Industrial growth Essay

Industrial growth was mainly concentrated in the North and East of the United States. According to our text in the year 1890 more than 85 percent of manufactured goods originated from here. The West was not as settled as the Eastern and Midwestern portions of our country, but still played a major role supplying raw materials to the industries to the East. Between 1870 and 1900 settlers took a total of 430 million acres in the West and with this began the economic growth of the western portion of the U. S. The only advance that was technologically available to individuals of the West that connected them to the East was the railway system. This was the single most important innovation that changed America’s economic and social life forever. The railway system linked cities and villages that were in isolated or remote areas. â€Å"It tied people together, brought in outside products, fostered greater interdependence, and encouraged economic specialization† (520). Some of the resources that the West had were gold mining, cattle ranching and land bonanzas. It was these resources that would help in getting settlers from the east and around the world to come out to the western part of the U. S. But with growth due to the bonanza’s there were â€Å"uneven growth, boom and bust economic cycles, and wasted resources† (501). Individuals became migrant because of these cycles and began to followed river bottoms in search of gold, railway tracks and other opportunities. The book discussed â€Å"Instant Cities† that would sprout up because of this migration. The West portrayed a get rich quickly type of lifestyle. Mining was a very influential factor as to why most came to the West and why there was a get rich ideology. But still many came because of opportunities that mining produced such as providing food clothing and services to the miners. Cattle ranching in the west proved to be very profitable. The plains provided grasses and terrain that suited cattle. Mexican helped to create the essentials for cattle ranching with introducing the long horn cattle and such things as â€Å"branding, roundups, and roping† (505). In 1870 millions of farmers followed the miners and ranchers to move out west for the crop bonanzas. Farming was very hard in these early times taking its toll on many families. But as farming techniques got better and new technology was introduced farming became a thriving business in the West. The differences economically for the East and West sections of the United States varied because of industrialization. This happened over three decades after the Civil War. At the beginning of the war the United States was behind industrialized countries in Europe, but by 1900 the U. S. was to exceed many of those countries. Population was a major factor for this industrialization. It was the population of the East that helped to move the East up the economic ladder faster than the West, which of course was a contributor of raw materials for these factories. Labor was gained through immigration that happened to grow by at least eight million between 1870’s and 1880’s and then between 1890 and 1914 another fifteen million arrived (519). The growing population expanded economic growth for the East during the latter part of the 19th century. The growing population helped to expand markets of the East, but when the telegraph and telephone was introduced along with the railways this only helped to exploit and expand these markets into the West.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Special Court for Sierra Leone Essay

Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Special Court for Sierra Leone - Essay Example After the end of the conflict, the citizens of Sierra Leone wanted the individual responsible for the conflict and the atrocities that followed to be held accountable for their actions and face justice. Nevertheless, the country at the time did not have an established judicial system and the necessary infrastructure to bring these perpetrators into book (Nzongola-Ntalaja 2000). Furthermore, the existence of Lome Peace Agreement of 1999 was a big hindrance to the courts in the country to indict the alleged perpetrators as they were given a blanket amnesty by the aforementioned agreement. For this reason, there was an urgent need to form a court that would be capable of addressing the situation in the country, thus, the formation of The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). The United Nations Security Council and the government of Sierra Leone agreed to form The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) which was established in the year 2002 on a request from Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, the then president of Sierra Leone. Unlike the courts established by the United Nations Security Council to deal with the perpetrators of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide, the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) was able to dispense a diverse judicial model hence characterized as a hybrid tribunal so to speak. The main aim of the special court for Sierra Leone was to deal with the post conflict justice expeditiously, and in a more economical way unlike the local courts and tribunals in the country which were slow and more expensive, not to mention their inability to respond to the plight of the citizens in the country (Murphy 2003). This court was characterized by new ways of handling judicial processes in the post conflict situations. Such characteristics include the pressure to accomplish its mandate expeditiously, use of a very tight budget, and its location. Discussion The composition of the court includes both international and local judges, counsel, and employees. This composition allows the court to administer justice without undue influence from the domestic or international pressure. The mandate of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) is to try the persons suspected of having the greatest responsibility in perpetrating the violence that ensued in Sierra Leone during the 11 years conflict. It is worth noting that this special court is independent in its operation from the domestic legal system of Sierra Leone and as such, the court uses limited statutory guidelines from the country’s criminal law and heavily depend on international humanitarian law in its proceedings (Stover 2005). The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) statute empowers the court to prosecute violations of Article 3 under the Geneva Convention, international humanitarian law violations, and crimes against humanity. One of the major strengths witnessed in the operation of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) is the responsiveness of the court i n the witness protection and management, since most of them are victims of the atrocities that ensued in Sierra Leone. The court has continued to ensure that the witness feel protected and safe during and after their testimony. This has been done by involving a variety of security resources as well as new psychosocial support program. The

Ramadan of Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ramadan of Islam - Essay Example This is an annual tradition and is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam (Hedayetullah 84). As such, it can be said to be considered one of the most important aspects of being a Muslim and one cannot claim to be of this religion if they do not practice this act every year. Failing to do so is considered to be a sin of immense proportions and unthinkable for a devout Muslim. The length of this month is not set in stone but lasts between 29 and 30 days based upon the visual sightings of the crescent moon which signifies its close (Hedayetullah 88). Though this practice has to be upheld by all adult Muslims, there are certain exceptions that for various individuals whereby they may be excluded from participating in the fasting. These exceptions are in relation to an individual’s physical condition at the time of Ramadan such as if one is ill or a diabetic, in cases of women they are excepted if they are pregnant or happen to be going through their menstrual cycle at that p oint in time (Esposito 61). One is also allowed to be excluded from the fast if they are traveling as the Islam religion recognizes that one should eat to maintain their energies when involved in such an activity. Apart from the cases that have been mentioned above, every other Muslim is expected to uphold the practice of Ramadan when the time comes. Fasting during the time of Ramadan involves refraining form a number of things from a particular time of day (dawn) until a certain time (sunset) that is usually decided after calculations are done (Esposito 65). The time of the opening and closing of the fast during Ramadan may differ from region to region, but the period length remains the same everywhere. This is to say that, for example, individuals in a certain area that have began fasting at an earlier time than others in a different area will stop their fast before those who started after them (Tuner 43). During this period, one is to refrain from eating foodstuffs, drinking liqu ids, smoking, sexual relations and in some interpretations of the Quran, even swearing during this time is prohibited. Once the period of fast has closed, an individual is permitted to eat and drink again until the opening of the fast the next day. According to the Islam religion, it is believed that fasting brings about a lot of rewards (known as Sawab) from Allah and that during Ramadan, these rewards are multiplied and come in even more quantity for those who uphold the practice of Ramadan. Apart from refraining from the items and activities that have been mentioned, an individual is also expected to increase the number of times that they pray (known as salat) as well as their recitation of the Quran (Esposito 67). This is to note the devout nature of this time and indicate the fact that this period has been dedicated to Allah instead of the satisfaction of human desires. According to the Quran, Ramadan is considered to be the most sacred of all months as this is the time when th e Islamic prophet Muhammad first received revelations form Allah and thus as a result the Muslim faithful are to maintain its sacredness through fasting and prayer during this period of time. The beginning of Ramadan occurs with the Hilal and is usually a day or more after the appearance of the new moon. As the new moon is a sign of the beginning of the new month, one can safely

The Reinvention of Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Reinvention of Marriage - Essay Example Marano wrote about marital therapist Liberty Kovacs' research and findings, based on theoretical bravado from group dynamics, theories of adult development, and family systems, of the six stages that marriages go through. Kovacs developed a system which tracks the paths of marital relationships as they evolve in intimacy and mutuality and finds that these paths are predictable in marriages. The six stages are highly distinct and marriages do not necessarily move from one stage to the next in an orderly fashion. A marriage may be stuck in one stage for years or it may go back to another stage. Instead of progressing in a linear pattern, the stages move in a circular pattern. The six stages include: Stage One-Romance (Honeymoon) Fusion; Stage Two-Expectations Compromise; Stage Three-Power Struggle; Stage Four-Seven-Year Itch Competition; Stage Five-Reconciliation Cooperation; Stage Six-Acceptance Collaboration. Being able to look at marriage as a predictable pattern, which involves phases that couples go through, helps couples to be aware of what they are going through and how to deal with them. The knowledge that these phases are part of what marriages go through helps couples to know that this is a natural cyclic process and that they are not alone as all marriages go through these stages in time, as research has discovered. ... Being aware of the stages of marriage allows a couple to customize and design a marriage that will help them work through the six stages then instead of trial and error attempts at a guessing game, there is a more tried and true approach. Couples are able to view the blueprint as they are aware of the stages and can customize the path/solution to take. A strong marriage does not happen overnight and instant gratification should not be what one looks for. Poor conflict management is the key in developing a healthy marriage as it moves through the stages. The art of arguing, as Kovacs calls it, is learning how to communicate effectively and to learn the skills of problem solving. It is important that men and women understand their differences in how they handle conflict and experience pain. By understanding each other's points of view and natural way of responding, conflict management and problem solving can be more easily accomplished. Along with better conflict management methods "th e positive affect", or the expression of affection, must also be incorporated. A sense of humor, empathy, agreement, and other positive actions are aspects of "the positive affect" which shows expressions of affection. This article is relevant to psychology because as the "Elmer" Social Science Dictionary (2003) defines the word psychology, it deals with the "Scientific study of human behavior, mental processes, and how they are affected and/or affect an individuals or group's physical state, mental state, and external environment. Its goal is to describe, understand, predict, and modify behavior." The findings of this article and the research that was conducted can be applied toward not only marriages but basically, any

Hubble space telescope Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hubble space telescope - Research Paper Example this brief analysis will consider the initial need and desire for such an instrument, development of the telescope, launch and operation use, breakthroughs in astrophysics and astronomy that have since been able to be uncovered by means of the Hubble Space Telescope, and future outlook for the Hubble as well as other planned space telescopes. Although certainly not the first astronomer to note the need for a space based telescope, Hermann Olberth formerly iterated his desire to see such a plan put into implementation as early as 1923. The ultimate reason behind such a bold and technologically challenging plan was the need to get beyond earth’s inner atmosphere as a means to reduce the level of light and environmental pollutants and/or dust that so strongly influenced the quality of astronomical work that could be performed with traditional earth based telescopes. Recognizing these limitations, astronomers such as Hubble began to lobby funding entities for the means to design and build a non-earth based telescope (O’Dell 265). Unfortunately however, as is often the case with scientific visionaries, the work of actually building the space telescope was not completed until long after Olberth and many others instrumental in the formulation and development of such an idea were dead. After years of delays, a near continual struggle for available resources and review and oversight by nearly every imaginable entity, the Hubble Space telescope was finally launched in 1990. It should be noted that regardless of the delays or the budgetary overruns and issues that have herein been discussed, the Hubble Space Telescope represented the very cutting edge of optical technology; so much so that it has continued to be relevant over 20 years after being in service. This is a seemingly impossible feat of engineering and design due to the fact that the computer revolution, the age of the internet, fiber optics, and a litany of other technology breakthroughs have occurred

Compare and Contrast Liberalism and Socialism Essay

Compare and Contrast Liberalism and Socialism - Essay Example Liberalism on the other hand is a philosophy which is linked or associated with ideas like the individual liberty and equality. Liberalism started in the 17th century though some argue that it has roots much earlier than that. Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of Rome recognized a government which gave freedom of speech and equal rights to all its citizens (Antoninus 3).  It is often difficult to define liberalism because of its diversity and different forms (Young 24) but liberalism has attracted both, support and criticism from people with various thoughts and ideologies. In Northern America, liberalism  most nearly refers to  social liberalism  in contemporary politics. The  Liberal Party  is pointed to be a modern-liberal party (Puddington 142).  Liberalism in The United States of America  traces its history when Franklin Roosevelt was the president of the country. The  New Deal   initiated by Franklin Roosevelt influenced many American presidents in the future inc luding John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was a liberal himself and he said, "a liberal is someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions and someone who cares about the welfare of the people" (Alterman 32). When Barack Obama won the presidential elections in the year 2008, the economic ties led to the re establishment of social liberalism (Wolfe xiv) In the late 20th century, the â€Å"post industrial economy† created doubts among many about socialism which was in response to the industrial capitalism. During this era, information technology was given a higher bar than labor and material. Because of the doubt, many politicians adopted a â€Å"third way† which would preserve socialism and prevent the class based politics. Politicians who worked towards the promotion of socialism and hence the development of industrial growth includes Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Wim Kok. (Ball & Dagger). The foremost principle of liberalism is indi vidual freedom. This freedom must be exercised in all phases of life as well as under all political and economic conditions. Socialism on the other hand presses upon an individual’s sociability. It minimizes competition and increases cooperation. Some socialists claim that when humans exploit other humans, the reason for poverty emerges through selfish motives and self interests. Thus, socialism is extremely important for the existence of markets and institutions as it promotes change. With respect to socialism, the role of the government is to make sure that the wealth is being fairly distributed among the masses. Socialism’s most important principle will only be achieved when all the workers of a state will have the same opportunity for economic equality. The relationship between socialism and liberalism is not certain. Socialism began in the 19th century with some strong ideologies and by the writings of Marx. Like liberalism, socialism also broke into many movement s after it was found (Grigsby 119).  Karl Marx did not accept the fundamental aspects of liberalism and also hoped to erase the differences between an individual and the society (Koerner 9). The allocation of resources used towards the making of useful products is socialism. The commodities or

French Revolution Essay Example for Free

French Revolution Essay The French Revolution marked a period that was characterized by fundamental social and political disturbances in France. The French society was initially under an absolute monarchy prior to the Revolution which occurred in the late 18th century. The French society went through ambitious transformations whereby feudalism, aristocracy and religious privileges sublimed due to spirited attacks from the political activists and the masses. There was a call to shift from the old hierarchical system and adopt the enlightenment tenets of nationality and absolute rights. The Revolution in France is said to have begun in 1789 and it was marked by various stages with the various revolutionary groups executing the much needed transformations. This paper shall explore how the various groups executed their revolutionary activities that eventually contributed towards the political changes witnessed during the time. The French Revolution The revolution was initiated by the Third Estates-General who demanded that the king undertake practical reforms in the government. The ‘constituent’ forcefully ensured that France had undergone reformations that brought in the constitutional monarch while abolishing feudal advantages and also creating a representative electorate though not a democracy. The constituent had a well elaborated law that was referred to as the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens’ which can be compared to the bill of Rights in the American constitution . Between the years 1791 and 1792, the Legislative Assembly was introduced and the King was supposed to govern hand in hand with this entity. In August of 1792, the king was forced to flee and take cover in the Legislative Assembly during the Parisian march that happened near the royal residence. The king became de facto as the Assembly took control. From 1792 to 1795, France witnessed the First Republic and grand terror in its history . This is a time when the revolution reached its peak. Terror was established as a means of dealing with the opponents of the regime and France was pronounced to be a republic in the year 1792. The somehow liberal constitution that observed some democratic tenets was introduced in 1793 but was to be shelved by the revolutionary government. France was under the rule of the Committee of Public Safety which comprised of a dozen members whose first leader was Danton . Following the execution of Danton, Robespierre took over. In the year 1794, the Revolutionary activities were intensified and it begun executing those who were in opposition to its activities. This led to the execution of its own leader, Robespierre in July of 1794 . After the execution of Robespierre, there arose what was referred to as the ‘Thermidorian Reaction’ which led to the creation of a new constitution. The reaction was in opposition to the terror and paved way for the final stage of the Revolution . In the years 1795 to 1799, the Directory regime was established in which case the executive authority was shared among five directors. The regime was unpopular but it used any means possible to cling to power. There were numerous attempts to overthrow the Directory which culminated in the final disposal of the regime in 1799 by Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup led to the installation of the Consulate before Bonaparte established his dictatorial regime.  He later proclaimed himself as emperor which ended the republican chapter of the revolution. Conclusion The French Revolution was a period characterized by upheavals in the political arena in France towards the late 18th century. However the Revolution played a crucial part in European politics. The revolution ensured that sovereignty was observed as absolutism was discarded which led to the replacement of monarchy with nationhood. The French Revolution therefore marked a major turning point in human history especially in regard to the political orientation of the western society of the 18th century and the world in general.