed for their writings and many people began reading literature written by African-Americans. During the renaissance many people thought of Harlem as the “Black Mecca.” Many black writers became publicized and accepted. There were also a small number of non-black writers. African-American writers published many books of poetry and novels. The Harlem Renaissance was a good time for black writers. There were many writers who were associated with the Harlem Renaissance. The most popular writer was Langston Hughes. Hughes wrote many poems and was an active writer during this time. Other writers were Zora Neale Hurston, and Ida B. Wells Barnett. Most of the writers who participated in the renaissance were African-American, but there were a few white writers. Carl Van Vechten was one of the white writers. Van Vechten’s most famous piece of literature is Nigger’s Heaven. This book was liked by most, but some African-Americans despised the book. A writer from the black publication New York News said, “ Nigger Heaven means, in common parlance, a nasty sordid corner which black folks are herded, and yet a place in which crass ignorance are fools enough to enjoy it. Harlem is no such place as that, and no one knows this better than Carl Van Vechten.” Van Vechten was criticized by whites for his involvement with the renaissance, but many African-Americans were happy that he was part of it. During the Harlem Renaissance blacks and whites worked together without problems. The Harlem Renaissance changed the way blacks were seen by whites. The black culture became more popular and accepted by non-blacks. Many people wanted to travel to Harlem just to see what it was like. A direct result from the Harlem Renaissance was that black writers were more popular, they were also being published more and more people were reading literature written by black writers. The Harlem Renaissance was very important to blacks being accepted as equal. Charles Johnson believed that black equality could be achieved by intellect. The 2006-07-28T08:34:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cultural-History-of-the-Harlem-Renaissance-30763.aspx Essay on the Abolitionist Movement in America During the thirty years that preceded the Civil War, abolitionism was a major factor in electoral politics. Abolitionism refers to antislavery activism between the early 1830s, when William Lloyd Garrison began publishing The Liberator, and the Civil War. By the year 1834, there existed a weak framework of abolitionists, many who were determined free blacks from the north who had a common goal, the emancipation of slavery. These abolitionists took great courage and leadership, for slavery was either against their moral beliefs and gave the anti-slavery movement the growing popularity that it needed. I believe that the abolitionists (only anti-slavery persons), who wanted an immediate end to slavery, radicalized the anti-slavery movement by demanding an, immediate end to slavery and recognition of equality by the year 1836. By the year 1607, Americans realized that the Chesapeake was immensely hospitable to tobacco cultivation. However growing tobacco meant more labor, but where was the labor source to be from? The Colonies found their answer in indentured servant, servants who voluntarily mortgaged the sweat of their bodies for several years to Chesapeake masters. In exchange they revived transatlantic passage and eventual “freedom dues.” However, due to various reasons, indentured servants no longer poured in to America as they had previously done. Thus, the importation of slaves from Africa began. Many rich plantowners, etc did not think of the moral obligations that one has toward God and were greedy. They exploited these poor, innocent, capable, Blacks and changed the World forever. The New Year’s Day in the year 1831, The Liberator (doc. D), had the following passage, “Assenting to the “self evident truth” maintained in the American Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights”… I shall strenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement of our slave population…Urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest- will not excuse…I will not retreat a single inch…AND I WILL BE HEARD!” This document clearly states that the Liberator, a radical abolitionist newspaper in the year of 1831, believes that the Abolitionist cause is not a moderate, but one that is very severe, and must be dealt with immediately. Also, abolitionist began to demand racial equality in addition to emancipation. The idea that blacks were equal to whites was extreme, 2006-07-27T15:20:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-the-Abolitionist-Movement-in-America-30736.aspx Examination of CIA Misconduct “For some time I have been disturbed by the way the CIA has been diverted from its original assignment. It has become an operational arm and at times a policy making arm of the government” – President Harry S. Truman, December 1963. What president Truman meant by this statement was that when the Central Intelligence Agency first came about in 1947, its original intent was to further the foreign policies of the United States government by covert means, while containing the spread of its sworn enemy – communism, and that the agency has strayed from that original goal to a less ostentatious one. The CIA is heavily involved in espionage and counterespionage, propaganda and disinformation (the deliberate circulation of false, one-sided information), and psychological warfare (which includes many attempts to control the minds of human beings using various brainwashing techniques). The CIA also makes extensive use of forged documents on many accounts to accomplish its tasks and to shield the public from knowledge of their illegal activities. In order to fund such extravagant objectives the agency has imported large quantities of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin to be sold through out the United States. The CIA was originally meant to be a coordination agency responsible for gathering, evaluating and preparing foreign intelligence. President Truman proposed this to congress in the National Security Act (NSA) of 1947. Since then, the CIA’s mission has become more towards interfering with the domestic affairs of other nations, while conducting their operations in secrecy, and concealing their illegal activities by censoring many publications that reveal the truth about the CIA’s clandestine operations. The CIA and the Cult of the Intelligence, by Victor Marchetti and John D. Marks, was the first book the U.S. government ever took to court to censor before publication with 168 deletions through out the book. “Traditionally, the [CIA’s] hope has been to foster a world order in which America would rein supreme, the unchallenged international leader. Today, however…the [CIA’s] objectives are now less grandiose but no less disturbing.” (Marchetti 4). The CIA now seeks mostly to advance America’s self-appointed role as the foremost authority of social, economic, and political change in the regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. “The ability to control and manipulate the mind of an enemy is the dream of every 2006-07-26T12:29:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Examination-of-CIA-Misconduct-30679.aspx The Conquest of Mexico As we look back into time we can see many different historic events that have made a great impact on societies and cultures around the world. It seems that during the late years of the 1400’s and the early years of the 1500’s, during the time of Europe’s domination over the whole world, that many cultures were influenced by their hunger to discover as much land as they could. During this time many new lands in the west such as the Americas were discovered and many new lands began to become the property of Kings and Queens that lived thousands and thousands of miles away in Europe. What is pretty remarkable is that the lands were not discovered be the Europeans. The lands were already there. Huge masses of people were already living in these lands for thousands of years. Even though this is so the Europeans took credit for their discovery and therefore they felt that these lands that they landed on were to be taken over and governed by them. There were two main countries in Europe that were trying to discover as much land as possible in the area that we call South America. They were the Spanish and the Portuguese. The Spanish however were the more successful of the two. The Spanish, along with the help of a great explorer and conqueror Cortez, were highly successful in the take over of Mexico and the defeat of the great Aztec warriors. Two books that give a good account of this story are William H. Prescott’s The Conquest of Mexico and The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico by Bernal Diaz del Castillo. During the time of the explorations of Mexico, the Aztecs were the main tribe that lived in the area. The Aztecs originally lived north of the Valley of Mexico. There they lived under the control of the Toltec empire. During the time, the Aztecs were a farming group and the Toltecs were demanding huge tributes from the Aztecs so they were forced to move. They then moved themselves to a city called Tizapan, which is located in the center of Mexico where they came under the control of the Culhuacans. However, this arrangement didn’t last very long because like the Toltecs, the Culhuacans too wanted the 2006-07-26T12:26:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Conquest-of-Mexico-30677.aspx World War I and its Impact on the United States Of all the major events of the 20th Century, which affected the United States (apart from their impact on the world), World War I is ranked as one of the most influential, if not the most influential events, which had the most significant effect on the United States. We are not discussing the details of the four-year war – nor – we are narrating the chronology of the events, which took place from 1914-1918. We are going to analyze the impact of World War I on the United States. Although World War I was not fought on US soil and it is true that the United State remained neutral during the first three years of the war i.e. 1914-1917, however, the war had long lasting impact on the social, economic and political fronts. These implications mainly contributed to the greatest of economic crisis US had ever faced termed as the Great Depression. Europe at that time was divided into two groups. On one side were the Allies (Britain, France Russia) and on the other side were the Central powers (Germany, Australia / Hungry and Turkey). The prominent causes of the World War I were the imperialistic nationalism and economic rivalries. The Central Powers had thrashed out the Allies being victorious on many fronts including Belgium, France, Russia and Italy. The United States entered the World War I in 1917 on the Allies Side, after frequent interruptions, especially by the German submarine warfare, which interrupted sea trade and travel. With the entry of United States, the Allied Forces were victorious and the Central Power faced a humiliating defeat resulting in the disintegration of Turkey and Austro-Hungarian empires. The war ended with major treaties like Armistice, the Treaty of Versailles and the formation of League of Nations. The United States, however, showed an inward attitude and refused to participate in the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. This indifferent attitude and non-participation on the critical post war platforms led to the unsettlement of many issues, which later led to the World War II. The United States entered an era of isolation following a non-partisan behavior in post war treaties and League of Nations. The Allies suffered huge losses; around 10 million people were killed and approximately 20 million had suffered injuries, of which the US share was very 2006-07-26T12:05:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/World-War-I-and-its-Impact-on-the-United-States-30669.aspx Study of American Colonies as of 1763 Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occurred in the colonies was the emergence of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans. By 1753, although some colonies maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. Differences between the colonists and England would be the most common religion in the colonies was Congregationalists, which were Puritans, but in England it was the Anglicans, which was the Church of England. The Great Awakening was a religious movement that made people realize how far they were from the control of the mother country, which swayed them into different religions. In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. In England education was an idea regarded as a blessing reserved for the aristocratic few not for the unwashed many. It should be used for leadership not citizenship and was also restricted to primarily the males. New England was fanatically interested in education but was used to study their religion and make them better Christians. The colonies also highly discouraged art, they would spend the extra energy they had on religious and political leadership while in England art was encouraged and was very rewarding. Building on English foundations of political liberty, the colonists extended the concepts of liberty and self-government far beyond those envisioned in the mother country. One of the biggest differences of New England and the colonies at the time was the form of government. In England there government was a monarchy while the colonies government was colonialism. In New England the queen had full power and the citizens didn’t have much control while in the colonies the people who owned enough property qualified as voters, which could vote the necessary expenses of the colonial government. In contrast to the well defined and the hereditary classes of England, the colonies developed a fluid class structure, which enabled the industrious individual to rise on the social ladder. New England used the class system where an individual was 'born into' his or her place 2006-07-25T20:28:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-of-American-Colonies-as-of-1763-30667.aspx Fashion and Culture among American Women in the 1920s There are many types of people in the world today. The past has shown how the fashion has changed. Each era has their own different style and fashion. The twenties was a particularly wild decade. After WW1, it was a time for change. “Women became rebellious and shocked everyone by their new style and morals”(Louise brooks Society, 3). Women before the twenties were more conservative and were obligated to act like ladies. The rising of music like jazz gave women motivation to be individuals and have fun. Dances like the Charleston had an influence on women in the twenties. Cutting hair and exposing skin was rare considering women in the past had never been daring or even thought about being rebellious like this. Women in the twenties were very different than traditional women in society. Women’s fashion changed a lot in the twenties. The fashion went from “ladylike” to more daring. The typical woman in the twenties is considered to be a flapper. “No longer confined to home and tradition, the typical flapper was a young woman who was often thought of as a little fast.” (Louise Brooks Society, 1). They wore short skirts and dresses exposing their knees and ankles. People were shocked when women began to dress in clothes that exposed skin. “It offended the older generation because they defied the acceptable feminine behavior” (Louise Brooks Society, 1). The older generation felt that the behavior and fashion of the flapper was unacceptable. They felt women should stick to traditional clothing and fashions. Changing morals and values were unacceptable. The cloche hat, getting it’s name from the French word for "bell", became a necessity for daytime wear. “The small hat fit snuggly over short hair and almost reached to the eyebrows”(Heath,28). It was often decorated with a pin in the front or a ribbon. To the rest the world, accessories seemed like a collage from history. “A craze for the styles of the World War I aviators took over the flapper world as girls introduced leather helmets, colored scarves, goggles, and leather jackets” (Stein, 2). “Shoes and jewelry often reflected a craze of the court of King Tutankhamen” (Heath, 8). Earrings, bracelets, and necklaces often were an example of the presence of the Art Deco, Cubtist, and African art movements. The fashion in the 2006-07-25T20:24:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fashion-and-Culture-among-American-Women-in-the-1920s-30665.aspx The Roaring Twenties in America The Twenties wan a decade which contained many well know events and famous people. These people and events made the twenties an important part of our history today. Such as Al Capone the well known mafia leader from Chicago, Charlie Chaplain of the silent movies, the annual Montreal Carnival in Canada, and the 60th anniversary of Canada in 1927. But these events and people are only a quarter of the history help in the 1920's. Entertainment in the Twenties consisted of many famous people, it was in the twenties when a man by the name of Walt "Elias" Disney (1901-66) a cartoonist born in Chicago, introduced Disney's most popular cartoon characters "MICKEY MOUSE". During the twenties MICKEY entertained Americans in such films as "Steam Boat Willie" (1928). Other great cartoon films done be Disney include "Skeleton Dance" in (1929). The silent movies of the twenties is nothing to compare with the voiced movies we have today. The actors had to show allot of facial and body expressions to get the viewers to understand what was happening in the film. The most talented actor's in the twenties were Charlie Chaplain who was known for his "tramp" look, Kenton with his stone facial expressions and the famous romantic Rudolph Valentine. These three and many more entertained Americans through the twenties. In 1926 the voice era was coming in effect by Warner Brothers. In 1927 Warner Brothers finally completed the first sound picture called "The Jazz Singer". To Americans evenings were not spent in front of TV. Instead they would listen to the radio. They would listen to mostly music and live plays. Most of the music they listened to was Jazz, and of course those were the days of the popular ballroom dancing with the big bands. Other ways of entertainment were by newspapers and books. In the twenties women could say and do what they please so in no time women were wearing make-up and doing anything to make them look exotic. In 1924 women changed there hair styles to short so they can wear cloches . Street shoes switched from high buttoned to low cut pumps and saddle oxfords. Socks went from black and white wool and cotton, to beige silk and rayon. Socks became really noticeable when the skirts gradually became shorter . In 1923 the new style of skirt arrived which went 2006-07-25T16:12:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Roaring-Twenties-in-America-30653.aspx Study of Puritan Housing in America In this easy I am going to write about the typical Puritan house, jails, and the scaffolds used for hanging criminals in Salem Massachusetts in the 1690’s. I will address the materials, preparation of the materials, design, and purpose of these structures. First I would like the Puritan house in Salem. The houses were mostly wood from the local forests in the Salem area. The wood was set up in an interlocking method. In order to get them to interlock they would cut notches out of the wood and a glue type material was used to hold the logs together. They also used stones to even out the ground to build the houses on. The stones were held together by mortar as far as I can tell. The wood used on the houses look to be untreated logs from the local woods. As we all know the houses in this time were very simple there was no running water, no indoor plumbing, and no electricity making it very simple to build I would say it would take 2 or 3 days to build. These houses were built very well and most of them still stand today. Secondly I would like to write about the jails that the puritans used to hold the criminals before hanging. The jails were made out of wood and iron bars. The cells were staked on top of each other. They stacked the cells about 3 cells high. There was as stairway so that they could get to all the cells. The wood used for the jails was from the local woods and the iron was probably imported. I think that the jails were built very oddly but they worked. Last I am going to write about the scaffold that the people of Salem used to hang their criminals. The materials used to build scaffold was wood most of the wood used on the scaffold was prepared for special use like the top peace was in beam form to support heavy things like big people. This beam had a thick rope tied to it fog hanging the condemned people. This rope had to be thick in order for it not to break under great pressure. The posts holding up the beam were untreated the wood for this was probably cut down from the local woods. 2006-07-25T12:20:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Study-of-Puritan-Housing-in-America-30620.aspx Misfortunes of the Native American Indians The name Indian was first applied to Native Americans by Christopher Columbus, who mistakenly believed that the mainland and islands of America were part of the Indies, in Asia. Native Americans are true to their cultural and have a strong bond to nature and its many creatures. The spirit that these people so highly prize was taken from them and has not yet been fully regained. Through decrease of population, enforced migration, and racism, European settlers were allowed to gain the upper hand. The Native Americans suffered a severe decrease in population as the European settlers arrived and expanded. The first factor was a disease called smallpox. This disease was carried over to the U.S. by the settlers, and unfortunately, the Native Americans had no immunity for it. In 1763, white colonisers gave a "gift" of smallpox-infested blankets to a group of Native Americans who sought a peace treaty; however, this "gift" eventually wiped out a good bit of the tribe's population and continued to spread, killing others. The second factor consisted of the many battles held between the settlers and the Native Americans. On the morning of December 29, 1890, the Sioux chief Big Foot and some 350 of his followers camped on the banks of Wounded Knee creek, and when the smoke cleared and the shooting stopped, approximately 300 Sioux were dead, Big Foot among them. As the native population declined, their capacity for presenting a military obstacle to the settlers decreased dramatically. Enforced migration of the Native Americans allowed the colonisers to gain full control of the land. The first phase of this migration began with the Indian Removal Act. This act was passed in May 1830, and it empowered the president of the United States to move eastern Native Americans west of the Mississippi, to what was then "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma). Although the removal was considered voluntary, it soon became mandatory and is known as the "Trail of Tears." The second phase of the migration began with the expansion of the settlers. As wagon trains clattered west, government officials concluded that the vast, unspecified tracts of "Indian Territory" would have to be more sharply defined as "reservations." The same Washington officials decided that these people were to be rounded up by the U.S. Army and 2006-07-24T19:28:49-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Misfortunes-of-the-Native-American-Indians-30608.aspx History on the United States' Involvement in the Vietnam War This paper will examine the history of united states Vietnam involvement during 1964 to 1968 it will emphasize the evolution of the national policy and objectives during that period. The Vietnam War twisted out to be Americans longest war with massive commitment of men and material, but most consider it a failure for the United States. The Vietnam War resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 American and serious loss national reputation. Vietnam had an intense and negative effect on American’s view of the military. It was not until desert storm that the military regained the trust of the American people. Perhaps no other event, except the American civil war did so much raise American’s consciousness and indeed as the Vietnam war. Unlike World War II the Vietnam War did not generate a national emergency that united all American in a common cause. World war II threatened national endurance and therefore was a much simpler war. After Japans attack on Pearl Harbor, there was no doubt that Japan was an enemy. Also Germany became a clear threat to the United States and it’s allies when it declared war on America following Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor finally causes a separation United States to became implicated in the war that had been waging in Europe since 1930’s. The Korean War like Vietnam lacked a sense of clarity Korea is an important example of a war that did not threaten the United States vital interest. Therefore both Korea and Vietnam presented policy-making challenges not present in World War II. Containment of communism was the policy that governed U.S actions in both-Korea and Vietnam to many Americans communism in Asia did not pose a direct threat to the united states as did World war II or the cold war in Europe this led to less sustained support for the Vietnam war in a sense Vietnam was a replacement war in which the united states was fighting an enemy other than Vietnam. Although he had no official policy making position at the time Richard Nixon fully expressed the rationale for the war while addressing the common wealth on California on April 2, 1965 (this is a confrontation not between Vietcong and Vietnam or the united States but between U.S and the communist China) Nixon went on to say that if South 2006-07-23T17:15:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-on-the-United-States-Involvement-in-the-Vietnam-War-30529.aspx History of Chicago The word “Chicago” has not always been the word it is today. There are two main theories as to where the name came from; one, from a Native American Ojibwa folk tale, “Chicago” would mean “Place of the Skunk”; and two, some historians believe it was derived from “Checagou”, meaning strong, great, or powerful. Jacques Marquette, who was a French missionary, and Louis Jolliet, a Canadian explorer and mapmaker, discovered Chicago in 1673. They were the first people be on the land where the city of Chicago was going to stand. They brought five others with them and found a large Amerindian village (close to the current Ottawa). The men were helped and guided by the affable Amerindians that year, and the two men were the first to land in Chicago. In 1779, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, an African American from Haiti, built the first permanent settlement at the mouth of the river just east of the present Michigan Avenue Bridge on the north bank. The exact original name of the settlement is not known but it can be found as Pointe de Sable, Au Sable, Point Sable, Sabre and Pointe de Saible. The first marriage in Chicago was performed in Du Sable’s house, the first election was held, and the first court handed down justice. The religion of the first Chicagoan was Catholic. In 1803, the first fort was built in Chicago. It was in this year that the War Department demanded that a fort was to be built at the mouth of the river. It began to be constructed on August 17th, 1803, and was finished a year later. It was named “Fort Dearborn” in honour of the Secretary of War. The fort went for many years in peace, with traders thriving. But in 1812 there was a war with Britain and the government ordered an immediate evacuation of the fort. After leaving the fort, the Indians attacked the evacuees, many were murdered, and the fort was destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1816 and was occupied by American troops until 1837 when it was abandoned. It stood until 1856. Chicago was controlled by Indiana Territory and Illinois Territory from 1801 to 1818. In 1818, Illinois was admitted to statehood. On March 4th 1837, Chicago was admitted as a city and had a population of 4170. William B. Ogden was elected the first mayor 2006-07-23T17:05:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Chicago--30524.aspx Charles Luciano and the Mafia in America Most people think that the Mafia is obsolete in America but they it isn’t. It still flourishes through out the states controlling parts of the Government. The members and head bosses just aren’t as public as they had been in the 1900’s. Now they are mostly “underground” to try from being broken up, and if heard of usually they assassinate or pay off whoever shall try to disturb there roles in life of there personal business dealings. All though not, the Sicilian-born gangster Salvatore Lucania, better known as Charles “Lucky” Luciano, is still a big subject when it comes to talking about gangsters and there participation in the Mafia throughout the 1900’s. Salvatore Lucania, nicknamed Lucky, was born in 1897 in Lercardia Friddi, Sicily. As a child his family was rather poor and his parents worked as hard as they could to provide for Salvatore. Even when they worked longer hours until there hands chapped, it still didn’t put enough food on the family dinner table. It was such a hard life that they were considering to leave there friends and relatives and the area where there ancestors had lived for hundreds of years and leave to the promised land of America. It would be better for Salvatore they thought. They would quickly realize that the thought of plentiful work and great schools was simply not true (Ron Nichols, “A Gangster is Born”). The Lucianos set sail in 1906 to arrive in the New York harbor that same year. Mischief and mayhem were the key factors in describing Salvatore’s youth. His first racket, started in 1907, offered younger and smaller Jewish kids his personal protection from beatings on there way to school. If they didn’t pay him the penny or two a day for his protection, then Salvatore would beat them up. A thin runty kid from Poland, Meyer Lansky, refused to pay. Salvatore fought him one day and was amazed at how well he fought back. After this they would become buddies for life. In his teens Salvatore started participating in more illegal thing, such as narcotics. At eighteen he was charged for peddling heroin and morphine and then committed to a reformatory for 6 months. Once he was released he resumed narcotic dealing. 2006-07-23T13:36:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Charles-Luciano-and-the-Mafia-in-America-30509.aspx The Impact of European Setllers on North American Natives The North American Continent had vast amounts of natives scattered around it. The lives of the natives all changed with the arrival of the Europeans. The Spanish claimed South America, Mexico and the Southwest part of the US; the French claimed the Midwest part of the US and the northeast part of Canada; the British claimed the eastern part of the US and the rest of Canada. These “invaders” taking over their land for the most part, enraged the natives. The conflicts in the colonies would rage on well into America’s future. The Spanish first arrived in the America’s in with the voyages of Christopher Columbus. After that many Spanish explorers started coming to America in search of a way to the Far East and also for riches. The Spanish did not treat the natives of these lands with much respect. Cortez conquered the Aztecs in 1519 and Pizarro conquered the Incas in 1531. The natives for the most part were treated badly because of their beliefs and that the Spanish thought they lived in a backwards society. The Spanish started to setup missions, to convert the natives to Christianity. They wanted the natives to be Christians because they said that they would go to Hell if they did not convert over. Many natives converted over to Christianity while other did not. The ones that did not convert were either killed or enslaved. Due to this kind of treatment, most of the natives rebelled against the Spanish. These rebellions slowly decreased the native population. As the Spanish slowly expanded out of Mexico, the land of the natives slowly decreased. Not all of the natives that died, died from fighting the Spanish, but many died from disease. They were dying from many diseases but especially small pox. Since they have never been exposed to these types of diseases it hit them hard. They would die in droves since there was no way for them to stop it. Deaths in South America were incredibly bad. There were 25 million natives in 1500 and the population had decreased to about 3 million by 1650. The Spanish treated the natives as slaves and like barbarians. By doing this, the natives 2006-07-22T11:03:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Impact-of-European-Setllers-on-North-American-Natives-30428.aspx The Failure of Prohibition in America Throughout the 1920’s, the United States experienced a number of changes. From the granting of women’s suffrage in 1919 to the stock market crash of 1929, the twenties were a time for change. Some changes were for good, such as the invention of the radio, the inexpensive automobile, and movies. Some changes, however, were for worse, such as the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the coming about of a communist party in the United States. But the United States felt one of the most negative impacts from something known as Prohibition. Prohibition, which was made law by the eighteenth amendment to the constitution, made the creation, transportation, sale, and consumption of alcohol illegal, with exception of the alcohol used for religious and medical purposes. Prohibition had a negative impact on the United States because of the resulting organized crime, the resulting corruption of police, federal agents, and other government officials, and the lack of enforcement and organization required to enforce. Prohibition had a negative impact on the United States because of the resulting organized crime. When Prohibition was put into effect, it opened a new market for the illegal sale of alcohol. But before the illegal sale of alcohol could occur, it first had to be illegally created and illegally transported. Who, you ask, created, transported, and sold these illegal beverages? The answer is criminals, but not just petty criminals, organized gangs- mobs. Many gangs got their start with bootlegging. They used moonshine stills to make the alcohol, and they sold it in speakeasies. Speakeasies were secretive, highly exclusive clubs where mostly the upper class would go to drink. Speakeasies could be found in the form of delicatessen stores, pool rooms, millinery shops, private parlors, drug stores, and 57 other varieties. So, perhaps Prohibition eliminated the repulsive saloon, but it brought it brought it back in over 60 different forms of speakeasies. Most of the drinking that went on in speakeasies was very excessive and almost always to the point of drunkenness. These speakeasies had a negative impact on the U.S. because they provided a good place for meetings of political machines, but more importantly because they provided mobs with money. Once mobs had gained enough money from bootlegging, they could spread into other illegal activities 2006-07-22T10:44:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Failure-of-Prohibition-in-America-30418.aspx The Role of African American Soldiers in World War I About 400,000 Black Soldiers served in the United States Army in World War 1. About 367,710 of these came into the service through the selective Draft Law. Nearly 20,000 soldiers of the United States, uniformed, armed, equipped, drilled, trained and ready to take the field. The most famous are the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The 9th and 10th Cavalry, saved the day at San Juan Hill for Colonel Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and helped to give him much of his military reputation and distinction. When the United States Armed Forces were strong in the beginning they discouraged black to enlist in the military. The Associated Press sent a telegram out from Richmond, Virginia, April 24, 1917 stating: NEGRO RECRUITING HALTED "Richmond, Va., April 24.---No more Negroes will be accepted for enlistment in the United States Army at present. This was the order received by Major Hardeman, officer in charge of the recruiting station here, from the War Department. 'Colored organizations filled,' was the explanation." Negro newspapers started printing how they felt about not being able to enlist. They sent them to the War Department and wanted the War Department to make provisions for colored troops. The War Department finally gave in and started letting blacks enlist. Approximately 200,000 African Americans were sent to Europe. More than half of those sent were assigned to labor and stevedore battalions, but they performed essential duties nonetheless, building roads, bridges, and trenches in support of the front-line battles. Roughly 42,000 saw combat. Blacks and white soldiers were housed separately in the war. Philip Randolph was pessimistic about what the war would mean for black Americans. He pointed out that Negroes had sacrificed their blood on the battlefields of every American war since the Revolution, but it still had not brought them full citizenship. W.E.B. DuBois argued that "while the war lasts [we should] forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow citizens and allied nations that are fighting for democracy." As I did my research on African Americans in World War 1 I learned the draft started out just for whites, even though blacks were in fighting to wars at the same time, and that African Americans went through a lot just so I can live the way I live now. 2006-07-19T20:48:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Role-of-African-American-Soldiers-in-World-War-I-30403.aspx Overview of the Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation, a document that laid a foundation for the Constitution, provided a somewhat effective government. The American colonists possessed a fear of central authority, which inhibited the creation of a government with great constitutional order. Congress, however, felt that a stronger 2006-07-19T12:45:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Overview-of-the-Articles-of-Confederation-30391.aspx Origins and Institutions of the Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan's long history of violence grew out of the resentment and hatred many white Southerners felt in the aftermath of the Civil War. How did the Ku Klux Klan - one of the nation's first terrorist groups - so instantly seize the South in the aftermath of the Civil War? Vigilante justice became the motivation for many who later rode with the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan grew out of white Southern anger over the Civil War defeat and the Reconstruction that followed. The time was ripe for the Ku Klux Klan to ride. Origins of the Ku Klux Klan One Popular notion held that the Ku Klux Klan was originally a secret order of Chinese opium smugglers. After tinkering with the sound for a while, group settled on the "Ku Klux Klan." Much of the Klan's early reputation was based on mischief. One favorite Klan tactic was for a white sheeted Klansman wearing a ghoulish mask to ride up to a black home at night and demand water. White Rule Victimized Blacks Throughout the summer and fall, the Klan steadily had become more violent. At the Nashville Klan meeting, leaders sought to grapple with these problems and decide just what sort of organization the Klan would be. They created a chain of command and sanctioned white supremacy as the fundamental creed of the Ku Klux Klan. Orders went out from state capitols and Union army headquarters to suppress the Klan. Invisible Government From middle Tennessee, the Klan quickly was established in nearby counties and then in North and South Carolina. In some counties the Klan became the de facto law, an invisible government that state officials could not control. As the violence escalated, it turned to general lawlessness and some Klan groups even began fighting each other. The Klan was also coming under increased attack by Congress and the Reconstruction state governments. That did not end the violence, however, and as atrocities became more widespread, Radical legislatures throughout the region passed harsher laws, imposed martial law in some Klan-dominated counties, and actively hunted Klan leaders. In 1871 Congress held hearings on the Klan and passed a tough anti-Klan law modeled after a North Carolina statute. Klan terror had proven very effective at keeping black voters away from the polls. Simmons' Klan was not unlike the dozens of benevolent societies 2006-07-18T13:14:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Origins-and-Institutions-of-the-Ku-Klux-Klan-30360.aspx American Policies during the Great Depression It is straightforward to narrate the slide of the world into the Great Depression. The 1920's saw a stock market boom in the U.S. as the result of general optimism: businessmen and economists believed that the newly-born Federal Reserve would stabilize the economy, and that the pace of technological progress guaranteed rapidly rising living standards and expanding markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve's attempts in 1928 and 1929 to raise interest rates to discourage stock speculation brought on an initial recession. Caught by surprise, firms cut back their own plans for further purchase of producer durable goods; firms making producer durables cut back production; out-of-work consumers and those who feared they might soon be out of work cut back purchases of consumer durables, and firms making consumer durables faced falling demand as well. Falls in prices--deflation--during the Depression set in motion contractions in production which triggered additional falls in prices. With prices falling at ten percent per year, investors could calculate that they would earn less profit investing now than delaying investment until next year when their dollars would stretch ten percent further. Banking panics and the collapse of the world monetary system cast doubt on everyone's credit, and reinforced the belief that now was a time to watch and wait. The slide into the Depression, with increasing unemployment, falling production, and falling prices, continued throughout Herbert Hoover's Presidential term. There is no fully satisfactory explanation of why the Depression happened when it did. If such depressions were always a possibility in an unregulated capitalist economy, why weren't there two, three, many Great Depressions in the years before World War II? Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz argued that the Depression was the consequence of an incredible sequence of blunders in monetary policy. But those controlling policy during the early 1930s thought they were following the same gold-standard rules of conduct as their predecessors. Were they wrong? If they were wrong, why did they think they were following in the footsteps of their predecessors? If they were not wrong, why was the Great Depression the only Great Depression? At its nadir, the Depression was collective insanity. Workers were idle because firms would not hire them to work their machines; firms would not hire workers to work machines because they saw no market for goods; and there was no market for goods because workers 2006-07-10T13:30:18-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Policies-during-the-Great-Depression-30157.aspx Important Moments in John F. Kennedy's Presidency Ask not what your country can do for you - Ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy spoke these words in his inauguration speech on January 20th, 1961 in reference to the Peace Corps he created. (Peace Corps begins as a call to serve, page 1) John F. Kennedy sometimes is remembered as a very hard workingman who worked for his country and but yet as a man who made time to spend with him family. (Biography of John F. Kennedy, page 4-7) While he served the United States of America as president, John F. Kennedy handled the Cuban Missile Crisis, established the Peace Corps, and set the foundation for the U.S.A. to send a man to the moon. “Good evening, my fellow citizens: - This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military buildup on the island of Cuba.”(Cuban Missile Crisis, P1) To completely understand that statement, one needs to understand what happened during the time that spanned just one week in October 1962. The United States came closer to engaging in nuclear war than at any other time in her history. This period has come to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It occurred after the United States learned that the U.S.S.R. had secretly assisted Cuba in placing missiles and their associated launch sites on Cuban soil, which could potentially be used to attack the United States. The swift and deliberate actions of President John F. Kennedy helped to abate this crisis and to temporarily ease the tensions of the Cold War once again between the United States and the U.S.S.R. (Full Length synopsis of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Pages 1 – 9) Sometimes I wonder what the world be like if Kennedy didn’t handle the Cuban Missile Crisis like he did. On October 22, 1962 John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the nation. In this speech he informed the American public of what was going on and he also advised the Cubans they were “puppets and agents of an international conspiracy which has turned Cuba against its friends and neighbors in the Americas.” (Cuban Missile Crisis, pages 1 – 5) On the day JFK gave this speech there were ships from the U.S.S.R. 2006-07-09T13:41:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Important-Moments-in-John-F_-Kennedy-s-Presidency-30110.aspx George Washington; the Most Important Founding Father This is a question that inevitably arises in the mind of anyone who studies, even on a casual basis, the founding of our nation. Washington lived and worked with brilliant philosophers, thinkers, writers, orators and organizers, such as Franklin, Mason, John and Sam Adams, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Hamilton, Madison, Dickinson, the Randolphs and the Lees, almost all of whom were far better educated than he. Yet at the three major junctions in the founding of the nation, the Revolution, the Constitutional Convention and the selection of the first President, for each position the leader chosen was George Washington. In his own day he was seen as the indispensable man, the American Moses, The Father of the Country. Why? His contemporaries and subsequent commentators have enumerated many factors that entered into the selection by his peers for these three strategically important positions: physical size and presence, charisma, energy, multi-faceted experiences, charm, courage, character, temperament, being a Virginian, wealth, ambition, his reputation as a stalwart patriot and, especially after the Revolution, the regard, admiration and affection of the populace at all levels of society. The most commonly cited characteristic given for his emergence as the supreme leader is his character. The most infrequently cited, as far as I have observed, are his intelligence and his ideas. The overall impression that many people have today, therefore, is that while Washington was a person of the highest moral character, he did not posses a first rate intelligence and he got most of his ideas from others, such as Franklin, Mason, Henry, Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison. A factual understanding of their respective ages relative to Washington and the dates on which his views were known would prove the fallacy of the assumption that Washington was intellectually dependent upon any of them or anyone else. I want to suggest and argue that Washington was chosen for these leadership roles because of his character and also because of his being a genius in the area of leadership. They trusted him because he had demonstrated a noble and incorruptible character and he had also shown himself to be an exceptional leader. In the remainder of my presentation I shall, first, briefly outline the characteristics of a highly effective leader, second, illustrate Washington's genius as a leader in his roles as commander in chief of the Continental Army, president 2006-07-09T13:34:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/George-Washington-the-Most-Important-Founding-Father-30107.aspx Complete History of Prohibition in the United States Prohibition led to the bootlegging of liquor and the gang wars of the 1920’s. The most notorious gangster of all time, known as Al Capone, was the most powerful mob leader of his era. He dominated organized crime in the Chicago area from 1925 until 1931 Capone had liked that idea. Later that year the Prohibition act came into affect and Capone became interested in selling illegal whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Al Capone was America's best known gangster and greatest symbol of destruction of law and order in the United States during the Prohibition era because of his leading role in the illegal activities which gave Chicago its reputation as a lawless city. Capone’s network came through Torrio’s business. Capone and Torrio took over his uncles business after his uncle died (Haller, 358). Torrio’s uncle did not agree with Capone’s idea in the first place. His uncle was shot by his rival, which gave the business to Torrio. They both created the selling of illegal alcohol in the city of Chicago (Haller 359). This impacted the U.S. because it gave many men and women beverages for their needs. Capone developed contacts to obtain imported liquor from Detroit, New York, and Miami (Haller 360). These purchases gave Capone power and wealth because he sold alcohol all over Chicago. After Torrio was shot and almost killed by a rival gang, he retired from the underworld, which left Capone to run the organization alone (World Biography). Now Capone was on the top of his organization and at the age of 26, he was managing more than 1,000 employees, which included a payroll of more than $300,000 a week (World Biography). Capone demanded loyalty from all of his employees. During this time Capone became so rich he gave out free food for Chicago’s unemployed which made him look like a good influence. Unemployed people did not care that the money he gave them was made illegally, to them money was money. Capone also supplied booze to the poor. “Even though bootlegging was illegal at this point in time, if you got people alcohol, you were respected by the community”(Kobler). People were in the depression at the time, and they were fortunate enough just to receive a little something even though it came from bootlegging. In a way Capone also made another contribution. 2006-07-07T13:28:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Complete-History-of-Prohibition-in-the-United-States-30093.aspx Economic Hardships of America in the Thirties It was a terrible time for the people in the United States' Great Plains when a seemingly endless drought followed excessive plowing of the soil and caused the earth to let loose it's hold on it's very skin. The stripped red soil boiled up into the air, infiltrating every crevice it could find, inanimate or alive. The Dream Wheat was a treasure crop in the 1920s. With more and more farmers owning tractors and combines they were seeing greater yields and profits than ever before. As a result they planted more wheat, and still more wheat. They expected the world market to continue buying it up as they had in the first few years of rapid production. 1931 saw record wheat crops and profits. Things were looking good. The Market Over Flow The market became glutted with wheat and prices plummeted in July of 1931. Farmers who made 68 cents a bushel in July 1930 made scarcely 25 cents a bushel a year later. Many farmers went broke and abandoned their fields all across the region. Throughout the decade people would be starved out of their homes. John Steinbeck's novel, "The Grapes Of Wrath" was published in 1939 and offers a vivid description of this desperate time. “And then the dispossessed were drawn west- from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico; from Nevada and Arkansas, families, tribes, dusted out, tractored out. Car-loads, caravans, homeless and hungry; twenty thousand and fifty thousand and a hundred thousand and two hundred thousand." John Steinbeck, "The Grapes Of Wrath". The Ruined Land The other part of the problem was that the grasslands were considered worthless and were plowed under so that farmers could grow rich off of wheat. But it turned out that the roots of those scrappy dried out plains grasses were all that was holding the earth together. Without their established root systems firm in the soil, the fierce Midwestern winds blew the dirt right out of the ground. More and more farmers deserted the region, unable to carry on. The Weather As fate would have it, the weather turned crazy on the farmers that remained. The skies opened up and dumped tons of water on the plains, washing people out of their homesteads. As soon as it got through raining, the dirt blew in, 2006-07-07T13:20:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Economic-Hardships-of-America-in-the-Thirties-30088.aspx The Importance of Declaring Independence in America From the day a child is born, the separation process begins. A child craves independence and grows strong because of it. You do your children a disservice if you think it is nice and kind to do everything for them. We all need a helping hand at times, but we the children need a hand that shows us how to take care of themselves. Perhaps it is your heritage, but people in this country have never been satisfied with dependence. The colonists started a revolution in order to gain independence. Cultural or human nature we your children expect independence as well. When parents teach a child to be independent and self-reliant they gain the child's appreciation respect and love. When parents try to do everything for a child in hopes of gaining the child's love and gratitude they produce a dependent child filled with resentment, anger, and hostility. I know this is a difficult concept for some parents to accept. They enjoy doing for their young children. A child who is dependent stays close and even learns to let the parent do everything. Besides doing for these parents also try to absorb the consequences of real life for their child. They would rather help than see the child suffer the consequences of the child's own behavior."I'll do it for you. I'll make it better this time." Of course there will always be another time. The we will either choose to be dependent and will remain so forever or the we will struggle and fight for power over our own life, often excluding the parents. By elementary school years, you the parents will begin to see this disaster of their own making. The problems become intense by teenage years. Parents can be faced with irresponsible teen, an emotionally detached teen, or a teen in rebellion. The solution: Avoid the problem of dependency by training for independence. • Step One: Let us make choices and hold us accountable for our choice. When we are allowed to make choices, we must also be allowed to experience the consequences of our choice. If we choose a hamburger and wish we had the chicken nuggets instead we can then choose to eat the hamburger or go hungry. It's a valid choice. If we choose not to wear a sweater, let us be cold. It won't hurt us and 2006-07-05T22:40:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Importance-of-Declaring-Independence-in-America-30032.aspx History of Great American Business America is a society that has grown from the roots of money. Its entire history is evidence of this fact. During the course of its existence, great concentrations of wealth have been accumulated. To criticize these billionaires, tarnish their success, labels like “robber barons” have been used. These denigration serves only as proof of their success. Contrarily, these businessmen were captains of business, industrial statesmen and pillars of society who led industrialization and are responsible for creating the enormous riches of the United States of America. The American colonies were formed as business ventures by the British. Of course, they needed settlers, who were mostly Europeans seeking political, religious and economic freedom. The most important freedom was economic, for the British who already had it rarely worried about the religious and political. America was a society of money from day one. The basis of civilization is money, because money makes it possible to eat and to be sheltered, the basic needs of man. In any society with a currency, it is a given that some will handle their capital more responsibly than others. This success has become the American Dream, because it is possible. Capitalism is the system that has blossomed, because it a system that takes care of itself. Merit is rewarded with wealth, and with wealth comes class. So, of course, it is a class society as well as a meritocracy. What separates capitalism from feudalism is the presence of opportunity. It is this opportunity that is valued and is vital to the growth of the economy. Opportunity is what created the wealth of the so-called robber barons. This tag has been given to a handful of men, mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries. They have been called ruthless and immoral, but on the other hand they were the men that led the industrial revolution. Some led the economic success of the nation, some were embarrassing side effects, but nevertheless, they cannot all be painted with the same brush. John D. Rockefeller was probably the most successful of the bunch. The visionary behind the Standard Oil empire, he built a horizontally integrated company, meaning it saw his oil through every stage of production – extraction, refining, etc. He believed in a harsh and ruthless business style, believing that it was the only way to survive in the Social Darwinist 2006-07-05T22:37:01-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-Great-American-Business-30030.aspx Sitting Bull of the Teton Sioux Indians Sitting Bull (1834?-1890) was a famous medicine man and leader of the Hunkpapa band of the Teton Sioux Indians. Many people think that he was the leader of the Indians at the battle of the Little Bighorn, on June 25, 1876, in which Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer died. Actually, Sitting Bull acted only as the leading medicine man in the preparations for the battle. The year before, he had received a vision that all his enemies would be delivered into his hands. In the spring of 1876, Sitting Bull led a sun dance at which he told the Indians to change their way of fighting. Instead of showing off to prove their bravery, they should 2006-07-04T15:54:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Sitting-Bull-of-the-Teton-Sioux-Indians-29986.aspx Comparing the Governments between England and the Colonies Between the settlement of Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occurred in the colonies was the evolution of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics, and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans. By 1763 although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. The British, after many years of religious revolution had established the Anglican Church. In which the king of England was the head of this church. This resulted in almost no separation of church and state. There were several colonies that had the state and the church separate. One state is Rhode Island; which being a prime example of a state with religious toleration because of it being founded by an outcast of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The founder decided that Rhode Island would be a haven for thinkers and other religions and such. Another state with some religious freedom was Connecticut, which gave us the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. The cause of this difference was that most of the colonist had fled to the colonies to escape religious persecution. In fact they almost had a majority rule, therefore they did not want a powerful church to suppress or persecute them here in the new world. So they hacked the power of the church and made sure it stayed out of government affairs. In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. With Britain's confidence on the mercantile system, it rubbed off on most of the colonies. They wanted to be self sufficient so that they would not have to resort on help from other countries. The Southern colonies for example relied heavily on trade with England. This was caused by the geography in the south, because it was mostly a tidewater region. This allowed ships to sail deep within the south. Therefore cotton from Georgia was sent across to England, then it was made into thread or such. It was then sent back to the colonies were it was to be made into various items. Due to the geographic location of the northern colonies, they developed a trade system 2006-07-03T23:13:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparing-the-Governments-between-England-and-the-Colonies-29953.aspx Historic Analysis of the Whiskey Rebellion The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 helped bring about the demise of the aristocratic Federalist Government in favor of the democratic Republican Government, concerned with the needs of all of its citizens. The new country of the United States of America suffered many growing pains in trying to balance its commitment to liberty with the need for order. How much control is enough and what will be too much? After the Revolutionary War, the country purposely did not have a strong central government (that's what we fought against with the British). The states did as they pleased because the Articles of Confederation in 1781 gave them every power, jurisdiction and right not expressly delegated to the Continental Congress. Congress had no power to tax, regulate commerce, draft troops, or enforce foreign treaties. It was mainly a friendly overseer: thus the expression "the Do-Nothing Congress." Each state considered itself sovereign, free and independent, and easterners and westerners were separated by geography as well as their own concerns. To make matters worse, Spain and Britain were wreaking havoc along our borders. British troops, violating the Treaty of Paris, refused to vacate their garrisons along the Great Lakes; Spain, who held New Orleans, closed the Mississippi River to American shipping below Nachez and actively encouraged American settlers to break away from the Union and establish relations with them; Westerners in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania were subjected to attacks by marauding Indians (often instigated by the Spanish and British). Congress did not have the power to send troops for defense or protection, and the easterners in these states were too busy with politics to worry about their western frontiersmen. Consequently, the westerners did as they pleased with no regard to the laws the easterners made. States had the power to levy taxes. Massachusetts imposed hefty taxes to help pay off its war debts. With the postwar depression, many farmers had trouble paying their mortgages. The banks foreclosed on their property and debtors were put in jail. In 1786-1787, Captain Daniel Shays, a veteran of the Revolution, led a ragtag army of rebels to protest these unfair taxes. The rebels closed down courthouses that handled foreclosures and prevented sheriffs from selling confiscated property. The rebels lost their military battle after only six months, but they 2006-07-02T23:00:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Historic-Analysis-of-the-Whiskey-Rebellion-29917.aspx Causes of Sectionalism in American Histroy The Missouri Compromise is commonly thought of as the beginning of American sectionalism, although the signs were visible long before 1819. The crisis solved by the compromise certainly alerted the South for the need for political unity in order to maintain its way of life in the face of a more populous North. Likewise, it alerted both regions to the political problems inherent in westward expansion. The Missouri Compromise did not create sectionalism, but it is important as the first possible signs of sectionalist differences in the US. The Missouri Compromise was also important because it was successful, unlike future compromises. The Missouri compromise was successful for a number of reasons, not just because Congress was perfectly willing to leave the question of further state admission petitions to be solved at a later date. It also worked because neither the North nor the South could imagine territories north of the 36'30 line would desire a slavery system for reasons of land and weather patterns. The South was willing to accept the immediate fact of Missouri's entrance into the Union rather than argue over the logistics of the “compromise.” Slavery had yet to become a matter of pride for the South, and the South had yet to feel the growing anger by radical abolitionists in the North. The Missouri Compromise was faithfully followed for almost thirty years, until the territories the US annexed during the Mexican War once again brought up the question of congressional power to limit slavery. There was a "forever prohibited" clause which comes up again later in the antebellum period, with the Compromise of 1850 and debates about constitutionality. After the Missouri Compromise, Southerners became extremely suspicious concerning the expansion of federal power. The "forever prohibited" clause was a serious statement about federal power, and if the federal government had the power to prohibit slavery in territories that had not even applied for statehood yet. This was not agreed upon by the South and thus began the sectionalism. Finally, the Missouri Compromise was important because it solidified the South’s insistence on the permanence and significance of the slave institution. Southerners' rejection of the Tallmadge Proviso emphasized their position on the permanence of the slave institution as a necessary part of Southern culture. This position would later come to cause huge problems between the two regions; the civil war. Thus this compromise then 2006-06-26T16:06:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-Sectionalism-in-American-Histroy-29832.aspx The Shocking Decade of the 1960s What is the Decade of Shock? In Tom Shachtman’s book “Decade of Shocks,” he states it’s the period of time between the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the resignation of President Richard Nixon, in the heat of Watergate. During this time three major leaders helped shape the 20th century, by way of their than politics. It began with the assassination of Kennedy, the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. and eventually ending with the resignation of Nixon. On November 22, 1963 the city of Dallas, as well as the whole United States would fall into a period of grief. President John F. Kennedy was killed. Shot by, in my opinion, a man who was jealous, and never took the time to really listen to JFK and his policies, Lee Harvey Oswald. Even after his burial at Arlington National Cemetery, the public asked why did a man so young have to die, and is there a real God? During this time, America opened their hearts to the Kennedy family, who could forget when JFK Jr. gave his fallen father one last solute, that made the people open up? Martin Luther King Jr. during this time stood-up not only for himself, but for all of the black communities. King was viewed as an inspiration and was admired by nearly all including another man in history Malcolm X. Standing outside his hotel door, on the balcony, King was shot in Memphis Tennessee. The last topic Shachtman touches upon is President Richard M. Nixon. Even though he wasn’t assassinated, Nixon sent his own wave of grief over the nation, Watergate. Nixon had plans of breaking into the Democratic Party hotel; to learn secrets they had against him just to help him with the election. When the nation heard about this, okay were outraged, as well as appalled. If they couldn’t trust the president, whom could they trust? Not too long after Nixon resigned, stating “ I am not a crook”. When I first started this assignment, I must have gone through five different books, before Decade of Shocks, caught my attention. At first I thought, this all happened years before my time, and why is it so important to me. I never really took the time to understand and realize, that whatever happens in 2006-06-21T17:25:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Shocking-Decade-of-the-1960s-29790.aspx The Assasination of John F. Kennedy John F Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in May 29th 1917. He was the second of nine kids. He graduated from Choate School then entered Princeton College. Then quickly transferred to Harvard. After Harvard Kennedy joined the Navy in 1914. In august 1943 he was a commander of a U.S. Navy torpedo boat PT-109. He rescued several crewmen after their boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands. He was shoot and received an honorable discharge. For all his bravery he was awaked the Purple Heart. John. F. Kennedy was a powerfulman. He was a rich man. Many women thought he was good looking. His wife was a sophisticated woman named Jacqueline. He had a couple of kids named John F Kennedy jr. and Caroline Kennedy. His family was an ideal family for the American family. During 1960 john f Kennedy had 43 electoral votes defeating Vice President Richard Nixon. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He was the youngest president elected in to office. He was strongly anti-Communist he tried to overthrow Castro in the Bay of Pigs. The personal reaction from Coleen Boyer, "I was six years old. I can remember sitting in a waiting room with mom and staring at the speakers and listing to the music then all of a sudden the music cut out and said. an all news bulletin and said the president has been shot the president has been shot again and again. Then a little bit later it said the president of the United States is dead. I remember the funeral with John John saluting his dad it was a time of disbelief." said Coleen Boyer. The events of November 22nd through25th 1963 left the nation in shock and changed forever. The whole world was in tears for the president. In disbelief 250 thousands people from all parts of the world came to mourn the death of the president. Back up 40 blocks for the people to view the president. It took over 21 hours for every one to view the president. As Friday November 22nd at 11:40cst Air Force One touched down at Love field Dallas Texas. On Air force one was the President and his wife John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Connally and a senator named Ralph W. Yarborough.Then they left the love field Dallas air port. At 11:50 am in 2006-06-21T16:54:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Assasination-of-John-F_-Kennedy-29783.aspx Deism in Historic American Society As Puritanism lost its popularity, it made way for a new belief system. Deists, like Puritans, believed in God as the Creator, but Deists believed in free will, whereas Puritans believed in predestination. As Deism gained momentum, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Paine reflected their Deist beliefs in the writings. In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson constantly reflects the Deist ideas of human reason and a Creator God. For example, Jefferson states, “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This shows that man, after he is created, has the power to pursue his own destiny. The people must take control of their own lives because “God helps them who help themselves.” For example, Jefferson states, “among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of natures God entitle them.” This illustrates that God created the world but denies that he is involved in the lives of each and every person, and that the world operates by natural and self-sustaining laws of the Creator. God is beyond the world and constructed it, but he is not active in people’s daily lives. Specific examples from Jefferson’s writings confirm his belief in Deism. Benjamin Franklin portrays several Deistic ideas in “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly” and The Autobiography. For example, Franklin states, “The more thinking part of the spectators were of opinion that any Person so bound and placed in the water would swim, till their breath was gone, and their lungs fill’d with water.” This shows that the Deistic thinkers use human reason and scientific judgment to realize that the “test by water” is absolutely ridiculous, and that it cannot accurately reveal the truth. All one needs in Deism is his/her own common sense. For example, Franklin states, that it is possible “to make himself morally perfect by self-discipline, cleverness, and hard work.” This demonstrates that this common sense approach to God can bring a lasting sense of peace and happiness to the individual. Only the person can make himself morally perfect by doing those things. Franklin displays his beliefs in human reason, scientific judgement and moral perfection by using 2006-06-20T14:57:51-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Deism-in-Historic-American-Society-29683.aspx Analysis of the Events of The Great Depression "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land. The poorhouse is vanishing from among us." (Herbert Hoover – 1928) "The nation is marching along a permanently high plateau of prosperity." (Irving Fisher – October 24th, 1929) Five days later, the bottom dropped out of the stock market, ushering in the Great Depression, the worst economic downturn in America's history. The Great Depression. This was quite possibly the most economically devastating event in American history. The people of the early century suffered massively during this disastrous time. “In 1932, a crowd of fifty men fought over a barrel of garbage outside the back door of a Chicago restaurant” (The Great Depression – Gale Group). The 1920’s were a decade of prospers, and because everybody in the United States had become accustomed to living a healthy, as well as comfortable lifestyle, it made the sudden impact of the stock market crash so much more detrimental. On that fateful day of October 29th, 1929, all of the nations progress, everything that had been accomplished throughout the past decade was plunged into an abyss of poverty. With the Dust Bowl coinciding, the Depression paved the way for many challenges that Americans would begin to face, such as starvation, poverty, unemployment, chronic illness, and death in large multiples. During the nineteen-twenties, educational facilities boomed into play. Teachers’ salaries rose, and junior high schools were developed. Student attendance skyrocketed, and vocational education grew like garden alyssum. The reason it was called the “Booming ’20’s”, was because every aspect of the U.S. was growing, and at a rapid rate. This was quite possibly the most prosperous decade of the early century. And all of this was because of a great economic inclination. People began to charge everything that they bought on credit cards, and that was okay. This was a time of fun, life, and a carefree attitude. Everything was about buying and selling, drinking and dancing, and just trying to be happy. And president Coolidge was against the partying of this decade in every aspect. He took office immediately after president Harding died a horrible death, but that’s another essay, for another time. New ways of paying were developed, such as 2006-06-15T22:26:39-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Events-of-The-Great-Depression-29565.aspx Native American Heritage of the Navajo Clan Hello professor, my name is Joshua Little Wolf. I am of the Bitter Water people. I am born for the Big Deer people. My maternal grandfather’s clan is the Bitter Water people, my paternal grandfather’s clan is the Big Deer people. I am from Houston, Texas. I was born in Austin, Texas. I will be discussing the importance of clans to the Navajo people. I will also discuss the origin of the clans, the four initial clans, the creation story involving Changing Woman, and the proper way people of the Navajo Nation introduce themselves. The Navajo people do not have the same family structure as typical American families do. According to Harrison Lapahie Jr.: “In the Navajo culture, two Navajos of the same clan, meeting for the first time, will refer to each other as "brother" or "sister". Navajos that are cousins to each other in the American sense, think of each other as "brother" or "sister" in the Navajo sense. Father's and mother's cousins in the American way are thought of as aunts and uncles in the Navajo way. Grandparent's brothers and sisters in the American way are thought of as grandma's and grandpa's in the Navajo way. Harrison Lapahie Jr. has many brothers, sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, and Grandpas, in the Navajo way, that are his Cousins, his father's and mother's cousins, and his grandparent's brothers and sisters in the American way .When a Navajo is in strange surroundings, it is not uncommon for his relatives (in the Navajo way) or his clan members, to have the responsibility for his housing, food, and welfare, while this individual is in the immediate area. A Navajo through his own clan (his mom's clan) and the clan groups to which his father as well as his spouse belong, has a great potential for personal contacts. This complex network of inter-relationships served in the past to fuse the scattered bands of Navajos and other American Indians together as a Navajo Tribe” (Dine` Clans). Al Durtschi claims that: “Family is very important to us. We have our immediate family, and we have our extended family. Our extended family is broken up into clans, which were created by the Holy Ones. The four original clans are Towering House, Bitterwater, Big water and One-who-walks-around. Today there are about 130 clans. When we meet another Navajo for the first time we tell each 2006-06-15T16:09:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Native-American-Heritage-of-the-Navajo-Clan-29543.aspx “The United States government’s support of slavery was based on an overpowering practicality.” (Zinn 171) Before America even had a history it was busy creating a lower ethnic class for it to look down on. To work the fields and other low wage high risk jobs. To be there when a scapegoat was needed but to be as separate as could be maintained at all times. The history of black people in the United States begins with slavery. African Americans were seen not just as a lower class of people, but simply as property, creating a struggle for equality that may never end. Slaves were subjected to the poorest of living conditions, whippings not uncommon, and often having tight knit families, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons split when sold apart from each other. Early slave resistance was often to the effect of stealing property, sabotage, running away or just working slowly but sometimes went as far as killing masters or overseers and burning down buildings. In some instances masters were fast to try and remove themselves from this by making lower class whites overseers hoping they would bare the brunt of the slave’s anger (Zinn 177). The United States would eventually give into the great pressure placed on it to abolish slavery, but not without a war. With slavery ended black and white people were able to live together as equals. Some would say that this is still not fact. After slavery oppression of black people did not end. While slavery remained in the memories of African Americans discrimination was constant and as accepted in the society as much as slavery had been in years previous. Black people still lived in fear from race related violence and lynching like a slave owner relationship. In the 1930’s some African Americans began to align themselves with the Communist party. The communist party had long pointed out the inequalities of race even if they were accused of doing it for their own purposes. Those black people aligning themselves with the Communist party did not do so simply because they obviously needed the help and admired the parties ability in organizing rallies and protests (Zinn 447). Of course the union of the black men at the time to communism put a new even more frightening idea of the young militant black in everyone’s mind more than ever before. As tension in the black 2006-06-14T23:20:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/A-History-of-Class,-Race-and-Gender-in-America-29495.aspx The History of Lincoln's Assassination On April 14, 1865 just five days after the end of the Civil War, The President of the United States was attending a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. Abraham Lincoln had no expectations of being shot that night. John Wilkes Booth was actor at Ford’s Theater and had a severe plan to kill the President. He blamed Lincoln for the South’s defeat against the North. Booth shot Lincoln in the head and later killing him. In the late summer of 1864 Booth began to plan to kidnap Abraham Lincoln. The President would be seized, taken to Richmond and held in exchange for Confederate soldiers in Union Prison camps. Booth began to recruit a gang of conspirators. Within several months, he had recruited Michael O’Laughlen, Samuel Arnold, Lewis Powell (Paine), John Surratt, David Herold, and George Atzerodt. On March 15th Booth met with the whole group at Gautier’s Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue about three blocks from Ford’s Theater to talk about Lincoln’s abduction. Booth learned that Lincoln would be attending a play (Still Waters Run Deep) at the Campbell Hospital just outside Washington on March 17, 1865. He thought that would be the best time to kidnap Lincoln, but he soon learned that he would not be going to the show. On April 9, 1865 General lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox. On April 11 the President gave his last speech from the White House. Booth, Herold, and Powell were in the audience. Booth was outraged by what he was speaking about giving the former slaves rights. Booth said, “Now, by God! I’ll put him through. That is the last speech he will ever make.” (www.google.com). Three days later, on April 14, Booth stopped at Ford’s Theater to pick up his mail. He was dressed in dark clothes and wore a tall silk hat. He also wore kid gloves of a bland color, had a light overcoat slung over his arm. While there he learned of President Lincoln’s Plans to attend the evening performance of Our American Cousin from Henry Clay Ford. He spent some time walking around the theater. He knew nearly every line of the play. He figured out that the greatest laughter in the theatre would be talking 2006-06-13T18:43:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-History-of-Lincoln-s-Assassination-29448.aspx The Threat of Communism During the Vietnam War During the years of 1954-1975, Vietnam believed that communist aggression in South Vietnam could lead to taking over South East Asia, which lead the United States to slowly become involved in the conflict of this war. Communist guerrillas, known as the Vietcong, helped native Communist terrorists in the south. One main objective of these rebels who were directly controlled by the Vietminh, North Vietnam's government, was to disrupt all types of South Vietnamese order. In October 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor to South Vietnam, to evaluate the country's economic and military condition. General Taylor said that "infiltration of the Vietcong from the north was increasing," that "South Vietnam's economy had suffered drastically," and that "better and more equipment was needed." On Aug. 2, 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats off the coast of North Vietnam attacked the USS Maddox, a destroyer cruising in the Gulf of Tonkin. Two days later the Maddox and another destroyer were attacked. The United States was drawn further into the conflict when President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered retaliatory air attacks and the congress authorized U.S. military operations with the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. During 1965 the United States became even more committed to help South Vietnam. That year it was official known that the U.S. was at war with the North Vietnam and the Vietcong. The size of the United States force in South Vietnam exceeded 50,000 troops, doubling in about six months. Between July and November a fighting force of an additional 100,000 men was transferred from military bases in the United States to Vietnam. Rather than a classic military strategy of gaining territory, the army tried to clear areas with search and destroy missions. The U.S. hoped to make the communists want to give up by causing creating heavy casualties and lack of supplies. This strategy did not take into the account that Hanoi was prepared to suffer enormous losses. The first major American victory took place in August at Chu Lai, where more than 5,000 United States troops defeated an estimated 2,000 Viet In January 1966 about 20,000 American, South Vietnamese, and South Korean troops encircled North Vietnamese south of Da Nang. In June 1966 United States bombers made their first attack on North Vietnam's two largest cities Hanoi, the capital, and Haiphong, the chief port. In January 1968 the NLF launched 2006-06-12T21:07:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Threat-of-Communism-During-the-Vietnam-War-29381.aspx Explaining America's Involvement in the Vietnam War There are many speculations as to why the Americans entered the Vietnam War. American involvement was based upon a series of many choices made by five successive presidents during a span of 1945-1975. The decisions made by these leaders were based on one central motive, the need to stop the spread of Communism. When the U.S government marched into Vietnam, it was because it feared a growth of Communism in a region of close proximity to communist China. When the United States retaliated against the North Vietnam to uphold the Truman Doctrine, they ignored foreign policy of isolationism, with Communist threat in mind. The United States wanted to aid Southern Vietnam, the help was driven by a factor of communism, and a consistent theme with lives at stake. In 1945, A. Peter Dewey, a Truman administrator, was shot and killed while in Vietnam gathering information to report back to the White House. Ho Chi Minh claims it was “friendly fire and simply an accident” . Accidental or not, Dewey was America’s first casualty in Vietnam, but certainly not the last. Vietnam was on its way to become America’s only Thirty Year War. The United States became involved in the Vietnam War in various stages because it was dedicated to combat Communism. North Vietnam was a Communist country, Proclaimed independent by Ho Chi Minh, a Communist. A Marxist, he believed in " National Communism " and during the war with the French, took refuge in northern Vietnam settling there with his fellow communist followers. He founded the Indochina Communist Party and the Viet Minh which was formed in 1941, seeking independence from French rule. Ho Chi Minh became the president of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1969 when North Vietnam was a poor area cut off from the agricultural benefit of South Vietnam, forced to ask for assistance from major Communist allies - the Soviet Union and China, who chose to aid North Vietnam before and during the war. This was the beginning of a communist involvement in Vietnam, a direct violation of the democracy the U.S stood for and respected. For nearly forty years, Vietnam had not experienced settled peace. On September 2nd, 1945, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independent from France, which gathered strong opposition. The French wanted to re-establish their rule in Vietnam, but were beaten at the battle of 2006-06-12T19:17:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Explaining-America-s-Involvement-in-the-Vietnam-War-29363.aspx Dramatic Changes in American Culture During the 1950s The United States began to change drastically in the 50s. Many people began coming out to stand up to old ways of life. This started the wheel turning for the civil rights movement. Some people though were swept up in a hysteria of accusations caused by the tension of the Cold War. Many were accused as being traitors for their beliefs. Americans also became swept up in social conformity causing a new American Dream to take shape. During the 50s, America experienced many new changes in its way of life. New problems arose like The Cold War and new social issues changed American conformist ideals and fortified civil rights. In the 50s, blacks began standing up for their civil rights. It started with blacks speaking out in literature like “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, but quickly evolved into the Civil Rights Movement. In 1954, the decisive ruling in Brown vs. Board led to the slow integration of southern schools. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman so she was arrested. This started the Montgomery Bus Boycott in which blacks successfully gained integration of the busses in Montgomery. Dr. King was elected to lead the Montgomery boycotts. His motivational speaking style became very popular. Soon came the sit-ins at lunch counters that were not integrated like in Greensboro where students had sit-ins in Woolworths. Black students would sit in at non-integrated lunch counters and often be harassed by whites. Dr. King stressed to blacks that they should be non-violent, so they did not lower themselves to the level of the racist whites. New groups of black students formed to stand up for civil rights. The student nonviolent coordinating committee (SNCC) was one of these groups that motivated young blacks to speak out at the beginning of the 60s. By the end of the 50s, blacks began to see some equality but there was still a long road ahead. After World War II, tensions grew between America and the Soviet Union. The two countries economical and political systems were incompatible. Problems during the war led to unrest between the nations. Stalin formed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland, which were later 2006-06-12T18:37:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dramatic-Changes-in-American-Culture-During-the-1950s-29342.aspx Analysis of the Lindenbergh Baby Kidnapping Case KIDNAPPED, on March 1st 1932, between 8 and 10 pm, from his home in Hopewell New Jersey. The Lindbergh baby,Charles, roughly 20 months old, was taken from his crib. The first suspects were speculated to be gangsters, on one else would commit such a crime. The perpetrator left a ransom note on the baby?s window sill demanding $50,000 dollars for the return of their son. After the money was paid a note was given saying the child was on a boat off Massachusetts coast. No baby was found there, but a body of a child was found on May 12, 1932 just miles from the Lindbergh home, face down in the dirt, partially decomposed. The autopsy done on the child revealed it was the Lindbergh?s son. It took more than two years to track down the murderer a Bruno Richard Hauptmann. He was an illegal German immigrant with a criminal record in his past. This man Bruno Hauptmann is considered a very guilty person in the eyes of most, and he is also guilty to this offence because of the overwhelming amount of direct and indirect evidence. So I feel this man is guilty in every way, and was rightly prosecuted for this offence. This case had many pieces of direct evidence that were used to convict Mr. Hauptmann to a guilty charge. Some of these pieces of evidence were money that Hauptmann used one night, at a theatre. The money he used was a gold certificate, one which the ransom money was paid in, this would link him directly to the crime because the ransom money was gold certificate and the serial numbers were recorded. Another piece of direct evidence that was given was the voice of ?Cemetery John?. Mr. Lindbergh thought this voice was the voice of Mr. Hauptman, and he testified this at the court house. Another piece of direct evidence was when one eye- witness saw a truck, with a ladder in the back pull quickly into a ditch. The eye- witness testified that the man driving the truck was Mr. Hauptmann. The ladder was also made from the boards in Mr. Hauptmann?s garage attic floor. One other major piece of direct evidence in the case was the chisel. The chisel was a 2006-06-11T20:10:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Lindenbergh-Baby-Kidnapping-Case-29238.aspx Analysis of the Artillery used in the Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a war for independence in Vietnam, the north lead by Ho Chi Minh, the south led by Ngo Dinh Diem. In 1954 an international conference decided that Vietnam must be divided into two north and south. At the beginning America was not involved in the war between north and south Vietnam, it wasn’t until 1961 when a U.S. boat was attacked in the gulf of Tonkin. The President ordered the military to attack back to prevent further aggression. History: Artillery is a term used to describe large weapons or a branch of the army that implies these weapons. There are four main types of artillery there are large guns such has a M60, mortars, howitzers, and rocket launchers. This weapons are mounted onto boats, aircraft, and tanks. When America joined the war helicopters were used for medical evacuation because there were very few landing spots in Vietnam . Helicopters can land and takeoff vertically that was a real advantage when there was an emergency . When the helicopters were converted into gun ships there maneuverability came in handy when it was under heavy fire , or when they were picking up soldiers near an enemy area. There were many types of helicopters the different types would be armed differently. The AH-1 Cobra would be modified to hold a certain amount of a certain type of ammunition. One of its armaments modifications were to hold a 20mm cannon with 750 rounds and TOW guided missiles with 4 rounds . The second was 20mm cannon 750 with rounds and 2.75 unguided rockets with 14 rounds. The third was 20mm cannon with750 rounds and TOW guidied missiles with 8 rounds. This were the three devisting modifications. Opinion: I think 2006-06-11T19:57:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Artillery-used-in-the-Vietnam-War-29233.aspx Character Sketch of John Proctor as a Tragic Hero The The Historic happenings of the Salem Witch Trials are told in the story of the Crucible. In the Crucible, the main character is John Proctor. John Proctor is a tragic hero who is a great man but has one single flaw, pride, which will lead to his destruction. John Proctor is considered the to be a great man in Salem. He owns a good piece of land and farms it very well. He is a devoted husband and loving father of three. There are groups and factions that are present in Salem where John has stayed clear from them. This shows that he does not get involved with all the problems of the town. He also despises hypocrites although he becomes one at the end of his life. In the previous winter, Elizabeth Proctor had gotten very ill. John Proctor had committed lechery with Abigail Williams during this time. Abigail told John that there was no witchcraft going on. When the trial had started, Elizabeth was begging John to go to the court and explain to the court what Abigail had told him. John didn’t because he didn’t want his relationship with Abigail to become public. When John tried to tell the court about what had happened, it was too late. Than John Proctor was accused of witchcraft. By the end of the trial, Judge Danforth was willing to pardon John Proctor. When all he had to do was sign a piece of paper, his pride took the better of his judgment. He knew that if he signed that paper and gave it to the court, his name and reputation would have been scarred forever. He was worried about his children. Yet, he should have saved his life instead of dying for his pride. When John Proctor did not submit his written signature of confession, he was sent to hang. If he had given his confession, he would have been able to live. Judge Danforth did not want John Proctor to die because he had thought that he was not a witch. He understood that Abigail was lying. The reason he could not come out with it was because his reputation would have been ruined. All that he had to do 2006-06-11T19:33:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Character-Sketch-of-John-Proctor-as-a-Tragic-Hero-29220.aspx Analysis of Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail First Martin Luther King effectively makes use of logos throughout his letter. He clarifies all of the reasons for his arguments and supports them well. His arguments are also logical in their appeal. For example, in the beginning of his letter he gives a response to the clergymen’s claim that the demonstrations were unwise and untimely. He states that the Negro community had no alternative except to prepare for direct action. He supports this claim by saying that the Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers, but they consistently refused to engage in good-faith negotiation. He also gives more support to his argument by writing about another incident in September when the Negro leaders finally got their chance to talk with the leaders of Birmingham. He states that in the course of negotiations certain promises were made by the merchants-for example to remove the stores’ humiliating racial sings. On the basis of these promises, the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the leaders of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights agreed to a moratorium on all demonstrations. As the weeks and the months went on, they realized that they were the victims of broken promises, because the signs went back up. Due to the fact that their hopes were yet again blasted they were forced to resort to direct action. This is just one example of many others in which Martin Luther King makes excellent appeals to logos. Martin Luther King conveys a high sense of ethos in his letter. He establishes this from t4he very start of the argument. In the first paragraph he sets the tone for the letter. He states that he wants to answer the clergymen’s statements in patient and reasonable terms. Also, he establishes his credibility in the second paragraph by responding to the clergymen’s view that he was an outsider coming in. He reveals that he is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. This clearly establishes his credibility on arguments and claims throughout his letter. Martin Luther King also appeals to ethos by even stating the clergymen’s views throughout his letter, which of course embodies the alternative to his views. Lastly, Martin Luther 2006-06-11T19:25:03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Martin-Luther-King-s-Letter-from-Birmingham-Jail-29215.aspx History of The Red Scare during Woodrow Wilson's Presidency When Woodrow Wilson was elected in 1916, he narrowly gained victory on the platform “He kept us out of war,” referring to World War I. Wilson was against US involvement in the war for several reasons; the US was isolated geographically from the nations of Europe, and detached from the issues that were argued there, the confusing entanglements and causes of the war in Europe, and the many ethnic groups and divisions in the US at the time. However, by April of 1917, with German U-boats attacking US merchant ships, Wilson realized that America could not continue to remain neutral in the war that had been going on in Europe since 1914. He asked Congress for a declaration of war from Congress on April 2 of 1917 and four days later Congress agreed. Because of the many ethnic divisions in the US at the time, the government knew that it would have to take measures to make sure that the US citizens were on its side. Wilson undertook a massive propaganda effort in which the Committee of Public Information was formed, headed by George Creel, which sent 75,000 speakers around the country to give patriotic speeches in schools and churches and produced over 75 million pamphlets in several languages explaining the US’s relation to the war. Needless to say, there were many in the US opposed to the war, not only because of their ethnicity, but because of their political and philosophical views. During that same year, Congress passed a controversial measure called the Espionage Act. It stated that anyone who disclosed information compromising national defense would face a $10,000 fine and 20 years in prison. The act went further than simply imprisoning people who compromised national defense, it said that “Whoever, when the United States is at war… shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag… shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both....” Many people believed the act to be unconstitutional but when challenged was apparently ruled to be constitutional in Schenck v. United States, and Debs v. United 2006-06-11T02:31:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-The-Red-Scare-during-Woodrow-Wilson-s-Presidency-29179.aspx The War in Iraq Since the end of the Gulf War of 1991, Iraq's relations with the United States remained poor. In the absence of a Security Council agreement that Iraq had fully complied with the terms of the Persian Gulf War ceasefire, both the United Nations and the United States enforced numerous economic sanctions against Iraq throughout the Clinton administration, and the United States and the United Kingdom patrolled Iraqi airspace to enforce Iraqi no-fly zones that they had declared. The United States Congress also passed the "Iraq Liberation Act" in October 1998, which provided $97 million for Iraqi in order to establish a program to support a transition to democracy in Iraq. This differed with the terms set out by the United Nations, which related to weapons and weapons programs, but made no mention of regime change. Weapons inspectors had been used to gather information on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program and to enforce the terms of the 1991 cease fire, which outlawed Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction. The information gathered by the inspectors was used in targeting decisions during Operation Desert Fox, a United States and United Kingdom bombardment of Iraq in December 1998 which was supposedly hurried by lack of cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations weapon inspections team. On October 11, 2002, the United States Congress passed the "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002", giving President George W. Bush the authority to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein did not give up his weapons of mass destruction. On November 9, 2002, the United Nations Security Council passed United Nations Security Council Resolution, offering Iraq "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations" that had been set out in several previous resolutions notably to provide "an accurate full, final, and complete disclosure of all aspects of its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles". Resolution 1441 threatened "serious consequences" if the Iraqis didn’t met the demands that United Nations gave them to disarm themselves of these weapons. On February 15, 2003, as a response to the imminent invasion, the largest ever world-wide protests took place with 6-10 million people in over 60 countries around the world. In his March 17, 2003, address to the nation, President George W. Bush demanded that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his two sons Uday and Qusay leave Iraq, giving 2006-06-09T02:19:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/War-in-Iraq-and-What-Lead-Up-to-it-29128.aspx International Disputes Leading up to the Gulf War Conflict "Gulf War"; also called Gulf War (1990-91), international conflict that was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring that nation's large oil reserves. On August 3 the United Nations Security Council called for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, and on August 6 the council imposed a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq. Iraq's invasion and the potential threat it then posed to Saudi Arabia prompted the United States and its western European NATO allies to rush troops to Saudi Arabia to deter a possible attack. Egypt and several other Arab nations joined the anti-Iraq coalition and contributed forces to the military buildup, known as Operation Desert Shield. Hussein meanwhile built up his occupying army in Kuwait to about 300,000 troops. On November 29 the UN Security Council authorized the use of force against Iraq unless it withdrew from Kuwait by Jan. 15, 1991. By January 1991 the Allied coalition against Hussein had reached a strength of 700,000 troops, including 540,000 U.S. personnel and smaller numbers of British, French, Egyptians, Saudis, Syrians, and several other national contingents. Hussein steadfastly refused to withdraw his forces from Kuwait, however, which he maintained would remain a province of Iraq (the latter had formally annexed Kuwait on Aug. 8, 1990). The Persian Gulf War began on Jan. 16-17, 1991, with a massive U.S.-led air offensive against Iraq that continued throughout the war. Over the next few weeks, this sustained aerial bombardment, which had been named Operation Desert Storm, destroyed Iraq's air defenses before attacking its communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and bridges and roads. By mid-February the Allies had shifted their air attacks to Iraq's forward ground forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq, destroying their fortifications and tanks. Operation Desert Sabre, a massive Allied ground offensive, was launched northward from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq on February 24, and within three days Arab and U.S. forces had retaken Kuwait City in the face of crumbling Iraqi resistance. Meanwhile, the main U.S. armoured thrust drove into Iraq some 120 miles (200 km) west of Kuwait and attacked Iraq's armoured reserves from the rear. By February 27 these forces had destroyed most of Iraq's elite Republican Guard units after the latter had tried 2006-06-07T16:04:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/International-Disputes-Leading-up-to-the-Gulf-War-Conflict-29092.aspx The Naval Disaster of the USS Arizona (BB-39) Never in known history has a ship taken so many of her crew down with her. Thus is the story of the USS Arizona (BB-39). The Arizona was built as part of America’s pre-World War I modernization of the U.S. Navy. She was also built in the U.S. Navy’s response to the naval arms race that had begun in 1906 when the Royal Navy completed the HMS Dreadnought. She was not a large battleship by today’s standards, but before World War II, it was considered very reliable if war was a threat to the United States. She belonged to the Pennsylvania battleship class (which consisted of the Arizona and Pennsylvania). The construction of Battleship number 39 began on March 16, 1914, in the New York Navy Yard. It was later to be known as the Arizona. Original speculation was that the ship would be named North Carolina, the home state of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. (dizzy. library.arizona.edu) She was launched and christened on June 19, 1915 by Miss Esther Ross of Prescott, along with traditional champagne. Construction on the floating hull continued, and the ship was commissioned on October 17, 1916. Her cost for hull and machinery was $7,425,000 and her total cost was $712,993,579. She experienced considerable problems with her engines during her trials, to the extent, that her blades were striped from one of her turbines, requiring months in dry dock to replace. (dizzy.library.arizona.edu) After the work was finished, World War I kicked in; the Arizona served with the Atlantic Fleet as a gunnery training ship during the war. Since goal was more plentiful than oil in Great Britain during the war, the Arizona had modern oil fired boilers, prevented her from joining other U.S. battleships serving the British Grand Fleet. She later served as the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet and of various battleship divisions in the Pacific. In November 1918 the Arizona sailed for Europe to join the Battleship Division Six serving with the British Grand Fleet, one week after signing the armistice. On December 12, she put out to sea with the rest of her division, to join with the transport George Washington, which was carrying President Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. She was part of the honor escort that arrived at Brest, France on the 13th. On 2006-06-06T15:31:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Naval-Disaster-of-the-USS-Arizona-BB-39-29086.aspx Historic Evolution of the American Flag No one knows with absolute certainty who designed the first stars and stripes or who made it. Congressman Francis Hopkinson seems most likely to have designed it, and few historians believe that Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, made the first one. Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed. 2006-06-02T15:36:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Historic-Evolution-of-the-American-Flag-29027.aspx Integration Among Early American Settlers and Native Indians The book The Unredeemed Captive is a story about the French-Indian raid on the small town of Deerfield Massachusetts. The raid is not a total surprise to the people of Deerfield, they find out a few days prior to the incident. They hear of towns east of them being attacked. The town of Deerfield did not feel that they were to be affected by the Indians. These few extra days to prepare for the “Savages”, did not help out, in protecting the town. The Indians came, and wreaked havoc on the small country town. They basically came in, and did as they pleased. They attacked many homes, killing family members who did not want to cooperate with them. The ones who did cooperate, were taken with the Indian’s, on their journey to Canada. One of the family’s, that were taken, was the Williams’s. “The Williamses know they are destined for a march into a strange land” (19). John Williams was the minister in Deerfield, and was a very well respected man. The journey was very long and treacherous, and many died. The weak, or the lame were taken and killed, so they would not slow down the pack. The ones who did survive, were usually the teenagers, because they were young, and could take the harsh climate. Once the Indians reached Canada, they released many of their captives, such as the Williams family. I should say all but two of the Williams’s were returned to Deerfield. Williams’s wife was killed during the long journey, and John’s daughter Eunice. John never did find out why his daughter never returned to him, and this hurt he very deeply. “Eunice still remained captivated in Canada” (54). It was very disturbing to John, and the town, that his daughter, either did not want to return to her hometown, or was not allowed to return. Eunice never did return to her family again. She had a good life back in Deerfield, before the raid. Or maybe so they all thought. When Eunice was exposed to the Native American heritage, something in her changed. We have to keep in mind though, that she was only a young child when she was taken, 2006-06-02T02:41:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Integration-Among-Early-American-Settlers-and-Native-Indians-29011.aspx American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is practice by which powerful nations or people seek to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. Throughout the years there has been many instances where the Americans have taken over other people countries, almost every time we go into we have taken over a new piece of land. The Americas first taste of imperialism came about five hundred years ago when Columbus came to America. We fought the pleasant inhabitants and then took over their land making them slaves. Americans over the years have been known to become almost selfish, no matter how much we have we will never be happy until we control the free world. "The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 defined United States foreign policy in the Americas for the rest of the 19th century and beyond. It declared that the United States had an interest in the Western Hemisphere and the European powers must not meddle in the affairs of any developing nations there. The United States was a young nation in 1823 and did not really have to powers to back up the Monroe Doctrine. However, the policy was used to justify the sending of the U.S. troops into Mexico in 1866 (to intimidate the French) and the purchased of Alaska in 1867". Another case of Imperialism was the United States industrial economy was growing so fast that they were producing more goods than they could consume. The over abundance of industrial goods led the United States to look for new markets. Next came the Spanish-American War, which started with the Americans not liked the way that the Spaniards were treated the Cubans. After this an U.S. battleship (Maine) was docked outside of Havana (Cuba's Capital) and all of a sudden exploded from under the sea. At the time no one actually knew the real reason why the ship exploded but many Americans thought that it was the Spaniards. 266 officers and men were lost in the explosion. William McKinley (U.S. President 1897-1901) went to congress and asked for permission to send troops to help stop the fighting in Cuba. After a couple of days he was given permission which shortly led to war. Spain declared war on the United States on April 24th followed by an U.S. declaration of war on the 25th. This 2006-04-05T15:25:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Imperialism--28664.aspx The first paragraph contains the essay instructions. During the Jacksonian Period, American politics were altered. What were the most significant changes from previous policies? What were the long-term implications of the new political methodology? Were the long-term results beneficial or detrimental to the quality of government? Why? What was the role of Andrew Jackson in this process? As a milestone in the continuing democratization of the political process, how significant was this period? And here is my answer. As the Industrial revolution progressed in the Antebellum period, great changes were sweeping the nation. The Enlightenment had stressed human perfectibility and now the Second Great Awakening encouraged people to improve themselves and society. Many reform movements sprang up and met with varying degrees of success but one of the most significant and lasting changes occurred in politics and became known as the Jacksonian Period. Andrew Jackson’s presidency was a significant milestone in the continuing democratization of the political process. Jackson had a personal hand in some of the changes though it may be more accurate to say his policies were a product of the times. He set politics on a new course, propelled by the winds of change. One of the most revolutionary and lasting changes was in the way presidential candidates ran their election campaign. As the states removed property requirements for voting, more power was passed to the poor who were previously excluded. At the same time the electorate was moving from the legislatures to the people. Andrew Jackson and the Nashville Junto took advantage of this in the election of 1824. Traditionally, candidates for the presidency used the support of a political base in Congress for their campaign. But Jackson, lacking political allies in Congress for his candidacy, went straight to the people. This strategy was successful in wining the popular vote over Adams by more than 30%. He also won the most electoral votes but fell short of the required majority of 131 and the House of Representatives put Adams in the Oval Office. Over the next four years Jackson supporters redoubled their efforts to win votes as the people’s candidate. Voters were rallied with barbeques and parades while the political issues took a back seat to vicious attacks on the character of opposing candidates. The lively 2006-02-12T02:30:19-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/How-American-politics-was-changed-by-Andrew-Jackson_-28478.aspx By the 1760s, American colonists and English Parliament had very different views about the extent of authority for governing the colonies. British officials assumed Parliamentary Sovereignty in which Parliament alone could tax and govern within England and its possessions. American colonists believed they had a certain amount of sovereignty to govern themselves through elected assemblies as a check on the power of appointed governors. In the eyes of the colonists, only these elected assemblies had the power to tax. Colonial charters were vague about Parliament’s authority to govern and tax in America. A clash of ideals ensued when it tried to assert control after the French and Indian War. For years the colonists resisted against Parliament’s attempts to assert power but it wasn’t until the Boston Tea Party that Parliament took a hard line to force submission. Why did the English government wait so long to put its foot down? What could the colonists expect after the Intolerable Acts? What options were left for Boston and the other colonists? What could England do if the colonists rejected English actions? The Intolerable acts did not make war inevitable but they were certain to cause trouble. For years the American colonists resisted and rebelled against increasing attempts at control by the British government, and the government responded with mild or conciliatory gestures until the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Parliament taxed the colonies and interfered with their internal affairs for the first time with the Revenue and Currency Acts of 1764. A year later they increased taxes with the Stamp Act. The colonists’ response varied from peaceful, such as Massachusetts’ call for a Stamp Act Congress, to violent with the effigy hanging and burning of stamp distributors and destruction of their homes and offices by mobs. In March 1766, Parliament’s reluctant response was to repeal the Stamp Act and pass the Declaratory Act which clearly stated Parliament’s right to legislate the colonies in “all cases whatsoever.” At the time, England’s attempt to impose a strong workable policy in America was hampered by problems at home and because of the King’s rapid succession of ministers. Eventually the Townshend Acts of 1767 were passed in an attempt to regain control. Boston residents attacked customs officials and formed a powerful boycott that spread to other colonies. 2006-02-12T02:03:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-History-28477.aspx California Gold Rush The California Gold Rush Shortly after the acquisition of California from Mexico a man by the name of John Sutter arrived in East San Francisco Bay in 1839. Born in Germany he had to leave because he was unable to pay his creditors. With plenty of charm and letters from friends he convinced the Mexican governor of California to award him a land grant of more than 50,000 acres. John Sutter built a stockade and a fort and soon after became referred to as Captain Sutter, and his riverbank establishment Sutters Fort. Sutter chose a location on the south fork of the American River, 50 miles to the south of his fort, to build a sawmill. A millrace was dug and wooden gates were opened periodically so that the current would widen and deepen the channel. During his inspection on January 24, 1848 James W. Marshall found the first piece of gold at the end of the race. Over the next decade his discovery would have a profound effect on the experiences of hundreds of thousands of individuals, their families, their communities, and ultimately the nation as a whole. By the winter of 1848, whispers of a gold strike had drifted eastward across the country but few easterners believed it. The gold discovery needed validation, and President Polk was just the one to deliver it. In his opening address to Congress on December 5, 1848 Polk said that at the time of the California acquisition it was known that "mines of the precious metals exsisted to some extent. Recent discoveries render it probable that these mines are more extensive and valuable than was anticipated. The accounts of the abundance of gold in that territory are of such an extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief were they not corroborated by authentic reports." . With Polk's address making headlines around the world Gold Fever had begun. The future forty-niners now under the influence of Gold Fever had to overcome a cruel journey, miserable living and working conditions, and coming home boom or bust. The trials and tribulations they faced are many and forever carved into American history. Polk's simple words, backing up the claim of gold in California, were a powerful call to action. Farmers left their fields, merchants closed their shops, soldiers left their posts, and all made plans for California. The departing gold seekers faced an immediate 2006-01-29T06:04:43-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/California-Gold-Rush--28462.aspx 1920's Flappers In the 1920’s many women were known as flappers. Flappers were not the best role models for younger girls. They were teenage girls who dared to venture beyond what was known then as forbidden pleasures. “The name “flappers” referred to the sound made by the unbuckled galoshes they wore” (Jennings 115). “Undeterred by the disapproval of adults, the younger generation was setting out to have a good time” (Herald 28). “Flappers were teenage girls who drank, smoked cigarettes, dressed in suggestive clothing, engaged in premarital sex, and affected an air of sophistication” (Jennings 115). “She took on a carefree, boyish look and raised her hemline to scandalous new heights, bobbed her hair, wrapped her chest to make it flat, and rolled down her flesh colored silk stockings. “Flappers accented their new style with a bold application of make-up and big jewels” (Downey 106) Flappers had many ways to amuse themselves. One of the big fads was doing crossword puzzles. It wasn’t just the fad for flappers, everyone did crossword puzzles. They also played mah-jongg. Mah-jongg was the craze of the decade. They had many contests in the 1920’s such as: pie eating, dancing, rocking chair derbies, and cross country races. “By spending too much of their time flirting, Flappers outraged feminists” (Jennings 115). Flappers also outraged adults because they were worried that these daring young ladies were not good role models for the next generation. They were not exactly what the adults of the 1920’s wanted their daughters to be like, much less their granddaughters. Before the flappers, it was a horrible thing to smoke in public. Even exposing your knees in public was unheard of before flappers. I don’t think that flappers were good role models. I think that flappers started chains of young girls doing things, such as drinking and smoking, at such young ages. Since the 1920’s skirts have gotten shorter, shirts have gotten tighter, and clothes are more revealing than ever. If there never had been flappers, young girls might still be wearing long dresses and unrevealing clothes. They also would probably not be doing drugs or drinking. While many men may have liked flappers, they weren’t the best influence for the next generations of young girls. Young girls continued drinking, 2006-01-15T19:18:15-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/1920-s-Flappers-Good-Role-Models-28426.aspx Civil Rights Movement The Civil Rights Movement gave rise to many great leaders, and produced many social changes that were the results of organized civil rights events that were staged throughout the South by organizations devoted to eliminating segregation, and giving the African American people the ability to pursue the American dream. The most important civil rights leader during the time was Martin Luther King Jr., and the most important event that took place during the movement was the fight to gain equality in voting rights for blacks, that escalated in Selma, Alabama. During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. was the foremost contributor to the African American’s fight to obtain equality. He was a very influential speaker, and became the main figure among black civil rights leaders. His idea of implementing non-violent civil disobedience into black marches, sit-ins, and bus boycotts brought about many social changes, that resulted in African-Americans moving closer to their goal of receiving complete equality under the law, and just treatment from Southern segregationalists. This non-violent approach rewarded him with a Noble Peace Prize, and gave the African American’s struggle worldwide attention. One reason why Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important figure during this time was his ability to not only influence black people, but also people in positions of power, including President Kennedy, and President Johnson. During the short time that Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act were passed; busses, schools, and lunch counters were desegregated; and the EEOC (Equal Opportunity Commission) was formed. His efforts gave the Civil Rights Movement national and worldwide attention, and he lessened the segregation gap between black and white Americans. The most important single event that took place during the Civil Rights Movement was the African American’s fight to gain equality in voting rights that took place in Selma, Alabama. The violence that occurred during the marches caused national outrage and received media attention that put the event onto the front page of every newspaper. The outcry over the event pressured President Johnson into making changes that would further integration. The main goal of the marches was to give Southern African Americans an equal opportunity to vote in elections. This goal was reached on August 6, 1965, when the Voting Rights Act was 2006-01-02T03:52:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Civil-Rights-Movement-28377.aspx What is the American Dream? A Look at Our Past and Present Why is the American Dream today so different then from a long time ago? The American Dream back in the late twenty's and the early thirty's were basically money with the great depression going on. With that happening the American Dream to everyone was a nightmare. To them, once the land of opportunity was now the land of desperation. The people asked the maxims on what they based their life's on. Their life's were democracy, capitalism, and individuals. Between 1929 and 1932 the income between the average American family was reduced by forty percent from $2,300 to $1,500. Survival became the key word. The institutions, attitudes, lifestyles changed in this decade but democracy prevailed. Democracies suck as Germany and Italy fell to dictatorships, but the United States and its constitution survived. Later on in 1963 there was a man named Martin Luther King Jr. His dream was for all people of the black race to have freedom and there security of justice. He wanted somehow this situation can and will be changed, his speech changed everything. From people sitting in the back of the bus or not riding at all or from have drinking fountains or using the same bathrooms Martin wanted to end that. Later on after his speech The people from the black race were later on equal and treated the same as the whites were. Its just too bad that Martin couldn't see his dream like most of us do but he would be happy to know that his dream came true. The American Dream to me has changed now. Back then the American dream was basically the same to everyone. Now everybody has a different American Dream one could be to live a happy life with a family and kids or another could be they just want to be able to live to see another day or I want to be able to put my kids through all private schools. Those to me are American Dreams. The American Dream can basically be anything you make it to be, and if you try hard enough your dream could come true like most of everyone else's did. Like with the depression we still prevailed and now our economy is great, or with 2005-12-31T06:20:50-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-the-American-Dream-A-Look-at-Our-Past-and-Present-28341.aspx Lewis And Clarke Book Report A glimpse 200 years in our past would leave you baffled, the miniature United States and endless frontier land. In those lands, on those plains, up in those snow-capped mountains lay the hopes and dreams of men throughout our small, developing nation. Men young and old, some skilled and some driven by a passion, took it upon themselves to explore this no man’s land. Two very lucky men, and 29 of their contemporaries, were able to travel through this vast wilderness under the wishes and orders of President Thomas Jefferson. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the commanding officers of a 31 member party, embarked on a mystical and fortifying adventure in which they were to navigate and document what they thought to be the easiest way across the continent of America to the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific ocean was a name without a face, and these men were going to be the first white men to see it tumbling waters, jagged cliffs, and lush sand beaches. These men would be the first to report the mystery of the frontier. On May 13th, 1804 captain Lewis and captain Clark departed on their adventure across the country. The men on their 54 foot boat, and several small canoes started their trek up the great Missouri. The first part of their journey would be to get from their present lodging, Fort Dubois, to Two-Thousand-Mile Creek, home of the Sioux Indian. When these men started off up the Missouri they couldn’t look back, they were leaving there country, their families and their friends and now they would be executing one of the most powerful and necessary journeys in American History. The journey from Fort Dubois to Two-Thousand-Mile Creek was a relatively smooth one. Around the men as they rode the current of the Missouri were surrounded by beautiful green fields, plains as long as the eye can see, and many animals that would serve as these men’s entire diet. Animals that man hadn’t witnessed were starting to appear, one such animal was the Prairie Dog or Prairie Wolf. The men were startled by the similarity of this animal and the gray squirrel in developed America, but when they were close enough to see and kill these animals they noticed differences. On this first waterway, the Missouri, the men stopped in multiple places to rest, to hunt and to contact the Indian. Along 2005-12-31T06:15:12-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Lewis-And-Clarke-Book-Report-28339.aspx New Constitution was a Triumph for Democracy In 1776, the colonies were called upon by the Continental Congress to draft new constitutions. In all reality, the Continental Congress was actually asking the colonies to summon themselves into being states. According to the theory of republicanism, the sovereignty of these new states would rest on the authority of the people. In 1789, the United States of America adopted a new constitution. Prior to then, fifty-five delegates from every state except Rhode Island, met in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. Although, Patrick Henry, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were absent, many well-educated, politically experienced delegates such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Ben Franklin were present. The reason to meet was to revise the Articles. Of the lessons from the articles, the delegates knew that they needed a strong central government, along with an executive and judicial branch as part of the government. They also learned that they needed a government that can levy a tax and can work directly with the people. When the Constitution of the United States was finally adopted in 1789,it showed many positive reasons that helped make it seem like a success. First, the effective organization of the three branches helped set up our country’s government as a democracy. With the legislative power vested in a two-house Congress, the larger states were conceded representation by population in the House of Representatives and the smaller states were appeased by equal representation in the Senate. Therefore, in the House number of Representatives, the higher the state population, then the more representatives for that state. In the Senate, each state is rewarded two Senators to represent the each state. In the Constitution, it says that the House of Representatives is composed of members who serve a term of two years. Some of the qualifications of a Representative are that they must be at least twenty-five years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and must reside in the state that they wish to represent. While as a member of the Senate, the term lasts for six years and the qualifications include that they must be at least thirty years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and must reside in the state that they wish to represent. Of the powers that the 2005-12-30T19:17:52-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/New-Constitution-was-a-Triumph-for-Democracy-28326.aspx Industrialization During The Progressive Era Industrialization changed the lives of many, including immigrants and the working class in the United States. As a result of industrialization, many Americans were drawn to cities since that is where most of the industrial reform took place. This obviously created more jobs and became a major advantage for the working class, especially immigrants. Once people started industrializing and saw the tremendous positive effects they continued in the same fashion with bright ideas and kept the economy flowing in the right direction. There were many benefits of this progressive revolution. Among the benefits were specialization and mass production of different products ranging from clothes and textiles to agricultural goods and the processing of natural resources. Industrialization also promoted independence of the nation as a whole. We were no longer as dependent on Europe and other countries for capital and goods. The United States gradually became a key exporting nation. Other positive changes included the availability of mass transportation and a very influential economic state. Mass transportation subdivided cities by creating a real means of getting around and sure enough helped businesses in corporate America. The economic change helped bring human and economic resources together within the cities. Together these two co-existing forces finally created a decent sense of organization in a country which was in desperate need of some whether people realized it or not. With the reforms came challenges. The biggest problem was for citizens and immigrants of different backgrounds to find some common ground and work together as one big organized unified effort to promote stability, peace and real progression of the nation. Maybe that’s when the saying “easier said than done” was created because this era epitomized it as good as any. As much as idealists wanted for the American population to become a “melting pot,” it was not happening. People had their own philosophical views and immigrants felt the need to preserve their culture and keep their identities for themselves and their children. For the most part, no matter how hard native-born citizens tried to Americanize immigrants, these newcomers would not allow for themselves forget their roots. This new experience and the needs of people itself called for further changes to meet the demands of this diverse population. Such changes included housing reform, improvement of 2005-12-30T18:59:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Industrialization-During-The-Progressive-Era-28317.aspx Farmers Discontent in the 19th Century The late 19th century can be described as a time of political prosperity in America. The majority of citizens were living successfully and there was peace throughout the country, but between the years of 1880 and 1900, many farmers faced problems that they saw as threats to their way of life. There was a dramatic drop in the profits that farmers accumulated from the harvesting of their crops, such as cotton, and with the improvements in transportation, foreign competition was spreading throughout the country making it difficult for farmers to sell their crops. These factors along with others inevitably caused an agricultural depression, leading to the formation of farmer groups such as the Populist Party, which would help to reduce the problems troubling the farmers. Some problems that these farmers felt threatened their way of life included transportation, such as trains, monopolies and trusts, money shortage and the demonetizing of silver. The growth of railroads was very beneficial to industries across America. Although, the benefits bought to these companies were at the expense of farmers. The competition between railroad companies led to a method of dispensing rebates in order to attract larger companies. Basically the railroad companies as stated by George W. Parker, vice president of the Cairo Short Line Railroad, said that “the local business of the road of itself is not of sufficient volume to make up paying trains, nor is it sufficient to make the earnings, over and above current expenses, sufficient to meet the fixed charges against the road.” In order to correct this problem Mr. Parker continues to say “So that in order to run paying trains…we generally… endeavor to get a connection for through business to be super-added to the local business… when we make up a train of ten or fifteen cars of local freight to go over our line from Saint Louis, we can attach fifteen or twenty cars more of strictly through business. We can take the latter at a very low rate rather than go without it.” (Document G) These practices seriously hurt the farmers by raising their shipping rates in order to lower that of larger companies. A farmer named Dyke exemplifies the loss of business of a farmer from the rising rates of Railroad companies. “The Railroad had raised the rate on hops from two cents to five… The new rate ate up 2005-12-29T06:42:46-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Farmers-Discontent-in-the-19th-Century-28296.aspx JFK Assassination On Friday, November 22, 1963, while enroute to the Dallas airport, President John Fitzgearald Kennedy was fatally shot. ABC’s newsanchor Walter Cronkite said that it would be “a day that will live in infamy.” The reason that that fateful Friday is still talked about is the controversy surrounding the assassination. The official investigators determined that the president was killed by a lone gunman, but every single piece of evidence – from eye witnesses to forensic evidence – points to at 2 or more gunmen, and a conspiracy, possibly involving government officials. According to the Warren Commission Report : Report of President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, published in 1964, President Kennedy was shot by lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald. The report states that Oswald fired three shots from an Italian-made Mannlicher-Carcano rifle, while standing at a half-open window on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, located at Dealy Plaza, 411 Elm Street in Dallas, Texas, where Oswald was employed. Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally both were hit by bullets. The report states that of the three bullets that were fired, one hit Kennedy from behind, entering his shoulder, the second fired hit Connally in the hip, and the third was the fatal blow, which entered Kennedy’s head from the back. Everything that the Warren Commission reported was simply unsupported lies and discrepancies. Regardless of different “conspiracy theorists” conclusions, they all agree that the Warren Commission’s report was greatly flawed. The first big problem with the investigation occurred the day after Kennedy’s death, on November 23, 1963. The suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald was killed in the basement of the Dallas police station, by a local bar owner, Jack Ruby. Even though previously an attempt had been made to kill Oswald, no further security precautions had been taken to prevent this from happening again. The fact that reporters were allowed to be around Oswald as he was escorted out of court was plain irresponsibility on the part of the Dallas police. Public access to Oswald should not have been permitted under any circumstance. Oswald was murdered in front of cameras and video footage of the incident shows that the police didn’t make Oswald being shot by Jack Ruby. hardly any attempts to prevent the murder, but literally just stood there. Many people have found this to be extremely suspicious. Some believe that Jack Ruby killed 2005-12-28T05:16:24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/JFK-Assassination--28289.aspx Witch Hunts, Pledges, and Blacklists Way back in the 1950's, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy had his own little version of the Spanish Inquisition, an hysterical attempt to root out the communism that he thought he saw climbing the walls all around him. No one was safe from his probing, beady little eyes. Government workers, college professors, playwrights and Hollywood screenwriters, actors, artists, musicians, fags, Jews and anyone with a goatee was suspect. . . . Many people's careers were destroyed by just knowing the wrong person. The most intensive focus of the Red Hunters was on Hollywood, perceived as the shaper of public thought. Many writers and performers moved to Mexico or Europe to avoid being put in prison. There was great pressure to avoid controversial subject matter in films or on TV, and the result was the Ozzie and Harriet myth, Doris Day and Annette Funicello, Beach Blanket Bingo: silly, vapid entertainment. The ice began to melt in 1960, with breakthrough films like "The Brave One" (written by Dalton Trumbo under a fake name because he was blacklisted) and "Spartacus," both highly acclaimed and both addressing the plight of the downtrodden, repressive government, human rights, etc. ................................................................................................................................................................ Americans were afraid of the communists for good reason, in light of the atrocities committed by Josef Stalin and Mao Tse Tung. Through American spies, the Commies had gotten the recipe for the Atom Bomb, a truly terrifying prospect. To be suspected of being a communist was worse than being a murderer or rapist. Just being suspected meant one was a traitor, cutting the throats of American babies. Anyone who refused to take the pledge was blacklisted and found it impossible to get work, and was harassed constantly by 'agents' for names of other 'sympathizers'. Many refused to take the pledge on principle; after all, it is a free country. People like Dalton Trumbo, Ruth Gordon, Zero Mostel, Dashiell Hammett, Lillian Hellman, Jose Ferrer and Orson Welles were blacklisted. McCarthy did not create the communist problem, but he exploited it shamelessly for political ends, accusing the Democrats in general with baseless, sweeping, shotgun allegations. He was a master of the soundbite, and played the press like a harp. The reign of stupidity called McCarthyism was big news for most of the 50's, and shaped future national mood swings. It brought 'denial' to new heights, and showed once again how easily fascism can take root. 2005-12-26T06:45:23-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Witch-Hunts,-Pledges,-and-Blacklists-28263.aspx This article portrayed the importance of nurses during wartime. It also described the inadequate supply of nurses during this time. But, surprisingly, this shortage was not due to the lack of willing participants but, instead, due to unnecessary restrictions and guidelines that were set by the American Government. Women nurses were required to prove themselves to the hesitations 2005-12-25T00:54:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Nurses-and-Wartime--28237.aspx Tensions Among Black Activists And White Activists During The Civil Rights Movement In the mid-1950s, nearly one hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and three hundred years after colonists forced Africans into slavery, Rosa Parks took what is generally considered the first step in the movement that aimed for true equality among blacks and whites. Refusing to give up a bus seat for a white customer, she directly challenged the southern creed that blacks were inferior. Her actions sparked a Civil Rights Movement involving not only blacks but also two white groups who would come to serve a critical function in the movement. One of these two groups, white college liberals, was a radical product of the Cold War Era. The “inequality of black people was gradually becoming a prime symbol of what needed to be changed in American society” (Isserman/Kazin pg. 50), and liberals aimed to improve the blemish on America’s image – a blemish that had quickly became “a staple of Soviet propaganda” (Isserman/Kazin pg. 50). Liberals fought inequality in order to improve conditions in the nation as a whole in addition to those in the black community as a unit. The second group, white politicians, affected the movement at the most critical of junctions – the intersection of politics and leadership. White politicians sought a balanced formula that could allow them to fight the evils of segregation and racism without losing votes in the south. Within ten years of Parks’ rebellion, however, the role whites would play in the Civil Rights Movement would forever change, due to growing tensions between African Americans and the two groups of whites. The tensions between Africans Americans and iberal college students and between African Americans and white politicians would develop separately, but later intersect and result in a “white backlash.” Radical college students, and specifically those who joined forces with the Civil Rights Movement via the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) and eventually headed south with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), encountered tensions as early as the training period, during which the volunteers learned the nonviolent tactics used in Mississippi. “Many SNCC activists were black veterans who had developed a strong sense of racial pride and considered themselves militants or radicals, while many of the white students had just joined the movement…and considered themselves more idealistic and liberal” (Anderson, pg. 77). A 2005-12-25T00:50:35-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Tensions-Among-Black-and-White-Activists-During-Movement-28235.aspx "An Indignant Generation." With all its disruptions and rage, the idea of black revolution was something many white Americans could at least comprehend, if not agree with. When rebellion seized their own children, however they were almost completely at a loss. A product of the posts war "Baby Boom," nurtured in affluence and concentrated in increasing numbers on college and university campuses. It was a generation marked by an unusual degree of political awareness and cultural alienation. Some shared with the beat writers and poets of the late fifties, a deep disillusionment with this status quo, a restless yearning for something more than a "realistic" conformity. Others had been aroused by the southern sit-in movement, "The first hint," wore a contemporary, "That there was a world beyond the campus that demanded some kind of personal response. "Not so much ideological as moral, in Jessica Mitford's words, "An Indignant Generation." Although an image of arrogance, even ruthlessness, had followed him from his early days as counsel to a Senate committee investigating labor racketeering, Robert Kennedy had shown a remarkable capacity to understand the suffering of others. More than this, he had demonstrated an untiring commitment to the welfare of those who had gotten little more than the crumbs of the Great American Banquet. In fact, Kennedy Appealed most strongly to precisely those groups most disaffected with American society in nineteen sixty-eight, they believed in him with a passion unmatched for any other national political figure, in part for what he had done, but also for the kind of man he was. The collapse of communications made it impossible to determine the fate of the pacification program, but most assessments were pessimistic. When the communists launched their attacks, the government pulled nearly half of the five hundred and fifty revolutionary development teams out of the hamlets to help defend the cities, along with eighteen of the fifty-one army battalions assigned to protect the pacification teams. In so doing, Saigon abandoned the countryside and dealt the pacification program what many felt was a considerable setback. "There always was a semi vacuum in the countryside," said one United States pacification worker. "Now there's a complete vacuum." By the end of the February, orders have gone out for pacification teams and some troops to return to the hamlets, but progress was slow. Although ninety-five percent of the five thousand RD workers in the Saigon region reported back 2005-12-22T11:17:39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/An-Indignant-Generation--28201.aspx Gulf War Syndrome As society advances in technology, wars and battles become even deadlier. It could be the increased speed of a bullet, more precise spy satellites, or the development of a more powerful bomb. But what are overlooked most times are the development, production and use of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. When countries develop these weapons, they make sure that they will kill their enemy. During the Persian Gulf War, the seriousness of these gruesome killers was basically overlooked. This overlook proved to be costly and deadly. The American government sent its soldiers into the Persian Gulf War knowing that there would be chemical and biological weapons used. There were many reasons to the start of the Persian Gulf War. Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi president, wanted not only supreme power over his land, but also supreme power over neighboring countries. Iraq desired oil. Iraq set its eyes on one such neighbor. Iraq annexed Kuwait and took control of 24% of the oil supply for the world and was headed to Saudi Arabia next (“The War” 2). This meant that Saddam Hussein would possibly hold the world in an oil monopoly. The start of the Persian Gulf War was based on religion and Saddam Hussein’s cruel leadership (1). Saudi Arabia soon feared that their oil fields would become Saddam’s next target. They called on the United States for protection against Saddam (1). The United States issued a fair warning to Saddam to remove his military from Kuwait. Iraq did not comply with the set removal deadline of January 15, 1991. This brought about Desert Shield (the buildup of troops), which eventually led to the main attack to free Kuwait’s, better known as Operation Desert Storm (1). The start of the Persian Gulf War led Iraq into starting a new NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) program. Iraq’s NBC program was not just fueled by the Persian Gulf War. Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq brought about programs for the storage and manufacturing of NBC agents. Secret facilities hidden in the desert and underground facilities were used for the storage of NBC agents. It was only under Saddam Hussein’s rule that Iraq began to produce NBC weapons (Allen 44). The weapons developed had been used long before the Persian Gulf War. Iraqi’s were known to use chemical and biological weapons during the Iran-Iraq War (Grossman 66). “By 1990 there were said to be 2005-11-26T01:51:51-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Gulf-war-Syndrome-9-pages--28134.aspx Black Hawk When U.S. and United Nations soldiers got bogged down in a guerrilla war in Somalia in 1993-94, it wasn't just the rebel leader Mohammed Farah Aidid they were fighting it was the terrorist forces of Osama bin Laden, according to new intelligence information obtained by DEBKA-Net-Weekly. Aidid became notorious after a savage 14-hour battle in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, between U.S. elite Rangers and Delta units and the men under his command. Aidid was a former ally of the late pro-Soviet Somali ruler Said Barre and his intelligence chief. In January 1991, Aidid led a military coup that ousted Barre, plunging Somalia in a vicious civil war that left more than a million dead in 10 years and brought a population of 7 million into deep famine. In December 1994, the U.N. launched a food aid and medical relief operation called "Restore Hope," supported by a U.S. military expedition whose purpose was to secure aid distribution and then leave the country. This is not how it panned out. Instead of handing out relief, the U.N. and U.S. contingents, especially the one from Pakistan, were forced to stand up and defend themselves against incessant assaults from Somalia militias, the most hostile being Aidid's force. This went on for nine months, during which the U.S. was dragged deep into the Somali quagmire. At length, the Americans faced the options of beating the Aidid force on the battlefield or retiring in defeat with heavy losses. The Clinton administration decided the only way to extricate the American force from Somalia was to hit the Aidid militia hard. The best way to go about this was to seize Aidid himself. A secret CIA file obtained by DEBKA reveals what no one in the White House, U.S. military or U.S. intelligence agencies understood at the time that the hard-core fighters of the Aidid militia were not Somali but members of bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, who were deployed in his Mogadishu bases. However, according to the data contained in that file, some person or persons in the office of U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali did know this and made sure to keep the information from the American government, according to the CIA file. The final battle that prompted President Clinton's decision to pull his men out of Somalia bears the hallmarks of a secret ambush. The same hand 2005-09-25T05:11:28-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Black-Hawk--28027.aspx Progressivism - Misery of the Masses [i:7a88bc7b81]Question: How did progressives redefine poverty? Why was that important? Where and why did progressive solutions for the problems of poverty fall short? If there was one period of American history that could be labeled the most influential or constructive to the reality of our society today, perhaps it would be the Progressive movement. A reason may be progressives were not against the American system, they just wanted to fix it. They believed strongly in the good of humanity, fairness, and regulation. Truly conservatives at heart, they wanted to revert back to the days of equality of opportunity, democracy, and social justice. Equality, fairness, opportunity all predominately applied to the poor since they were most likely the ones being taken advantage of. In light of poverty progressives, however, had a much different view than the sin of the individual. Poverty, in their eyes, was directly related to the environment and opportunities an individual was presented with. This outlook was important because it was at the roots of all the reforms progressives lobbied for. However idealistic and good-hearted the efforts of progressives were to eliminate poverty, they were accompanied with mis-education and poor treatments. The Progressive views of poverty are fairly simple: poverty is the product of failures of the government and the environment it creates. Driven by social justice, people like Jacob Riis showed the grim reality of poverty to the rest of the world. In this particular case, he used photographs to powerfully illustrate the effects from abuses of an industrial society. Riis and others like Jane Addams, Theodore Dreiser, and Frank Norris all took up the cause for the needy and created sympathy for the less fortunate. The majority of progressives steered away from the issue of self sin that brought about some of the evils of society they were fighting against: alcoholism, corruption, prostitution, and drug abuse. This again fuses the idea that the life of the poor was a direct product of the environment in which they lived. Because of the secular way progressives looked at the poor, they used unorthodox and modern methods rather than the evangelical means of the past great awakenings. The progress of social service moved from the settlement house movement to the social worker which was committed full 2005-09-18T06:02:31-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Progressivism-Misery-of-the-Masses-27993.aspx John Paul Jones and the American Navy When someone mentions ?naval hero? only one name should come to mind, John Paul Jones. Jones was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, on July 6, 1747(Abbazia). He became a merchant at the age of 12-13, and went out to sea, to learn the art of seamanship. He sailed among merchantmen and slavers without any worry in the world. In 1769 he received his first in command. After several years as a merchant skipper in the West Indies, John Paul immigrated to North America and added ?Jones? to his name. This name change was probably because when commander of a merchant vessel he killed a mutinous crewman. John Paul thought the Jones would conceal his identity enough for him to live a meaningful life. At the outbreak of the war with Britain in 1775, John Paul Jones went to Philadelphia, obtaining a lieutenant?s commission in the Continental Navy (Morison). The following year he became a captain of the sloop Providence. In his first couple of adventures he was very prosperous. He destroyed British fisheries and captured 16 British Ships. Then in 1777 he took command of the sloop Ranger. ?During the spring he terrorized the coastal population of Scotland and England by making daring raids ashore and destroying many British Vessels (John Paul Jones).? His reputation greatly enhanced, receiving from the French government, a converted French merchantman. The Duras, which he renamed Bonhomme (Good Man Richard) in honor of Benjamin Franklin (250th Anniversary of the Birth of John Paul Jones). Jones was then promoted to commodore and placed in command of a mixed fleet of American and French Ships. Setting sail as the head of this small squadron on Aug. 14 1779. He captured 17 merchantmen off the British coast and, on September 23, fell in with a convoy of British merchant (Morison). ?With the muzzles of their guns touching, the two warships fired into each other?s insides (Morison).? Although his smaller vessel was on fire and sinking, Jones rejected the British demands for surrender. There he said Kalyan 2 these famous seven words, ?I have not yet begun to fight.? More than three hours later they surrendered and Jones took command of their ship. Although hailed as a hero in both 2005-09-14T00:58:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/John-Paul-Jones-and-the-American-Navy-27979.aspx America Was Built By Immigrants America was built by immigrants. From Plymouth Rock in the seventeenth century to Ellis Island in the twentieth, people born elsewhere came to America. Some were fleeing religious persecution and political turmoil. Most, however, came for economic reasons and were part of extensive migratory systems that responded to changing demands in labor markets. Their experience in the United States was as diverse as their backgrounds and aspirations. Some became farmers and others toiled in factories. Some settled permanently and others returned to their homeland. Collectively, however, they contributed to the building of a nation by providing a constant source of inexpensive labor, by settling rural regions and industrial cities, and by bringing their unique forms of political and cultural expression. The volume of immigration before the 1960s was staggering. Figures for the colonial period are imprecise, but by the time of the first census of 1790 nearly 1 million Afro-Americans and 4 million Europeans resided in the United States. The European population originated from three major streams: English and Welsh, Scotch-Irish, and German. After 1820, the data became exact enough to document the volume of immigration more reliably. From 1820 to 1975 some 47 million people came to the United States: 8.3 million from other countries in the Western Hemisphere, 2.2 million from Asia, and 35.9 million from Europe. The stream was relatively continuous from 1820 to 1924 with only brief interruptions caused by the Civil War and occasional periods of economic downturns such as the depression of the 1890s, the panic of 1907-1908, and the Great Depression of the 1930s. World War II, of course, also greatly reduced the numbers emigrating. In fact, 32 million of the 35.9 million Europeans who came to the United States between 1820 and 1975 came prior to 1924. Immigration on such a large scale resulted in greater ethnic diversity from the earlier colonial structure. In the century prior to World War I, the major sources of immigrants were Germany, Italy, Ireland, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Great Britain, but Canada also supplied 4 million newcomers, including a large number of French-Canadians, and Mexico sent some 2 million. These emigrant centers supplied the largest ethnic concentrations in American society before the 1960s. Immigrants to colonial America were welcomed because of its acute need for inexpensive labor. The English and Afro-Americans were quickly joined by Scotch-Irish, Scots, and 2005-09-05T20:19:04-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/America-Was-Built-By-Immigrants-27889.aspx The Good In People - Salem Witchcraft In 1692, the Salem Village of Massachusetts fell victim to an outbreak of mass hysteria caused by a fear of witchcraft. This fear of witchcraft was caused by a small group of girls who accused innocent people of the village of being under the influence of the devil and harming them with spells of witchcraft. How would a town so concerned with religion react to such crazy accusations? Arthur Miller describes such reactions to these in The Crucible. In this story Miller describes how different people having different perspectives on the events handle this type of hysteria. Some people join the afflicted girls and participate in the hysteria out of fear for their lives. Others grow suspicious and try to find an explanation on how honest these girls, or “victims”, are in accusing them otherwise innocent people of witchcraft, if witchcraft is even the cause of the girls’ hysteria. Arthur Miller writes the play to demonstrate that human nature is actually good regardless of how easily humans can be influenced by the spread of evil. Miller illustrates how pressure created by fear, intolerance, and frustration can cause people to accept their personal responsibilities. Although fear often drives people away from their responsibilities in the story, it is shown that a person’s fear can push him to realize and accept his purposes and responsibilities. John Proctor, a main protagonist in the story, realizes how dangerous the witchcraft accusations are when the court officials arrest his wife, Elizabeth, for witchcraft and attempted murder: “‘…The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!…I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!’’’ (Miller 77). John Proctor is fearful for his wife. Before his wife was arrested, John was really unaware of the extent of danger behind the accusations of witchcraft in the village. At first, he feels suspicious about the hysterical girls’ behavior, but the fact that the trials did not directly affect his family makes him handle the events less seriously. Elizabeth’s arrest was a wake up call for John because now he is alert and aware that the witchcraft accusations must be stopped because innocent people are being put to death. As he reacts to his wife’s arrest, he makes a very important decision. It is up to him to protest against the 2005-09-04T20:07:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Salem-Witchcraft-The-Good-In-People-27881.aspx McCarthy vs. Salem Witch Trials Often times it has been stated that history repeats itself, I have found an example of a situation where it did. Lots of people think that the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s are a repeat of history from the Salem witch-hunts of 1692. In both cases, all of the accusations were false, and also fictitious. Also in both cases, the main reason people were blamed was so that ones who were condemning would receive their own personal gain. In both parties, McCarthy and the girls, they accused people to make themselves look better to others and gain respect. They both gained respect from others, which was something they did not have a lot, which is one of the main reasons McCarthy started his Red Scare, and it also played a small role in why the girls accused so many people. In 1692, people blamed of being witches were used as scapegoats for society’s problems, and then again in 1950, those blamed of being communists were used as scapegoats for society’s problems. In the long run, both cases were worthless except for the lessons that it may teach those who look back at the awful experiences. Many people were killed in the small town of Salem and the ones who weren’t killed had their reputations forever lowered. Everyone who was charged by Joseph McCarthy had his or her own reputation diminished as well. All of this could have been prevented if the people involved would have only opened their blinded eyes and saw the truth, the truth which lied right in front of their faces. One night in the small New England town of Salem, Massachusetts, three young girls and a slave from Barbados were caught dancing naked in the forest around a large kettle. This wasn’t something that girls normally did in the 1600s and was also socially unacceptable, as was also considered to be of the devil. These girls, Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Mercy Lewis, and Tituba the slave were immediately accused of being witches just because they were dancing in the woods. In order to get themselves off the hook, the girls pointed their fingers at other women in the town of practicing witchcraft. They indicted some women because their names popped into their heads, but one particular girl, Abigail Williams, accused a woman named Elizabeth Proctor because she had 2005-08-31T22:20:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/McCarthy-vs_-Salem-Witch-Trials-27858.aspx The Great Depression The economic depression that be-fell the United States and other countries in the 1930s was unique in its strength and its consequences. At the depth of the depression, in 1933, one American worker in every four was out of a job. In other countries unemployment ranged between 15 percent and 25 percent of the labor force. The great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930s, shaking the foundations of Western capitalism and the society based upon it. Aspects of the economy President Calvin Coolidge had mentioned during the long prosperity of the 1920s. He said "The business of America is business." Despite the seeming business prosperity of the 1920s, however, there were serious economic weak spots, a major one being a depression in the agricultural sector. Others facing depression and problems were such industries as coal mining, railroads, and textiles. Throughout the 1920s, U. S. banks had failed--an average of 600 per year--as had thousands of other business firms. By 1928 the construction boom was over. The spectacular rise in prices on the Stock Market from 1924 to 1929 shared little relation to actual economic conditions. In fact, the boom in the stock market and in real estate, along with the expansion in credit (created, in part, by low-paid workers buying on credit) and high profits for a few industries, concealed basic problems. Thus the U. S. stock market crash that occurred in October 1929, with huge losses, was not the actual cause of the Great Depression, although the crash began the most traumatic economic period of modern times. By 1930, the depression was most apparent, but few people expected it to continue. Previous financial panics and depressions had reversed in a year or two and thus most people thought that this was just part of the ups and downs of the business cycle. The usual forces of economic expansion had vanished, however. Technology had eliminated more industrial jobs than it had created; the supply of goods continued to exceed demand; the world market system was basically unsound. The high tariffs of the Smoot-Hawley Act (1930) exacerbated the downturn. As business failures increased and unemployment soared--and as people with dwindling incomes nonetheless had to pay their creditors--it was apparent that the United States was in the grip of economic breakdown. Most European countries were hit even harder, because they had not yet fully recovered from the ravages 2005-08-31T22:17:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Great-Depression--27857.aspx What were the greatest accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln, and why? Since the death of President Lincoln there have been countless debates, essays, and dissertations on his greatest accomplishments. There are so many accomplishments of this great man that it is hard to decide which are the best, but for this assignment I have selected two specific accomplishments. January 1, 1863 President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all the slaves in territories held by confederate states. Although I do believe the timing of the Proclamation was more a Military Move than a Moral Issue. This Proclamation was used the boost the moral cause of the Union. Even though I believe this might have been issued a little late the heart of the matter was still their and that is why I believe 2005-08-31T21:46:25-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-Were-the-Greatest-Accomplishments-of-Abraham-Lincoln-27845.aspx THE McCARTHY ERA The McCarthy Era was between 1945-1960. The McCarthy Era was when there were many widespread accusations and investigations of suspected Communist activities in the United States. McCarthyism was the act accusations were called McCarthyism. The word “McCarthy” comes from the name of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy who was born on May 2, 1909. Joseph McCarthy, a American politician and a U.S. senator from Wisconsin made many charges on army officials, members of the media, and public figures accusing them of being Communists or cooperating with Communists usually with little or no evidence. McCarthyism developed during the Cold War, which was time of great hostility between the Communist and non-Communist nations. In the late 1940's and the 1950's, a number of events related to this struggle alarmed and frustrated many Americans. For example, Communists took over Czechoslovakia and China. The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb and equipped the North Korean Communist forces that invaded South Korea. This invasion touched off the Korean War (1950-1953). As Communism appeared more and more threatening, the federal government began to search for secret Communists among its employees. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman established agencies called “loyalty boards” to investigate federal workers. Truman ordered the dismissal of any government employee whose loyalty appeared questionable. That same year, the U.S. attorney general established a list of organizations that the Department of Justice considered disloyal. Government agencies used the list as a guide to help determine the loyalty of employees and of people seeking jobs. McCarthy first gained national attention in 1950, when he charged that Communists dominated the State Department. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigated the department but found no Communists or Communist sympathizers there. Despite the investigation, McCarthy still made many additional accusations and gained many followers. He and other conservatives blamed many of the nation's problems on the assumption of a secret presence of Communists in the government. In 1950, the United States was concerned with the threat of ccommunism. Hatred of communist influences within the country increased as FBI director J. Edgar Hoover announced that there were 55,000 party members and 500,000 sympathizers active within the U.S. the Senate appointed a special committee to investigate charges of communist activity in the State Department that had been brought by Senator Joseph McCarthy, Republican of Wisconsin. In 1953 McCarthy started and conducted a militant anti-Communist campaign. His campaign spread to Eastern Europe 2005-08-29T04:43:00-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-McCarthy-Era-of-1945-1960-27819.aspx Battle At Bull Run By William Davis Whether it is called Bull Run or Manassas, this battle was a great victory for the members of the Confederate States of America and an incredible learning experience for the United States of America. William C. Davis takes his readers on a journey through this battle in an enlightening yet challenging manner. For the newcomer to military writing this book would prove to be very challenging. To follow Davis, the reader would probably need to read through this at least three times because he constantly, seemingly in mid-thought, switches from commander to commander, region to region, and Confederate to Union. While his style is somewhat difficult to follow, he often adds drops of humor to provide comic relief for the strained reader. Davis describes the events leading up to the battle and the battle itself somewhat chronologically. He writes two or three paragraphs about the actions of the Confederacy during a time period and in the next paragraph will begin describing what the Union did during the exact same time period. After finishing the discussion about the North he jumps over to the South and begins telling their story right where he left off several paragraphs before. During the first one hundred and sixty pages, Davis sets up the actual battle by describing the political situation in 1861 and by telling how these two armies began to organize themselves from militia/civilians to soldiers. Instead of taking the reader directly to the battlefield he allows them to understand the events leading up to it in order to better understand the battle and the motivation behind it. Along with political discussions and the organization of these armies, he also describes in great detail the strategic movements leading to Bull Run and detailed characterizations of the battle’s key players. This rising action is peachy, but Davis’ best writing begins as the battle approaches and he writes, “There was never again such a night north or south of Bull Run. It was the twilight of America’s innocence” (p. 158). The author’s thesis is, “America, it seemed had gone mad and gone to war with itself. Four decades of compromise between the sections of the country had come to naught, largely because the lawmakers of Washington repeatedly chose to treat the symptom rather 2005-08-28T06:32:06-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Battle-At-Bull-Run-By-William-Davis-27799.aspx Amerigo Vespucci Biography, Founder of America Vespucci was the one person for whom North and South America was named after. Vespucci had a wonderful life and found many things on his voyages. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy in March of 1451, and grew up in a considerable mansion near the river. As a young boy, Amerigo's happiest moments studying the stars. He excelled in mathematics and his hobby was copying maps. His dream as a young boy was to travel and get a better picture about what the Earth looked like. Amerigo spent half of his life as a business man hoping to strike it rich so he could explore. Amerigo was the third son, there were two older brothers, Antonio and Girolamo, the youngest was Bernardo. The parents were Stagio and Elisabetta Vespucci. Italy, at this time was not yet a civilized country. Italy was a bunch of city- states each self governed and looking for money for it's own purposes and not for the benefit of the country. Florence, where Amerigo was born and grew up, was in the city-state governed by the powerful Medici family. Later in Vespucci's life he ends up working for this family helping govern the city-state. Italy, at this time was not a good country as it is today. In 1492 Vespucci left Florence for Seville, Spain because Italy had the monopoly and didn't need, or want, exploration. Well into his forties, around 1495, Vespucci became the director of a ship company that supplied ships for long voyages. This was the first opportunity Vespucci had to make voyages and he was very happy about this, therefore he was only looking for "new worlds" to discover and not money or rewards for finding exotic places. In 1497 Vespucci said that he went on a voyage to the "New World." Little is known about this because there was not much evidence to support that he actually made this voyage such as: journals, maps they used, or any crew members journals about what happened. He was said to be back in 1498. Later on down the road, after this journey was said to take place people began to doubt this and Columbus became known as the founder of the "New World" even though he thought he was in India. In 1499 Vespucci was said to have made his second voyage with Alonso de Ojeda as the captain. This 2005-08-26T10:05:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-History-of-America-Amerigo-Vespucci-27791.aspx Would you believe the unusual treatments tuberculosis patients endured in the early Twentieth century? From operations with no anesthetics to electroshock therapy, Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium patients suffered greatly at the majestic hospital. For the patients, it was a living hell. Tuberculosis (known as TB,) was one of the worst diseases known to man. Until the early 1960's, TB was the number one cause of death in the United States. In 1900, Louisville, Kentucky had the highest TB death rate in the country, due to its location in a low-lying, swamp-like area, which was the perfect environment for the germs that caused TB to grow. In 1910 the Governor of Kentucky authorized the building of an isolated TB sanatorium in the hills outside Louisville. Later that year a wooden, two-story, Tutor styled building was opened to with the capacity to house 30 TB patients. It was built on one of the highest hills in the area if Louisville. There was a law passed that stated no residential or commercial buildings could be built within a half-mile of the hospital to prevent the spread of disease. In 1912 the administration of the hospital soon realized that the hospital was severely overcrowded with over 100 patients. After applying for a grant from the US Government, the officials of the hospital received an $11 million grant for the construction of a larger 400 patient building and a complex of other buildings around it to serve as storage or dormitories for the doctors and nurses. Officials bought another 129 acres if land directly across from the older hospital for the new hospital. Construction on the new hospital began in 1924. The new building complex was designed to be a self-contained town with its own power plant, a self-contained water treatment system, a laundry facility, a dormitory for the doctors and nurses, small cottages around the larger building for the administration and people who stayed while visiting patients, and its very own sewer system. The new hospital opened in 1926 and was considered to be the most advanced TB hospital in the nation. If a patient had any chance of surviving the disease, the new hospital, known as Waverly Hills, was the place to go. Treatments in the early twentieth century were primitive at best, which meant Waverly Hills was a place to send people to 2005-08-16T19:08:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Hospital-on-the-Hill-27707.aspx US Involvement In World War II - Deepening US Involvement Unlike conventional wars, the war in Vietnam had no defined front lines. Much of it consisted of hit-and-run attacks, with the guerrillas striking at government outposts and retreating into the jungle. In the early 1960s some North Vietnamese troops, however, began to infiltrate into South Vietnam to help the Vietcong, and supplies sent to Hanoi from the USSR and China were sent south down the so-called Ho Chi Minh Trail. The war began to escalate in the first week of August 1964, when North Vietnamese torpedo boats were reported to have attacked two US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Acting on the resolution passed on August 7 by the US Senate (the so-called Tonkin Gulf Resolution), authorizing increased military involvement, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered jets to South Vietnam and the retaliatory bombing of military targets in North Vietnam. From 1964 to 1968 General William C. Westmoreland was commander of US forces in South Vietnam; he was replaced in 1968 by General Creighton Abrams. In February 1965, US planes began regular bombing raids over North Vietnam. A halt was ordered in May in the hope of initiating peace talks, but when North Vietnam rejected all negotiations, the bombings were resumed. In the meantime, the United States continued to build up its troop strength in South Vietnam. On March 6, 1965, a brigade of American marines landed at Ðà Nang, south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that had originally been set up at the time of partition. The marines, the first US combat ground-force units to serve in the country, brought the number in the US military forces in Vietnam to some 27,000. By the end of the year American combat strength was nearly 200,000. While continuing the military build-up in Vietnam, the United States made another attempt to end the war. In December 1965, President Johnson again halted the bombing of North Vietnam in an effort to achieve a peaceful settlement. Again he was unsuccessful, and the raids were resumed. In June 1966, US planes began bombing major installations near Hanoi and the neighbouring port of Haiphong, both of which had hitherto been spared. In October 1966, government representatives from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines—all of which had contributed troops to South Vietnam—met in Manila and pledged their withdrawal within six months after North Vietnam abandoned 2005-08-14T00:55:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/US-Involvement-In-World-War-II-Deepening-US-Involvement-27619.aspx Causes of the 1929 Stock Market Crash In early 1928 the Dow Jones Average went from a low of 191 early in the year, to a high of 300 in December of 1928 and peaked at 381 in September of 1929. (1929…) It was anticipated that the increases in earnings and dividends would continue. (1929…) The price to earnings ratings rose from 10 to 12 to 20 and higher for the market’s favorite stocks. (1929…) Observers believed that stock market prices in the first 6 months of 1929 were high, while others saw them to be cheap. (1929…) On October 3rd, the Dow Jones Average began to drop, declining through the week of October 14th. (1929…) On the night of Monday, October 21st, 1929, margin calls were heavy and Dutch and German calls came in from overseas to sell overnight for the Tuesday morning opening. (1929…) On Tuesday morning, out-of-town banks and corporations sent in $150 million of call loans, and Wall Street was in a panic before the New York Stock Exchange opened. (1929…) On Thursday, October 24th, 1929, people began to sell their stocks as fast as they could. Sell orders flooded the market exchanges. (1929…) This day became known as Black Thursday. (Black Thursday…) On a normal day, only 750-800 members of the New York Stock Exchange started the exchange. (1929…) There were 1100 members on the floor for the morning opening. (1929…) Furthermore, the exchange directed all employees to be on the floor since there were numerous margin calls and sell orders placed overnight. Extra telephone staff was also arranged at the member’s boxes around the floor. (1929…) The Dow Jones Average closed at 299 that day. (1929…) On Tuesday, October 29th, 1929, the crash began. (1929…) Within the first few hours, the price fell so far as to wipe out all gains that had been made the entire previous year. (1929…) This day the Dow Jones Average would close at 230. (1929…) Between October 29th, and November 13 over 30 billion dollars disappeared from the American economy. (1929…) It took nearly 25 years for many of the stocks to recover. (1929…) By mid November, the value of the New York Stock Exchange listings had dropped over 40%, a loss of $26 billion. (1929-1931) At one point in the crash tickers were 68 minutes behind. (1929-1931) An average of about $50,000,000 a minute was wiped out on the exchange. (1929-1931) A 2005-08-04T06:58:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-the-1929-Stock-Market-Crash-27546.aspx The Fifties During the 1950’s, a sense of uniformity was obvious in American society. Conformity was common, as young and old people followed group norms rather then their own individuality. Though men and women had been forced into new employment patterns during World War II, once the war was over, traditional rules were reaffirmed. Men were expected to be the breadwinners, and women’s proper place was at home. The United States experienced phenomenal economic growth. The growth had different sources. The automobile industry was partially responsible, as the number of cars produced annually quadrupled between 1946 and 1955. A housing boom, stimulated in part by easily affordable mortgages for returning servicemen, fueled the expansion. One of the main political events of the fifties was the Korean War. About two million people were killed in the Korean War. The U.S suffered losses of about 54,000 dead and 103,000 injured. In June 1950, the war exploded and became hot because the Americans realized that the Soviets could find ways to threaten the Americans goal of peace. President Truman ordered American air and naval forces to go help defend South Korea against Communist China and the Soviet Union. By August, enough U.S American soldiers had arrived to reinforce the South Koreans. Soon after, the U.S Marines launched a bold attack around the positions held by the communists. In 1951, negotiators from both sides began talks about ending the war, but peace still did not come until July of 1953 when a peace agreement was finally signed. The Korean conflict became one of the first expressions of the Cold War between Russia and America. It was an attempt to balance the power, which had been thrown so badly out of position by World War II. In 1952, the Americans watched the presidential nominations on TV. They had never seen any like it because of all the excitement and screaming. The Republican candidate was Dwight Eisenhower with Richard Nixon as Vice President. The Republican campaign slogan was “I like Ike” and became very popular. The Democratic nominee was Adlai Stevenson. He didn’t win because his solutions to problems were very complicated. Ike was elected because he was a man of peace with simple answers for changing America. Eisenhower was president all during the 1950’s. The fifties were a time of many medical advances. Modern medicine wiped out smallpox, yellow fever and polio. For the first time in 2005-07-29T06:41:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-1950-s--27438.aspx American Progressivism Assuming that the burden of proof is ultimately on the writer, I contend that the period from approximately 1900 until the United States' intervention in the war, labeled the "progressive" era by virtually all historians, was really an era of conservatism. Moreover, the triumph of conservatism that I will describe in detail throughout this book was the result not of any impersonal, mechanistic necessity but of the conscious needs and decisions of specific men and institutions. There were any number of options involving government and economics abstractly available to national political leaders during the period 1900-1916, and in virtually every case they chose those solutions to problems advocated by the representatives of concerned business and financial interests. Such proposals were usually motivated by the needs of the interested businesses, and political intervention into the economy was frequently merely a response to the demands of particular businessmen. In brief, conservative solutions to the emerging problems of an industrial society were almost uniformly applied. The result was a conservative triumph in the sense that there was an effort to preserve the basic social and economic relations essential to a capitalist society, an effort that was frequently consciously as well as functionally conservative. I use the attempt to preserve existing power and social relationships as the criterion for conservatism because none other has any practical meaning. Only if we mechanistically assume that government intervention in the economy, and a departure from orthodox laissez faire, automatically benefits the general welfare can we say that government economic regulation by its very nature is also progressive in the common meaning of that term. Each measure must be investigated for its intentions and consequences in altering the existing power arrangements, a task historians have largely neglected. I shall state my basic proposition as baldly as possible so that my essential theme can be kept in mind, and reservations and intricacies will be developed in the course of the book. For the sake of communication I will use the term progressive and progressivism, but not, as have most historians, in their commonsense meanings. Progressivism was initially a movement for the political rationalization of business and industrial conditions, a movement that operated on the assumption that the general welfare of the community could be best served by satisfying the concrete needs of business. But the regulation itself was invariably controlled by leaders of the regulated industry, and directed 2005-07-28T06:13:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Progressivism-27419.aspx 3 Reasons that led to the Civil War Did you ever think about why the Civil War happened? I thought about it and came up with three of the best reasons I could think of to cause the Civil War. Here is what I think forced the north and south the come to war. First it was because of slavery, then the south seceded from the union when Lincoln was elected, and the south feared that the north would have majority in the senate. If any of these reasons that I mentioned had not been a problem back then, hundreds of thousands of Americans wouldn’t have lost there lives. First, the main reason the war happened was because of slavery. Slavery, as we know was a big debate back then. The southern states wanted to keep slavery so that the slaves could work on their plantations so their owners could make a business. The northern states wanted it abolished, they thought that all people should be treated like any other person. Neither the north nor the south would give in to what the other believed was right, so that influenced the war a lot. Secondly, another reason was the succeeding of the south and the election of Abraham Lincoln. About all of the southern states didn’t listen when Lincoln said that he would not act against slavery. Once Lincoln was elected to office, the south said that they wouldn’t have him leading them. They then left the union and formed the Confederacy. I believed that this was another major cause of the Civil War. Next, another reason that was believed to have caused the Civil War was that the south feared that the north would have the majority of the senate. Since the north had more people they thought that they should have more people in the senate. The south disagreed with that. The north also had the bigger states. So to sum it up the union had more states, more people living in their states, and the union was so much bigger than the confederate states. Finally, if America was not faced with these problems that I have mentioned in the paragraphs above we might not of had a Civil War. We might still be faced with these conflicts still today if Lincoln hadn’t been elected. If slavery wasn’t around back then that would be one less thing to worry about. If the south 2005-07-27T05:37:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/3-Reasons-that-led-to-the-Civil-War-27409.aspx The Great Depression was the worst economic slump ever in U.S. history, and one which spread to virtually all of the industrialized world. The depression began in late 1929 and lasted for about a decade. Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920's, and the extensive stock market speculation that took place during the latter part that same decade. The maldistribution of wealth in the 1920's existed on many levels. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle-class, between industry and agriculture within the United States, and between the U.S. and Europe. This imbalance of wealth created an unstable economy. The excessive speculation in the late 1920's kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually lead to large market crashes. These market crashes, combined with the maldistribution of wealth, caused the American economy to capsize. The "roaring twenties" was an era when our country prospered tremendously. The nation's total realized income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 19291. However, the rewards of the "Coolidge Prosperity" of the 1920's were not shared evenly among all Americans. According to a study done by the Brookings Institute, in 1929 the top 0.1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%2. That same top 0.1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of Americans had no savings at all3. Automotive industry mogul Henry Ford provides a striking example of the unequal distribution of wealth between the rich and the middle-class. Henry Ford reported a personal income of $14 million4 in the same year that the average personal income was $7505. By present day standards, where the average yearly income in the U.S. is around $18,5006, Mr. Ford would be earning over $345 million a year! This maldistribution of income between the rich and the middle class grew throughout the 1920's. While the disposable income per capita rose 9% from 1920 to 1929, those with income within the top 1% enjoyed a stupendous 75% increase in per capita disposable income. A major reason for this large and growing gap between the rich and the working-class people was the increased manufacturing output throughout this period. From 1923-1929 the average output per worker increased 32% in manufacturing8. During that same period of time 2005-07-26T06:27:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-Of-The-Great-Depression-27392.aspx The History of the Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is one of America's oldest and most feared groups. Driven by the dream of a world with only one master race, the KKK often uses violence and moves above the law to promote their cause. They didn't start of violent, or to promote white supremacy. They have been in the shadows for over 130 years and continue to thrive in America's society today. The Ku Klux Klan began almost accidentally during the reconstruction period after the civil war in the Southern United States. The southern people had suffered greatly from the effects of the great war. Many of them lost their homes and plantations. Many also lost friends and loved ones to the war. The people needed a release from the sorrow of everyday life. In 1865, six men from a small town in Tennessee accidentally began what has grown to be the largest and most feared "hate group" in the country. The men decided to make a club to help release the stress of the times. The men were all poor and could not afford to make gowns or great costumes for the group, so they decided to use linens. They wore the linens over their backs and put pillowcases on their heads. They also draped the linens over their horses. The Ku Klux Klan was going to ride for the first time. In the beginning, the men wanted to do nothing more than play pranks on people. However, the people were more frightened than they were cheered up. They soon realized what they could do with these fear tactics. The South had turned into a place that was no longer theirs. The slaves were now free (many of these men were slave owners) and carpetbaggers were coming from the North to take advantage of the southern people. They saw the opportunity to set back the South to what it had been. The KKK soon began to ride through political rallies of the carpetbaggers. People often fled the rallies out of fear. Word quickly spread across the South about these masked men. Many people loved the idea and wanted to be involved. The Klan quickly grew. A leader was soon needed to control the large group. Their first choice was Southern General Robert E. Lee. Although he supported the group and its cause, he was very 2005-07-25T05:58:40-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-History-of-the-Ku-Klux-Klan-27363.aspx Essay on the Roaring Twenties in America The Coolidge Era that lasted from 1921-1929 produced a consumer economy. With the consumer economy came widespread prosperity and wealth. Just being another decade on a timeline does not do it for the 1920’s. From the beginning to the end it was the biggest, the loudest, the brightest. Because of these characteristics it was labeled, “The Roaring Twenties.” Many people acted unreserved in their pursuits for their own happiness. However there where also those who were conservative and looked for a return to the “proper” ways those who were intolerant to change. The affects of these conservatives and intolerates can be seen in many different aspects of American society, from the classroom to the immigration quota people were scarred of change. Already by the spring of 1921 The Ku Klux Klan had commenced a reign of heightened terror nationwide, intimidating and murdering minorities and harassing uncooperative government officials and political opponents. Their goal was return life to the proper ways they did so by scarring anyone who was in favor of change or threatened a change to their lifestyle. By 1924 the Klu Klux Klan hit it’s peak membership around five million members up from just 2,000 in 1920. One year later an estimated 40,000 Ku Klux Klan members march through Washington, D.C., as part of the organization's first national congress. In the classroom fear of change could be seen. Previous to 1921 bills began being passed prohibiting the teachings of evolution in the public classroom. This yearning was the fundamentalist crusade, which pitted biblical interpretation against the Darwinian science of biological evolution. Other Events during the twenties which represent the coservativness of some of it’s people include; The Immigration Quota Act of 1923 severely limited immigration, to no more than 3 percent annually of each nationality, based on the number of that nationality already residing in the U.S. (as of 1910). In September of 1922, the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act, is passed in the U.S. for many imported goods, representing recession of foreign affairs and international trade. The U.S. Senate refused to seat Senator elect Frank Smith from Illinois because the $458,000 he spent on his campaign was deemed unethically high. Finally representing the intolerant behavior of the 1920’s are the actions which occurred in 1923 after a dubious rape charge was made 2005-07-24T04:18:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Essay-on-the-Roaring-Twenties-in-America-27355.aspx We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men, including Native Americans, are created equal. We are a people who love plants and animals as much as we love our sons. We believe in only keeping the largest fish. We came here when the rivers and oceans were filled. We treasure our children and our grandparents, and everything that was in our land before the white man came. We are not morons and savages like we have been called for many summers. The Native Americans are a country of philanthropists; you destroyed our land in every possible way; we tried to give you a fair share of land, and now we will murder all of you or drive you all right back across the Atlantic. We are greatly annoyed by your writing of the Declaration of Independence. You find reasons for your colonies to claim this land for your own. The land you claim is yours was stolen from us through treaties that were never official to every Native American tribe. You write, “For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us.” After the white men killed millions of Native Americans by spreading disease, you burdened our lands with large bodies of armed civilians among us. You go on to write, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” That is exactly what you have done to us for the past hundreds of years. You kill all the animals you can find, to take only their skins or horns. You cut down trees that have been standing for years and years. The part of the Declaration of Independence disgusted me the most was how you argue for, “Taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.” You must understand that Native Americans were here with their own government. It was an unwritten form of government where nobody could own the land and that everyone was treated equally. The first settlers here enslaved us and murdered us. They did not respect our unwritten laws in the land. My last objection to your Declaration of Independence is your reason, “For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.” 2005-06-21T02:35:56-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Native-American-Decleration-Of-Independence-An-Angry-Indian-27040.aspx American Imperialism DBQ Between the period of the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, expansionism was a major part of the United States. Since there were many advances in technology and knowledge of the world many different countries tried to expand there countries as much as possible. Between this period there was a lot of continuation of expansionism plus there was also a lot of departure of expansionism in the country. Many things contributed to this expansionism such as the American Diplomacy in China and the Gentleman’s Agreement in Japan all contributed to the expansion of the United States. Since there seemed to be a abundance of territory that was not claimed by any country, expansionism was a great option for lots of countries around the world. In a cartoon by Thomas Nast there is a great illustration of different countries expanding there territories. It is a picture of a world with three men around it and one is from Germany, one from Britain, and the last one is from Russia. They all have grab bags and they are picking from the world which shows how countries around the world were trying to gain as much territory as they could while it was available without fighting for it. This will play a big part in the lead to World War I. In an article about the interest of America in sea power, Alfred T. Mahan states a lot of things having to do with the territory of the US and its control over the ocean. He says, “America must now look outward. The growing production of the country demands it.” He states that we should not allow all of our ports on both the Atlantic and the Pacific to be controlled by other countries because the United States is going to expand and we need all of our relations and ports on both oceans so that we can stay in control of our country. At the end he states three things that we should defiantly do to protect the country’s expansionism. First he says that the chief harbors should be protected and the shore lines should also be protected. Second, he says that the naval force should be projected outward more to expand the water territory of the United States. Third, he says that no 2005-06-20T01:58:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Imperialism-DBQ-27030.aspx American 2005-06-09T03:00:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-New-Nation--26837.aspx History of the AIDS Virus in Africa Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS is often referred to as a global killer. In Sub-Saharan Africa AIDS has reached pandemic proportions with 14 million dead already, and 23 million more infected. Africa constitutes 10% of the world’s population, and is now the home to 90% of all new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which causes AIDS) infections, giving it the highest AIDS frequency in the world. I would like to discuss how unsafe African sex practices have contributed to the spread of HIV/AIDS and the steps currently being taken to slow the spread of the epidemic. AIDS is a major social problem. There is no vaccination for this disease, only a costly “cocktail” of drugs whose side-effects alone are life-altering. Ultimately, these drugs will not prevent premature death, but only postpone it for a decade or so. The problem actually lies much deeper than the epidemiological realities of HIV/AIDS. There are many social standards that not only permit the virus to spread, but actually create optimal conditions for it to multiply at such rapid rates. Large scale social changes need to occur because Africa is on the verge of being ruined by this virus. With much of the most productive age group becoming extremely ill or dying as a result of becoming infected, the economy is beginning to collapse and the family structure is deteriorate. The fabric of Africa’s social structure must be rewoven before deep seeded attitudes and behaviors cause the demise of this society. One major cause of the HIV/AIDS outbreak is the prevalence of prostitution. Due to the economic crisis that is taking place in Africa, many women succumb to this occupation. Changing social structures, such as the separation of the biological family, have caused the period of family given financial support to be much shorter. Parents are dying at an earlier age, and it’s also likely that husbands die prematurely from AIDS as well. Unfortunately, when these women are left to fend for themselves and their children, they face unemployment and lack of opportunities, so they become prostitutes. This is a fluid occupation, as women try to get out of it as soon as possible, but when the need for money arises, they often slip back into prostitution. 2005-06-01T02:09:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-the-AIDS-Virus-in-Africa-26806.aspx Prohibition: The 18th Ammendment Mark Thornton, author of Policy Analysis: Alcohol Prohibition was a failure, said, “Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve” (Thorton, 15). On Midnight of January 16, 1920, one of the personal habits and customs of most Americans suddenly came to a halt. The Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect and all importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of intoxicating liquor was put to an end. Shortly following the enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment, the National Prohibition Act, or the Volstead Act, as it was called because of its author, Andrew J. Volstead, was put into effect. This act determined intoxicating liquor as anything having an alcoholic content of anything more than 0.5 percent, omitting alcohol used for medicinal and sacramental purposes. Likewise, this act also set up guidelines for enforcement (Bowen, 154). Prohibition was intended to reduce the consumption of alcohol and thereby reduce crime, poverty, death rates, and improve the economy and the quality of life. “National prohibition of alcohol -- the ‘noble experiment’ -- was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America” (Thorton, 1). This, however, was undoubtedly to no avail. The Prohibition amendment of the 1920s was ineffective because it was unenforceable, it caused the explosive growth of crime, and it increased the amount of alcohol consumption. “It is impossible to tell whether prohibition is a good thing or a bad thing. It has never been enforced in this country” said author Fiorella LaGuardia, author of American Prohibition in the 1920’s (LaGuardia 46). After the Volstead Act was put into place to determine specific laws and methods of enforcement, the Federal Prohibition Bureau was formulated in order to see that the Volstead Act was enforced. Nevertheless, bootleggers and commoners alike flagrantly violated these laws. Bootleggers smuggled liquor from oversees and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, and produced their own. Many people hid their liquor in hip flasks, false books, hollow canes, and anything else they could find (Bowen, 159). There were also illegal speak-easies, which replaced saloons after the start of prohibition. By 1925, there were over 100,000 speak-easies in New York City alone (Bowen, 160). As good as the ideal sounded, “...prohibition was far easier to proclaim than to enforce” (Wenburn, 234). With 2005-05-31T06:04:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Prohibition-The-18th-Ammendment-26805.aspx What was the main cause of the American Revolution? The American Revolution was caused by the unique nature of the American Colonists and their society in contrast to their relationship with the English Government and peoples. Life in America was not a life of leisure. American colonists had worked hard to cultivate their lands and develop their towns and cities. Rural life in the American colonies consisted not only of farmers but tradesmen also prospered. (Handlin. 24) By 1763, the American Colonies were spreading west. The expelling of the French and the Spaniards in 1763 opened lands of opportunity for the colonists. American colonists who settled in the new lands and the New World were a, “fresh breed of humans, self-reliant, rationalistic, disdainful of established ideas and authorities, vain, provincial, sometimes violent, often reckless”. (Handlin 130) Tensions began to build in the Colonies right after the 7 years war, or the French and Indian War. At this time the American Colonies were prospering. The colonists in America had no oppressing chains to throw off. “In fact, the colonists knew they were freer, more equal, more prosperous and less burdened with cumbersome feudal and monarchical restraints than any other part of mankind in the 18th Century”. (Wood 4) They had achieved an economic and political maturity that resented outside interference. (Jensen 34) They did not discover new ideas after 1763, but held up ideas of the rights of Englishmen which had begun back with the Magna Carta. The route to the American Revolution was based on this unique American character and the lack of understanding, which the British Government had for it. After the 7 years war, England was heavily in debt. This was the most that they’d ever been in debt in their history. Two years before the end of the war King George II died, and his grandson George III became king. King George III held the theory that to rule an empire you had to have a tight grip. “The colonies had always been the domain of the crown, administered by royally appointed officials. Parliament had seldom interfered—except to pass the Acts of Trade and Navigation, laws relating to finance, and laws prohibiting or limiting certain colonial manufactures. The attempt by parliament to raise money in the colonies by acts of Parliament, coupled with other restrictive legislation and administrative decisions, forced Americans, for the first time, to attempt 2005-05-28T21:17:43-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Main-Cause-of-the-American-Revolution-26794.aspx Compare and Contrast: Iroquois Constitution & U.S. Constitution The Constitutions of both the Iroquois and the United States have similarities and differences between them. The Iroquois constitution came earlier in history than the U.S one did. Some of the same ideas that were in the Iroquois’ constitution were carried over to some of the ideas that we use in our government today. In this paper I will compare and contrast these ideas as they relate with one another. Ideas like Vito Power, When a Leader Gets Sick, 3 Branches of Government, A Bicameral Legislature, and impeachment are portrayed in both of these constitutions. The power to veto something is defined as to refuse to admit. In the Iroquois constitution they talk about how the procedure must be followed to these exact steps. Once the Mohawk and Seneca Lords have unanimously agreed upon a question, they shall report their decision to the Cayuga and Oneida Lords who shall deliberate upon the question and report a unanimous decision to the Mohawk Lords. The Mohawk Lords will then report the standing of the case to the Fire Keepers, who shall render a decision as they see fit in case of a disagreement by the two bodies, or confirm the decisions of the two bodies if they are identical. The Fire Keepers shall then report their decision to the Mohawk Lords who shall announce it to the open council. This is very similar to the U.S. government process for making and vetoing laws and regulations. As it talks about going through the different lords that is like the House of Representatives, senate, and then the president, with the Fire Keepers being the President. The Fire Keepers had the power to veto any decision that the lower levels had made just as the president does in our government. In America’s government if the president gets sick or ill where he/she cannot fulfill his/her responsibilities then their spouse takes over for them until they are able to return to office. In the Iroquois constitution it states in article 21 that certain physical defects in a Confederate Lord make him ineligible to sit in the Confederate Council. Such defects are infancy, idiocy, blindness, deafness, dumbness and impotency. When a Confederate Lord is restricted by any of these conditions, a deputy shall be appointed by his sponsors to act for him, but in case of extreme necessity the 2005-05-27T07:37:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Compare-and-Contrast-Iroquois-Constitution-Vs_-U_S_-Constitution-26784.aspx Causes of the American Revolution The American Revolution began for many reasons, some are; long-term social, economic, and political changes in the British colonies, prior to 1750 provided the basis for and started a course to America becoming an independent nation under it’s own control with its own government. Not a tyrant king thousands of miles away. A huge factor in the start of the revolution was the French and Indian War during the years of 1754 through 1763; this changed the age-old bond between the colonies and Britain its mother. To top it off, a decade of conflicts between the British rule and the colonists, starting with the Stamp Act in 1765 that eventually led to the eruption of war in 1775, along with the drafting of The Declaration of Independence in 1776. Originally the fighting between Britain and France began in 1754 with a quarrel in North America. It had two different names. In America it is known as the French and Indian War. In Britain and Europe it is known as the Seven Years’ War, because the fighting lasted from 1756 to 1763. A result of the French and Indian war was a British decision to reconsider its relationship with its colonies. Prior to the French and Indian War, Britain had loosely controlled its colonies. British leaders regarded the colonial government as inferior. As long as only a few serious conflicts between Britain and America occurred, the British government permitted colonial assemblies to oversee the royal governors and to pass new laws that suited to the needs of the colonists. In addition, the British did not always enforce their laws in the colonies. For example, the British Customs Service, which was unproductive, understaffed, and open to corruption, did not enforce the Molasses Act of 1733. British leaders did not insist on strict enforcement of this tax or other commercial duties because thriving American trade was making Britain very wealthy and powerful nation. British statesman and political theorist Edmund Burke, a orator who successfully championed many human rights and causes by bringing people to attention through his moving speeches. Described his country’s policies toward the colonies as “salutary neglect” because he believed their leniency was actually beneficial. As a result of this salutary neglect, the colonists developed a political and economic system that was virtually independent. They were loyal, although somewhat uncooperative, subjects of the crown. (Encarta, 2k1) The 2005-05-27T07:36:29-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-the-American-Revolution-26783.aspx The Missouri Compromise The Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1877, was mainly caused by the diverging society between the North and the South. The North and the South had different goals. There were many factors that led to the war and the chief ones were political and economic differences between the North and the South. The North’s aggression to control the South had led to the point where it was intolerable. The issue on slavery was one of the causes of the Civil War. Slavery and slave trades had become a big part of the South’s economy. The slaves were needed to work on plantations which helped the South prospered. During the 19th Century, the North worked hard on abolishing slavery, which they thought was a disgrace to the Union. Compromises were proposed working toward an end to slavery. One of the compromises was the Missouri Compromise, which made Maine, a free state, and Missouri, a slave state, excluded slavery from Louisiana Territory and everything above the 36 30-north latitude. Other compromises such as the Compromise of 1850 did please both sides. The Compromise included admitting California as a free state and interstate slave trade to be abolished, which went in favor of the North. The Compromise also went with the South when it included stricter fugitive slave laws and New Mexico and Utah were created without slave restrictions. A book called, "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" was also published at this time emphasizing the evils of slavery. This added tension between the North and the South. The compromises seemed to have settled the issue of slavery but it was just putting back the problem. The North and the South were far from settling the slave issue. Another reason that caused the South to go to war was the difference in economic policies. The North was expanding more in the commercial and industrial side while the South was reliant on agriculture. Cities and factories had developed in the North and in the South, it was still staple producing and agrarian. The North’s industry was beginning to dominate its economy while the South was still mainly based on agriculture. The South only produced manufactured goods for consumption and the North were able to export manufactured goods. The taxes and tariff was unfair to the South. The Tariff Act of 1832 put high import fees on all European manufactured good, which was 2005-05-27T07:00:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Missouri-Compromise--26773.aspx James Buchanan vs. John Fremont Presidential Election The Contenders For the presidential election of 1856, the Democrats nominated James Buchanan and John Breckenridge, the newly formed Republican party nominated John Fremont and William Drayton, the American [or Know-Nothing] party nominated former president Millard Fillmore and Andrew Donelson, and the Abolition Party nominated Gerrit Smith and Samuel McFarland. Buchanan started his political career as a state representative in Pennsylvania, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1821, appointed minister to Russia in 1832, and elected US Senator in 1834. He was appointed Secretary of State in 1845 by President Polk and in that capacity helped forge the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican War. He was appointed by President Polk as minister to Great Britain in 1853. As such, he, along with the American ministers to Spain and France, issued the Ostend Manifesto, which recommended the annexation of Cuba to the United States. This endeared him to southerners, who assumed Cuba would be a slave state. He was one of several northerners supported over the years by southern Democrats for being amenable to slaveholders' interests, a situation originating with Martin van Buren. Buchanan's two major rivals for the nomination, Franklin Pierce and Stephen Douglas, were both politically tainted by the bloodshed in Kansas. Buchanan was untainted, since he had been abroad during most of the controversy. Even so, he did not secure the nomination until the seventeenth ballot. Fremont was best known as an explorer and a war hero. He surveyed the land between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, explored the Oregon Trail territories and crossed the Sierra Madres into the Sacramento Valley. As a captain in the Army, he returned to California and helped the settlers overthrow Mexican rule in what became known as the Bear Flag Revolution, a sidebar to the Mexican War. He was elected as one of California's first two Senators. The infant Republican party was born from the ashes of the Whig party, which had suffered spontaneous combustion as a result of the slavery issue. The party's convention was a farce; only northern states and a few border slave states sent delegates. Sticking to their Whig roots, they nominated a war hero, albeit a minor one. William Drayton's runner-up for the VP slot was Abraham Lincoln. Fillmore, having been the thirteenth president following the death of Zachary Taylor, found himself representing the American party after many northern delegates 2005-05-26T09:21:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/James-Buchanan-vs_-John-Fremont-Presidential-Election-26726.aspx The After Effect of War on Women, Feminism, and Gender Norms The "feminine mystique" that American culture promotes is entirely dependent upon its ideas, beliefs, and needs of the time. American culture has always tended to influence women into doing what the day and age required. After men went to war there was a gap in the work force that needed to be filled. During World War II women were the most available to join the work force. Due to the discouragement to raise families during the Great Depression and the fact that most men of age had entered the war, many women were left without families to look after and men to take to take care of them. "Most women toiled at unskilled jobs; most were young, single, and without children" (307). This lack of family and funds left women with no other place to go besides the factories. Women's need for work was nursed along by the media as well as the public. "A rapidly expanding war economy absorbed most of the reserve labor force," (307) yet it still was not enough, the economy demanded a larger work force. This demand worked in cooperation with the availability of the women of the time. "'Commando Mary' and 'Rosie the Riveter' became symbols of women who heeded their country's call" (307). There were many enticements luring women to join the work force. These enticements included higher war wages, more available time and opportunity to work, and wartime restrictions on leisure activities. "Despite the general expectation that women would return to their home after the war, female laborers did not simply drop their wrenches and pick up frying pans" (310). After the war many women continued to work outside the home primarily to help support their families. After the war 28% of the labor force was female compared to the 24% prior to the war. When the war was over nearly one million women were laid off and another 2.25 million voluntarily left. These female losses in the work force were offset by the gain of 2.75 million women into the work force. "When women who had been laid off managed to return to work, they often lost their seniority and had to accept reduced pay in lower job categories" (310). Due to the severe segregation by gender, the postwar economic life for women was appalling. Postwar American life became organized around marriage and family. 2005-05-21T09:16:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Postwar-Effects-on-Women-26698.aspx Reconstruction in the South This essay will describe the events that occurred following the Civil War in a period known as Reconstruction. In the South, during this period of time many people suffered from the great amount of property damage done to such things as farms, factories, railroads and several other things that citizens depended on to keep their economy strong. Some of these economic hardships included destruction of the credit system and worthless Confederate money. Though statistics in the South were vague the historian E.B. Long, a careful student of war strengths suggests "perhaps 750,000 individuals would be reasonably a close" as an estimate of Southern enrollments in the armies and navy. In the South Reconstruction meant rebuilding the economy, establishing new state and local governments and establishing a new social structure between whites and blacks. During the war Lincoln had expanded his presidency. With his power he hoped to set up loyal governments in the Southern states that were under Union control. Lincoln appointed new temporary governors and instructed each to call a convention to create a new state government as soon as a group of the state's citizen totaling 10 percent of the voters in the 1860 presidential election had signed oaths of loyalty to the Union. Under this plan new governments were formed in Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas but the Congress refused to recognize them. Republicans in Congress did not want a quick restoration, for the reason that it would bring Democratic representatives and senators to Washington, and in 1864 Congress passed the Wade-Davis Reconstruction Bill. This bill would have delayed the process of rejoining the Union until 50 percent of the people took an oath of loyalty but Lincoln pocket vetoed the bill. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated just as the South surrendered in April 1865, and then Andrew Johnson inherited the problem of Reconstruction. Johnson supported Lincoln's plan after taking office. Enough Confederates signed these oaths to enable the immediate creation of new governments. Johnson required that the new states ratify the 13th Amendment freeing the slaves, abolish slavery in their own constitutions, discard debts incurred while in rebellion, and declare secession null and void. By the end of 1865 all of the secessionist states but Texas had rejoined the Union. Radical Republicans in Congress thought they should control Reconstruction and wished to punish the South for causing the Civil War. Some of these Republicans 2005-05-21T03:04:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reconstruction-in-the-South-Civil-War-Aftermath-26694.aspx Treason: Benedict Arnold Research Essay After defeating British troops in Saratoga, Congress made Benedict Arnold a major general in the Continental Army. Washington wrote a commendation saying that Arnold was a brave officer. Despite the promotion, Arnold remained at the bottom of the list. There were four other major generals superior to him. Arnold was soon off once again to help the northern army. Ticonderoga had fallen back into enemy hands. British General John Burgoyne and his troops were moving rapidly down from Canada toward Albany. Arnold fell under the leadership of General Horatio Gates. Arnold and Gates were complete opposites. Gates appeared cautious and calculating while Benedict was persistent and hasty. Gates held position on an area overlooking the Hudson River. His plan was to wait for an attack. He knew that the British were low on supplies from their long march from Canada and planned on using that to his advantage. Arnold disagreed, urging Gates to attack General Burgoyne during his progress. However, Gates didn’t trust Benedict or believe in his tactics. Once the battle begun there was no holding back. Disobeying Gates orders, Arnold led a furious attack. Upon the barrage of bullets swarming the battlefield, Arnold was shot in the leg. Ironically this was the same leg that had been wounded in the battle at Montreal. Thanks to Arnold’s valiant effort General Burgoyne and his men were faced with retreating. Over six hundred British soldiers were killed. On October 16, General Burgoyne surrendered his sword to General Gates, instead of Arnold. This had disgruntled Arnold greatly, given that it was his brilliant, tactical assessment that forced the British army to surrender. This had made the victory bittersweet threw his perspective. Following the battle, Arnold lay in an Albany hospital for three months. Arnold left the hospital with a “fracture box” around his bad leg. Gates distort over Arnold’s disobedience stripped him of his rank. However, the Continental Congress restored his rank as a reward for Arnold’s spirited efforts. After Ticonderoga, Arnold was having problems getting reimbursements from Congress for his expenses. Unfortunately, Arnold lacked receipts for those purchases. Arnold felt his loyalty and honor were in question given that Congress was slow to react to Arnold’s claim. Soon after Washington requested that Arnold come to Valley Forge to converse his next assignment. Upon learning the extent of Arnold’s injury, Washington decided to position Benedict as the military 2005-05-19T03:36:33-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Benedict-Arnold-s-Treason-26683.aspx Incidents in The Life Of A Slave Girl Essay Topic: How much harder was slavery for women than men? No one in today's society can even come close to the heartache, torment, anguish, and complete misery suffered by women in slavery. Many women endured this agony their entire lives, there only joy being there children and families, who were torn away from them and sold, never to be seen or heard from again. Thesis In the book, Incidents in the Life of Slave Girl, Linda Brent tells a spectacular story of her twenty years spent in slavery with her master Dr. Flint, and her jealous Mistress. She speaks of her trials and triumphs as well as the harms done to other slaves. She takes you on the inside of slavery and shows you the Hell on Earth slavery really was. She tells you the love and heartbreak she experienced being an unmarried slave mother. At around the age of twenty or so, Linda escapes and ends up in very small garret only nine foot long and seven foot wide. So small she could not even stand up. She lived in this hole with no light, no fresh air, and barely ever moved for almost seven years. She finally escaped and made it to the North where she and her children lived much happier and most of all they lived free. Linda Brent said, "Slavery is terrible for men, but is far more terrible for women." She makes a good and true point, for when her life and the life of other slave women is compared to men's, mentally, slavery takes a much larger toll on the suffering of women. Women are responsible for their children, because the children follow the mother and mothers often fill guilty for bringing children into the cruel world of slavery. As Linda Brent expresses, "I often prayed for death; but now I didn't want to die, unless my child could die too . . .(Benny) it's clinging fondness was a mixture of love and pain . . . Sometimes I wished that he (Benny) might die in infancy . . .Death is better than slavery". In the book Linda has mixed feelings about her children because she so dearly loves them. She doesn't want them to suffer in slavery as she has so she wishes they would die, but she loves them and she doesn't want to 2005-05-19T02:55:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Incidents-in-The-Life-Of-A-Slave-Girl-Essay-26659.aspx Cuban Missile Crisis On August 6, 1945, the world changed forever. The United States had sent a B-29 bomber plane named "Enola Gay" to fly over the industrial city of Hiroshima, Japan and drop the first atomic bomb ever - "Little Boy." The world had never experienced anything like it. One hundred thousand died almost instantly -- most of them were civilians. Three days later, in Nagasaki, another bomb -- "Fat Man" - was dropped. This time roughly forty thousand died. The people of the world were glad to see that the bombs ended most destructive war ever, but over the course of the forty years the world feared a nuclear battle that could wipe out all humankind off of the face of the Earth. The images that were coming from the aftermath of the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki affected almost every person in the world in all aspects. The image of the mushroom-shaped cloud and the desolate city would remain in every person's mind as an image of destruction and as a warning of the danger of a nuclear war. The Manhattan Project was the code name for an effort to create an atomic bomb during World War II. It was named for the Manhattan Engineer District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because most of the early research was done in New York City . Refugee physicists sparked the project soon after German scientists had discovered nuclear fission in 1938. Many American scientists feared that Hitler and the Germans would produce a nuclear bomb; consequently, they contacted Albert Einstein to write a letter to United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to help the production of the first nuclear bomb. Roosevelt agreed to assist the scientists and they began the Manhattan Project. The development took place at laboratory at Los Alamos, New Mexico, located on an isolated mesa. The project was to be kept classified under all circumstances. The scientists working at the plant could not even tell their wives about their work, unless they worked there themselves. All the mail in the town was censored; everybody was restricted to a two hundred mile radius and residents were forbidden to tell their friends where they lived. No one in the community had a name; rather everyone was either a "sir" or "mister". The most serious threat to the security of the project was the hiring of Klaus Fuchs 2005-05-16T05:34:23-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Cuban-Missile-Crisis-and-the-Manhattan-Project-Research-26631.aspx Fear, Violence, and Race Relations in Post-Reconstruction South The failure of Reconstruction in the South in the late 1800’s led to a specific mentality felt throughout society. Black inferiority was not to be questioned or contested. Fear was constantly haunting the minds of African-Americans and all aspects of their lives. Violence was used for power and control both by the blacks and whites, and became a dominant aspect of Southern lifestyle. The relationships between blacks and whites in post-Reconstruction South were defined by the roles fear and violence came to play in society. The institution of slavery became an issue of race, whites above blacks, a social role that was not to be violated. While enslaved black men, women, and children endured a great deal of violent beatings and sexual abuse, all used by the whites to exert power and control, as well as to impose fear into the lives of black slaves. In 1861 slavery was abolished and many slaves were left with the fear and inferiority that had been strongly embedded into their minds and into social mentality. “Many institutions, public and private, excluded blacks altogether… others offered blacks markedly inferior services” (Foner, 158). The idea of black inferiority was clearly supported and perpetuated by the segregation in society. Foner, in his work, A Short History of Reconstruction, explains how this separation was apparent in both the public and private realms of society. It was clear to the blacks that anything challenging this social order would be problematic for themselves and their families. Blacks who rebelled were kidnapped, beaten, raped, or brutally murdered. “Blacks who disputed the portion of the crop allotted them…were frequently whipped… Blacks working on a South Carolina railroad construction gang were whipped and told to go ‘back to the farms to labor’” (Foner, 186). This brutality was used to remind the blacks of what the whites thought was their role in society, a role the whites fought hard to preserve. The attacks did not need to become a personal experience to have a large affect on the views and behavior of the blacks. Richard Wright was, for a long time, among the blacks that did not experience this violence of whites first hand but knew of the roles that blacks and whites played into in society. “I wanted to understand these two sets of people who lived side by side and never touched, it seemed, 2005-04-24T08:18:57-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Fear,-Violence,-Race-Relations-in-Post-Reconstruction-South-26561.aspx General William Tecumseh Sherman; Hero, Criminal and Terrorist It is said, “The victor writes history.” In no case is this better illustrated than that of William Tecumseh Sherman. In most history books Sherman is touted as nothing less than a hero. It is often said he was the first modern general because of his use of total war. To many in the southern United States, Sherman was no hero. In the State of Georgia, many people even in present day revere William Tecumseh Sherman as the most hated man in history. In light of names such as Hitler and Hussein this is quite a feat, with so many generations removed. How could this be so? Sherman was no mad man. He was not genocidal, nor was he an evil totalitarian. Here is how, Sherman was a terrorist and war criminal, even though history books fail to make much mention of these facts. By the modern meaning, Sherman would not classify as a terrorist. Terrorists today are classified as individuals or nongovernmental groups who commit violent acts. They are usually neither part of nor officially serving in the military forces, any law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, or other governmental agencies of an established nation-state. That being said, if one were to trace the meaning of terrorism back to its origin you find a different definition. The word terrorism was first used in France to describe a new system of government adopted during the French Revolution. The regime de la terreur (Reign of Terror) was intended to promote democracy and popular rule by ridding the revolution of its enemies and purifying it in the process. However, the oppression and violent excesses of the terreur transformed it into a feared instrument of the state. It is without question that Sherman was a feared instrument of the Union state. Also by any account, Sherman was set on ridding the Union of its enemies by oppression and violent excesses. These features were the heart of Sherman’s Total War Philosophy. The total war concept was and still is a philosophy that holds, armed conflict involves a struggle not only between competing military forces, but also between the societies of the competing states. By Sherman’s own account, total war was necessary to save the democracy. Sherman’s belief that he should “rein terror” reverberates in 2005-04-24T02:41:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/General-William-T-Sherman-Hero-Criminal-and-Terrorist-26546.aspx Knee Jerk Reactions of Government to Terrorism “The British are coming, the British are coming.” Like these famous words of Paul Revere and the Minute Men, Americans have always been willing to sound the alarm at a moments notice. The problem with this is that at times fear rules over logic and leads Americans to act in haste. Two such examples are the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and the USA Patriot Act. At times, the United States has lost its bearings when confronted by an enemy. In a state of crisis or even panic, the government has implemented measures that have been since been viewed as regrettable. From 1798 to 1800, the French were considered terrorists by pirating ships and making things uncomfortable for the fledgling American republic. The Federalist Party led a backlash against the French, and Thomas Jefferson and his Republican Party were seen as Francophiles. American reaction to the threat posed by France came in the form of the Alien and Sedition Acts which were championed by the Federalists, passed by Congress, and signed by President Adams in 1798. The Alien Act required immigrants to reside in the U.S. for 14 at least years rather than only 5 in order to qualify for citizenship. The act also gave the President the legal right to expel those the government considered "dangerous." In certain circumstances, aliens remaining in the United States could be imprisoned “so long as, in the opinion of the President, the public safety may require.” The Sedition Act punished "false, scandalous, and malicious" writings against the government with fines and imprisonment. Most of those arrested under the Sedition Act were Republican editors, and instead of sending boatloads of aliens back to France, it resulted in no one's deportation. The Alien and Sedition Acts were the federal government’s first direct assault on American civil liberties. This legislation made a mockery of the First Amendment and deprived aliens of basic due process of law. From this assault we can learn lessons relevant to our own time. The tragedy of September 11 and the threat of terrorism against America have prompted the passage of the USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act is infringing on similar civil liberties as The Alien and Sedition Acts did in the 1700s. Under the Patriot Act, anyone suspected of terrorist 2005-04-24T02:29:16-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Knee-Jerk-Reactions-of-Government-to-Terrorism-26545.aspx History; Evolution or Revolution Why would one author choose to portray a historical event as revolutionary while another chooses to view the same event as evolutionary? The answer to this question is simple, perspective. Einstein's theory of time and space, Relativity, proposed that distance and time are not absolute. History also depends on relativity, it is not an absolute. History is more than a chronological account of past events of a period or in the life or development of a people, an institution, or a place. Historians use knowledge to analyze past events. Because no two historians have exactly the same knowledge base the context in which they write must be taken into perspective. Here we will explore how the same events may be both revolutionary and evolutionary at the same time. Just as all historians have different knowledge bases, in a like manner so do all people. For this reason it is important to define the context in which this essay views revolution and evolution. Revolution is a sudden, radical, or complete fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualize a paradigm. Evolution is change in a certain direction of a process, continuous change from simple to more complex, with the outcome resulting in a better state; or a process of gradual social, political, and economic advance. A half of a century of time taken out of man’s liner timeline of history is minuscule. Therefore many things that happen in such a relatively short span of time could be defined as revolutionary. Take the American Revolution as an example if you use the year 1775 and the Battles of Lexington and Concord as a starting point and the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1782 as a ending point it is easy to see how this could be defined revolution. When analyzed in greater detail it is also easy to see how this episode in American history can be defined as an evolutionary process. The American Revolution did not just suddenly start for arbitrary reasons in 1775. Moreover a series of events led up to the start of the war. Some claim the first event leading to the Revolutionary War was the first settlers fleeing Europe and tyrannical control. Others point to proceedings such as The Sugar Act of 1764. 2005-04-24T02:23:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Evolution-or-Revolution-26544.aspx ESSAY ON RECONSTRUCTION Following the American Civil War came the Reconstruction Act. This is when the North helped rebuild the South from the total destruction which happened during the Civil War. Discussed below are three effects the Reconstruction Act had on the North and the South. First, the U.S. government enacted the 13th Amendment. This amendment freed all slaves. This, in a way , was good and bad for the slaves, in that it let them be free to do what they wanted. However it left them with no place to stay, no food, 2005-04-14T05:43:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Reconstruction-and-Sharecropping-26500.aspx Common Sense, Paine, and America's Most Important Leaders of the Protest Over the centuries, one of the most important tools available to protesting groups was literature. Some of the most famous protest literature in the world has its roots in American history. For example, some great American authors of protest literature include Thomas Paine, Thomas Nast, John C. Calhoun, and Martin Luther King. Through eloquent, sometimes subtle means, these authors became the spokesmen for their particular protest movements. Thomas Paine was an English-born man who seemed to stir controversy wherever he traveled. Paine's forceful yet eloquent prose made him a hero for the three great causes to which he devoted his life; the American Revolution, religious reform, and the natural rights of man. At the age of 37, Paine strove for the fabled shores of America, determined to forget his past. He made the acquaintance of Benjamin Franklin, and settled in Philadelphia. There, Paine was eventually hired into the profession of editor for the Pennsylvania Magazine. He published a series of minor essays, but his first important work was an essay written for the Pennsylvania Journal in which Paine openly denounced slavery. This was Paine's first foray into the world of protest literature, and it clearly whet his appetite. Paine soon became fascinated with the ongoing hostility in Anglo-American relations, and, much to the dismay of his publisher, could not seem to think of anything but. Therefore, in late 1775, Paine had begun what was to become a 50- page Pamphlet known as Common Sense. In this work, Paine stated that: Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a Government, which we might expect in a country without Government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise (Fast 6). This very biting and controversial stance is what characterized Paine's writing. He went on to dismiss the King as a fool, and stated that natural ability is not necessarily related to heredity. Paine argued that the colonies existed only for British profit, and that the colonies must unite quickly if they were ever 2005-04-13T02:52:26-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Common-Sense,-Paine,-and-America-s-Most-Important-Leaders-26487.aspx The 1960's was a decade filled with memorable experiences, lasting impressions, and a whole new momentous era that would set the stage for years to come. Teenagers are found at the local roller skating rinks on Friday nights, the Ed Sullivan Show is one of the most highly watched television shows across all of the United States, and the thriving British rock and roll band, known as the Beatles, are dominating the music charts all across the world. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr - acknowledged as strictly the "Fab Four," - soon began to flourish in the world of music. Their enhanced tunes had all of America standing on its tippy toes, anticipating what would come next from this group of four, talented musicians. One of the Beatles most significant and influential albums to this date was released in 1967, bearing the name Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Tracks such as When I'm Sixty-Four and Within You Without You soon progressed their way up to the top of the charts. "Hippie" related songs managed to dominate a majority of this specific album, with one unique track, titled Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, causing an incredible amount of controversy and questioning. Listeners soon started to believe that John Lennon deliberately chose this song for the album because the initial letters of Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds formed the acrostic, "LSD," which was a powerful and harmful drug that swooped the nation during the 1960's through the 1970's. Not once did John Lennon claim that he had intentionally created the song lyrics based on his acid trips. For all of his life, he averred that the title, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, came from a picture that his four-year-old son, Julian, had drawn in school one day. He had stated that he had no idea that the title formed the abbreviation LSD until someone had pointed it out to him after the release of the album. Throughout an abundance of radio, magazine, and televised interviews, John Lennon was constantly asked if he was well aware of the acrostic that came from this particular song. In an interview with Playboy magazine, Lennon said, "My son Julian came in one day with a picture he painted about a school friend of his named Lucy. He had sketched in some stars in the sky and called it 2005-03-29T02:01:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-1960s-Important-Events-and-Atmosphere-26456.aspx The Attack of Pearl Harbor Hawaii's Pearl Harbor is one of the most well known military installations in the world. On December 7, 1941 Japanese fighter planes attacked the United States Naval base Pearl Harbor killing more than 2300 Americans. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had conceived the surprise attack. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida led the striking force of 353 Japanese aircraft. There had been no formal declaration of war. There were approximately 100 ships of the United States navy present that morning, and it was known as Battleship Row. Battleship Row consisted of battleships, destroyers, cruisers, and other various support ships. During the attack more than 50 percent of the United States pacific fleet was out to sea including carriers. Nearby Hickman Field also fell victim of the surprise attack by the Japanese. 18 Army air corps including bombers, and fighters and attack bombers were destroyed or damaged on the ground during the attack. A few United States fighters struggled into the air against the invaders and gave a good account of themselves. Ground fire and United States pilots from various military installations on the inland of Oahu shot down a total of 29 Japanese fighters. The road to war between Japan and the United States began in the 1930's when differences over China drove the two nations apart. In 1931 Japan conquered Indonesia, which until then had been part of China. In 1937 Japan began a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to conquer the rest of China. In 1940 the Japanese government allied their country with Nazi Germany in the Axis Alliance, and, in the following year occupied all of Indonesia. The United States, which had important political and economic interests in East Asia, was alarmed by these Japanese moves. The United States increased military and financial aid to China, created a program of strengthening its military power in the Pacific and cut off the shipment of oil and other raw materials to Japan. Because Japan was poor in natural recourses its government viewed these steps, especially the embargo on oil, as a threat to the nations survival. Japans' leaders responded by resolving to seize the resources and territories of Southeast Asia, even though that move would certainly result in war with the United States. The problem with the plan was the 2005-03-27T11:06:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Attack-of-Pearl-Harbor--26423.aspx The Great Depression The Great Depression is probably one of the most misunderstood events in American history. It is routinely cited, as proof that unregulated capitalism is not the best in the world, and that only a massive welfare state, huge amounts of economic regulation, and other interventions can save capitalism from itself. The Great Depression had important consequences and was a devastating event in America, however many good policies and programs became available as a result of the great depression, some of which exist even today. When the stock market crashed in October 1929, the nation plummeted into a major depression. An economic catastrophe of major proportions had been building for years. The worldwide demand for agricultural goods during World War I vanished after the war and rural America experienced a severe depression throughout most of the 1920s. This lead to banks foreclosing farm mortgages and by the early 1930s thousands upon thousands of American farmers were out of business. The U.S. economy was superficial and shallow. Major businesses increased profits through most of the decade while wages remained low and workers were unable to buy the goods they had helped to produce. The financial and banking systems were very unregulated and a number of banks had failed during the 1920s. The construction and automotive industries, whose booming business had been made possible by the prosperity earlier in the decade, slowed. Declining sales resulted in higher rates of unemployment. America was witnessing a breakdown of the Democratic and free enterprise system as the US fell into the worst depression in history. The economic depression that beset the United States and other countries was unique in its severity and its consequences. At the depth of the depression, in 1933-1935, one American worker in every four was out of a job. It was a time when federal and state officials were still developing work programs for the unemployed. This great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930's, shaking the foundations of Western capitalism. When the Depression began, there was no federal relief for the unemployed or assistance for families facing starvation. Some states operated relief programs but curtailed them due to declining tax revenues. Religious and charitable organizations provided relief in many urban areas; however, in many of these organizations operating in the North as well as the South, there was a lot of discrimination and racism, which excluded African Americans from their 2005-03-27T10:44:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Research-Paper-on-The-Great-Depression-26417.aspx Federalist Research Paper The Federalist papers were written and ratified in the years of 1787 to 1788. They were created mostly by two of the most influential men of the post-Revolution period. It helped the budding nation create a unified and agreeably strong central government: Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist who wrote fifty-six papers, and James Madison, a Democratic Republican who wrote twenty-one papers; John Jay also had a hand in the writing of five papers. Every paper was written under the pen name Publius. However, today it is known that it was these three men who were the genius behind the works. Hamilton and Madison diligently worked together to write these papers. As time went on, they divided into two different political parties and a strong rivalry ensued. Although their opposition surfaced during the second presidential term, their separate papers foreshadow their eventual contention. Through their papers it became evident that they interpreted the Constitution much differently. Either through loose construction in the form of a strong federal government or strict construction in the idea that states' rights should be the most important factor of the new national government. They also foresaw Hamilton and Madison's splitting disagreements. Alexander Hamilton was a strong-willed Federalist, who had the genius necessary for becoming president. However, he was tragically killed by Aaron Burr in a duel. He was the most influential Federalist of his time and his National Debt still stands today. However, it has increased greatly since his time. Hamilton believed that the Constitution needed a loose construction or interpretation. This belief on the national government was evident in his Federalist writing. In paper No. 23, "The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union", he explains that there are principle purposes with which the national government was obligated to do. These purposes were the common defense of its members, the preservation of the public peace against both internal and external attacks, the regulation of commerce with other nations and interstate trade, and the supervision over discussions and problems stemming from political or commercial intercourse with foreign countries. He believed that the government should be in charge of the States in that they protected while governing. He also asked his fellow countrymen how insufficient their present Confederation 2005-03-20T23:47:42-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Federalist-Research-Paper-26384.aspx What is democracy? In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." According to Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. The description of democracy could take up more than 10 more pages, but to simplify this, democracy is basically a system which includes: people who have sovereignty, a government based upon consent of the governed, rulership of the majority, however serving to protect the rights of minorities--whether ethnic, religious, or political, or simply the losers in the debate over a piece of controversial legislation, guarantee of basic human rights for all, free and fair elections, equality before law, constitutional limits on the power of government, social, economic, and political pluralism, and values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise. Although experiencing minor improvements in terms of democracy, progression of liberty for racial minorities, improvement in voting conditions, betterment in the equal distribution of town offices according to financial status of the people, Wethersflield didn´t illustrate major progression from the 1750´s to the 1780´s, with the presence of unequal distribution of land and property, and lack of religious tolerance. Between the 1750´s and the 1780´s, Wethersfield experienced some minor improvement in terms of democracy. Most notibly, the increase of the free black population. According to `Document A´, in 1756 50% of the black population were slaves, whereas in 1774, 36.1% of all blacks were slaves. This was a great accomplishment considering the fact that even though the white population increased by 54.2%, the number of black slaves decreased in number, since it would have been expected for the slave population to rise in order to satisfy the needs of more whites. Other than racial liberty,according to `Document G´, Wethersfield also experienced a slight increase in the percentage of adult white males meeting the freeman requirements, along dramatic increase in the percentage of adult white males taking freeman´s oath, actually voting, and getting elected to 2005-03-19T23:00:32-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/What-is-democracy-A-Thoughtful-Essay-26381.aspx The Jacksonian Democracy and the Men Behind It Although Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren held the same views, their mind set and expectations for themselves were from different ends of the spectrum. Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767 in a log cabin on the boundary line between North Carolina and South Carolina. Jackson's father died before he was born leaving Jackson and his family to move in with relatives. Throughout Jackson's childhood he caused trouble and hated schoolwork, in fact many jokes are made about Jackson's horrible spelling. He was said to sometimes spell the same word three different ways in the same document. At the age of sixteen Andrew Jackson was left an orphan due to the Revolutionary War, Jackson himself had been captured during the war. After the war Jackson studied the law to become a lawyer in Nashville. While in Nashville Jackson fell in love with a woman, Rachel, whom was already married. Soon, however, Jackson learned that her husband divorced her, without thinking Jackson proposed to Rachel and they were married in 1791. Two years later they learned that the divorce was never legal, therefore neither was there marriage. They quickly married again, but the mistake caused a scandal, and people were always talking about them behind their backs, which angered Jackson profoundly, and lead him to always be challenging others and giving and receiving many duels. Jackson was always trying to defend his wife. In 1796 Jackson's political career begins when he helps to write the Tennessee state constitution. He was later elected as Tennessee's first representative to Congress. From 1798 to 1804 he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee and a Major-General of the Tennessee militia. Jackson spent a year in the Senate and while there was thought of as a backwoodsman. It was said that "Andrew Jackson was a spokesman for the common people-the backbone of the new nation" (Quackenbush 19). Jackson's malitia was called to action during the War of 1812. They stayed outside of Natchez for four weeks before being sent home. As Jackson was marching home to Nashville one solider is quoted as saying "look at him, he's as tough as a hickory branch" and that is how Jackson came to be known as "Old Hickory." That was 2005-03-19T22:05:46-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Jacksonian-Democracy-and-the-Men-Behind-It-26377.aspx The Relationship Between the Natives and the Corps of Discovery For the corps of discovery the trek was a long and treacherous one with many unknowns. One of their biggest fears were the natives or savages as they called them. On their journey their goal was not only to discover the new land Jefferson purchased but to make peace with the Indians and tell them they now belonged to the U.S. or their new “Great Father”. This was a difficult task, but in most cases they succeeded in doing it without bloodshed. However, there were a few occasions where swords were drawn. This essay will detail the relationship between the Indians and the corps from the good, bad and the indifferent. Further along in the expedition near the northwest tip of Oregon on the southern side of the Columbia River the Corps built Fort Clatsop. While in the process of building they were visited by Coboway, a chief of the Clatsop tribe. The Clatsops were a flourishing people who fought few wars and had few enemies. While Coboway was there he traded goods with the expedition and made himself welcomed. During the winter he was a frequent visitor. On his many visits he aided them in dealing with the harshness of the winter. He told them about the abundance of elk and in time when food was low he informed them about a beached whale a couple of miles away. At the end of the journey for his kindness Coboway was left Fort Clatsop. This was one friendly Indian encounter, however not all tribes were this congenial. In July of 1806 the expedition met eight Blackfeet warriors. When the Indians found out the corps had come in peace they camped out with them. The Blackfeet were a belligerent tribe. For 20 years they had dominated their rivals the Shoshone and Nez Perce because of their trade with British merchants for guns. This gave them the edge over their neighbors. When the expedition told them that they would now belong to the U.S. they were fine. However, when it was mentioned that the Shoshone and Nez Perce had already accepted the integration and would receive munitions and supplies the warriors recognized that this posed a threat to the Blackfeet rule. They devised a plan to steal the expedition’s guns, but it was hampered when two warriors were killed by Reuben Field and Lewis. 2005-03-18T23:38:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Lewis-and-Clark-quot-The-Corps-of-Discovery-quot-26370.aspx Puritanism, and the Salem Witch Trials Puritanism refers to the movement of reform, which occurred within the Church of England. It began at the time of the Elizabethan settlement of 1559 and ended at the end of the Rump Parliament with the ascension of Charles II to the British throne in 1660. The American Puritans clearly understood that God's word applies to all of life. Their exemplary lives and faith, contrary to popular myths, are a highpoint of Christian thinking. Puritan legal history specifies some of their loyalties and compromises. Today, scholars continue their dispute over the degree to which the Puritan colonists influenced American law, morality, and culture. In the area of law, this image is supplemented by lurid accounts of witch trials and corporal public punishments. The best example of this was during the seventeenth century. The Salem witch trials began in 1692, and lasted less than a year. The first arrests were made on March 1, 1692 and the final hanging day was September 22, 1692. The first noted arrest, was of Tituba, a Carib Indian from Barbados. She was Reverend Samuel Parris' slave. Her role in the witch trials includes the arrest and confession of witchcraft on March 1, 1692. In January of 1692, the daughter and niece of Reverend Samuel Parris became very ill. When she failed to improve, the village doctor, William Griggs, was called in. After much deliberation, Griggs concluded that the problem was witchcraft. This put into motion the forces that would ultimately result in the death of nineteen men and women. In addition to those nineteen people, one man named Giles Corey was crushed to death. Seventeen others died in prison and the lives of many were irrevocably changed. To better understand the events of the Salem witch trials, it is necessary to understand the time period in which the accusations of witchcraft occurred. There were the ordinary stresses of 17th-century life in Massachusetts Bay Colony. A strong belief in the devil, factions among Salem Village fanatics, and rivalry with nearby Salem Town all played a part in the stress. There was also a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of an attack by warring tribes created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. Soon prisons were filled 2005-02-28T02:44:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Salem-Witch-Trials-and-Puritanism-26345.aspx The Great Depression Essay On October the 24th, 1929 the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) collapsed when millions of shares at inflated prices were offered on sale. Over $50 billions were lost on what was called "Black Thursday" when the stock prices returned to their actual value. Soon after the crash, the entire world economy began a period of deflation; prices and wages dropped as the demand for goods was significantly reduced. Because of this lack of need for goods production halted and several factories closed; people lost their jobs and businesses were bankrupt. By 1933, nearly half the nation's workmen were unemployed, and the youths coming out of high school and university had little hope of beginning a career. A lack of unemployment insurance forced many people to rely on relief from the government. The Depression hit most sectors of the economy very hard. One of the hardest hit was the wheat farming industry. Farmers in the Prairie region of Canada saw the price of a bushel of wheat plummet from $1.60 in 1929 to 38 cents in 1932 because of an oversupplied world market. Many farmers were unable to pay off their loans and lost their farms, others were forced to abandon their farms for lack of money to support themselves. Incomes fell 60% in Alberta and 72% in Saskatchewan. Quebec was also hit hard as the demand for manufactured goods and clothes decreased due to the inability of people, farms, and companies to spend money freely. The many ports of Quebec were very inactive simply because there was much less wheat being shipped than before and many workers lost their jobs as factories closed. Also in Quebec, a back-to-the land movement began as priest such as Félix-Antione Savard led unemployed city dwellers to sparsely populate regions such as Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The people were encouraged to return to their roots and farm. However, this movement had very little success. Canada was especially hit hard by the Great Depression that followed the crash of the U.S. stock market in October 1929. Unemployment soared, industrial production collapsed, and prices, especially for farm commodities, fell rapidly as demand for all consumer goods virtually disappeared. From 1929-1933 Canada's Gross National Product declined 42%. Governments and private relief agencies were at a loss in attempting to cope with the legions 2005-02-23T08:58:04-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Great-Depression-History-Report-26330.aspx The Trial of Anne Hutchinson Anne Hutchinson was a threat to the ideals of the Puritan community because she would not subjugate her own personal convictions and beliefs to those held by the ministers and the civil authority. She was thought of as having broken covenant with the community by associating with those already banned and by freely speaking her differing ideas. These actions were compounded by the fact that she was a strong, well-spoken, charismatic individual. Anne's strength can be seen at the beginning of the examination. First the trial was moved from Boston to Newton to isolate her from her supporters. As a woman, alone, she was brought in front of a court full of powerful men. Then harshly rebuked by the Governor being accused of "troubling the peace of the commonwealth and churches" by "promoting and divulging of those opinions that are causes of this trouble." (Wheeler/Becker p. 35) I imagine this was orchestrated in part to cause Anne to be ashamed and fearful. The Governor may have hoped that this would have led her to humility and to ask forgiveness and then to go back to her place of quietly tending to her family. He must have been disappointed and angered when instead of backing down she challenged his confrontation stating, "I hear no things laid to my charge."(Wheeler/Becker p.36) Next the Governor questions Anne concerning her association with Mr. Wheelwright. Mr. Wheelwright's sermons had been considered divisive to the colony and hence he had been banished. Anne was accused of being guilty of the same sin through entertaining Mr. Wheelwright and his supporters. When she questions, "What law do they transgress?" Gov. W. answers, "The law of God and of the state." I seems that the Governor considered Mr. Wheelwrights views to be detrimental to the community. By bringing division to the community Mr. Wheelwright had broken covenant with the Puritan church, then state, and ultimately God. Anne's empathy toward Wheelwright was then thought of as covenant breaking. The Governor now asks, 'Why do you keep such a meeting at your house as you do every week upon a set day?"(Wheeler/Becker p.37) This being lawful and even encouraged Anne seems agitated that she would be question regarding it. As for the legality of it the Governor states that she needed no 2005-02-23T08:29:53-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Trial-of-Anne-Hutchinson-26316.aspx The Age of Jackson Questions 1-4 1. Both presidents while in office had to adjust the tariff's to be able to work with the economy and the people. Jefferson was more looking towards the richer higher class of people and to the leaders of the states, but Jackson not having the best of an education realized that America 2005-02-23T08:25:36-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/President-Jackson-Questions-26313.aspx The Quebec Act 1774 1. The British decided to pass the Quebec Act of 1774 to secure the loyalty of the Canadians to the British Crown in case of rebellions against them from the 13 Colonies. 2. The hoped to secure relations with the French, as a loyal Quebec could be used as a secure base for military operation. Guy Carleton, the Governor-General at the time, convinced the British Crown that the Quebec Act was imperative to securing Quebec and convincing to habitants to aid Britain if a war broke out. 3. The Quebec Act enlarged the territory of Quebec to include the Indian reserve on the western lands, and included the Ohio Valley. The inclusion of the Ohio Valley would thwart the westward expansion of the British-American colonies. As well, restoration of the Ohio Valley to Quebec would remove the restrictions on the fur trade. Labrador was added, giving Quebec control over seal-hunting and coastal fishing. With this Act, Quebec would still be governed by an appointed Governor and council. However, the Council was open to Roman Catholic office holders, and thus allowed the seigniorial class to participate. 4. The British mercantile group and the French Canadians in Quebec responded favorably to the revised boundaries and were gratified that the Ohio Valley became the exclusive domain of the St. Lawrence-centered fur trade and both welcomed the annexation of the coastal fisheries off Labrador to Quebec. The British-American colonies regarded the inclusion of the Ohio Valley as further proof of British intentions to restrict their westward expansion. The Quebec Act gave full freedom of worship to Catholics and the right to collect tithes was restored to the clergy, much to the dislike of the habitants. The merchants in Quebec and the British-American colonists shared common resentment over the religious freedom of the Catholic church. The denial of a legislative assembly assured the French Canadians that they would not be dominated by a British commercial minority, but British merchants were furious that they had been denied the right to and elected legislative assembly. British-American colonies were astounded by Britain's disregard for the loyal British Canadians, to them it was evidence of British intention to suppress popularly elected assemblies in North America. Conclusion: The Quebec Act, a statute of British Parliament, gave legal recognition to the Catholic Church, French law, and customs in Quebec; these fostered and strengthened the French-Canadian identity. The disregard of the British merchants in Quebec, 2005-02-23T03:45:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Quebec-Act-1774-26307.aspx Why was there economic prosperity in American in the 1920’s? I know that America on it’s surface was prosperous during the 1920’s. I know this because of the physical signs, and the evidence I have found supporting this concept. Some of the physical signs of the then prosperity are evident today, like the skyscrapers and Empire State building. There were the inventions of manufactured fabrics and materials such as Bakelite, artificial silk and Cellophane. Airlines carried almost half a million passengers a year, which compared to Europe at the same time, was a massive number of people. In this essay I will analyse all the reasons behind the economic prosperity in 1920. World War 1 assisted America’s latter prosperity. Throughout the war American industry benefited, because countries that couldn’t buy goods from Europe, did so from America. And along with this Europe bought products from America, products that they weren’t producing while they were fighting. Furthermore, during the First World War, American banks lent money to their European Allies. In the 1920’s, this was being paid back with interest. The war had also led to advances in technology, such as mechanism and manufactured materials. Production of Iron Ore, coal, petrol and wheat and exportation of chemicals, wheat, iron and steal all had increased considerably by the end of the war. By the end of the war, America had decided to isolate itself from the problems of Europe, and set itself about making the most profit in business. This isolationism built up the confidence of the American people. An increase in personal wealth, demand and output production all helped America’s prosperity. Banks were eager to lend money to businesses and individual’s. With this easy money, and the introduction of hire-purchase schemes, the demand for products increased. Consumer spending was incredibly high, which is reflected in the statistic that in 1920 there were 312 department stores, and by 1929 there were 1395. There was a consumer boom. Business profits rose by 80% during this period, which in turn raised share dividends by 65%. Also some women had continued working as they had done through the war. Both of these elements contributed to giving people again, more money to spend. However, the availability of money was not the only reason for increased consumer spending. New inventions such as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and washing machines became available, and advertising over the popular radio encouraged consumers 2005-02-10T18:46:47-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Economic-Prosperity-in-the-1920s-26261.aspx Characteristics and Impacts of American Reconstruction The key goals of Reconstruction were to readmit the South into the Union and to define the status of freedmen in American society. The Reconstruction era was marked by political, not violent, conflict. Some historical myths are that the South was victimized by Reconstruction, and that the various plans of Reconstruction were corrupt and unjust. Actually, the plans were quite lenient, enforcing military rule for only a short period of time, ignoring land reform, and granting pardons easily. The task of Reconstruction was to re-integrate America into a whole nation, securing the rights of each man and establishing order once again. There were three major Reconstruction plans; Lincoln, Johnson, and Congress each offered a strategy to unify the nation. Lincoln’s plan, in 1864, required ten percent of the voting population of each state who had voted in the 1860 election to take an oath of allegiance to the Union and accept the abolition of slavery. Then that ten percent could create a state government that would be loyal to the Union. Confederate officials, army and naval officers, and civil officers who had resigned from office were all required to apply for presidential pardons (Boyer, 443). Lincoln’s plan did not at all deal with freedmen’s civil rights, which is a definite weakness. Under his ten percent rule, no freedmen could be part of a state government. Also, it did not address land reform, an economic weakness of Lincoln’s strategy. Finally, under Lincoln’s plan, no federal military occupation was required in Southern states. This left the freedmen at the mercy of the states for protection. Congress viewed this plan as far too lenient, and in 1864 passed the Wade-Davis bill. This bill required the majority of voters in each Southern state to take an oath of loyalty; only then could the state hold a convention to repeal secession and abolish slavery. Although Lincoln’s plan may have been too lenient, this bill would have been far too harsh and delayed readmission to the Union for a very long time. Lincoln did not sign the bill into law, or pocket-vetoed the bill, and was soon assassinated. Therefore, he did not have a chance to implement his plan of Reconstruction, and his goal was not met. After Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency following Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, and he introduced his plan of Reconstruction. Although Johnson claimed that his plan mirrored Lincoln’s, 2005-02-10T18:45:07-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Characteristics-and-Impacts-of-American-Reconstruction-26260.aspx Colonies in America [i:bcb96a7018]Compare the Spanish and British Colonization[/i:bcb96a7018] In 1492 the colonization begun with the arrival of Christopher Columbus to one of the Caribbean island, the Spanish people wanted to find China to get an cultural exchange but instead they found a unknown land fill of people that received them with arms wide open, the Spanish were fascinated with the prosperous of their land, and the Indians were surprised as well with their enormous ships. But the Spanish had different plans besides the cultural and friendship exchange, they were ambitious people and as soon they had the opportunity to take over them they just did it. The Spanish were violent, determined and religious people and what they wanted from the new word was gold, as simple as that. They had a real beg army and they wanted to ruled and settled down in order to find gold an make their country more rich and powerful. By the other hand there also exist another civilization that wanted something, England. The English get to the new world by their will it was not by a king or queen request like the Spanish. There were various reasons why the American Colonies were established. The three most important themes of English colonization of America were religion, economics, and government. The most important reasons for colonization were to seek refuge, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. To a less important point, the colonists wanted to establish a stable and progressive government. The Indians never known dieses until the Spanish brought it. They were a very healthy and incredible intelligent people they had enormous sort of empires and their respect for the land were unique, they like hard work and their most precious treasure was the corn, because the corn was the basic ingredient for their food. The Spanish used the Indians for cultivate their land. The Indians were a very intelligent civilization they had corn and spices that the Spanish took over very soon, by force. The Indians never had the chance to defend their territory; they fought against gun, cannons and a real big army. The Spanish were seeking for gold that was the most important reason for their colonist, and they used every way to get it, that by the way was the violence they got everything they wanted killing Indians and they kill every Indian on their way. The problem was that they could not found 2005-02-02T08:27:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparison-of-Spanish-and-British-Colonization-26230.aspx Analysis of the Atomic Bomb Ever since the dawn of time man has found new ways of killing each other. The most destructive way of killing people known to man would have to be the atomic bomb. The reason why the atomic bomb is so destructive is that when it is detonated, it has more than one effect. The effects of the atomic bomb are so great that Nikita Khrushchev said that the survivors would envy the dead (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 1982). These devastating physical effects come from the atomic bomb’s blast, the atomic bomb’s thermal radiation, and the atomic bomb’s nuclear radiation. An atomic bomb is any weapon that gets its destructive power from an atom. This power comes when the matter inside of the atoms is transformed into energy. The process by which this is done is known as fission. The only two atoms suitable for fissioning are the uranium isotope U-235 and the plutonium isotope Pu-239 (OutlawLabs). Fission occurs when a neutron, a subatomic particle with no electrical charge, strikes the nucleus of one of these isotopes and causes it to split apart. When the nucleus is split, a large amount of energy is produced, and more free neutrons are also released. These neutrons then in turn strike other atoms, which causes more energy to be released. If this process is repeated, a self-sustaining chain reaction will occur, and it is this chain reaction that causes the atomic bomb to have its destructive power (World Book, 1990). This chain reaction can be attained in two different ways. The first type of atomic bomb ever used was a gun-type. In this type two subcritical pieces of U-235 are placed in a device similar to the barrel of an artillery shell. One piece is placed at one end of the barrel and will remain there at rest. The other subcritical mass is placed at the other end of the barrel. A conventional explosive is packed behind the second subcritical mass. When the fuse is triggered, a conventional explosion causes the second subcritical mass to be propelled at a high velocity into the first subcritical mass. The resulting combination causes the two subcritical masses to become a supercritical mass. When this supercritical mass is obtained, a rapid self-sustained chain reaction is caused (World Book, 1990). This type of atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima, and given 2005-02-02T03:05:41-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Atomic-Bomb-26198.aspx The antiwar movement against Vietnam in the US from 1965-1971 was the most significant movement of its kind in the nation\'s history. The United States first became directly involved in Vietnam in 1950 when President Harry Truman started to underwrite the costs of France\'s war against the Viet Minh. Later, the presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy increased the US\'s political, economic, and military commitments steadily throughout the fifties and early sixties in the Indochina region. Prominent senators had already begun criticizing American involvement in Vietnam during the summer of 1964, which led to the mass antiwar movement that was to appear in the summer of 1965. This antiwar movement had a great impact on policy and practically forced the US out of Vietnam. Starting with teach-ins during the spring of 1965, the massive antiwar efforts centered on the colleges, with the students playing leading roles. These teach-ins were mass public demonstrations, usually held in the spring and fall seasons. By 1968, protesters numbered almost seven million with more than half being white youths in the college. The teach-in movement was at first, a gentle approach to the antiwar activity. Although, it faded when the college students went home during the summer of 1965, other types of protest that grew through 1971 soon replaced it. All of these movements captured the attention of the White House, especially when 25,000 people marched on Washington Avenue. And at times these movements attracted the interest of all the big decision-makers and their advisors (Gettleman, 54). The teach-ins began at the University of Michigan on March 24, 1965, and spread to other campuses, including Wisconsin on April 1. These protests at some of America\'s finest universities captured public attention. The Demonstrations were one form of attempting to go beyond mere words and research and reason, and to put direct pressure on those who were conducting policy in apparent disdain for the will expressed by the voters (Spector, 30-31). Within the US government, some saw these teach-ins as an important development that might slow down on further escalation in Vietnam. Although several hundred colleges experienced teach-ins, most campuses were untouched by this circumstance. Nevertheless, the teach-ins did concern the administration and contributed to President Johnson\'s decision to present a major Vietnam address at Johns Hopkins University on April 7, 1965. The address tried to respond to the teach-ins campus protest activity. The Johns 2005-02-02T03:02:10-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Anti-Vietnam-Movement-in-the-United-States-26197.aspx EVENTS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT I. Introduction A. Why it began B. What happened II. Emmett Till A. Said "Bye-Baby" to white woman B. White woman brother and husband kill Emmett C. Both men found not guilty of their crimes III. Little Rock Nine A. Gov. Faubus denies entry B. Pres. Eisenhower ordered troops to integrate Central High School C. Ernest Green first black graduate of Central High IV. James Meredith A. Denied by the University of Mississippi after being accepted B. Pres. Kennedy ordered troops to escort Meredith to campus C. Meredith graduates two years later V. COFO Members A. Arrested on false charges of speeding B. Murdered by the KKK C. Pres. Johnson had FBI investigate D. A few men were charged with charges of violating civil rights VI. Conclusion A. Not able to share all B. Hope you liked it --------------------------------- Events of the Civil Rights Movement The United States Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's was the centerfold of the 1900's. The Movement came about because not all Americans were being treated fairly. In general white Americans were treated better than any other American people, especially black people. There were many events of the Civil Rights Movement some dealt with black people not getting a fair education. Some events came about because people were advocating that people should be able to practice their American rights. The term paper that you are about to read is composed of events that occurred as apart of the Civil Rights Movements. The events are all in chronological order with the brutal murder of Emmett Till first in order. After that is the story of Arkansas' Central High School's integration. Keeping with the idea of equal education, you will be able read how the University of Mississippi was integrated by James Meredith with the assistance of the U.S. Government. Lastly you will see the power the Ku Klux Klan had in the deep South, especially Mississippi, with the murder of three members of the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO). These events are just a glimpse of what the Civil Rights Movement truly was. Now here is the strory of young Emmett Till. Emmett Till Not knowing the customs of Mississippi was the downfall for young Emmett Till. While visiting family near Money, Mississippi, Emmett Till, age 14, was murdered. Emmett grew up on Chicago's South side, where he was a 2005-02-02T03:00:12-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Events-of-the-The-Civil-Rights-Movement-26195.aspx Since its inception, America as a nation has developed and progressed according to trends of change that collectively define an era. Like all other eras, the time period of 1875-1925 experienced growth, changes, movements, and new ideals. It is the way that these changes came about that defines this era. Americans started to push for changes in many arenas of life that were previously unchallenged. New experiences and opportunities were also presented to America that caused tributaries in the former American ideal. These pressures for change could not be ignored and thus America continued its maturity in a new and unique manner. The changes in the American sphere of life and the development of greater organization, the largest underlying theme of the time period, facilitated the surgence of new foreign and military policies, urban reform policies, economic reform policies, neo-federalism especially in dealing with business, social reform policies, and the quality of life. The period from 1875-1900 was considered the "Gilded Age". On come the no-name presidents. There is a reason though, why these presidents were no-name presidents. It is because all the power that the presidency gained from Lincoln, was lost during reconstruction. Most things in American life were considered to be things that the government, especially the president, should not touch. The laissez-faire philosophy was in full force. The lack of interference allowed the giants like John D. Rockefellar, Andrew Carnegie, and J. Pierpont Morgan to rise to almost divine status. This is where organization comes to play. Business began to realize that by organizing their power and joining together in bonds such as cartels, later pools, and finally trusts, that they could maximize the exploitation of the growing American population. With this fusion of power and the creation of megacorporations, abuses in the course of industrialization concerning labor and the environment developed. This reaction to the weak central government led to the opposition of these abuses. It is a natural pattern that opposition would occur, but the fact that organized opposition began to grow is what separates these resistences from the oppositions of the past. Immigration reaches its peak during the gilded age and shifts from the "old immigration" (northern & western Europe) to the "new immigration" (southern & eastern Europe) over time. The immigration was considered not to be easy to assimilate, and therefore a bigger problem than before. Nativist developed, as immigrants increased the urbanization problems 2005-02-02T02:57:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-of-American-Imperialism-26193.aspx War of 1812 Essay Answer the following: Is it valid to call the War of 1812 “America’s worst-fought war”? Was the cause of the failure essentially military, or was it an inevitable result of the political disunity over the war’s purposes? Provide support for your stance and “discredit” the opposing view. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and England. Ending in 1815 with the Treaty of Ghent, the war did not accomplish any of the issues it was being fought over. For the US, the War of 1812 seemed to just be one failure after another. Although the military suffered great failure during the war, these were the direct consequence of the failure of the citizens to unite for the causes of the war. Because of these failures, it is quite valid to call the War of 1812 “America’s worst-fought war”. When the war began, it was being fought by the Americans to address their grievances toward the British. This seemed like a justifiable cause for a war, however not all of the citizens shared the same sense of unity about the political issues the war was being fought over. The US was quite upset about the continuing impressment of American sailors into the British Navy and the seizures of American merchant trading vessels by the British. Another reason the United States wished to go to war with Britain was because of their dealings with the Indians in the West. The British were not only trading with the Indians, but they were also giving them weapons and encouraging them to attack American settlements. Along with these reasons, the Americans, now becoming hungry for land, dreamed of capturing British Canada and possibly Florida for the union. Also, the Americans still contained a certain degree of resentment from the Revolutionary War, which they were eager to take out on the British. Even though these were the causes the nation was supposedly fighting for, the entire nation lacked a major driving force to gain restitution for them. The nation was not really united for the cause, as backcountry farmers didn’t care about what was happening to coastal shipping businesses, as coastal shipping businesses didn’t care about what was happening to the back-country farmers. Everyone was only concerned with their own problems, and not concerned with the problems facing the nation regarding the situations its citizens were enduring. Some would say 2005-01-30T06:07:39-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/War-of-1812-Was-it-the-Worst-Fought-War-26187.aspx In September 1929, "the Roaring Twenties," "the Era of Wonderful Nonsense," of sex, booze and jazz, ended with the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. There followed the "low dishonest decade" of poet W. H. Auden's depiction, as Western statesmen sought to appease their way to security and peace. On Sept. 11, 2001, as the 767s smashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon, killing 5,000 Americans, another unserious era of sex scandals and stock market silliness came to an end. Recall, if you will, the summer of 2001. The story that had CNN, MSNBC and FOX News transfixed was the saga of Gary Condit. Nightly, talk-show hosts demanded answers to the great questions: Why did Gary throw away the watch box? Where did stewardess Anne Marie Smith spend her D.C. nights? By Sept. 11, the story seemed about to end in a great courtroom drama, with Anne Marie charging Gary with libel – for denying she committed adultery. What will the decade be remembered for? The Trial of O. J.? Who killed Jon-Benet Ramsey? The Oval Office trysts of Bill and Monica? Condit summer? Meanwhile, not to worry about the world. For America is "the last superpower," the "indispensable nation." The New Economy will take us to "Dow 36,000!" "Pax Americana" and "Global Democracy" are our destiny. On Sept. 11, the frivolous era came to an end. Suddenly, for the first time since Gen. Jackson drove the British army out of Louisiana, the enemy was inside the gates, slaughtering thousands. Why? Because we adopted an open-borders policy that left tens of millions of illegal aliens wandering about America, few of whom had any loyalty to us, some of whom were willing to murder us on the orders of their foreign masters. To keep the cost of labor down, we let millions of strangers, and not a few enemies, into our home. Never before has America been so vulnerable, and corporate greed and craven politics did it to us. Tuesday, the U.S. reported that industrial production fell for the 12th straight month. Bethlehem Steel became the latest U.S. company to go Chapter 11. U.S. factories now produce at 75 percent of capacity. Last year, the U.S. trade deficit in manufactureds hit $324 billion and the merchandise trade deficit $450 billion. The de-industrialization of America is well advanced. In a triumph of the globalists, America 2005-01-30T06:06:27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-the-World-Trade-Center-Bombing-26186.aspx English III Honors Period 4 Prohibition Prohibition was the eighteenth amendment. It prohibited the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages. People would have never thought of “excoriating” alcohol until the 19th century (Tyrrell 16). During this time widespread crime and dismay arose. Some beneficial things did come out of this period of chaos such as women were able to prove themselves as people their temperance movements. During this time many things happened that led to Prohibition’s strongest point and to its fall. Prohibition proved to be a failure from the start,. Prohibition was scarcely adhered to and also widely defied but out of this women had a chance to voice their opinions and prove themselves. Article V deals with amendments. Either house or law makers can propose amendments. In order for an amendment to be passed the House of Representatives and the Senate must ratify by three quarters vote. On January 29, 1919, the Secretary of State announced that on January 16th thirty-six states had ratified the amendment and therefore it had become a part of the Constitution. Temperance movements were vital keys to the ratification of the eighteenth amendment. Temperance at first meant abstaining from distilled liquors, but later would be the complete avoidance of alcohol. Both men and women would participate in temperance across the United States. Women finally had a voice in these issues. Women temperance movements would include gathering around saloons, pharmacies, and other places that distributed alcohol that could be consumed. In these gatherings women would sing prayers, recite psalms, and persuade people to avoid drinking alcohol. Among the men of these temperance groups was a Connecticut preacher named Lymm Beecher. He was well known for his work with temperance movements. He was also known for his publishing, Six Sermons on the Nature, Occasions, Signs, Evils, and Remedy of intemperance. He was a pre-prohibition modern day Reverend Jonathon Edwards by “appealing to the deepest emotions and beliefs of his readers” (Lucas 24). Ironically he moved to Boston and worked with Reverend Justin Edwards to unite temperance groups. Among the women of the temperance era, Francis Elizabeth Willard was probably one of the most important temperance leaders. She was born September 23, 1839 in New York. She first got her aversion towards alcohol by her father because he was a “total abstainer” (Lucas 32). Her interests in temperance grew when she heard stories of the Women’s Crusades 2005-01-30T06:05:11-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Prohibition-and-the-Repeal-of-the-18th-Amendment-26185.aspx George Washington Could Not Afford to Abolish Slavery In his writings, George Washington felt very strongly that slavery was an institution that needed to be eliminated from American society. However, there were several circumstances that arose following the American Revolution that would prevent Washington from actively pursuing the elimination of slavery during his lifetime. It is certainly plausible that George Washington's personal economic short-comings, forefront in the setting of conflicting political agendas and the nation's revolutionary climate, prevented this founding father from actively pursuing the nationwide emancipation of slaves. Prior and during the American Revolution, little was written by Washington on his feelings about slavery. In the last year of the war and thereafter, more attention was spent by Washington on the issue of slavery. On February 5, 1783, Washington received a letter from Marquis de Lafayette, whom Washington considered both a friend and a son, that stated, "Let us unite in purchasing a small estate, where we may try the experiment to free the negroes, and use them only as tenants. Such an example as yours might render it a general practice..." (Sparks v.3, p.547). It is doubtful that Lafayette would have proposed this idea unless he knew that Washington had strong views on seeing the elimination of slavery. Washington wrote back to Lafayette on April 5, "The scheme... to encourage the emancipation of the black people of this Country from that state of Bondage in which. they are held, is a striking evidence of the benevolence of your Heart. I shall be happy to join you is so laudable a work..." (Fitzpatrick v.26, p.300). Unfortunately, Washington was still in charge of the American troops, and would be so until December, so he thought it would be best to "...defer going into a detail of the business, 'till I have the pleasure of seeing you" (Fitzpatrick v.26, p.300). However, when Washington finally did return home in December, he found himself in such great debt that even noble experiments like the one that Lafayette had proposed, had to took a back seat to getting Washington's financial situation in order. Lafayette went on with his plan alone, buying land in the French colony of Cayenne (Sparks v.4, p.110). Washington was still very supportive of this plan despite his inability to participate, and on May 10, 1786, he wrote to Lafayette, "[Y]our late purchase of an estate in the colony of Cayenne, with 2005-01-30T06:02:25-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/George-Washington-and-could-he-have-Abolished-Slavery-26184.aspx Gettysburg, the largest, bloodiest, and most celebrated battle of the Civil war, is said by many to be the turning point of the war that killed 618,000 Americans. Gettysburg the movie was four hours long, which is about 68 hours less than it actually took for the battle to come and go. The first shots were fired no long after daylight, so to be exact, it was 04:30 hours, on the morning of July 1st, (49 Nofi). Bullets flew from the rifles of Union Calvary men on picket duty along the Chambersburg Pike. It was in response to the advancing of Confederates, a skirmish line of 2,500 led by Henry Keith, a General that graduated last in his class at West Point (104 Clark). The battle took place in the grassy country just south of Gettysburg. The Confederate headquarters was located East of the union at Seminary Ridge. Seminary Ridge was composed largely of flat fields with patches of forests. Federal forces however, were set along Culpshill, Cemetery Hill, and Cemetery Ridge, which made the Federals line form a hook. The Federal ground was all elevated considerably over the surrounding land. General Stuart and his Calvary had been sent by Lee on an observation mission to locate union forces. Fortunately for the Virginian army, General Longstreet had hired a spy known only as Harrison, to do the same job. This Harrison was an actor and because General Stuart returned late, it was by his word that the entire Southern army made it\'s move (181 Coddington). On July 1st, Confederate forces soon found themselves face to face with brigade General John Buford who was uphill and eventually gained the upper hand as he received reinforcements from Major General John Reynolds. Bufords own brigade sustained many casualties and after the 1st, was reassigned to guarding the supply train for the remainder of the battle, (movie). July 1st was the same day that the Potomac army found itself replacing General Hooker with General Mead. Meade helped his army secure a well protected area on Cemetery Ridge, and Culps Hill, where it would stay, (aside from the left flank), until the end of the battle. Meade\'s army line stretched three miles and had an average of 17,000 men per mile, (105 Clark). Lee\'s army line stretched approximately two miles longer, but averaged about 10,000 men per mile, (105 Clark). On July 2nd, Colonel Chamberlain was ordered by 2005-01-30T06:01:27-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Getttysburg-Essay-and-Movie-Review-26183.aspx You are back in the year 1798 and the government has just passed a law saying what ever they do and create it will be the standard. You have no say or any comment on it, because frankly they just don’t care. You are now placed back in the year 2001, would it be possible to apply a law of such magnitude to our society today? I don’t think so. Our country is based upon individual rights, we are allowed to say what we feel, and do what we want. It is what has shaped our country into what it is today. The saying rubber makes things perfect is one such example. It is a pliable material and can be formed or molded into whatever shapes you need it be. Just as our nation is today, it is pliable to our society’s needs. The Alien and Sedition Act demolished this moral standard by passing 4 acts that deny the power of people. The United States at this time was faced with such economic and political problems domestically. Such economic problems as a trade barrier created such turmoil. In the text it is described that Spain, England and France on conditions of trade by saying that “Immediately following the war, Britain, France, and Spain are all restricted from American trade with the colonial states.” Our nation was also faced with one such problem as debt. The wars and battles our great nation has gone through in the past has created such a debt at this point in time that is almost not comprehendible for any normal human. In order to regain a financial balance the federalist came up with 3 solutions. They created an executive cabinet made up of heads of departments and they created a Judiciary Act of 1789. The Judiciary Act allowed for laws to be declared unconstitutional and put power back at a National level instead of state. Hamilton came up with 3 reports to also help out with the debt our nation was facing. His first report was upon Pubic Credit, it stated that the nation would consolidate the debt at a national and state level, paying off the debt in face value, and would shift the power to the National Government. In Hamilton’s second report, he continued to set apart and distinguish between lower class and the aristocracy of the nation. Hamilton accomplished his separation by instating the 2005-01-30T05:58:13-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Alien-and-Sedition-Act-from-a-different-perspective-26181.aspx The New Deal and Its Effect on Government and Politics The New Deal period has been considered to be a turning point in American politics, with the President acquiring new authority and importance, and the role of government in the lives of citizens increasing. The extent to which this was planned by the architect of the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been greatly contested, however. Yet, while it is instructive to note the limitations of Roosevelt’s leadership, there is not much sense in the claims that the New Deal was haphazard, a jumble of expedient and populist schemes, or as W. Williams has put it, “undirected”. FDR had a clear overarching vision of what he wanted to do to America, and was prepared to drive through the structural changes required to achieve this vision. It is worth examining how the New Deal period represented a significant departure from US government and politics up to then. From the start of Roosevelt’s period in office in 1932, there was a widespread sense that things were going to change. In Washington there was excitement in the air, as the first Hundred Days brought a torrent of new initiatives from the White House. The contrast with Herbert Hoover’s term could not have been more striking. By 1934, E.K. Lindley had already written about The Roosevelt Revolution: First Phase. Hoover, meanwhile, denounced what he saw as an attempt to “undermine and destroy the American system” and “crack the timbers of the constitution.” In retrospect, it was only a “half-way revolution”, as W. Leuchtenburg has written. Radicals have been left with a sense of disappointment at the “might have beens”, in P. Conkin’s words. But Roosevelt never intended to overthrow the constitution, nor did he wish for an end to capitalism and individualism. He harboured the American Dream just like the millions of people who sent him to the White House a record four times. That, indeed, was precisely why they loved him so much: because the American Dream had turned sour in the Great Depression, and they trusted that he would be able to find a way back towards it. As Europe gave in to totalitarianism, the New Deal set out to show that democratic reform represented a viable alternative. Roosevelt’s enthusiasm for his role as head of state established a new convention that the President would lead from the front, and in his First 2005-01-19T08:24:44-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-New-Deal-and-Its-Effect-on-Government-and-Politics-26160.aspx The Kent State Crisis and Its Causes The Vietnam War marked an era of heartbreak and tragedies. On of the most significant of these is the crisis at Kent State University in Ohio. This was a direct result to President Richard Nixon’s decision to send troops into Cambodia without interacting with congress. Protests were held before the crisis at hand and rallies followed. The Mayor of the city of Kent, Leroy Stratom, called in the National Guard, who, on May 4th, killed four students. The question that remains unanswered is why the National Guard fired on a crowd of young people and who was really responsible. Friday, May 1st, 1970 marked a significant day at Kent State University in Ohio. President Nixon’s announcement that troops would be sent into Cambodia trigger a slew of protests on campus at Kent State. As of noon, over five hundred students rallied and watched as a graduate student buried a copy of the constitution. This symbolized the murder of the constitution by president Nixon because congress had not declared war. The same evening, the Kent State University President, deciding that the situation is under control, leaves Ohio on a planned trip to Iowa. However, the situation gets slightly out of control. As dusk falls, a crowd a students and citizens gathers near the Kent bar area and block off the street, vandalize and ignite bonfires. Although there had been no previous effort made by the Kent Police Department to control the situation, Kent City Mayor Stratom calls a state of emergency, closes down the bars, and finally sends in police personnel. The closing of the bars enrages the people inside them, which lead to an even larger group of people to control and disperse. Because the Kent Police forces were so reluctant to control the crowd, it becomes very difficult to disperse the crowd. Rioters finally decided to call it a night when someone accidentally ended up hanging from a traffic light. On the evening of May 2nd, after various rumours and threats abound, Mayor Stratom orders city and campus curfews. Mayor Stratom then decides, without informing Kent State Officials, to call in the National Guard of Ohio. In protest, a group of 600 students gather with the intention of setting the ROTC building on fire. When the Kent City Fire Department is informed of the fire they rush to rescue only to have themselves 2005-01-19T08:24:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-of-the-Kent-State-Crisis-26159.aspx The Wright Brothers Invent the Airplane About one hundred years ago the planet earth was a much smaller place. On December 17, 1903 the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville, made history when they took off in flight and invented the first airplane. This is how the planet earth began shrinking geographically making it easier and quicker to travel over long distances. Wilbur was the older of the two brothers by four years. Wilbur was born in 1867 on a farm near Millville, Indiana and Orville was born in 1871 near Dayton, Indiana. As youngsters, Wilbur and Orville looked to their mother for mechanical expertise and their father for intellectual challenge. Milton, their father, brought them various souvenirs and trinkets he found during his travels for the church. One such trinket, a toy helicopter-like top, sparked the boys' interest in flying. In school, Wilbur excelled, and would have graduated from high school if his family had not moved during his senior year. A skating accident and his mother's illness and subsequent death kept him from attending college. Orville was an average student, known for his mischievous behavior. He quit school before his senior year to start a printing business. The two brothers were very intellectual and smart, but both did not ever get their high school diplomas. It just goes to show that even two of the best minds in our history didn’t have to go to college or even finish high school to become these great minds. The first time Wilbur and Orville referred to themselves as "The Wright Brothers" was when they started their own printing firm at the ages of 22 and 18. Using a damaged tombstone and buggy parts, they built a press and printed odd jobs as well as their own newspaper. In 1892, the brothers bought bicycles. They began repairing bicycles for friends, then started their own repair business. They opened up a bicycle shop in 1893, and three years later, made their own bicycles called Van Cleves and St. Clairs. While nursing Orville, who was sick with typhoid in 1896, Wilbur read about the death of a famous German glider pilot. The news led him to take an interest in flying. On May 30, 1899, he wrote to the Smithsonian Institution for information on aeronautical research. Within a few months after writing to the Smithsonian, Wilbur had read all that was written about flying. He 2005-01-19T08:23:14-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Invention-of-the-Airplane-by-The-Wright-Brothers-26158.aspx When many people study history and learn the mistakes from the past, it would be easier to able to understand the present. Nevertheless, it is not enough to simply study the events that have transpired. By changing the unfavorable events that led to despair and continuing the benefits to society, one can understand why they happen and better the future. In the United States in the early 1920s, a new stage appeared with different movements in the areas of politics, economics, society, culture, and foreign policy. By the events that led to the 1930s, new crazes had developed in many of these areas, while other areas remained in continuity. From the 1920s to the 1930, there were several factors that contributed to the changes in American society. The 1920s began shortly after in World War I when the United States and the Allies defeated the Germans in 1918. Many Americans were fed up with Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president from 1913 to 1921. The first election of the 1920s scoured Republican Warren G. Harding against Democrat James M. Cox. Cox supported Wilson and the League of Nations in the election. However, Harding won the election in a landslide, which was a sign of America¡¦s frustration with Wilson and his optimistic and liberal policies. The start of the new conservative era restored the power to the Republicans after the presidential election of the 1920. Harding made quite a few excellent appointments to his cabinet although he failed to demonstrate to have much intelligence. Charles Evans Hughes was appointed to be the Secretary of State, Andrew W. Mellon appointed as the Secretary of the Treasury and as leader of the Commerce Department, and Herbert Hoover bumped up the 1920s to a new level. On the other hand, Harding also appointed some of the worst positions for office. He appointed Albert B. Fall as the Secretary of the Interior. The Teapot Dome Scandal or the ¡§Oil Reserves Scandal¡¨ [Simon, 3/8/00] surrounded the secret leasing of the federal oil reserves by Fall. He secretly granted the Mammoth Oil Company exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome reserves in Wyoming after President Harding transferred supervision of the naval oil reserve lands from the navy to him. While this scandal entered American politics as a symbol of governmental corruption, it had little long-term effect on the Republican Party. For the moment, Harding started the conservative trend of 2005-01-19T08:21:22-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-1920s-and-1930s-26157.aspx Martin Luther King Jr.: A Question Of Ethics A Letter from Birmingham Jail" was penned as a response to a letter that criticized Martin Luther King Jr. written by eight high ranking clergymen. Although King's letter was addressed as a reply to these clergymen, the real audience was the "white moderate" - otherwise known as middle class America (King et al 106). By gaining the support of this majority group, King knew that the civil rights movement could achieve its goals of removing the illegal segregation practices that were still in place in the south during the nineteen sixties much faster. In his letter King goes through the list of charges made against him by these religious figures and takes issues with their main points. King's reply was eloquently written, made use of many methods of development and dealt with a very emotionally charged issue in a predominately logical manner. The letter is without doubt a very powerful piece of prose but its effectiveness is compromised by one unfortunately underlying fault - ethical integrity. Immediately noticeable in this essay is the eloquence of the prose. This is one of the methods King uses to present his argument in a non-aggressive style. It helps lay the tone of the essay in an ethical sounding, non-blaming manner. This is essential when considering who Kings target audience was. If King had written a letter attacking his audience the ultimate purpose of the essay would have been lost. A good example of this is found in paragraph eight when King writes about the breaking of promises made to the Negro community by the local white merchants. "As in so many past experiences, our hopes had been blasted, and the shadow of deep disappointment settled upon us"(102). This passage immediately shows that King is recognizing faults but, more importantly, still not laying blame. And with the phrase "that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood"(102). we see King again using eloquent language this time as a way to help unite both sides in the struggle against racism. Among the many methods of development that King uses to successfully promote his views are narration, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect. While narration is used throughout the essay, one of the most effective examples is the very beginning of the letter. "While confined here 2005-01-08T05:46:18-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-a-Letter-by-Martin-Luther-King-MLK-Junior-26141.aspx Christopher Columbas: The Not So Heroic Discoveries of Christopher Columbus" "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue." This childish rhyme refers to the heroic efforts of the believed discoverer of the Americas. But who is Christopher Columbus and how valiant were his discoveries? Was he a great hero, or was he the world's largest zero? The answer to this radical question will astonish the average American citizen. Christopher Columbus is a farce due to his hypocritical out looks on religion, his approval of slavery, and the media's false depiction of this so called hero. Columbus is not a good and humble Christian man as the mass American media portrays. Although Columbus preached the "good word" he very rarely followed it. In his personal diaries Columbus predicted that the end of all civilization was going to occur in 1650. Yet the Bible clearly states that the second coming of the Lord could not be predicted for it comes like a thief in the night. The 5th commandment obviously frowns upon the act of murder. Yet Columbus and his fellow Spaniards often laid bets on which man could split a Native American civilian in two. These moral values were also passed from his generation to the next. The son of Columbus, Ferdinand, wrote a book entitled "Indians and the Christians" intended to frighten the Native Americans. These are not the values of a pure and holy man. Secondly, Columbus also supported the enslavement of fellow human beings. In fact, on October 12, 1942, Columbus wrote "...they are a people who can be made free and converted to our Holy Faith. They ought to make good and skilled servants." Is this a quote from an international hero? Due to the enslavement of too many Native Americans Columbus put these innocent people to work in mines and plantations located in the Caribbean which he and many followers created. Aboard Columbus' slave ships hundreds died and were thoughtlessly thrown into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. This is an act of pure heartlessness and overwhelming ignorance. Lastly, Columbus' unmarked reputation is not only false but is a great American conspiracy. Modern historians claim that Columbus' voyages were the birth of racism, yet these views are never portrayed in a high school student's textbook. Little time is ever spent attempting to understand the tribulations felt by those Native Americans affected 2005-01-03T04:03:54-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Christopher-Columbas-The-Not-So-Heroic-Explorer-26114.aspx In 1920 congress began what was called "The Noble Experiment". This experiment began with the signing of the eighteenth amendment of the constitution into law. It was titled by society as Prohibition. Websters dictionary defines prohibition as: A prohibiting, the forbidding by law of the manufacture or sale of alcoholic liquors. Prohibition can extend to mean the foreboding of any number of substances. I define it as a social injustice to the human race as we know it. Prohibition was designed to rid the country of businesses that manufactured, sold, and or distributed alcoholic beverages. The eighteenth amendment made it a violation of the constitution to do and of the before mentioned. This was a crime punishable up to the Supreme Court. The original idea was that Americans as a whole were unhealthy, there was too much crime and corruption, and that people were being burdened by excess taxes that poorhouses and prisons were creating. What happened? The cheap alcohol being illegally produced killed more Americans, crime and corruption went up, taxes were raised to fund the law enforcement needed to enforce prohibition, and the prisons became overcrowded. Some would have you believe that crime decreased during prohibition. Well, it did. Crime decreased, as a whole, by 37.7% during prohibition. However violent crime and other serious crimes were up. Theft of property was up 13.2%, homicide was up m16.1%, and robbery was up 83.3%. Minor crimes had decreased though- by 50%. Crimes such as malicious mischief, public swearing, vagrancy, etc. (Dr. Fairburn pg 75-80) The prohibition movement did have its fair share of supporters however. The most active in the movement was the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They worked hard in campaigning towards this amendment and gathered, what is now believed today, as to be biased statistics. For example one area that the WCTU attacked was the saloons and in particular the sale of distilled spirits, hard alcohol. The WCTU claimed drinking during prohibition was down 30% as opposed to pre-prohibition. However as a percentage to total alcohol sales the consumption of distilled spirits was up from 50% (pre-prohibition) to an astonishing 89% during prohibition. "Most estimates place the potency of prohibition-era products at 150+ percent of the potency of products produced either before or after prohibition (qtd. In Henry Lee 202) Prohibition did not succeed at all. In order for prohibition to achieve what it was set to do 2004-12-21T08:12:00-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Failure-of-Prohibition-and-its-Consequences-25949.aspx Jeffersonian Democrats The triumph of the Jeffersonian Republicans over the federalists in the years preceding Andrew Jackson's presidency had established a new tone in America. They had developed both a strong belief in democracy and in freedom, which would aid in their future endeavors. Furthermore, a desire for material success and industrial expansion had arisen due to time in which they lived. The population looked to expand their territories not only geographically, but also through industry and culture. They were in effect, pioneers who increased and refined the American way. The new found freedoms allowed the people to experiment with new ways of life that they previously would never had touched. Their goal was to seek a better way of life through trial. New religious practices were undertaken in masses as Americans looked to divine faith as a means for discovering inner worth. According to Van Deusen, these forms were spiritualism and Mormonism to transcendentalism and Unitarianism. Some attempted to train there freedom through socialistic and communist practices while other looked to religious Utopias. Their newfound freedoms also allowed them to protest issues that had been bottled up over time. There were demonstrations on women's right, and for the abolition of slavery. Democracy had its impacts in the economic world of America as well. The United States became filled with greedy people who, according to Van Deusen, felt it was "the right, the duty, and the opportunity of Americans to expand the area of freedom and enrich it." They pushed these policies to the far reaches of the globe, sending clipper ships to seven seas while pushing their own boundaries to the Pacific and the Rio Grande. With this new booming expansion, America was faced with a new task. How were people and products going to be moved efficiently from point A to point B? A new focus was placed on improving transportation within the United States. The steam engine was introduced as propulsion for both land and sea vehicles. The steamboat was introduced to the web of canals and rivers that were used throughout the United States. The steam engine train was also brought to use as railways dotted the landscape. As Van Deusen called it, America was experiencing a "transportation revolution." As a result of this boom, product transport rates drastically decreased as did transportation time. In 1800 one week of travel from New York would have brought you 2004-12-21T06:16:09-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Jeffersonian-Democrats-25925.aspx This is just a small example of the doubt and hatred that was bestowed on the African American soldiers. However, during the war, they proved themselves to be brave and courageous men on and off the battlefield on many occasions. Despite deep prejudices and harsh criticisms from the white society, these men were true champions of patriotism. The cause of the Civil War was tension between the North and the South. The sectional division between the areas began in colonial times, largely resulting from geographical differences. The South was ideal for growing tobacco due to the warm climate and the fertile soil. Plantations brought in black slaves from Africa to provide most of the labor required for growing the crop. In time, other plantation crops such as cotton, sugar cane, indigo, and sugar beets were to thrive in the South. "By the onset of the Civil War, 2.4 million slaves were engaged in cotton production" (Long 16). A rural way of life that supported an agrian economy based on slave labor was quickly established in the South. The North, however, was a cooler, rockier climate that would not support the development of plantations. As a result, the North's economy came to depend more on trade and industry than on agriculture. This economy supported the growth of cities, although many lived in rural areas during the colonial period. The sectional division between North and South had widened enormously by the mid - 1800's. The United States had expanded all the way to the Pacific Ocean and was rapidly becoming a major industrial and commercial nation. However, industry and commerce were centered in the North. The Northerners welcomed modernization and the constant changes it brought to their way of life. Their ideals included hard work, education, economic independence, and the belief that the community had the right and responsibility to decide whether an action was moral or immoral. While Northerners looked forward to a different and better future, Southerners held the present and past dear. They enjoyed a prosperous agricultural economy based on slave labor and wished to keep their old way of life. By the 1800's, northerners viewed slavery as wrong and began a movement to end it. Even though an antislavery minority existed in the South, most Southerners found slavery to be highly profitable and in time came to consider it a positive good. Such situations as the Compromise of 1850 2004-12-20T05:06:38-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/From-Oppressed-Slaves-to-Champion-Soldiers-25881.aspx They were black men who had a dream, but never lived to see it fulfilled. One was a man who spoke out to all humanity, but the world was not yet ready for his peaceful words. "I have a dream, a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed... that all men are created equal." (Martin Luther King) The other, a man who spoke of a violent revolution, which would bring about radical change for the black race. "Anything you can think of that you want to change right now, the only way you can do it is with a ballot or a bullet. And if you're not ready to get involved with either one of those, you are satisfied with the status quo. That means we'll have to change you." (Malcom X) While Martin Luther King promoted non-violence, civil rights, and the end to racial segregation, a man of the name of Malcom X dreamed of a separate nation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the conscience of his generation. A Southerner, a black man, he gazed upon the great wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. From the pain and exhaustion of his fight to free all people from the bondage of separation and injustice, he wrung his eloquent statement of what America could be. (Ansboro, pg.1) An American clergyman and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, he was one of the principle leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. King's challenges to segregation and racial discrimination in the 1950's and 1960's, helped convince many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States. After his assassination in 1968, King became the symbol of protest in the struggle for racial justice. ("King, Martin Luther, Jr.," pg. 1) In 1964, Malcom X founded an organization called "The Muslim Mosque, Inc. In an interview conducted by A.B. Spellman on March 19, 1964, Malcom speaks of his goals for this organization. "The Muslim Mosque, Inc. will have as its religious base the religion of Islam, which will be designed to propagate the moral reformations necesary to up the level of the so-called Negro community by eliminating the vices and other evils that destroy the moral fiber of the community. But the political philosophy of the Muslim Mosque 2004-12-20T05:03:17-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Comparison-of-Martin-Luther-King,-Jr-and-Malcom-X-25880.aspx American Imperialism, conquering of the free world? American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is practice by which powerful nations or people seek to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. Throughout the years there has been many instances where the Americans have taken over other people countries, almost every time we go into we have taken over a new piece of land. The Americas first taste of imperialism came about five hundred years ago when Columbus came to America. We fought the pleasant inhabitants and then took over their land making them slaves. Americans over the years have been known to become almost selfish, no matter how much we have we will never be happy until we control the free world. "The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 defined United States foreign policy in the Americas for the rest of the 19th century and beyond. It declared that the United States had an interest in the Western Hemisphere and the European powers must not meddle in the affairs of any developing nations there. The United States was a young nation in 1823 and did not really have to powers to back up the Monroe Doctrine. However, the policy was used to justify the sending of the U.S. troops into Mexico in 1866 (to intimidate the French) and the purchased of Alaska in 1867". Another case of Imperialism was the United States industrial economy was growing so fast that they were producing more goods than they could consume. The over abundance of industrial goods led the United States to look for new markets. Next came the Spanish-American War, which started with the Americans not liked the way that the Spaniards were treated the Cubans. After this an U.S. battleship (Maine) was docked outside of Havana (Cuba's Capital) and all of a sudden exploded from under the sea. At the time no one actually knew the real reason why the ship exploded but many Americans thought that it was the Spaniards. 266 officers and men were lost in the explosion. William McKinley (U.S. President 1897-1901) went to congress and asked for permission to send troops to help stop the fighting in Cuba. After a couple of days he was given permission which shortly led to war. Spain declared war on the United States on April 24th followed by an U.S. declaration 2004-12-20T05:00:56-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Imperialism-Conquering-of-the-Free-World-25879.aspx The American Labor Movement of the nineteenth century developed as a result of the city-wide organizations that unhappy workers were establishing. These men and women were determined to receive the rights and privileges they deserved as citizens of a free country. They refused to be treated like slaves, and work under unbearable conditions any longer. Workers joined together and realized that a group is much more powerful than an individual when protesting against intimidating companies. Unions, coalitions of workers pursuing a common objective, began to form demanding only ten instead of twelve hours in a work day. Workers realized the importance of economic and legal protection against the powerful employers who took advantage of them. (AFL-CIO American Federalist, 1) The beginnings of the American Labor Movement started with the Industrial Revolution. Textile mills were the first factories built in the United States. Once factory systems began to grow, a demand for workers increased. They hired large amounts of young women and children who were expected to do the same work as men for less wages. New immigrants were also employed and called "free workers" because they were unskilled. These immigrants poured into cities, desperate for any kind of work.(Working People, 1) Child labor in the factories was not only common, but necessary for a family’s income. Children as young as five or six manned machines or did jobs such as sweeping floors to earn money. It was dangerous, and they were often hurt by the large, heavy machinery. No laws prevented the factories from using these children, so they continued to do so. (AACTchrNET, 1) "Sweatshops" were created in crowded, unsanitary tenements. These were makeshift construction houses, dirty and unbearably hot. They were usually formed for the construction of garments. The wages, as in factories, were pitifully low, no benefits were made, and the worker was paid by the number of pieces he or she completed in a day. Unrealistic demands were put on the workers who could barely afford to support their families. (1) The United States had the highest job-related fatality rate of any other industrialized nation in the world. Everyone worked eighty hours or more a week for extremely low wages. Men and women earned twenty to forty percent less than the minimum deemed necessary for a decent life. The number was even worse for children. (Department of Humanities Computing, 2) Often workers would go home after a long day and 2004-12-20T04:38:58-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/American-Labor-Movement-Development-of-Unions-25872.aspx Who were the nationalists, what prompted them to seek a new government, and did they succeed? The nationalists were mostly military officers, diplomats, and officials who had served in the Continental Congress. There political outlook was thus more national, rather than state or local. Shay’s Rebellion prompted leaders who had a more national view to seek as stronger more central government. Nationalists, although having attempted to increase the powers of the Confederation government since 1781, had little success. Nationalist leaders were concerned with the fact that without tax revenue or state contributions, Congress was unable to pay the interest on the foreign debt. To nationalists this seemed like the American republic was on the verge of collapse. In 1786 the nationalists had another reason for wanting to seek a new government. This new reason was the financial weakness and prodebtor polices of the states. In Virginia for example, legislatures were granting tax relief to various groups of citizens. This lowered the public revenue and delayed the redemption of the state debt. Because of this, “the sanctity of public debts was also in jeopardy, since many state governments approved some form of relief from debtors.” In 1786, the nationalists called a commercial convention in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss tariff and taxation policies. However, only twelve delegates from five states came. The Philadelphia meeting, to many nationalists, seemed like the last opportunity to save the republic. In January 1787, nationalists passed a Congressional resolution that supported the revision of the Articles of Confederation to make them “adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union.” There were fifty five delegates representing every state (except Rhode Island) at the Philadelphia convention. Many of the most famous Patriots such as Jefferson and Adams were not in attendance. Many of the delegates that attended favored nationalism. The Virgina plan called for supremacy of national authority and that the central government had the power to legislate in all cases to which the separate states couldn’t and to overturn state laws. It also called for a national republic that drew authority from all people of the United States. The Virginia Plan asked for separation of powers: a lower house elected by voters, an upper house elected by the lower house, and an executive and judiciary chosen by the entire legislature. This would increase the power of the national government, but delegates from the less populous states believe 2004-12-20T04:03:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Nationalists-and-Reasons-for-Creating-New-Government-25861.aspx What major characteristics of state constitutions were shared by the Articles of Confederation and how did they reflect the colonial and revolutionary experiences? Both state constitutions and the Articles of Confederation shared some common characteristics. Each had a congress whose members were elected by popular vote. Suffrage was extended to as many men as possible. Not only the landowning gentlemen could vote, but also the people who paid taxes were allowed to vote for their representatives. Congress decided issues on the economy, tax action, and laws that would benefit the general people. However, the states had the final say on what taxes would be followed. It was difficult for the confederation to raise taxes. For example, in the states, the artisan and farmers who made up the majority of the elected body, at times refused to be taxed. In the Confederation, the same 2004-12-20T04:02:02-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/State-Constitutions-and-the-Articles-of-Confederation-25860.aspx What new meaning did Americans give to republicanism and how did they live up to the republican ideal during the American War for independence? The fundamental idea of a republic is a state that is without a monarch. To Americans, however, the republic ideal was everything and everyone for the public good. The ideal republic assumed that its members had important responsibilities and had to sacrifice all for the common good. Initially, the Americans tried to live up to the ideal of the American republic. At the governmental level committees were formed and resolutions made that would promote the public good. For example, the members of the Committee of Safety found themselves looking towards the public interest when they suppressed dissent or controlled prices. However, the people themselves were unable to be completely selfless. Militiamen who died at Lexington, Concord, Saratoga, and Camden were praised, but the Continental officers who asked for lifetime pensions were not fitting the ideal of giving freely to the republic. Continental troops caught in the winters of 1779 and 1780 were unable to withstand the conditions and mutinied. While Washington had the ringleaders executed; Congress had to resort to paying the troops and providing clothing. These soldiers certainly did not fit the ideal for the republic of one sacrificing themselves totally without concern for self. In addition, the civilians likewise found it increasingly difficult to follow the republican ideal. When the British troops cut off the European manufactured goods and other products to the republic, the farmers and artisans in this country raised prices due to the scarcity of imported products. Unemployed shipwrights, masons, coopers, bakers, had to leave occupied Boston, New York, and Philadelphia found it difficult to think of the common good when there was no food on their table. For instance the Massachusetts Legislature passed “Act to prevent Monopoly and Oppression.” The purpose of the act was to keep prices from soaring for wholesale and retail items. As the war progressed the government found it increasingly difficult to purchase goods. Instead, it resorted to requisitioning goods directly from the people. Patriot women contributed to the war effort and in their own way fit the republican ideal for sacrificing themselves for the war effort and assuming the burden of farm production. Some supervised slaves and hired laborers which helped them gain a feel for the decision making process. During 2004-12-20T04:00:57-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Republicanism-and-It-s-Development-During-War-for-Independen-25859.aspx Returning to the United States in October 1900 from nearly ten years living abroad, Mark Twain made what the New York Sun called a “startling” announcement. “I am an anti-imperialist,” he declared. “I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land.” With that statement, he launched an often intense personal campaign against the Philippine-American War and U.S. imperialism. Within months he was made a vice president of the Anti-Imperialist League, the organized opposition to the war, and he held that post until he died in April 1910. Mark Twain’s turn-of-the-century protest reminds us that the long-standing U.S.-Philippine relationship was not always widely accepted within the United States. He and his associates in the Anti-Imperialist League saw the war not only as a tragedy for the Filipinos but as a threat to America’s democratic and anti-colonial political traditions. The United States was, after all, a republic formed by a revolution against an empire, a revolution that held liberty and self-government as fundamental ideals. Then, in 1898, the United States intervened in Cuba’s revolution for independence from Spain. The resulting “splendid little war,” as John Hay, the U.S. ambassador to England, described the three-month Spanish-American War, closed with a treaty ceding to the United States control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Spain was paid twenty million dollars for the Philippines. Like many Americans, Twain thought that the war with Spain was fought solely to free Cuba from Spanish oppression, and he supported it for that reason. But when he read the Treaty of Paris that concluded the war he learned that the U.S. government had no intention of freeing any of the other Spanish colonies. Interviewed in October 1900 about his anti-imperialist stance, he explained, “I thought it would be a great thing to give a whole lot of freedom to the Filipinos, but I guess now that it’s better to let them give it to themselves.” He later called the $20 million payment for the Philippines the United States’ “entrance fee into society -- the Society of Sceptred Thieves.” When it purchased the Philippines, the United States held only Manila and its suburbs. The Filipinos, who had been fighting for their independence since 1896, controlled the rest of the country. With the Treaty of Paris still pending before the Senate, U.S. troops fired on a group of Filipinos in February 1899, and the 2004-11-30T02:12:34-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Mark-Twain-and-American-Anti-Imperialism-25783.aspx Allison Krause was a nineteen year old honor student at Kent State. She was quiet and almond eyed. She was known to the people around her as a listener and not a talker. She and her boyfriend, Barry Levine, were among the innocent spectators caught in the shootings on that dreadful day. Allison was known for putting a flower into a guardsman’s rifle and saying. “Flowers are better than bullets, Is dessent a crime?” Allison was 350ft. away from the guardsmen that were firing upon the students. She was shot in her arm and through her chest. (Canfora p.1-3) William K. Schroeder was a nineteen-year-old psychology major from Loraine, Ohio. He was the second ranking student in Kent State’s chapter of Army ROTC. He was said to be very angry and upset when the ROTC building had been burned down on May 2, 1970. William was not a protestor (like a lot of his classmates.) He was viewed as clean cut and he had a strong academic background. William was merely a spectator at the rally that morning. ( He was 400ft. from the guardsmen who were firing their weapons. He was shot in the back. (Canfora p.1-3) Jeffery Miller was a twenty year old transfer student from Michigan State. He did not like the idea of fraternity life and found it as “adolescent nonsense.” Jeffery was not an active militant activist either. He looked like “the typical hippie.” He had long hair, wore bell-bottoms, and listened to rock music. Jeffery was a major in psychology. Jeffery was 275ft. away from the guardsmen who were firing their weapons. He was shot through his head. (Canfora p.1-3) Sandy Scheuer was a twenty year old junior from Youngstown, Ohio. She was seen as a bubbly girl and was an honor student. She was also seen to be too gregarious and full of laughter to take that much interest in politics or protest. Sandy was walking to a class in speech therapy (her major) when she was caught in the guardsmen fire. She was nearly 400ft. away from the guns. She was shot through the throat. (Canfora p.1-3) Politics played a large role in the events that occurred on May 4, 1970. A number of military and political 2004-11-29T16:43:40-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Kent-State-Massacre-25779.aspx D-Day has always been a celebrated day throughout the entire world in which the Western Allied forces were finally able to break Hitler grasp on Europe. The landings that occurred on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 was a great military victory at the cost of many lives. But the motives behind D-Day are unclear. Why did Britain want to go through Italy and did everything in its power to stop the invasion of Normandy? Why did the US promise Stalin that a second front would be open? The motives behind Operation Overlord are more because of political power play between the allied nations rather than opening a decisive military front. The most remarkable aspect of World War II was how America committed itself to the battles occurring in Europe and had not concentrated on Japan, the United States’ main aggressor. It was the Americans who were impatient to confront the German army on the continent while the British were haunted by the deepest misgivings about doing so. ““Why are we doing this?” cried Winston Churchill in a bitter moment of depression about Operation OVERLORD in February 1944, which caused him a spasm of enthusiasm for an alternative Allied landing in Portugal. ‘I am very uneasy about the whole operation,” wrote the Chief of the Imperial general Staff, Sir Alan Brooke, as late as June 5, 1944. “At the best, it will come very short of the expectation the bulk of the people, namely all those who know nothing about its difficulties. At its worst, it may well be the most ghastly disaster of the whole war,”” (Ambrose, 56). It seems that the British favored opening a second front to relieve some of the pressure from Russia, but did not agree with the second front being opened in the beaches of Normandy, but rather that of Italy through the Mediterranean. Had the United Sates Army been wavering in its commitment to a landing in Normandy, it is unlikely that the landing would have taken place before 1945. Until the very last weeks before OVERLORD was launched, its future was the subject of bitter dissension and debate between the generals of Britain and America. For a year following the fall of France in 1940, Britain fought on without any actual prospect of final victory. When Hitler invaded 2004-11-04T06:22:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/History-Term-Paper-Operation-Overlord,-Motives-Behind-D-Day-25727.aspx Analysis of Roosevelt's "New Deal" During the 1930's, America witnessed a breakdown of the Democratic and free enterprise system as the US fell into the worst depression in history. The economic depression that beset the United States and other countries was unique in its severity and its consequences. At the depth of the depression, in 1933, one American worker in every four was out of a job. The great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930's, shaking the foundations of Western capitalism. The New Deal describes the program of US president Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1939 of relief, recovery, and reform. These new policies aimed to solve the economic problems created by the depression of the 1930's. When Roosevelt was nominated, he said, "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people." The New Deal included federal action of unprecedented scope to stimulate industrial recovery, assist victims of the Depression, guarantee minimum living standards, and prevent future economic crises. Many economic, political, and social factors lead up to the New Deal. Staggering statistics, like a 25% unemployment rate, and the fact that 20% of NYC school children were under weight and malnourished, made it clear immediate action was necessary. In the first two years, the New Deal was concerned mainly with relief, setting up shelters and soup kitchens to feed the millions of unemployed. However as time progressed, the focus shifted towards recovery. In order to accomplish this monumental task, several agencies were created. The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was the keystone of the early new deal program launched by Roosevelt. It was created in June 1933 under the terms of the National Industrial Recovery Act. The NRA permitted businesses to draft "codes of fair competition," with presidential approval, that regulated prices, wages, working conditions, and credit terms. Businesses that complied with the codes were exempted from antitrust laws, and workers were given the right to organize unions and bargain collectively. After that, the government set up long-range goals which included permanent recovery, and a reform of current abuses. Particularly those that produced the boom-or-bust catastrophe. The NRA gave the President power to regulate interstate commerce. This power was originally given to Congress. While the NRA was effective, it was bringing America closer to socialism by giving the President unconstitutional powers. In May 1935 the US Supreme Court, in Schechter Poultry Corporation V. United States, unanimously declared 2004-11-01T02:23:19-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-Roosevelt-s-New-Deal-and-the-Great-Depression-25703.aspx Causes of The Great Depression The Great Depression was the worst economic slump ever in U.S. history, and one which spread to virtually all of the industrialized world. The depression began in late 1929 and lasted for about a decade. Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920's, and the extensive stock market speculation that took place during the latter part that same decade. The maldistribution of wealth in the 1920's existed on many levels. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle-class, between industry and agriculture within the United States, and between the U.S. and Europe. This imbalance of wealth created an unstable economy. The excessive speculation in the late 1920's kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually lead to large market crashes. These market crashes, combined with the maldistribution of wealth, caused the American economy to capsize. The "roaring twenties" was an era when our country prospered tremendously. The nation's total realized income rose from $74.3 billion in 1923 to $89 billion in 1929(end note 1). However, the rewards of the "Coolidge Prosperity" of the 1920's were not shared evenly among all Americans. According to a study done by the Brookings Institute, in 1929 the top 0.1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%(end note 2). That same top 0.1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of Americans had no savings at all(end note 3). Automotive industry mogul Henry Ford provides a striking example of the unequal distribution of wealth between the rich and the middle-class. Henry Ford reported a personal income of $14 million(end note 4) in the same year that the average personal income was $750(end note 5). By present day standards, where the average yearly income in the U.S. is around $18,500(end note 6), Mr. Ford would be earning over $345 million a year! This maldistribution of income between the rich and the middle class grew throughout the 1920's. While the disposable income per capita rose 9% from 1920 to 1929, those with income within the top 1% enjoyed a stupendous 75% increase in per capita disposable income(end note 7). A major reason for this large and growing gap between the rich and the working-class people was the increased manufacturing output throughout this 2004-11-01T02:20:45-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Many-Causes-of-the-Great-Depression-25702.aspx The Bay of Pigs Invasion The story of the failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs is one of mismanagement, overconfidence, and lack of security. The blame for the failure of the operation falls directly in the lap of the Central Intelligence Agency and a young president and his advisors. The fall out from the invasion caused a rise in tension between the two great superpowers and ironically 34 years after the event, the person that the invasion meant to topple, Fidel Castro, is still in power. To understand the origins of the invasion and its ramifications for the future it is first necessary to look at the invasion and its origins. Part I: The Invasion and its Origins. The Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961, started a few days before on April 15th with the bombing of Cuba by what appeared to be defecting Cuban air force pilots. At 6 a.m. in the morning of that Saturday, three Cuban military bases were bombed by B-26 bombers. The airfields at Camp Libertad, San Antonio de los Ba¤os and Antonio Maceo airport at Santiago de Cuba were fired upon. Seven people were killed at Libertad and forty-seven people were killed at other sites on the island. Two of the B-26s left Cuba and flew to Miami, apparently to defect to the United States. The Cuban Revolutionary Council, the government in exile, in New York City released a statement saying that the bombings in Cuba were ". . . carried out by 'Cubans inside Cuba' who were 'in contact with' the top command of the Revolutionary Council . . . ." The New York Times reporter covering the story alluded to something being wrong with the whole situation when he wondered how the council knew the pilots were coming if the pilots had only decided to leave Cuba on Thursday after " . . . a suspected betrayal by a fellow pilot had precipitated a plot to strike . . . ." Whatever the case, the planes came down in Miami later that morning, one landed at Key West Naval Air Station at 7:00 a.m. and the other at Miami International Airport at 8:20 a.m. Both planes were badly damaged and their tanks were nearly empty. On the front page of The New York Times the next day, a picture of one of the B-26s was shown along with a picture 2004-11-01T02:20:07-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Bay-of-Pigs-Invasion-History-Essay-25701.aspx The Infamous Watergate Scandal "The Watergate Complex is a series of modern buildings with balconies that looks like filed down Shark's Teeth" (Gold, 1). Located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. it contains many hotel rooms and offices. What happened in the complex on June 17, 1972 early in the morning became a very historical event for our nation that no one will ever forget. The "Watergate Scandal" and constitutional crisis that began on June 17, 1972 with the arrest of five burglars who broke into the Democratic National Committee (DMC) headquarters at the Watergate office building in Washington D.C. It ended with the registration of President Richard M. Nixon on August 9, 1974. (Watergate) At approximately 2:30 in the morning of June 17, 1972 five men were arrested at the Watergate Complex. The police seized a walkie talkie, 40 rolls of unexposed film, two 35 millimeter cameras, lock picks, pensized teargas guns, and bugging devices. (Gold, 75) These five men and two co-plotters were indicated in September 1972 on charges of burglary, conspiracy and wire tapping. Four months later they were convicted and sentenced to prison terms by District Court Judge John J. Sercia was convinced that relevant details had not been unveiled during the trial and offered leniency in exchanged for further information. As it became increasingly evident that the Watergate burglars were tied closely to the Central Intelligence Agency and the Committee to re-elect the president. (Watergate) Four of these men, that were arrested on the morning of June 17, 1972, came from Miami, Florida. They were Bernard L. Barker, Frank A. Sturgis, Virgillio R. Gonzalez, and Eugenio R. Martinez. The other man was from Rockville, Maryland named James W. McCord, Jr. The two co-plotters were G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt. (Watergate) The senate established and investigative committee headed by Senate Sam Ervin, Jr., to look into the growing scandal. As they were investigating, they related that the famous break-in was far more involved than what everyone had expected. (Watergate) The White Houses involvement of that morning first became evident when James McCord wrote a letter to Judge Sirca. In this letter McCord explained that he wanted to disclose the details of Watergate. He made it apparent that he would not speak to a Justice department official of an FBI agent. Although his letter did unveil details, it made server chargers. McCord justified that "Political pressure" (Westerfled 36) had 2004-11-01T02:18:47-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Analysis-of-the-Infamous-Watergate-Scandal-25700.aspx Western Expansion of the U.S. International borders have always been centers of conflict, and the U.S.-Mexican border is no exception. With the European colonizing the New World, it was a matter of time before the powers collided. The Spanish settled what is today Mexico, while the English settled what is to day the United States. When the two colonial powers did meet what is today the United States' Southwest, it was not England and Spain. Rather the two powers were the United States and Mexico. Both Counties had broken off from their mother countries. The conflict that erupted between the two countries where a direct result of different nation policies. The United States had a policy of westward expansion, while Mexico had a policy of self protection. The Americans never had a written policy of expansion. What they had was the idea of "Manifest Destiny." Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States had the right to expand westward to the Pacific ocean. On the other hand, Mexico was a new country wanting to protect itself from outside powers. Evidence of U.S. expansion is seen with the independence of Texas from Mexico. The strongest evidence of U.S. expansion goals is with the Mexican-American War. From the beginning, the war was conceived as an opportunity for land expansion. Mexico feared the United States expansion goals. During the 16th century, the Spanish began to settle the region. The Spanish had all ready conquered and settled Central Mexico. Now they wanted to expand their land holdings north. The first expedition into the region, that is today the United States Southwest, was with Corando. Corando reported a region rich in resources, soon after people started to settle the region. The driving force behind the settlement was silver in the region. The Spanish settled the region through three major corridors; central, western and eastern. The first settlements were mainly through the central corridor. The Spanish went thorough what is now the modern Mexican state of Chihuahua into the U.S. state of New Mexico. Eventually the Spanish established the city of Santa Fe in 1689. The eastern corridor was through modern day Texas and led to the establishment of San Antonio. The eastern expansion was caused by the French expansion into modern day Louisiana. The Spanish crown wanted a buffer between the French in Louisiana and central Mexico. The last corridor of expansion was in the west, 2004-11-01T02:15:53-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Western-Expansion-of-the-U_S_-and-the-Mexican-American-War-25698.aspx The Aztecs The Aztec Indians, who are known for their domination of southern and central Mexico, ruled between the 14th and 16th centuries. Their name is derived from Azatlan, the homeland of the north. The Aztecs also call themselves Mexica and there language came from the Nahuatlan branch of the Uto-Aztecan family. The Aztecs were formed after the Toltec civilization occurred when hundreds of civilians came towards Lake texcoco. Late families were unfortunate and were forced to go to the swamp lands. In the swamp lands there was only one piece of land to farm on and it was totally surrounded by more marshes . The Aztec families some how converted these disadvantages to a might empire known as they Aztec Empire. People say the empire was partially formed by a deeply believed legend. As the the legend went it said that Aztec people would create a empire on in a swampy place where they would see an eagle eating a snake while perched on a cactus which is growing out of a rock in the swamplands. This is what priests claimed they saw while entering the new land. By the year 1325 Their capital city was finished. They called it Tenochtitlan. In the the capital city aqueducts (piping) were constructed, bridges were built, and chinapas were made. Chinapas were little islands formed by pilled up mud. On these chinapas Aztecs grew corn, beans, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, and tobacco. Tenochtitlan (the capital city) was covered in giant religious statues in order to pay their respects to the gods. In the Aztec religion numerous gods controlled an Aztec's daily life. Some of these gods include: Uitzilpochtli (the sun god), Coyolxauhqui (the moon goddess), Tlaloc (the rain god), and Quetzalcoatl (the inventor of the calendar and writing). Another part of the Aztec religion was human sacrifices. For their sacrifices the priest would lay the man or woman over a convex (rounded) stone, then he would take a sharp knife and cut the victims heart out. They did this because they believed that good gods could prevent bad gods from doing evil things and they also believed that good gods got their strength from human blood and hearts so they had sacrifices in order to keep their gods strong. For major rituals warriors were sacrificed, for the warrior this was one of the greatest honors and for minor rituals prisoners were used. In an 2004-10-31T19:22:58-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Aztec-History-25695.aspx Abstractions in Power-Writing There are many abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations of American society and have helped to shape the "American Identity." Power, another abstraction that reoccurs in all the major parts of the Declaration of Independence plays an equally important role in shaping "America identity." One forgets the abstraction of power, because it appears in relation to other institutions: the legislature, the King, the earth, and the military. The abstraction of power sets the tone of the Declaration, and shapes the colonists conception of government and society. Power in the Declaration of Independence flows from distinct bodies within society such as the King, the legislature, the military, and the colonists. The Oxford English Dictionary defines power as, "the ability to do or effect something or anything, or to act upon a person or thing" (OED 2536). Throughout the ages according to the dictionary the word power has connoted similar meanings. In 1470 the word power meant to have strength and the ability to do something, "With all thair strang *poweir" (OED 2536) Nearly three hundred years later in 1785 the word power carried the same meaning of control, strength, and force, "power to produce an effect, supposes power not to produce it; otherwise it is not power but necessity" (OED 2536). This definition explains how the power government or social institutions rests in their ability to command people, rocks, colonies to do something they otherwise would not do. To make the people pay taxes. To make the rocks form into a fence. To make the colonists honor the King. The colonialists adopt this interpretation of power. They see power as a cruel force that has wedded them to a King who has "a history of repeated injuries and usurptions." The framers of the Declaration of Independence also believe powers given by God to the people must not be usurped. The conflict between these spheres of power the colonists believe, justifies their rebellion. The uses of the word power set the tone of the Declaration of Independence. In the first sentence of the Declaration colonists condemn the King's violation of powers given by god to all men. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers 2004-10-31T07:59:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Abstractions-in-the-Declaration-of-Independence-25683.aspx Although Transcendentalism as a historical movement was limited in time from the mid 1830s to the late 1840s and in space to eastern Massachusetts, its ripples continue to spread through American culture. Beginning as a quarrel within the Unitarian church, Transcendentalism’s questioning of established cultural forms, its urge to reintegrate spirit and matter, its desire to turn ideas into concrete action developed a momentum of its own, spreading from the spheres of religion and education to literature, philosophy, and social reform. While Transcendentalism’s ambivalence about any communal effort that would compromise individual integrity prevented it from creating lasting institutions, it helped set the terms for being an intellectual in America. It is easier to note its pervasive influence, though, than it is to clarify its doctrines. The fluidity and elusiveness of Transcendentalism was registered even by some of its most intelligent contemporaries. Nathaniel Hawthorne, for example, writes: “He is German by birth, and is called Giant Transcendentalist, but as to his form, his features, his substance, and his nature generally, it is the chief peculiarity of this huge miscreant that neither he for himself nor anybody for him has ever been able to describe them. As we rushed by the cavern’s mouth we caught a hasty glimpse of him, looking somewhat like an ill-proportioned figure but considerably more like a heap of fog and duskiness. He shouted after us, but in so strange a phraseology that we knew not what he meant, nor whether to be encouraged or affrighted.” On an American visit, Charles Dickens was told “that whatever was unintelligible would certainly be transcendental” and Edgar Allan Poe instructs a young author to write the Tone Transcendental by using small words but turning them upside down. A Baltimore clergyman noted that “a new philosophy has risen, maintaining that nothing is everything in general, and everything is nothing in particular.” While these quotations imply that Transcendentalism had a language problem compounded of foreign borrowings and oracular jargon, the underlying difficulty in comprehension is that it was both a cause and a result of a major paradigm shift in epistemology, in conceptualizing how the mind knows the world, the divine, and itself. Ralph Waldo Emerson, its leading exponent, described both this shift 2004-10-31T01:58:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Transcendentalism--25653.aspx The United States Flag is the third oldest of the National Standards of the world; older than the Union Jack of Britain or the Tricolor of France. The flag was first authorized by Congress June 14, 1777. This date is now observed as Flag Day throughout America. The flag was first flown from Fort Stanwix, on the site of the present city of Rome, New York, on August 3, 1777. It was first under fire for three days later in the Battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777. It was first decreed that there should be a star and a stripe for each state, making thirteen of both; for the states at the time had just been erected from the original thirteen colonies. The colors of the Flag may be thus explained: The red is for valor, zeal and fervency; the white for hope purity, cleanliness of life, and rectitude of conduct; the blue, the color of heaven, for reverence to God, loyalty, sincerity, justice and truth. The star (an ancient symbol of India, Persia and Egypt) symbolized dominion and sovereignty, as well as lofty aspirations. The constellation of the stars within the union, one star for each state, is emblematic of our Federal Constitution, which reserves to the States their individual sovereignty except as to rights delegated by them to the Federal Government. The symbolism of the Flag was thus interpreted by Washington: “We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty.” In 1791, Vermont, and in 1792, Kentucky were admitted to the Union and the number of stars and stripes was raised to fifteen in correspondence. As other states came into the Union it became evident there would be too many stripes. So in 1818 Congress enacted that the number of stripes be reduced and restricted henceforth to thirteen representing the thirteen original states; while a star should be added for each succeeding state. That law is the law of today. The name “Old Glory” was given to our National Flag August 10, 1831, by Captain William Driver of the brig Charles Doggett. The Flag was first carried in battle at the Brandywine, September 11, 1777. It first flew over foreign territory January 28, 1778, at Nassau, Bahama Islands; Fort Nassau having 2004-10-29T21:46:24-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-American-Flag-25603.aspx The Virginians were better off than the Puritans were, because they had tobacco for a cash crop,they had a longer growing season, and they could trade and sell to England easier than the Puritans could. The Virginians were also more loosely structured than the Puritans, and were allowed to be individual people instead of one large mass. Smith and Bradford's ways of leading their colonies were similar, yet so very different. Smith's main concern was to make money and be famous. Bradford's concept was to start a new life, and preach his own, new religion. Both had keeping their people's health and well being a high priority. The idealistic colony for Bradford was a colony where people were religiously bonded, and kept together by the church. Smith was more interested in profit for himself, and let the people conduct themselves more freely. One of the main industries that the Virginians had was the harvesting and selling of tobacco. The good thing about this is that the majority of people in the 1700's used tobacco. Of course the Puritans also had tobacco, but it was harder to grow up north because of the rocky terrain, and the difference in temperature. The Virginians found that selling tobacco was very profitable, and growing it was relatively simple. It was a fairly easy way to make money, and expended little effort. The Virginians had a longer growing season than the Puritans did, due to their latitude. The longer growing season not only allowed the Virginians to grow their cash crop tobacco longer, but also enabled them to grow fruits and vegetables longer into the year. This made winter less harsh for the Virginians. Smith liked the idea of being able to grow longer, because he profited from it. Bradford was more concerned with keeping his people faithful to God, and well from sickness. The Puritans had a growing season also, but not as long as the Virginians. The longer the growing season was, the longer money could be made, and produce be harvested. The Virginians could more readily trade and sell their cash crops to England, because they were partially funded by England. This made trips across the Atlantic less expensive for the Virginians. Not only did England fund the Virginians, but also the Virginians were welcomed with open arms, and the Puritans weren't as much because they sought religious refuge, and were looked upon as outcasts. Virginia 2004-07-05T00:58:50-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Virginians-And-The-Puritans-25264.aspx Henry Ford and Walter Reuther are two of the biggest names in the world of automobile industries and organized labor. They were both activists in their own way. Also, they were completely different from each other, one could even argue that they were opposites. Their ideas were contradicting, but still both of them had positive effects on society. Henry Ford was a captain of industry. He owned Ford Motors, which was an automobile company. Ford was a man who always wanted his own way and he got it most of the time. The creation he is most famous for is the FORD MODEL T, the car for the commoners. His car became an instant hit amongst the people- the local people and the working class of people because it was very affordable and was not just for the rich. Ford was a very successful businessman but not particularly a nice guy. He expected a lot from his workers but thing is that he also cared for his workers, because he knew that not only were they dependent on him but also that he depended upon them, they were the ones due to which he was gaining popularity and success throughout America. Ford's great strength was the manufacturing process for his cars. Instead of having people put together the entire car he created organized teams that added parts to the Model T as it moved down the assembly line, this lowered the production prices and also the time and energy required to put together the cars. Ford offered an incredible perk for people working in his company. He offered the workers $5 a day minimum wage even though in other auto industries the wages were $2.34. So Ford was paying more than double the average wage to his workers, this shows his dedication to his work. Henry Ford despised Labor Unions for the sole reason that they were pointless and that because he thought he knew how to take care of his workers better than anybody else did. However, in 1941 he faced a general strike from his workers that made him change his mind, reluctantly. Ford had worked a lot to create a car that would be affordable to any common person. He stated, " I will build a car for the great multitude?so low in price that no one will be unable to own one." Walter Reuther was a 2004-07-05T00:56:38-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Rise-Of-Big-Business-And-Organized-Labor-25262.aspx In the post World War II era, a war arose between the Soviet Union and the United States, but in reality there was never really any documented fighting between the two nations, thus spawning the catch phrase "Cold War." Even though both countries were ready to go to war at the blink of an eye and almost did, the powers-that-be never got the nerve to authorize a nuclear war that would have made World War II look like child's play. This was a war fought in the political ring, and was also a war that did not start at the end of World War II, this war started during the war against Hitler and lasted for forty more years before peace became predominant over the crumbling Soviet Union. Many events occurred in this political heavyweight bout, and both sides can be blamed for the extremity the tensions escalated to, and this Cold War would have been tough to avoid taking into account the political beliefs of the countries at hand. During the war, once the Allied powers from the west joined forces with Stalin's Red Army, trouble was inevitable. Luckily for the world, America had a great leader and foreign diplomat in Franklin D. Roosevelt while England countered with Winston Churchill. This duo created a steady working relationship with Stalin, thus creating the Big Three and the Grand Alliance. Even though it was far from a perfect relationship, all three diplomats realized the task at hand, the mandate of stopping Adolph Hitler and the Nazi regime of Germany. Sadly, this priority overwhelmed the Big Three, and no solution was ever conjured up on how to handle the Post-War situation in Europe and Asia following an Allied victory. Understandably, stopping Hitler was far from guaranteed, but any plan that was taken by the Allies in Europe never even considered the implications of how to handle the war-torn countries of Eastern Europe afterwards, an area that the Soviets had suffered many casualties and other losses to free from facist control. The few problems with Churchill and Roosevelt is that they both tended to do things their own way, sometimes leaving Stalin out to dry, and also relied heavily on their own diplomatic skills, leaving other politicians out of the foreign policy matters for each country. While many United States Government officials were not fans of Stalin, 2004-07-05T00:55:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Cold-War--25261.aspx The Great Depression lasted from October 24, 1929 until the economic recovery of the 1940s. On October 29, Black Thursday, the stock market crashed heavily, and continued to fall sharply throughout the coming weeks. As a result, the United States and the world were thrown into a decade of poverty and unemployment. The depression affected all sectors of the economy. Farm owners and agricultural workers suffered from falling crop prices. Businesses failed from a lack of investment support and a decline in the ability of the masses to afford their products. Banks closed their doors as the nation's citizens hoarded their money and defaulted on loan payments. Unemployment and abject poverty enveloped the nation. Herbert Hoover was President of the United Sates at the onset of the depression. His message to the people was one of continued belief in recovery, even in the face of worsening conditions. Though he eventually sparked some government action in an effort to curb the effects of the depression, he believed in the power of the economy to right itself without government intervention. The situation did not improve, and dissent grew throughout the nation. Hoover lost the presidency to Franklin Roosevelt in the 1932 election. FDR quickly shifted from a stance of non-intervention to a government policy of regulation and relief. During the first hundred days of his presidency, he and his highly trusted advisors, known as the Brain Trust, created the New Deal. Marshalling a previously unseen executive power, Roosevelt created a number of agencies to aid agriculture, business, and the unemployed. The nation mobilized, and it appeared the economy might improve. However, the economy remained troubled, and criticism of the New Deal rose up in the government and in some political circles. A number of Supreme Court Rulings effectively dismantled the primary mechanisms of FDR's plan. Undaunted, and gaining a public mandate with the Democratic successes in the 1934 midterm election, FDR set forth the Second New Deal in 1935. This program reaffirmed the administration's commitment to public support of the nation's troubled people. Great steps were taken in attempts to solve the unemployment problem and stimulate economic recovery. The legislation passed during this period would be the framework of the New Deal throughout the remainder of the decade. The economy showed some signs of recovery but was set back by the 1937 recession. After that, FDR enacted few additional measures to cope with the depression. 2004-06-10T06:10:22-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Great-Depression-Overview-Essay-25137.aspx Between the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the most important change that occurred in the colonies was the emergence of a society quite different from that in England. Changes in religion, economics, politics and social structure illustrate this Americanization of the transplanted Europeans. By 1763, although some colonies still maintained established churches, other colonies had accomplished a virtual revolution for religious toleration and separation of church and state. The Anglican Church was the only established denomination in England. In contrast, the colonies supported a great variety of churches. The largest were the Congregationalist, Anglican, and German churches, but many smaller denominations could be found through the colonies. In addition to this, a high percentage of Americans didn’t belong to any church. These differences could be attributed to the fact that many of the Europeans who immigrated to America didn’t fit in to or agree with the churches in their homelands. In a similar economic revolution, the colonies outgrew their mercantile relationship with the mother country and developed an expanding capitalist system of their own. In England, the common view was that the colonies only purpose was to compliment and support the homeland. This resulted in a series of laws and protocols called the mercantile system. While this system had its benefits, it placed harsh restrictions on who the Americans could trade with. For example, as directed by the Navigation laws, Virginia tobacco planters who played by the rules could only sell their products to England, even if other countries were offering a higher price. The Americans answer to this was to largely ignore the mercantile system and smuggle their products to other ports. Building on English foundations of political liberty, the colonists extended the concepts of liberty and self-government far beyond those envisioned in the mother country. While Englishmen had some representation in their parliament, Americans took the system further. All colonies had some form of a two-house parliament system. Some, like New York, had governors appointed by the crown. Others, like Rhode Island, elected their own. Local government also varied between the colonies. The southern states had a strong County government, while the New England colonies relied on town-meeting government. In either case, voting was reserved to land-owning white men. In contrast to the well-defined 2004-06-10T06:05:35-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Colonies-by-1763-25133.aspx Causes Of The Great Depression Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920's and 30's, and the extensive stock market speculation that took place during the 1930's. These were not only the factors of the great depression, structural weaknesses and the fact that most of the other countries were affected just kept the depression going were also played a part. The resulting period ranked as the longest and worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. The Great Depression was the worst economic slump ever in U.S. history, and one that spread to virtually the entire industrialized world. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and penniless. Many people came to depend on the government or charity to provide them with food. It led to a sharp decrease in world trade as each country tried to protect their own industries and products by raising tariffs on imported goods. The economy continued to fall almost every month. At first the stock market was an important but not the dominant influence. But however, by 1929 the market became the symbol of the nation's prosperity and an icon of American business culture. Everything was going great; the stock prices reached what looked to be a permanently high plateau. In September of that year the market began to slide, but people ignored the sign. But on October 29, 1929, "Black Tuesday", the stock market took a huge fall. More than 16 million shares changed hands in frantic trading. Investors soon realized they were heavily in debt so they started to sell their stocks, which led to others doing the same. That was the start of all the panic, everyone started selling but most of them couldn't find buyers. The impact of "Black Tuesday" led to bank failures because speculators who had borrowed from banks to buy their stocks could not repay the loans because they could not sell their stocks. This was the main start of the depression, because it not only wiped out the savings of thousands of Americans, it hurt commercial banks that had invested in the corporate stocks. Many of the middle class 2004-06-10T04:56:09-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Causes-Of-The-Great-Depression-Essay-25105.aspx The Holocaust remains, and will continue to remain as one of the most horrific things that has happened to a group of people. The absolute inhumanity of the Holocaust puzzles people even today. Contemporary people wonder just how it happened, how could a people be systematically killed, tortured, murdered. The answer will probably never be found, but future generations can avoid something like the Holocaust by studying it, and never forgetting The Nazi’s did not start out with “The Final Solution”, which did not come till later. The first step on the path to that solution was the Nazi decree defining a non-Aryan as "anyone descended from non-Aryan, especially Jewish, parents or grandparents. One parent or grandparent classifies the descendant as non-Aryan...especially if one parent or grandparent was of the Jewish faith.". The distinction of who was “Aryan” and who were not was very important to Hitler. This distinction allowed the Jews and others to be discriminated against. At this time the German people probably have no idea what these laws will lead to. Next came the exclusion of the Jew from the arts by the Reich Chamber of Culture, every time a right was stripped away from a Jew it was easier to view them as not human. In September of 1933 the Nazis prohibit Jews from owning land, the rights of the Jewish people were being taken away at a frightening pace. In 1934 more was done to the Jewish race. Jews are banned from the German Labor Front, not allowed national health insurance, and prohibited from getting legal qualifications. The following year Nazis ban Jews from serving in the military, force Jewish performers/artists to join Jewish Cultural Unions, and the Jew Codes (Nuremberg Race Laws) were established. These Jew Codes prohibited many things, not only was it against the law for an Aryan to marry a Jew, it was against the law to have sexual relations between Aryans and Jews also. Jews were also no longer considered to be citizens of Germany, they were now subjects. In 1938 things continued to get worse with the order for Jews to register wealth and property, Jewish owned businesses were to register, Jews were prohibited from trading and providing a variety of specified commercial services, the Nazis ordered Jews over age 15 to apply for identity cards from the police, Jewish doctors were prohibited by law from practicing medicine, and Jewish 2004-03-26T02:28:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Holocaust-82.aspx The times of Jefferson and Madison were a turbulent time for the United States. Many events took places that eventually lead to the War of 1812 with Britain. Many of the causes of the war happened in North America, but some reasons why we fought happened on the open seas or in Europe itself. The US was looking for a fight, and it got one. The causes of the War of 1812 are many and varied. A big problem was the practice of “impressment”, it was supposed to find sailors that had deserted their respective navies. Most of the time though, it was just an excuse to steal goods and men. An incident that came about of this was the Chesapeake – Leopard fight. The Leopard had stopped the Chesapeake because of suspicions of deserters. The Chesapeake refused to stop; the Leopard fired its guns. The Chesapeake had no choice but to surrender, four men were dragged off The Chesapeake. If Congress would have been in session, war would have been declared right then. Another reason why we went to war was the Indian problem. Most of the time when Indians attacked, they were either supplied or incited by the British. The battle of Tippecanoe was an example of British agents working to incite and supply the Indians. A leader that emerged from this battle was William Henry Harrison. Harrison was the governor of Indiana, and was the leader of the force that crushed the Indians at Tippecanoe. Although Harrison lost as many men as the Indians did, he drove the Indians out and burned the Indian town of Prophetstown to the ground. William Henry Harrison became famous because of this battle. Many people in the United States wanted to go to drive the English from North America because of the constant Indian raids. The “War Hawks” wanted to go to war with England because of the Indian threat, the troubles on the open seas, and other reasons. The “War Hawks” were led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, both would play a large role in politics for years to come. The “War hawks” wanted to go to war as soon as possible, because Napoleon was currently fighting the English. It seemed like a good idea, because the best English troops and ships would be off fighting Napoleon. James Madison asked both England and France to stop stopping our ships. 2004-03-26T02:24:54-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-War-Of-1812--80.aspx Peace, Prosperity, and Progress? When Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for the presidency, his campaign slogan was Peace, Prosperity, and Progress. The American people liked the idea of all three, and in 1952, they showed it, when Eisenhower beat Stevens by a landslide. In actuality, Eisenhower failed to make the 1950s a decade of Peace, Prosperity, and Progress. Peace did not come till the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, and even then, the conflict was not resolved. Peace between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. hung in a precarious balance for a long time after Eisenhower left office. While the middle and upper class white families felt the economic boom, minorities and lower class families reaped no benefits from the country’s economic successes. The United States did experience much progress in technology, production of consumer goods, and military technology, but as a society, there was very little progress towards racial equality. The Korean War was a war in which the U.S. participated in to protect their democratic interests in Japan. However, they were able to play it off as helping the people of South Korea. Although Eisenhower claimed he would bring peace to Korea, the war continued on for more than a year after he was elected president. The peace that followed was a tentative one, as the potential for war with the Soviet Union loomed in the future. While there was no actual fighting, Eisenhower made enormous increases in military spending to protect against the war that everyone thought was coming. The military budget increased more than $30 billion dollars from 1950 to 1960. While Eisenhower promised peace, he was expecting war. The 1950s were a time when there was an economic boom in an already strong economy. World War II veterans had come back and settled down with wives in suburban areas. The already strong economy led to the ability of families to support many children, which led to even more consumers, which strengthened the economy further. This economic success was limited to the upper and middle class white families. Lower class families still struggled to stay afloat, while all black citizens had to constantly defend their right to an equal chance. Most of the time, black families were not allowed to purchase houses in new housing developments, regardless of how capable they were to pay for it. There was prosperity galore, but only for a 2004-03-20T02:38:48-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Peace-Prosperity-and-Progress-65.aspx The Articles of Confederation As the Revolutionary War was coming to an end, there was an atmosphere of anti centralized government that bordered on a phobia. While realizing that some government was necessary, the American 2004-03-20T02:37:13-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Articles-of-Confederation-64.aspx