Month: June 2019
About Abigailr’s Intentions
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Abigailr’s Ambition for Power
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The Puritan Beliefs in the Crucible
In every society, the progression of one group of people directly leads to the subjugation of another. In the Puritan society as depicted in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, women were minorities who were weaker and deceptive in nature. This lead to the conceived idea that they were often associated with evil things such as witchcraft as well as less respected within the Puritan society.
For example, Abigail saw confessing as a sign of relief. To solve her moral problem, Abigail started to blame other girls in town. Elizabeth Proctor is accused of keeping poppets in her home. The poppet is a doll with voodoo magic used to harm people. It wasn't a good look for Elizabeth, from the outside looking in because a poppet was found in her home with a needle stuck in the stomach area. Abigail sabotaged Elizabeth's reputation in court when she brought up that she had been stabbed in the stomach, revealing that Elizabeth had something to do with Abigailr's injury.
The conversation between Cheever and Proctor stated, Cheever, I am given sixteen warrants tonight, sir, and she is one. Proctor, Who charged her? Cheever, Why, Abigail Williams charge her. Proctor, On what proof, what proof? Cheever, Mr. Proctor, I have little time. The court bid me search your house, but I like not to search for a house. So will you hand me any popper's that your wife may keep here? Cheever has been given several warrants for individuals to search their homes and Elizabeth Proctor happened to be one of them. Proctor was shocked that his wife may be involved. Abigail continues to fail to solve her moral problem and in doing so if placing the blame upon others.
There were several incidents within the novel in which women were observed as less than man and the validity of their statements was questioned. To illustrate this idea, upon being accused the first time, Abigail confesses to dancing, but not conjuring spirits. After further interrogation by Parris and Hale, Abigail incriminates Tituba, saying she conjured spirits and tried to force the girls to sell themselves to the Devil, but they would not (Miller 45). Abigail's story changes repeatedly, causing people to question when she is really telling the truth, or when she is simply lying to keep herself safe. Elizabeth's falsehood, though still not excusable, is much more valiant than Abigail's. While Abigail's lies were formed to protect herself, Elizabeth lies in order to protect her husband. When questioned about John Proctor's alleged affair with Abigail Williams, Elizabeth tells the court that the information is false.
Puritan Society in The Crucible
Unfortunately, her lie is obvious because her husband had already confessed outside of her knowledge (Miller 113). There were two distinct groups of women in The Crucible, both of which had their flaws. On one hand, Abigail Williams and the other girls wielded their power through manipulation and dishonesty. They were weak and looked out for themselves only. Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse, though convicted of witchcraft, held their own, and refused to admit to a crime they were not guilty of. These two, Elizabeth and Rebecca showed an entirely different type of power than Abigail as they are much more noble characters, even though they were looked down on by the male authorities. But this natural tendency of the society to mistrust these women demonstrates the inequality and unfairness for them.
When Abagail is accused of being associated with witchcraft she states, I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. After proclaiming this, the religious officials of Salem are left, in essence, with no choice but to believe her. The main quality admired and expected of women in The Crucible is submissiveness. It is clear from the play that Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, was a largely patriarchal society.
Power in the hands of women was looked down on and even feared. Any leverage that women had was gained solely through manipulation. If the men suspected a woman of interacting with the Devil, she was expected to submit to their authority and confess her crime. If she rebelled and refused to confess, she was sentenced to death, no questions asked. However, the same was also true for men, though they were much more seldom found guilty of witchcraft. In The Crucible, women are commonly caught in lies. Not only are the manipulative girls, such as Abigail Williams, prone to lying, but Elizabeth Proctor is also caught lying.
What Role Does the Puritan Faith Play in The Crucible
On the other hand, there are those who argue women played an important part in society and had power when making decisions regarding witchcraft. This is true because the jury believed Abigail Williams when she was giving her testimony about accusing other women of being involved with witchcraft. In order to convince the people, she had to be deceptive in lying about details to hide the truth. Therefore, women are still fulfilling the deceptive figure role as this would have been the only way for them to be heard.
The author's writing is a reflection of the Puritan beliefs within society at the time. Women were seen as less than men and had no validity despite their position. There has been and always will be grouped to be marginalized and treated unfairly in any society. The best and only thing people can do is create the change so that this doesn't happen in future societies.
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Would you Say that People Can Act Irrationally?
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My Impression from Eleonora by Edgar Poe
Romanticism Essay
In english class this semester we read a few romantic literaries, One that I enjoyed very much was Eleonora by Edgar Allan Poe. He was considered one of the most important influenced american writers of his time. I thought the meaning behind his short story Eleonora, is that itr's OK to break a vow of eternal love and youth. This story is all about concern and is an emotional importance to the writer. The short story Eleonora is quite easy to comprehend. The writer tries to think back to past moments in his life. A very important time was when he related to the death of his beloved cousin Eleonora. Another time he relates with his marriage to Ermengarde, his heart break of fond memories.
In the beginning the writer remembers all the amazing times he spent with his cousin and first love Eleonora, whom he was about to marry before she passed. This was an important moment of heartfelt love, the writer promises to Eleonora that even after her death he would remain by her side. By giving a vow to remaining loyal to the memory of their love he wouldnt marry. and offered up a vow, to herself and to Heaven, that I would never bind myself in marriage to any daughter of Earth . (Poe) This ends one chapter of his life, with the vow and death of his great beloved Eleonora.
In the next stage of the writer's life, having been distraught by the sadness of his life without his beloved Eleonora, the writer stumbles upon another daughter of earth Ermengarde. The writer experiences mental conflict when he fell under the charm of Ermengarde. He chose to break his promise to Eleonora. The writer expressed how he fell in love with Ermengarde and that he believed Eleonora was okay with his broken promise to love somebody else.
Edgar Allan Poe was an important author in his time. His short story of sad heartbreak that many could feel while reading. The author put his readers in his own shoes. He introduced us to his life in two scenes the first, when he lived in the Valley of the Many-Coloured Grass and the second when he lived in the city. Showing us his that sometimes it's easy to find love but harder to fall out of love. Even after he moved on from Eleonora I believe because that he still dearly thought of Eleonora even when he found his second love Ermengarde
Work cited page
- Mabbott, Thomas Ollive, et al. Edgar Allan Poe. Encyclop dia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 4 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Edgar-Allan-Poe.
- Poe, edgar Allan. Eleonora. CommonLit, www.commonlit.org/texts/eleonora.
- Arpin, Gary Q. American Romanticism. Holt Literature & Language Arts, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003.
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William Blake: a Representor of Romanticism
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Revolutionary Things during the Romanticism
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William Wordsworth: Father of British Romanticism in English Literature
William Wordsworth, the “father” of British Romanticism, has been called a poet of spiritual and epistemological speculation in addition to being concerned with the human relationship to nature (Brodsky). Before embarking in the art of poetry, Wordsworth started and lived his early life very close to his family. He attended Hawkshead Grammar School, where it is believed that he began to practice poetry. However, at the age of eight, his mother passed away. Soon after, his father passed too, leaving him an orphan along with his other four siblings. This was the source of inspiration dealing with much of his later work regarding religion and childlike innocence.
After his primary schooling, Wordsworth attended St. John’s College in Cambridge.
In his last semester of school, he travelled throughout Europe during the era of the French Revolution. His experience in college and on his adventures greatly influenced his poetry dealing with political sensibility and the “Common Man." His earliest poetry was published in 1793 in “An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches." This was a solo project. Soon after, he wrote “Lyrical Ballads” in 1795 with Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s aid. These poems became some of the most influential in Western Literature (Poets). In turn, Coleridge and Wordsworth were said to be the creators of British Romantic poetry. British Romanticism was an era of literature that lasted from 1800-1850. It started during rebellions and violence throughout Europe, so while focused on nature, most poets believed they were chosen to “guide” others through the changes and turmoil.
As a way to incite hope, poets believed something existed beyond the physical world. They used this to write about supernatural energy and beauty. The poet also believed they were only at “peace in nature” (the British Library). Specifically, William Wordsworth believed poetry should be democratic, and he advocated for the common man. For this reason, he tried to give a voice to those who tended to be marginalized and oppressed by society. This included the poor, discharged soldiers, widowed women, the “insane," and children (The British Library). However, as he grew older, he became more conservative in his outlook. Because of this, he was ridiculed for “selling out” to the Establishment during the revolutions. This led him to begin writing more about the spirituality of nature rather than politics.
Some of Wordsworth’s most popular poems have dealt with the politics and revolutions occurring during the peak years of British Romanticism. In his poem titled “London, 1802”, Wordsworth explored the loss of English morals and tradition. Throughout the poem he used an apostrophe by the name of “Milton”, and he explained that he believed the deceased “Milton” can give the lost foundation back to England through his writing. His lines of “Milton! Thou should be living at this hour: / England hath need of thee: she is a fen / Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen” (Wordsworth) utilize an apostrophe, while describing the predicament England is in. Through these lines, he explains that England needs Milton as “she” has different altars (religion), sword (military), and pen (art) then when Milton was there assisting the arts, and Wordsworth believed that the time Milton was on Earth was better. Through his symbols of altars, swords, and pens, Wordsworth conveyed that he thought that England had lost their tradition and values during the European revolutions and that Milton could help.
Additionally, Wordsworth wrote the political piece titled “Character of the Happy Warrior”, written in the trochaic tetrameter, that explored the characteristics of a good, English, common man. Wordsworth describes men of power and explores the theme, how strong leaders can repair a broken society, through his use of symbolism and spiritual rhetoric. He questions who the “Happy Warrior” is, continuing on to answer his own question throughout his work. He says that the “Happy Warrior” has “high endeavours of an inward light / That makes the path before him always bright” (Wordsworth). Along with this, he describes them as men that “rise to the station of command / On honorable terms” (Wordsworth) and men that “do not stoop, nor lie in wait / For wealth, or honours, or for wordly state” (Wordsworths). These lines describe the ideal character of a strong, powerful, representative English man, specifically a politician, that would give his nation honor.
His poems not only call on the morals of his country and ask if they are there, but they also help out the marginalized groups of England. The effects of the French and the Industrial Revolution on the common people was prevalent in Wordsworth’s writing, and he was keen on portraying lives of common people, including children, making it realistic and representative of of authentic contemporary society (Choudhury). However, it can be argued that some of Wordsworth’s most vital poems deal with his use of political positions, like ones advocating for the respect of oppressed children alongside his use of nature and spiritual beauty to portray marginalized groups in a new light. For example, Wordsworth writes about children in “Ode: Intimations of Immortality”. It is argued that this poem is about “the natural insight and purity of the child” before he/she ages (Eager).
There is simplicity to the rhetoric, almost childlike, that is essential to showing that the poem is about children while using themes derived from nature and spirit. However, as the poem goes on, the writing gets stronger and Wordsworth questions what happens to the innocence and dreamlike quality children have in the lines stating “Whither is fled the visionary gleam? / Where is it now, the glory and the dream?” (Wordsworth). He argued that this diminishes as we age and the children abandon God as they age in the lines that say “Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: / The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star / Hath elsewhere had its setting, / And cometh from afar: / Not in entire forgetfulness, / And not in utter nakedness, / But trailing clouds of glory do we come / From God, who is our home” (Wordsworth). He also states that “There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, / The earth and every common sight, / To me did seem / Appareled in celestial light, / The glory and freshness of a dream. / It is not now as it hath been of yore;— / Turn wheresoe’er I may, / By night or day, / The things which I have seen I now can see no more.” (Wordsworth). In his lines describing the past, Wordsworth is arguing that the children stray further from God because of English values and strict religious policies, not because of their own faults. In this argument, he pleads that this is not the England he knew.
Collectively, Wordsworth argued that the only way to regain the true foundational policies of England is to reevaluate the country's morals at the time. His writing that advocated for marginalized groups and questioned the Establishment using natural and spiritual elements of British Romanticism has been his most impactful, and arguably most important. It truly was used to guide citizens through the turmoil of the constantly changing society, giving off a sense of hope and prosperity if one looks for the “light” and puts their trust in spirit and natural beauty.
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French Romanticism Analysis
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Romanticism and the Gothic Movement
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The Characteristics of Romanticism
Works of romanticism are exhibited in art, poetry, and music. Romanticism places an emphasis on emotion, a love of nature, and how individuals connect to it. William Cullen Bryant To a Waterfowl and Thomas Durand's painting Kindred Spirits both classified as romantic because both works reflect emotion, the awe of nature, and the importance of imagination.
In To a Waterfowl, Bryant uses awe of nature, emotion, and the importance of imagination. The way in which Bryant uses awe of nature in this poem shows through the language he uses to describe nature. It shows his regard and love of nature. The reader is actually able to see in their mind what he is writing. When Bryant states, Whither, midst falling dew, While glow the heavens with the last steps of the day, far through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue thy solitary way? (Bryant 64), the reader is able to see with their imagination the waterfowl flying solo in the early morning hours or across the backdrop of the late evening sky. When Bryant describes the evening sky as the heavens that glow with rosy depths it shows his admiration of nature.
Bryant also uses emotion in this poem. He speaks about walking alone as the waterfowl flies alone. In his statement, He, who, from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky, they certain flight, in the long way that I must tread alone, Will lead my steps aright. (Bryant 64), Bryant expresses the loneliness that he must have felt during his long daily walks. But he also talks about the comfort he finds in knowing that as God is with the waterfowl he is also with him.
Lastly, Bryant exhibits the importance of imagination by envisioning the activities of the waterfowl. In his statement, Seekr'st thou the plashy brink of the weedy lake, or marge of river wide, or where the rocking billows rise and sink On the chafed ocean side? (Bryant 64) , he wonders what the waterfowl might specifically look for. He talks about the waterfowl seeking water, flying in the cold thin atmosphere, and finding a summer home. These examples show what one might imagine a waterfowl does.
Durand uses awe of nature, emotion, and the importance of imagination in his painting Kindred Spirits. The painting is a depiction of Thomas Cole and William Cullen Bryant taking in nature while being together as friends. The painting illustrated the idea of communing with nature. The two men in the painting who remain friends in real life each wrote a poem about a piece of the American landscape that they each enjoyed. The painting is a reflection of their enjoyment of nature.
In the painting, the friends enjoy an imaginary landscape together. This expresses the emotions of harmony and adoration of nature. In the painting, the kindred spirits share a passion for nature. Togetherness, fellowship, and affection for the same things in life prevail as emotions that all humans feel deeply and desire.
Lastly, Asher Durand creates his painting using his imagination as a guide to create a place that he thought Bryant and Cole would appreciate. The painting is a depiction of the ideal features of two regions in the Catskills Mountains(Kindred Spirits Composition). The two regions in the Catskills mountains are the regions Bryant and Cole each were each fond of. Durand's bringing these two regions together in this way shows the importance of imagination that is emphasized by romantic works.
In conclusion, the characteristics of romanticism still remain vibrant in today's world because people use emotion, imagination, and awe of nature in art, music, poetry, and book writing. Today you can see it expressed in different types of poetry like poems such as William Cullens Bryant's poem, To a Waterfowl. William Cullen Bryant's poem expresses the beauty of nature, the emotional connection with a bird through imagination during his walk through life. Individuals also see it expressed in Thomas Durandr's painting Kindred painting because he also uses the beauty of nature, emotion, imagination to create a painting of a mythical place that is peaceful.
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Nature in Romanticism Period
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Analysis of the Crucible by Arthur Miller
The communist witch hunt was a time of unjust persecution and false accusations, with many similarities with a previous event; the Salem witch hunt. The Salem witch hunt, though on a much smaller scale, was still devastating to their economy, and hurt them for a long time after that. There are many similarities between the communist witch hunt and the Salem witch hunt, but there are also many differences. The biggest one that comes to mind, would be how much they affected America as a whole. Of course there are more examples of all the differences, but well start out with the context behind all of the propaganda.
Salem
In Salem, Massachusetts practically everyone in that town was religious. In fact, the laws of Salem relied heavily on the Bible. You were more likely to get in trouble for being drunk or talking blasphemy then you would be for stealing something. Some punishments included being whipped, being dunked into the water, hanging, and paying fines. This was just for minor stuff, so it must have been terrible for them when they thought that they had witches.
Everyone started freaking out, especially since it started with the local Reverend's daughter and niece. They thought that anyone could be a witch, and so mass hysteria broke out. Neighbors were accusing neighbors because of a simple rivalry, they even put two dogs to death because they mightve been involved in witchcraft. The people who really put this power into play though were the Putnams. They were the richest people in the town and they wanted more land, so they started accusing their neighbors of being witches because if you confessed, then your land would be sold for auction. At some point, they accused Giles Corey and his wife, Martha, but they died with honor and didnt confess so that their children could have their land.
McCarthyism
1950s America was also very religious, though the population was a lot bigger than it was in Salem. The 1950r's were a lot less extreme in the religion department though. It is, after all, in our basic civil rights to practice whatever religion we want to, or to practice no religion at all. One of the main reasons that America was a lot more religious was because of the baby boom, the rising population decided to move into suburban places, and there were a lot of churches there. Most people wanted their children to grow up good, and so they decided to start trying out different churches to try and best make sure that their children were upright. In fact, it is estimated that about 57% of the population was religious in 1950.
America was already weary of communists at the time because of the Cold War, but McCarthy fanned the flame when he accused his rival for senate seat of being a communist. America started freaking out because there was no way an Atheist communist could be in our good Christian country. Other people used this to their advantage, mostly to try and get elected into office. This wasnt neccessarily true for just house seats either, oh no. It could be for anything, like anyone who produced any type of media. Two people might have opposing views, and then suddenly one of themr's a communist, and has to be taken in to the state for questioning. They would also immediately blacklist those people (actors, actresses, directors, etc.).
Similarities:
The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the communist witch hunt have many similarities. One of them would be that the social repercussions of being accused are quite similar. If you were accused of being a witch in Salem, then you were tried unfairly, you mightve been beaten into submission, you might get away with it if you falsely confessed. If you were accused of being a communist during the Age of McCarthyism, then you would be taken to the HUAAC (House of Un-American Activities Committee) for questioning, youd be pressured into giving out names of other communists, you also couldnt defend yourself using the Fifth Amendment or else it wouldve been considered suspicious.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as an allegory for the Communist witch hunt. While the Salem witch trials was an actual event that took place, Miller saw the similarities and decided to write a book about it. Miller himself was accused of being a communist after publishing his book, and refused to testify in front of the HUAC. While he was blacklisted in Hollywood, there were still plenty of other places that enjoyed his masterpiece. Germany even liked it so much, that they put on a play of it, and Miller and his wife were invited.
Differences:
While they do have many similarities, they also have many differences. The most obvious one would be that the types of people targeted were very different. In Salem, the ones who were most accused were the poor people, or the people who were already convicted of doing a crime. In fact, the trials really only stopped once people who had a much higher stature in their society got accused . Itr's quite the opposite in the case of the communist witch hunt; they mostly went after people who were of a higher stature like those in the senate, or someone influential like media producers. The only reason it stopped, was because McCarthy tried to accuse the military, but lost and started losing his popularity.
Another difference is what those in power thought that they were accomplishing. Those in Salem thought that they were doing a good thing by trying to get rid of all of those witches. Those in power during the McCarthyism age though were really only in on it so that they could get more popular so that they could get elected into office. Those intentions vary case to case though. Maybe some of those in Salem just wanted to get popular, and maybe those in the HUAC thought that they were doing the right thing.
Conclusion:
In retrospect, both of those things that happened to us was devastating at the time. Innocents were thrown in jail, peoples lives were ruined. There are many similarities and differences, but only you can decide if itr's more similar or different.
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Treatment of Women Throughout the Crucible
The portray of women is shown quite differently depending on who you are, who people think you are, and how they react to a male-dominated society, this division is shown quite clearly throughout the crucible. Women are portrayed in three different ways in the crucible. Some are shown as good, moral, upright people, while others are quite completely the opposite. Miller does this in order to show the balance between disparate people, which allows it to make the story more believable. There are three different types of women represented in the book with three different outcomes.
Abigail is the clear antagonist in the play. She is a liar, a thief, and a manipulative person. Due to the grudges, she holds, and the complete lack of regard for the well being of others, in the end, she ends up sending 19 innocent people to their deaths. She proceeds to have an affair with John Proctor and she wants him all to herself, so she accuses Elizabeth Proctor (his wife) of witchcraft, in order to get what she wants despite the consequences that come with it. She even goes on to say "You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!" (pg. 24) In the end, she does admit to lying but doesn't regret any of it, because it all got in her way of getting what she wanted. Miller portrays her in such a manner, in order to show one part of the history of the witch trials, which allowed people with grudges or resentment to one to take it out in this way.On the other hand, Elizabeth Proctor can be seen as one of the most faithful women in the entirety of the play. Despite her husband, John Proctor, committing the offense of adultery by having an affair with their housekeeper, Abigal Williams, she still maintains to remain obedient to John. When she was asked if her husband had committed adultery, she lied. When Danforth said "To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery" (113) Elizabeth responded with, "No sir"(113). She had never lied prior to this incident, yet she lied to save her cheating husband. She is an extremely faithful woman who willingly took the fall for something she was not involved in, she did this because she believed she was the driving force of her husband committing adultery. "I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery"(137). Throughout the play, she is portrayed as a woman with strong moral character and a phenomenal wife, yet she believes she is the reason for a fault. Miller draws her this way in order to show that Elizabeth as a woman so "good" she ends up blinding herself and becomes annoyingly self-deprecating.
Rebecca Nurse could be seen as a mix between the two. She is seen as one of the only females characters throughout the play who has a sense of high integrity and a good moral character yet, she is not a native and doesn't allow herself to be stepped on. When she is accused of witchcraft she does not confess or put the blame on anyone else, instead, she defends herself. When she is asked to confess, she says "Why it is a lie, it is a lie; how many may I damn myself? I can not, I cannot."(140) This display shows us how genuine and strong as an individual she is, even though witchcraft was seen as a horrendous crime, she knew that she was innocent and would not lie in order to save herself or please those around her. Rebecca Nurse is easily one of the most likable characters in the entire play, she stands up for what she knows is right and defends her beliefs, and not even consider the fact to even stoop so low to accuse any more innocent people.
Miller portrays women in an extremely unique light. He tries to show various sides of the same gender, from both ends of the spectrum, ad the middle of it. Three different characters were shown with three very contrasting personalities, yet all had a powerful presence in the play and all had to endure consequences, even if it was or was not self-provoking. It's safe to say that Miller tried to present this play without any prejudice while writing it. He made the antagonist of the play woman. Women despite a few not knowing they were powerful and complex creatures that make men do anything they wanted, good or bad.
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Why is the Procrastinating Prince
The Procrastinating Prince
For centuries, Shakespeare has perplexed his audience with the puzzling issue that Hamlet poses. Taking it upon himself, the duty of exacting revenge on Claudius for murdering his father, Hamlet swears that he will swiftly act. Then, he seemingly neglects his vow to his father, wasting multiple opportunities, in spite of the ghost reappearing before him to remind of his task. Even after escaping from his trip to England, Hamlet seems to have no intention of taking his uncler's life. When he does finally kill Claudius, in the final moments of the play, he does so with no forethought, contradicting all his previous actions and contemplations. Hamletr's retribution is too late. If he had done what he promised sooner, the other deaths would not have occurred as unintentional results of his procrastination. Now the question remains, why did Hamlet delay his revenge?
Itr's meaningless to question Hamlet as he himself is baffled at his own inaction. He criticizes himself sharply in Act 2, after watching an actor mourn with counterfeit sorrow for an imaginary character when he could not weep for his father. The actorr's display in a dream of passion (II.ii.552) puts Hamlet to shame since his motives and cue for passion (II.ii.561) are genuine, yet all he can do is mope like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of [his] cause (II.ii.568). An entire act later, Hamlet finds himself abashed again for dragging his feet at the sight of Fortinbras and his army marching to fight over a little patch of ground / That hath in it no profit but the name (IV.iv.18-19). He expresses his own bewilderment at his inexplicable impotence through his soliloquy I do not know / Why yet I live to say This thingr's to do (IV.iv.45-46). He openly admits in the same soliloquy that the reasons for why he continues waiting are implausible. Hamlet reveals his disdain of wasting his ability to reason Sure He that made us with such large discourse, / Looking before and after, gave us not / That capability and godlike reason / To fust in us unused (Iv.iv.38-41).
Hamletr's ability to act seems to become apparent only when he acts without prior thought, from chasing the ghost instantly as it started to leave, to running his sword through Polonius believing it to be the king. Hamletr's constant weaving between living and committing suicide to escape his suffering reflect his shortcomings of not only taking revenge, but also taking a life by the Christian objections of his conscience. Yet, he feels no guilt for the deaths of Polonius and his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. A common explanation is that Hamlet is suffering from a psychological dilemma. At the close of the first act, Hamlet had received charge from his fatherr's spirit and declares that he will put on an antic disposition (I.v.177), claiming that he will act mad as a disguise to expose the secrets that his uncle has kept. This not only exhibits his unreasonable methodology in uncovering a hidden enigma, but also begs the question of his current mental state.
For example, Paul Rozin and Edward B. Royzman analyzed the contagion of negativity stating that the despair that stems from misfortune grows more rapidly over time than the positivity from positive events. This can explain how his state of mind quickly spiraled out of control after suffering the loss of his father and learning of Claudius malicious ploy to take the throne. Similarly, A.C. Bradley diagnosed Hamlet in his study as a form of melancholic depression, making this assumption from Hamletr's remark I have of late ’ but wherefore I know not ’ lost all my mirth (II.ii.295-96).
Hamlet losing his mirth, or cheerfulness, has lost his happiness in his life, corresponding to conventional symptoms of depression. On the other hand, others believe the Oedipal complex, a term used by Sigmund Freud, influenced much of Hamletr's actions. The Oedipal complex is a theory of the desire of a child for sexual gratification through the parent of opposite sex which can be connected to the unconscious source of his suicidal dejection and pathological reluctance to avenge his father. He would feel that killing his motherr's lover, Claudius, would be killing his secret Oedipal self. But what if Hamletr's torment in playing the role of the revenger expresses his rejection to a corrupted way of life that tolerates injustice and inhumanity? If everything the audience learns from the play confirms Hamletr's conclusion that the world is a prison in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, and Denmark being one o th worst (II.ii.245-247), then Shakespearer's play turns out to be something quite different. It becomes the tragedy of having to live in a depraved world.
From Hamletr's view, his retreat into the limbo of his feigned madness is his sane response to the insane mess that has manifested itself in his life. In Hamlet, Shakespeare undermines the genre of a revengeful tragedy by creating a main character that refuses to play the role that her's been given. Shakespeare emphasizes his purpose by juxtaposing Hamlet with Fortinbras and Laertes, two sons who also want to avenge their fathers, but do not falter when doing so.
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Computer Professionals and Procrastination
If you ask any job recruiter in the computer field what the most common complaint employers have with computer science students, they will probably say something along the lines of, they do not always meet the deadlines. Punctuality is valued in almost all moral theories, including the social contract theory, the rule utilitarianism theory, and Kantianism. Each of these three philosophies provide arguments against procrastination.
Unfortunately, many computer professionals do not practice punctuality, resulting in project delays and unhappy software users. People who work in the computer industry must avoid procrastination because they have a responsibility to make their customers happy, satisfied customers will continue to give their business, and the consequences of procrastinating affect multiple people. Professionals in any industry must always consider their responsibilities.
One of the most important responsibilities of a professional is to guarantee the satisfaction of their customers. The relationship between a merchant and a customer is one of the foundations of society. Procrastination from the merchant disrespects this relationship, and transitively violates Thomas Hobbes social contract theory. According to the theory, the merchant and the customer, as members of society, have tacitly agreed to obey societal rules, which the government can administer. Interview anybody you know about his or her expectations after purchasing hardware from Best Buy. If they preorder a new tablet at their local Best Buy, the customer will expect the device to be available for pick-up at the store on the release date. Delaying the tablet release date because of procrastinating developers will frustrate customers. If the hardware is faulty and does not work as advertised, the customer will probably expect a refund. Because of government regulation and protection of the companyr's public relations, Best Buy offers warranties for all of its products. When a software developer procrastinates, the likelihood of bugs in their software increases.
The consequences of selling buggy software are damaging customer relations, and forcing the government to enforce stricter regulations. Most companies will support their customers with free software updates, but ideally, computer professionals will proactively prevent these issues before the releasing commercial software. Practicing punctuality reduces the number of bugs in a product and ensures that the product will be finished on time. A merchant guaranteeing customer satisfaction is mutually beneficial for both parties.
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Procrastination and its Effect
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A Wide Spread Problem of Procrastination
The authors of PRONCRASTINATION, Jane and Lenora have said: Procrastination is not primarily a time management problem or a moral failing but a complex psychological issue. At its core, problem procrastination is a problem with oner's relationship to oneself, reflecting a shaky sense of self-esteem. Do you have the experience that cramming for tests or paying the rent at the last moment? Provided that your answer is yes, I believe that you might be bothered by procrastination in a way.
Currently, a growing number of individuals are suffering from procrastination. It is evaluated that more than 70 percentage college students have procrastination. In addition, in general population, there are also as high as 25 percentages people being affected by chronic procrastination.
It is universally acknowledged that procrastination brings a series of unfavorable results to us. For one thing, people will suffer internal consequences, ranging from guilty to intense self-condemnation and despair. For another, they will also suffer great loss in social relationships, study and family. All signs indicate that procrastination is a giant hamper in our way to success. So why do we procrastinate? How to stop procrastination?
The pursuit of perfection and the fear of failure. Quite a few people who procrastinate are afraid of being judged by others and found their disadvantages. They are afraid that they put forth their best efforts but still cant meet others requirements. So they procrastinate. In this way, if their results arent good enough, they can owe their failure to lack of time and their procrastination instead of their inability.
Distraction. Some people are easy to be distracted to do other things, such as tidy the room and so on. Although they feel that they have done something meaningful and too hectic to complete their plans, as a matter of fact, they are reluctant or afraid to finish their plans, and other affairs that seem meaningful give them the excuse to escape.
Time inconsistency. Generally speaking, objective time doesnt match with subjective time. This symptom has two causes. Some people think clock is of no great importance for the reason that it is inhumane, so they refuse to accept the objective time and insist on their own subjective time, which gives them an illusion that they can control time, others and even reality. The other peopler's subjective time is slower than objective time. When they set up to do something, it seems everything is plain sailing, but they will find that time is not enough gradually.
According to the causes above all, my suggestions on how to solve them are as follows:
In the first place, be confident in yourself and believe that you have the ability to come to the top. Whatr's more, not be afraid of failure and criticism from others. All of them will help to be better. Secondly, make a daily plan and write down what you have to do today. Only after you have terminated all of them can you do other things. The last but not least, reconcile with time and find out a reasonable time between your subjective time and objective time. It should be elastic and can range from objective time to subjective time, which means it can be accepted by you and others.
Samuel has said: The folly of allowing ourselves to delay what we know cannot be finally escaped is one of moralists, and the remonstrance of reason, prevail to a greater or less degree in every mind. I expect what I have mentioned above can help you learn more about procrastination and alleviate your procrastination.
References List:
- JAMES CLEAR (2018)A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating.[online]
Available at: https://jamesclear.com/procrastination[Accessed 2018]. - Jane B. burka, PhD & Lenora M. Yuen, PhD, 2008. Procrastination.
- Jayson DeMers (2018) The Surprising Link Between Procrastination and Threats to Your Health.[online]
Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/313644[Accessed 21 May.2018].
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The Chasm of Ethnicity in the Kite Runner
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Sin in the Kite Runner
Sin is the immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini creates a story about Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, whose closest friend is Hassan. Describe and analyze the development of a major theme from the Kite Runner. Sin is one of the many major themes that connects this Historical book to human experiences. Redemption is so important because sin is so enduring.
The first reason to why sin is so important is because of Amir. Amir opens up the novel by telling us not about how exactly he sinned, but about sinr's endurance. Throughout the novel, God is mentioned multiple times so Hosseini could express what he feels about God through Amir. Amir said, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft when you kill a man, you steal a life you steal his wifer's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someoner's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness there is no act more wretched than stealing a man who takes whatr's not his to take, be it a life or a loaf of naan I spit on such a man. And if I ever cross paths with him, God help him (Hosseini 17-18). The meaning of this quote shows Amir telling us about his father, a portrait of an immensely likable, dominant, and moral man emerges. With sin being mentioned in the quote, this also shows what Amir thinks and feels. He believes every other sin is a variation of theft with only one sin in the world. Later, in the quote he talks about killing. If you kill a man you would make him lose everything in life including his wife and children. Cheating is a sin and Amir believes it's not fair. All of the sin mentioned in chapter 3 has to do with the 10 commandments and what God says we are not allowed to do.
The second reason deals with Rahim Khan. Khan writes a letter to Amir telling him that he has been in his prayers for the passing of Baba and he expresses his feelings he had towards his father. Rahim writes, I loved him because he was my friend, but also because he was a good man, maybe even a great man. And this is what I want you to understand, that good, real good, was born out of your fatherr's remorse. Sometimes, I think everything he did, feeding the poor on the streets, building the orphanage, giving money to friends in need, it was all his way of redeeming himself. And that, I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir Jan, when guilt leads to good (Hosseini 302). Rahim Khan is also ashamed for lying to Amir for years. Baba committed sin and saw himself and guilt. Redemption is the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. Baba was remorseful and real good was born out of him. God said thou shall not commit sin, but if you redeem yourself from any wrongdoing you are free from evilness which is what Baba did. That is what Rahim Khan believed. He said true redemption is, Amir Jan, when guilt leads to good. At the end of the letter Rahim knows that God will forgive Baba, Amir, and himself for they have done. He hopes Amir will do the same.
The final reason appears in chapter 21. In this chapter, it expresses the ten commandments. Assef said, Every sinner must be punished in a manner befitting his sin! the cleric repeated into the mike, lowering his voice, enunciating each word slowly, dramatically, And what manner of punishment, brothers and sisters, befits the adulterer? How shall we punish those who dishonor the sanctity of marriage? How shall we deal with those who spit in the face of God? Coming from Assef people should obey God and honor him. These are the ten commandments and this quote connects back to the first quote used. Not following these commandments will be the result of sin. People were gathered together to pray and carry out justice. Sin affects our human experiences because it moves us further away from God. Our human experience is the results of the mindr's interaction and communication between your physical body and the non-physical or spiritual soul.
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Review on the Kite Runner Book
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Depiction of Hamlet’s Procrastination
The story of Hamlet is one containing many major themes, one, in particular, being the deterministic causes behind Hamletr's delay in seeking vengeance. Hamlet struggles battles, both internal and external, with the internal proving to be more prevalent. Three of the specific factors that impact the heror's inability to obey the ghostr's command include his uncertainty, finding the ideal moment to act, and his tendency to over complicate the task in order to seek out perfection. Hamlet chooses to procrastinate his vengeance as a result of his own uncertainty.
Hamletr's procrastination stemming from an uncertainty begins with his distrust of the spirit he recognizes as his father. When he encounters the ghost he immediately begins to question it. Following this meeting, he addresses his fears of its intentions in a soliloquy, The spirit that I have seen "May be the devil: and the devil hath power" To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me: I'll have grounds More relative than this: the play 's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. (II,ii)
As a result, he chooses to ensure the guilt before making any rash decisions to take immediate vengeance. He takes it upon himself to uncover the full truth on the death of his father before taking the fate of Claudius into his own hands. His first method of unveiling the truth is done through the traveling players that have found their way to the Elsinore Castle. Hamlet meets with the group of actors and makes a request for a very specific play, The Murder of Gonzaga, to be presented to all, including King Claudius. The play presented a reenactment if what Hamlet presumed to be the events surrounding the murder of his father. During the performance, Claudius is unable to mask his increasing discomfort. The drama causes him so much distress that he resorts to rushing out and demanding the return of lights. This reaction gives Hamlet the needed assurance of Claudiusr's guilt and leaves him with a stronger sense of certainty.
Following uncertainty, another internal factor that contributes to Hamletr's inability to take immediate action against Claudius is his unpreparedness and indecisiveness. As Hamlet is exposed to opportunities to take down his uncle, he backs down. Each time he is able to find something potentially wrong with the situation. There are continuous introductions of new refinements, or added rules that Hamlet decides he must obey as he carries out his fatherr's perfect revenge against Claudius. These added details signal that Hamlet lacks the self-confidence to carry out what he considers to be his duty. It is not that he does not know what he must do and what he even desires to do, but he prefers to take as much time as he can to deliberate and find the optimal method to do his task. His lack of readiness results in his hesitation and this causes the occurrence of unnecessary tragedies. However, he deems it vital to do whatever he can with the utmost precision in order to achieve the most desirable outcome. His behavior and action reflect this with magnitude. Hamlet does not see it possible to take reasonable, yet effective and purposeful action. The question at hand, is how is one to act as he/she is affected by not only the rational considerations, (i.e. the need for certainty), but also by the emotional, ethical, and psychological implications?
Hamlet portrays an attitude of distrust toward the idea that it can be even slightly possible to act in a purposeful, while still controlled manner. Other characters in the play differ in that they think and act with a conscious behavior, but they do not concern themselves with calculating each detail of what they will do to determine the optimal end result. As a result, they are less troubled by the need to act effectively. The characters act how they feel is appropriate in whatever situations and environments they find themselves in. Hamletr's differing thought process is what sets him apart from the other characters. An interesting quality relating to Hamletr's thought process is how well he can carry out actions when deprived of having the time to think on them. He reacts and is prompt with his responses. When he ran Polonius through, he did it quickly without any moment for him to become indecisive or allow the intrusion of his meticulous conscience or his over-refinement.
When Hamlet does something well, it is often due to him having been given no opportunity to dwell on the act prior. When he takes action, he does best when he does it blindly without any premeditation. Following the play, Hamlet is given the opportunity to exact his revenge when he encounters his uncle alone in prayer. Hamlet is aware that this is the perfect chance to kill Claudius, however, he does not take action as he presumes his uncle to be praying a prayer that will have his soul pure. He decides he cannot kill the king at that moment because he would certainly be sent straight to heaven. He resolves to wait for an opportunity to kill Claudius, which would be: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in th incestuous pleasure of his bed, At game, a-swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in t” Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damned and black As hell, whereto it goes. (III.iv)
So Hamlet will wait to kill until his uncle is actively indulging in one of his sins in order to ensure his eternal damnation. Unfortunately for Hamlet, he was not aware of what the king was professing in his prayers at that moment. His prayer was not sincere, as he states, My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be, since I am still possessed Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain th offense? (iii.iv)
He prays of having a desire to repent and seek forgiveness, but he knows he cannot ever be fully forgiven for his sin against his brother, as he is unwilling to give up neither the crown nor the queen. Hamlet's father's ghost assigned him a difficult task, to say the least, and Hamlet consistently worked toward and planned on carrying it out. However, each time he fell short as a result of his need to resolve, and then re-resolve, and finally he would find himself in the exact same place he started. It was not due to any disloyalty, or lack of desire. Rather he was being held back by never finishing out his thoughts on the matter. The instant it was his chance to act, he found a reason to take a step back. He welcomed any opportunity to think the task over once more, allowing himself a conscientious-appearing excuse for delay. He did his best work when the tasks were thrown at him by accident, but struggled when he was given any chance to reminisce. This is why he ultimately steps back and waits for fate to lure Claudius to him rather than actively pursuing him. This leaves him lamenting himself for failing to complete his duty to avenge his father.
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A Dynamic Character of Amir
A dynamic character is defined as a character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude. Khaled Hosseini uses Amir to represent this characterization technique throughout his novel The Kite Runner. Amir's journey begins as a selfish young boy who did not care for those loyal to him. Throughout the novel, he begins to change in his perspective of the world as he grows older. This allows him to become a more caring man compared to what he was as a child. The novel ends with Amir performing a selfless act showing the dynamic at which Amir changed throughout the novel as he went from selfish to selfless.
As Amir grew up, he lived in a home where he felt unappreciated by his father. He was insecure and wanted to do whatever he could to gain the appreciation of his father because he thought that if he gained Baba's love, Baba and he would spend more time together, get closer, and ultimately have a better life. His quest to get this love caused his hypothesis to be true to an extent. Amirr's goal was to win the annual kite-flying tournament, as his father had done multiple times, in order to gain his father's love. Once he had won he would need the kite to show his victory and when faced with a situation in which he had to pick between Baba's love and the kite or his best friend Hassan, he let his friend get raped so he could get his father affection. His justification for his actions further shows the selfishness he portrays as he says Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.(Hosseini 77). Ultimately his selfishness gained him less than he lost. His father is happy for him and their bond increases, but his friendship with Hassan is pretty much over as he can not face him anymore after doing what he had, leading him to a future of guilt. In an attempt to make himself feel less guilty he frames Hassan for stealing. He says I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch and tiptoed out... I went downstairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan's living quarters by the loquat tree. I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it.(Hosseini 104). He thought having Hassan gone would eliminate his guilt but he was only thinking of himself. Although it eventually led to Hassan leaving the house, it emotionally crushed Baba as he lost his friend and son.
As the novel develops, he begins to feel guilty for what he had done and begins to believe he must change to rid himself of the guilt he has lived with since then. Amir takes a sharp turn in the last couple chapters of the novel as he becomes a loving and compassionate man who sacrifices everything for his family. When Rahim Khan tells Amir There is a way to be good again (Hosseini 192) he understands this is his time to be the man he had sought to be in the past years instead of the baby he used to be. When he discovers that Hassan and his wife, Farzana, were killed by Taliban soldiers while trying to protect Amir and Baba's former home in Afghanistan, he is amazed by their loyalty and further uses Hassan as a model for loyalty. He also learns that Hassan is his half-brother and Baba's biological son, creating a deeper relationship between them. Once presented with the opportunity to go to Afghanistan and save Hassanr's son, Sohrab, he considers it and take a large step towards selflessness as he decides to go find Sohrab and bring him to a better place though Afghanistan is a dangerous place. On his journey, he displays his changing attitude a few times, for example, when he stuffs cash under the bed at Wahidr's house. He saw the state of their living and gave them something to make their life better. He thought of this as redemption for placing money with a malicious intent under Hassanr's bed. He also gives money to beggars as his father does once he reaches Kabul. As he gets to know Sohrab, Amir develops a deep love for him in Afghanistan and Pakistan, leading to him learning the true meaning of love and loyalty causing him to adopt Sohrab, treating him as a son. By going into a war-ridden Afghanistan, he showed that he is no longer scared of being hurt if it meant helping his family, which was why he didnt help Hassan many years prior. This is a major change in the personality and attitude towards family for Amir in several ways.
By the end of The Kite Runner, Amir had developed the personality of a man who values friendship and helping others as he begins to help his community in America and back in Afghanistan. He and his wife, Soraya, team up with another Afghani man named Kabir to build a hospital along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He brings Sohrab back to America and provides a good life for him. He constantly tried to help Sohrab get out of his shell and never gave up, something the old Amir may have done. In the end, he runs a kite for Sohrab, saying For you, a thousand times over (Hosseini 371) a symbol of Hassan, the epitome of a loyal friend.
Throughout The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini uses the protagonist of the story, Amir, to exemplify a dynamic character. With time, Amir generates new values and prioritizes whatr's right as with every new experience comes with a new realization. The rape of his best friend opened his eyes and drove the major transition between the Amir of 1976 and the Amir of the 90s, Overall, his shift from a jealous and selfish boy to a family-oriented and caring man shows how the change Amir underwent proves him to be the most dynamic character in The Kite Runner.
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Consequences of the Attack on Pearl Harbor
It's early morning, almost eight o'clock, when the residents of Pearl Harbor wake up. Walking outside, they hear an odd noise and look up to see Japanese planes dropping giant bombs out of the sky onto their home. The Japanese executed the attack in the midst of World War II. There were thousands of casualties, hundreds of ships destroyed, and the United States entered the war as a result. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which catapulted the United States into World War II, and effected America forever.
WHY DID THE JAPANESE TARGET PEARL HARBOR?
The Japanese military chose Pearl Harbor as their target because the United States were trying to stop their expansion plan. Japan hoped that after the bombing, the Americans would accept defeat and let them continue to take over the Pacific Rim. The capitals of both countries consulted for months, with the US trying to bring Japan's expansions to a full stop. These efforts resulted in Japan becoming angrier at America and swayed Japan to refuse stopping it's development (Pruitt). Tensions between America and Japan had been growing for months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The United States attempted to suspend their extension time and time again, which just resulted in Japan's rage growing rapidly each time. War was unavoidable for Japan and the United States, and surprising the US navy immediately in order to weaken its power was crucial to Japan's plan. The Japanese wished to take over the Philippines and Malaysia during America's recovery time over the fleet of ships Japan was planning on exterminating. Malaysia and the Philippines were also attacked at the same time as Pearl Harbor (Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?). Because the impending war between the United States and Japan was so apparent to both sides, Japan knew that the only way they could have the upper hand would be by using the element of surprise. Japan had thought that the United States would give up trying to suspend their expansion plans. The Japanese figured that after Pearl Harbor, their empire would span across the Pacific Rim (Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?). After the bombing, Japan expected America to take long enough recovering and gathering itself that they could easily take over their other targets. Pearl Harbor was a powerful naval base that the Japanese saw as a threat, so they decided to do their best to eliminate it. The bombing had many results, but American defeat was not one of them.
HOW PEARL HARBOR AFFECTED AMERICA
Pearl Harbor forced everyone in the United States into a wartime mindset, and Americans everywhere became way more involved with the war. After only a few hours, Americans were making fast moves to prepare themselves for war. Everyone became much more involved with the war effort, with people constantly asking themselves what they could do to help (Morella). Americans everywhere worked as fast as they could to contribute to healing their wounded country. Everyone wanted to become a part of the solution, as well as being prepared as much as they could. The United States initially did not want to be forced into war, and only agreed at first to go to fight Japan. Only after Germany and Italy declared war on America did we finally join the European front (LoProto). If they could, the United States wanted to avoid entering a full-blown world war. The initial plan was to go to war with Japan alone, but the other Axis countries both announced declarations of war against America. Only after that did the country decide to fight alongside the Allies against all opposing countries on the European front. The United States used Pearl Harbor to dignify the fact that they forced citizens of Japanese-American and Japanese ethnicities to be imprisoned in internment camps throughout the war ("Results of the Attack on Pearl Harbor"). Not every outcome from Pearl Harbor resulted in Americans banding together. Thousands upon thousands of citizens of Japanese descent were forced into internment camps for the duration of the war, with the United States claiming they did not know which of the Japanese citizens they could trust. Pearl Harbor changed many aspects of America in 1941, but the people most affected by the bombing were the citizens of Pearl Harbor itself.
HAWAII DURING AND AFTER PEARL HARBOR
Hawaii endured a devastating event, and came through to the the other side with some drastic changes to their way of life. On December 7, 1941, Hawaii was not yet a state. Instead, it was a US territory. Following the attack, officials in Hawaii declared martial law. This enforced a curfew on the island and temporarily took away a few civil liberties to keep the residents of the island safe (How Did Life Change in Hawaii and Pearl Harbor after the attack?). Pearl Harbor had a massive impact on America itself, and one of the craziest aspects of the situation is that Hawaii wasn't even a US state at that point in time. Very soon after the bombing, certain procedures were put into action by higher-ups so that the citizens of Hawaii could be safe and secure. Almost everything within the Hawaiian Islands came to an abrupt halt after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, including the industries of Oahu, normal life for the population, and especially tourism (The Impact Of World War II On Hawaii). Hawaii's economy was affected because they not only had to repair damages the bombs cost, but industries there stopped altogether and tourism came to an immediate end. Over 2,000 American sailors and soldiers were killed, and an additional 1,000 were hurt. Almost 200 naval vessels and around 200 airplanes were completely eradicated by the unexpected bombing (Pearl Harbor Changed Pearl Harbor Irrevocably). There were thousands of casualties as a result of this tragedy, and thousands of dollars worth of damage made to the naval ships and other buildings and places damaged in the bombing. Hawaii was changed forever after the attack, and the history of the United States was set on another path altogether.
CONCLUSION
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States were propelled into the war and the country was never quite the same again. Japan was angered by the Americans halting their expansions on the Pacific Rim. They used the element of surprise to attack the naval base in Pearl Harbor in hopes the United States would give up. The attack resulted in Americans having a mindset that was all about the war effort and how they could contribute. The United States didn't initially want to enter World War II, but once other countries declared war against America, we officially joined the war. Hawaii was put under extra security after the attack to make sure nothing like it happened ever again. Though the people of Hawaii were glad to be safe, the martial law put into action negatively affected their economy greatly by stopping tourism and industries on the island of Oahu altogether. Thousands were injured or killed during Pearl Harbor, and that monumental turn of events in American history is something we will never forget.
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Attack on Pearl Harbor – 1941
Pearl Harbor is a U.S. navy base that was attacked in December 7, 1941, the base at the time was a dock for battleships. Just before 8 am on there were waves of planes ready to attack pearl harbor by surrounding the navy base, they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. Over 2,400 people were killed in this incident and about 1,000 people have been injured.
A leader of Japan that lead Pearl Harbor was Vice-Admiral Chuichi Nagumo lead the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded the air attack on Pearl Harbor he also called off a planned third air attack after deciding there was too high a risk that the US would be able to fight back. Many people thought this was a bad move on his part, as another attack could have caused enormous additional damage. For the rest of his life, Nagumo was blamed for that decision. He killed himself in 1944 when it became clear that Japan would have to surrender.
After some research I found out that the reason for Pearl Harbor might have involved racism. They were supposedly physiologically incapable of being good aviators because they lacked a sense of balance and their eyes were not right. It was even believed that the Japanese were bad pilots because, as babies, they would be carried on the backs of their big sisters and got bounced around, so their inner ear was knocked askew.
Two naval commanding officers were Yamamoto and Kimmel. leaders were naval commanders Yamamoto and KimmelYamamoto and Kimmel duffered in personality differed. Yamamoto was a strong man that fought in WW2 and fought in Pearl Harbor. He was also a gambler was a gambler he took risks. He said if he had another life he would be in Monaco playing the gambling tables said in another life he would be Monaco playing the gaming tables. He insisted on the attack of Pearl Harbor despite the objections of the Imperial Navy Insisted on the plan for the attack of Pearl Harbor despite the objections of the Imperial Navy.
Kimmel was very much a disciplinariana laser-focused guy who didn't tolerate anyone breaking the rules or trying to get by them. He insisted on taking the offense as soon as the war broke out which in a way was agood thing interested in taking the offensive . Even though he didn't want to he should have played a more offensive position. Kimmel wanted to go attack somebody He wanted to attack and that's the reason why he didn't send out search planes. He wanted to attack someone so he didn't send out search planes use the search planes for his grand offense as soon as the war broke out.Kimmel wanted to use the search planes for his grand offense when the war broke out.
The Japanese were successful because of a big factor of stealth, we didn't even know who was shooting at us when they were attacking. We have to remember that in that day and age there were no satellites peering down, revealing all. When the Japanese were heading our way we didn't know because they flew high and out of sight. During the journey 3,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean. A search plane, a warship, and were never seen from above. It was the essential ingredient of their plan. They had to achieve surprise. If the Japanese failed to achieve stealth then it would be a very slim chance of success for the Japanese.
Ever since 1931, the U.S. had been pressuring Japan to withdraw the army it had sent to conquer Manchuria and, eventually, all of China. America had tried exerting diplomatic pressure, but to no avail. The Japanese Imperial Government's primary goal was to become the conquering ruler of Asia.
When diplomacy didn't work, President Roosevelt reduced, then ended American export of machinery to Japan. When that didn't work, he stopped all sales of American oil. Even though its operations in China were running out of gas, Japan persisted. Finally the government froze Japanese assets in the U.S. Roosevelt knew how the Japanese would respond when he signed the order locking Japan's wealth in American banks.
After The attack on Pearl Harbor, it was only at early afternoon that Roosevelt knew about it.The Secretary of Navy Frank Knox told Roosevelt Air Raid Pearl Harbor.This is no drill..The message arrived at 10:58 am,California time ,7:58 a.m. Hawaii time.As they were talking Knox knew knew that the attack was still going as they were talking right now.However,in Japan this brought worry because there was a problem with the system which was supposed to tell the U.S 10 hours before the attack happened.Adding on this really was not a Japanese thing to do because their motive is to tell someone before their going to attack so the fight would be more fair.With this attack the relations with Japan and U.S were forever changed in the early 20th century.Moving on,the other parts of the U.S didn't know what happened at Pearl Harbor with their lead to Roosevelt telling his Press Secretary to wire to the whole world,Washington-White House Announces Japanese Wave Attacked Pearl HarborWith this brought terror in the millions of those in the Pacific Coast in theU.S.A.Just imagine your neighborhood state just got bombed and you might be next?.According to a radio station it announced ,In every farm house,every light of any kind in that area must be out by eleven o'clock.To text your blackout,you will have plenty of time between the hours of seven and eleven...to make arrangements to get heavy black paper to seal your window
The reactions with Japan really changed as the president even stopped trading with them by talking to the ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura and special envoy Saburo Kurusu.This attacked not only fear make many Americans mourn off this attack, but many were furious and wanted war on Japan.With this President Roosevelt wanted a vote in Congress and in which he did get the vote because many where furious and wanted revenge on Japan.An example can be headlines trying to find the biggest font to say WAR.And Los Angeles Times saying Now she is going to get it,it was the act of a mad dog,a gangster's parody of every principle of international honor.
A series of events led to the attack on Pearl Harbor. War between Japan and the United States had been a possibility that each nation's military forces planned for in the 1920s, though real tension did not begin until the 1931 invasion of Manchuria by Japan.
The attack on Pearl Harbor, was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, led to the United States' entry into World War II.
The Philippines, at that time an American territory, were also a Japanese target. The Japanese military concluded an invasion of the Philippines would provoke an American military response. Rather than seize and fortify the islands, and wait for the inevitable U.S. counterattack, Japan's military leaders instead decided on the preventive Pearl Harbor attack, which they assumed would negate the American forces needed for the liberation and reconquest of the islands.
Yamamoto had been planning the attack earlier in the year of the incident. Yamamoto got approval from the Naval High Command by doing things and threatening to resign from his post. The attack plan was approved in the summer of an Imperial Conference. It was approved again a second time in a conference in the fall. During the year pilots were trained. They also prepared ships.The authority for an attack was granted during the second Imperial Conference. The final approval came from Emperor Hirohito to attack in the beginning of December.
Part of Japan's plan of attack was breaking off relationships and negotiations with the United States half an hour before the attack commenced. The Japanese Embassy had diplomats in Washington had extended talks with the Japanese ambassador Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura and a special representative Sabur?? Kurusu with the State Department about the United States reaction to the Japanese summer move into French Indochina.
Yamamoto briefed Captain Kanji Ogawa of Naval Intelligence on February 3, 1940 of the potential plan of attack on Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto asked Captain Kanji Ogawa to start gathering intelligence on Pearl Harbor. Captain Ogawa had spies in Hawaii like Japanese Consulates Officials. He got some help from a german who had already been living in Hawaii who was a Abwehr agent. No one was providing a lot of useful military information. Captain Ogawa planned to add a 29-year old Ensign named Takeo Yoshikawa. By spring of 1941 Yamamoto requested more Hawaiian intelligence and at Yokohama Yoshikawa boarded the liner Nitta-maru. He disguised himself by growing his hair longer than military length and took the cover name Tadashi Morimura.
Work Cited
Article title: History TV
Website title: History TV
URL: https://www.history.com/.../yamamoto-isoroku-japans-mastermind-of-the-pearl-harbor-a
Article title: Pearl Harbor - Who Were the Japanese Leaders? - Visit Pearl Harbor
Website title: Visit Pearl Harbor
URL: https://visitpearlharbor.org/educational-resources/pearl-harbor-japanese-leaders
Article title: How Racism, Arrogance, and Incompetence Led to Pearl Harbor
Website title: News.nationalgeographic.com
URL: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/countdown-pearl-harbor-attack-twomey-anniversary/
google - Google Search
Website title: Google.com
URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=google&rlz=1C1AWFC_enUS817US817&oq=google&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l2j69i60l3.2296j0j8 sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-
Article title: Pearl Harbor
Website title: HISTORY
URL: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
Pearl Harbor
Website title: HISTORY
URL: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor
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Pragmatism and the Progressive Era
Pragmatism is a concept developed by Charles Pierce, John Dewey, and William James which simply states that Pragmatists rejected all forms of absolutism and insisted that all principles be regarded as working hypotheses that must bear fruit in lived experience (Burke, 2007). George Mead always believed that the role of the scientist was to solve problems, and pragmatism adopted this same focus; that of the scientist whom is interested in generating ideas that help to solve the problems within society.
According to George Ritzer, pragmatism directly relates to Mead's sociological theory based on the fact that pragmatists believe that truth and reality are actively created through individual and social acts, the use of reflective consciousness allows people to base their knowledge of the world on what has proven useful to them in the past, and that our understanding of actors should be based on the actor's conduct in the world (2011, p.422). The pragmatists rejected all forms of absolutism and insisted that all principles be regarded as working hypotheses. To Mead, pragmatism reflected the triumph of science and the scientific method within American society and their extension into the study of the social world belief in the superiority of scientific data over philosophical dogma and all other types of knowledge (Ritzer, 2011, p. 422). Mead insisted that City Hall would be the center of the reform movement and actively tried to reconcile research with political engagement (Shalin, 1988, p. 923).
According to Shalin, Mead agreed with the author, Le Bon, about the fact that socialist teachings tended to become dogmatic as it lays claim to a priori validity. Mead renounced all versions of socialism that sanctioned violent means, and expressed skepticism over Marx's economic analysis, which he found at odds with economic and political realities of the time (1988, p. 925). Mead believed that social democrats had taken over the quest for justice. They denounced revolutionary violence and instead became progressive reformers with an emphasis on pragmatism and opportunism. By the early 1900s Mead had moved away from Socialism and was identifying himself with the Progressive creed, which was basically an unswerving commitment to societal reform through non-violent constitutional methods (Shalin, 1988, p. 926).
This credence is easily identified in a publication of Mead's during his time at the University of Chicago, The Working Hypothesis in Social Reform (1899). In this document we see how Mead's theories based on behaviorism and the mind are inextricably intertwined with the notion of pragmatism and progressive social reform: In social reform, or the application of intelligence to the control of social conditions, we must make a like assumption, and this assumption takes the form of belief in the essentially social character of human impulse and endeavor (Mead, 1899, p. 370) and What is the function of reflective consciousness in its attempt to direct conduct? The common answer is that we carry in thought the world as it should be, and fashion our conduct to bring this about (Mead, 1899, p. 371).
The use of science to solve societal issues was an important part of Mead's work in social reform. What he said in The Working Hypothesis in Social Reform shows clearly his belief in pragmatism and necessary reform: A conception of a different world comes to us always as the result of some specific problem which involves readjustment of the world as it is, not to meet a detailed ideal of a perfect universe, but to obviate the present difficulty; and the test of the effort lies in the possibility of this readjustment fitting into the world as it is. Reflective consciousness does not then carry us on to the world that is to be, but puts our own thought and endeavor into the very process of evolution (Mead, 1899, p. 371).
According to Mary Jo Deegan, Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska, although Mind, Self, and Society is considered to be Mead's most famous work, much of his work and writings, which contributed to social reform of his time, had been neglected (1978, p. 362). Deegan also asserts that, the examination of the biological basis of man, the evolution of society which is mirrored in the development of the self, and the use of science as a method for the individual to change society and, in effect, to change the generalized other, are all componential aspects of Mead's view of man, his mind and self. (1978, p. 363).
Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created Hull House in 1889 on the South side of Chicago, Illinois after being inspired by visiting a similar settlement in London called Toynbee Hall. Addams and Starr believed that by living as neighbors to the impoverished residents of Chicago's ninth ward they would be able to better learn, understand, and help the residents. They found that the women of the ninth ward were in need of childcare and began their work by opening a kindergarten and nursery, as well as creating adult classes. Soon, other educated women had begun to join Hull House, including Julie Lathrop, Florence Kelley, Edith Abbott, Charlotte Perkins, and others. Addams, as a pragmatist, valued real life experience over theoretical generalizations and her methodology consisted of participant observation alongside empirical data and placed great importance on the vantage point of an issue. Her research was practiced through what she called the neighborly relation, which is an authentic, caring relation between the researcher and the subject of the research (Ritzer, 2011, p. 307).
According to Ritzer, Following the pragmatic creed of testing the truth of ideas by experience, Addams drew on her Hull House work to develop a sociological theory based on the conviction that people had now to begin to work collectively and cooperativelywhich meant learning to tolerate differences (2011, p. 309). Although Addams clearly identified with particular groups (pacifists, socialists, feminists, etc.), she refused to be labeled as such. This refusal was pragmatic rather than ideological. Addams' commitment to social cohesion and cooperation prompted her to eschew what she perceived as divisive distinctions. Active democratic social progress was so essential to Addams that she did not want to alienate any group of people from the conversation or from the participation necessary for effective inclusive deliberation (Hamington, 2018).
Addams was considered a practitioner of radical meliorism in her time; she challenged the existing structures of current pragmatism by advocating for the betterment of all society, rather than simply social progress. She termed this lateral progress; meaning that social advancement could not be declared through the breakthroughs or peak performances of a few, but could only authentically be found in social gains held in common (Hamington, 2018). Mead and Dewey held the progressive stance that poverty was a result of faulty organization of society, not the fault of the individual (Shalin, 1988, p. 930). Addams was of the same mind. She argued that the poor were often victims of circumstance and that it is the responsibility of society to develop a means for their participation in lateral progress.
One of the great sociological innovations of Hull House were the methods designed for studying and publicizing the social problems of the time. They redefined these issues from being considered unavoidable and showed that they were subject to social control, social improvement, and social elimination (Ritzer, 2011, p. 313).
John Dewey was a disciple of William James and applied pragmatic thinking to education. He proposed the learning by doing model, rather than simply memorizing facts, and that interest was an intrinsic part of learning. Although Dewey and his colleagues at the University of Chicago were consistent supporters of unionism, they at first limited their labor activism to participating as experts in the movement for educational reform. The movement addressed class issues from the vantage point of the laboring poor (Feffer, 1994, p. 117).
Dewey began his experimental University Laboratory School in 1896. The participants and their activities brought together an extended community of reformers, academics, and parents who shared Dewey's commitment to 'democratic' education (Feffer, 1994, p. 119). His school avoided the regimentation that characterized most schools of the era and instead focused on educating through practical application of the material and the interests and needs of the students.
Florence Kelley came to Hull House in 1891 where she opened an employment center and began conducting research on sweatshops for the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics. She was a member of the Socialist Labor Party and brought with her a sense of class-consciousness and conviction for the improvement of working conditions for all. At this point, Hull House became more involved in the labor movement. She advocated for minimum wage, shorter work days, and children's rights, and was an activist for women's suffrage and African-American civil rights. During her time at Hull House, Kelley was able to advance her career as it provided her with a network to social organizations while bypassing male organizations in her pursuit of social activism, as at this time women were denied participation in formal politics.
One major difference between early female sociologists and the theorists commonly associated with the pragmatist tradition is vantage point. Addams spoke from the vantage point of women, immigrants, children, and the poor. She addressed women's issues and women's suffrage with a conviction that many male pragmatists of the time could not match, even if they were sympathetic to women's issues. Dewey championed feminine contributions to philosophy: When women who are not mere students of other persons' philosophy set out to write it, we cannot conceive that it will be the same in viewpoint or tenor as that composed from the standpoint of the different masculine experience of things (Keith, 1999, p. 330).
George Herbert Mead and John Dewey were both active in the suffrage movement and members of Hull House. Mead and Addams worked on a number of projects together including pro-labor speeches, peace advocacy and the Progressive Party, and Dewey often assigned Addams' books to study in his university courses. Each had an influence of the other's works, but Addams was often frustrated with the abstractness of the University of Chicago and preferred to theorize about the interchange between theory and practice while actively practicing at Hull House.
During the Progressive Era, pragmatism was associated with professional, academic settings, although part of the premise of pragmatism was 'practice.' This is why many women were not considered to be pragmatist philosophers at the time, but progressive reformers or activists. For example, although John Dewey and Jane Addams were both well known and influential in their time, they have been characterized very differently historically. Dewey was considered to be a great intellectual and Addams was considered to be an activist. However, even Dewey himself denied this characterization and credited Addams with assisting with the development many of his important ideas on education, democracy, and philosophy (Bruce, 2015). Addams' work was mapped onto conventional gender understandings: male philosophers such as John Dewey, William James, and George Herbert Mead were regarded as providing original progressive thought while Addams was seen as brilliantly administering their theories (Hamington, 2018). Contemporary feminist pragmatists view this distinction as classic representations of gender archetypes: The man provides wisdom and the woman provides care. Ida Wells-Barnett was an activist for African-American rights and women's rights, she helped found the National Association of Colored Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Ritzer, 2011, p. 316). She took an active role by campaigning for change. Beatrice Potter Webb first worked with the poor then used the method of participant observation in her sociological study. She became part of the Fabian Socialists who believed that the way to combat the great social inequalities London was experiencing was by providing accurate information on which a reformist state can be established and make policy (Ritzer, 2011, p. 324).
Charles Pierce, John Dewey, and William James are credited with the development of pragmatism into a philosophy, yet only Dewey used pragmatism in practice. Pierce and James theorized and philosophized on the topic and use of pragmatism, but never used it for more than theoretical discussion, as far as I can tell. For example, James delivered a series of lectures in 1906; in his second lecture, James explained the methodology of pragmatism through a story of a squirrel and a man. In short, a squirrel was on a tree and a man was on the opposite end of the tree. The man continued to run round the tree, trying to see the squirrel, but the squirrel continues to run to the opposite side from the man until they are both circling the tree. The question is, 'does the man go round the squirrel.' James determined that whenever you meet a contradiction you must make a distinction; in this case the distinction of the meaning of 'to go round.' Technically, the man did go round the squirrel, since he had circled the tree and the squirrel was on the tree; and technically he did not, as the squirrel always had his back opposite the man and the man never went around the squirrel's back. So, the answer depends on the distinction made. He explained, The pragmatic method is primarily a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable (Project Gutenberg, 2004). The difference between traditional pragmatist theorists and early female sociologists, omitting Dewey and Mead, was theoretical and metaphysical versus the actual practice of pragmatism for the betterment of society.
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Major Changes in Society during the Progressive Era
During the Progressive Era, social justice became a mission to many citizens and
government officials, both in the Republican and Democratic parties. At a time when there was little regulation by the government, the Progressives fought to tighten regulations through the enacting of laws and forming of bureaus to oversee that these laws were being followed. Major changes that took place as a result of their efforts included regulations that affected laborers, children, and the food produced, processed, marketed, and consumed by Americans.
During the late 1800's and early 1900's, employers were not held responsible for injuries sustained on the job by their employees. Laborers worked at their own risk and had no voice because if they did speak up to draw attention to dangers in the workplace, they risked being fired. It was a risk that most laborers could not take. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, efforts were made to enact laws to protect workers. Little by little, states came on board. By the year 1916, the Kern-McGillicuddy Workmen's Compensation Act of 1916 was passed. The burden of proof was usually required of the employee and courts were hesitant to rule against employers, but without this change, Worker's Compensation may have never been born.
Another major change during the Progressive Era was the enacting of child labor laws. Before the Children's Bureau, children of all ages could be found laboring long hours and in awful conditions. They were no safer than adults who labored in factories and many were critically injured or killed on the job. The Children's Bureau was formed out of the Progressive
Adams 2 movement to regulate child labor and to place restrictions on employers that would protect the
children. Although child labor was the focus at the time, the Children's Bureau is still part of our nation today and falls under the Administration of Children and Families.
Before the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, there was no agency to oversee or regulate how food was processed or packaged in the United States. Food processing facilities could be full of rats and filth and cross contamination was highly probable. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was enacted to put a stop to these practices and to ensure that the food being sold to the citizens was healthy and safe for consumption. Out of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, the Food and Drug Administration was formed, which is another department of our government which is still alive and well today.
Some of the most prominent and well-known Progressives of the Progressive Era were Theodore Roosevelt who pushed through tough legislation for the Interstate Commerce Act, brought back the Sherman Antitrust Act, and championed conservation laws to preserve our nation's natural resources; Woodrow Wilson who brought into play the Federal Reserve and Income Tax; William Howard Taft who expanded the Interstate Commerce Commission's jurisdiction and went onto establish anti-trust legislation and helped to pass the Workmen's Compensation Act; and Jane Addams who established the Hull-House in Chicago which was a settlement house for immigrants. Between the women fighting for women's suffrage, child education, health, and labor laws to the men who fought for regulation of shipping rates and workplace protections, great feats were achieved by many people during the Progressive Era. While not all of the changes may have been quickly recognized at the time, to look back on history, it is evident that their efforts were not in vain and that their triumphs were great.
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Impact of Attack on Pearl Harbor
Throughout many times in history, nations have been challenged with the difficult decision of whether to engage in war with a foreign nation. Not only do these decisions affect the current citizens of the country, but they effect the future generations to come. It is not an easy decision to make. Many nations are often unsure and the decision is usually made too late. This often results in the expense of thousands of lives, shown through the devastation of Pearl Harbor. The United States entering the war prior to Pearl Harbor would have made Japan's attack more difficult and weakened Japan's opportunity to expand its empire.
Currently, the United States sees itself as a worldly powerhouse. The United States possess a strong economy, dominant democracy, and a powerful military. Despite having all of these great assests, the United States could have easily lost them, by avoiding the entrance of World War II any longer. The attacks on Pearl Harbor did result in the killing of thousands of people, but it did not destroy a large enough portion of the U.S. naval fleet to stifle the country. The rise and spread of dictator ships now had a direct threat on the United States. However, the United States could have completely avoided this situation by getting involved in the war earlier. If the United States had entered the war earlier, the troops would have already been positioned appropriately. Therefore, the military would not have been as caught off guard by the attacks at Pearl Harbor. Not only would a majority of the forces be deployed, but also the country would have already been adjusting itself to support the war effort at home and abroad. Factories would have been booming- creating weapons and ships at a faster rate. Japan would have had to approach their idea of attacking the United States a different way, because in this scenario the United States would have been more prepared for an attack. Due to the fact that the United States government was reluctant to enter World War II prior to Pearl Harbor, the military were unexpectedly attacked and put at a great disadvantage.
A result of the United States already being involved in the war prior to Pearl Harbor, the Japanese would not have had the momentum they did from the attacks, to fuel Japan's dominance. The United States would have been in a stronger position to act as more of a force against Japan, thus possibly putting a halt to Japan's dominance. Even if the United States were unable to put an immediate halt to the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military would have been ready to engage in war, rather than having to waste time preparing itself while Japan took over a majority of the Pacific islands. Not only would the military have had more of an advantage in the Pacific arena, but a decision would have not only saved some if not all of the 2,403 men and women who died during the Pearl Harbor attack, and the thousands of Pacific islanders who died during Japan's expansion. Pearl Harbor could have been avoided if the United States entered the war before the attacks. This would have also prevented Japan's pacific expansion.
The United States is a force to be reckoned with on many levels. However, Japan's attacks at Pearl Harbor caught the United States off guard and not prepared. Entering World War II prior to the attacks at Pearl Harbor would have resulted in the U.S. army being better prepared. They would have been positioned in place, instead of the attacks on its homeland resulting its efforts being too late. The United States would have already been increasing war production to support the war effort, rather than having to rush production to try to catch up. Finally, the United States forces being mobilized would have resulted in the forces posing more of an immediate threat towards Japan's efforts. The event of the attacks at Pearl Harbor should be used as a vehicle to discourage reluctance to act.
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Progressivism in the United States
Progressivism extended in American cities and faced political control over countries full of cruel business owners and tyrant leaders. Progressivism was exclusively based on the progression of public ownership of the government ran by city leaders and commissioners. People who believed in progressivism were called progressives. Progressives are professional, middle-class citizens who want to reform America. The progressives wanted to reduce dilemmas that were caused by immigration, urbanization, and tyrannical government actions. Progressives based their belief solely on the scientific method, and fact-checking all issues that were brought before them. In the area of social reform, the main predicaments that were put at the task were poverty, education, living conditions, and women's rights. To help solve these problems, for example, settlement houses, created by people such as Jane Addams, provided social and educational opportunities for working-class people--many of them recent immigrants--in the surrounding neighborhood. Others attempted to improve living conditions by seeking legislation; in 1911, for example, the New York legislature commanded strict health and safety regulations on homes, thus providing a model for other cities and states. Finally, although as late as 1910, women could only vote in four western states, women's dynamic role in progressive reform movements revitalized the suffrage cause.Similarly, in the area of economic reform, the progressive movement sought to regulate corporations and labor laws.
At the time, industries were evil and had no direct intervention by the government. The government then created the Federal Trade Commission which investigated violations of federal regulations. Many businesses were buying each other out and causing cartels which in turn caused the government to transfer the Clayton Antitrust Act to help neutralize any unfair business monopolies. The workforce was another area that was in extreme need of reform. Many children at the time were forced into child labor to provide for their families and themselves. They worked long tiresome hours in dangerous conditions. Advocates spoke out about the working conditions, and the public began to pay attention. The government then passed child labor laws to prevent the overworking of children which in turn permitted them to receive education. After child labor laws were understood, legislatures sought to improve the work-day of the average worker. Many workers worked more than twelve hours every day, with no compensation. As such, President Teddy Roosevelt passed a new law that changed the workday to an eight-hour period as well as promoting safety and compensation with minimum wage laws.In the area of ethical reform, the progressive movement sought to decrease immorality and disorder. For example, reformers campaigned to regulate amusement parks, dance halls, movies, and the darkened nickelodeon's, which they saw as detrimental. Likewise, unions across the U.S. formed to promote prohibition to improve lives for the better.
One of the most powerful unions was the WCTU or the Women's Christian Temperance Union which heavily advocated prohibition. Building on the WCTU's crusade, reformers also targeted prostitution and even managed to pass the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport a woman across a state line for immoral purposes.The last goal of Progressivism was to enhance efficiency, for example, using science and technology along with education and expertise to make things better and simpler. For example, Henry Ford used the assembly line which allowed quick production of cars and cheap prices so everyone could afford a car. Teddy Roosevelt supported the National Reclamation Act, which set up the Reclamation Service to assemble dams and fertilization projects for water management in dry western regions. And the passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 made sure that any product found unfit for eating was not distributed. Similarly, the Pure Food and Drug Act required ingredient labels to be accurate and the sale of contaminated foods or drugs was prevented. Such national reforms encouraged city architects like Daniel Burham to produce such plans as the 1909 Plan of Chicago, which offered a vision of a city both more productive and beautiful.
By 1917, reformation had given way to war. Even so, the progressive movement had, by then, changed America's political and social point of view. The progressive movement allowed new laws, organizations, and regulatory agencies to raise and address the consequences of urbanization, industrial expansion, and corporate growth, and while the progressive's reforms didn't always work as planned, their accomplishments, nevertheless, left a powerful legacy.
In fact, there are still progressive measures and movements today that try to make America a better place. For instance, in December 2010, both houses of the legislature abolished the American military's anti-gay policy commonly known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell. This policy banned military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants while stopping openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. This policy was finally annulled after years of effort from gay rights activists and their Democratic allies. Similarly, since 2000, many states have allowed same-sex marriages to become legal, beginning in Vermont in 2000 and most recently in New York in 2011. While this movement is still ongoing, there are those that are seeking to pass regulations to allow gays to have the same rights as straight couples in other instances besides marriage. Lastly, the latest movement to reform healthcare in the United States became law on March 23, 2010. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act concentrates on reforming the private health insurance market to provide better coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, developing prescription drug coverage in Medicare and elongating the life of the Medicare trust fund by at least 12 years.
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