Abstract This paper examines the influence and importance of the Ramayana of Valmiki in Indian society. Initially, its origins and content are outlined. The emphasis is on its continuing influence, particularly as it relates to current events and Hindu/Muslim tensions in India.
Abstract This paper looks at the impact of the Black Death and subsequent epidemics on the conditions of labourers, craftsmen and other peasants in late 14th century England. It examines how the Black Death meant a great deal of change for the peasant and labourer populations of England. It discusses how as well as increasing existing trends such as the leasing off of lords' lands. The plague had many effects in which the labourers and peasantry challenged the existing elites through issues such as increased wage demands and a widespread questioning of the power held by the Church.
From the Paper "Trends among the conditions of the peasantry that are often attributed to the plague include an increase in the cost of labour that resulted in many landlords renting out their land for others to cultivate it rather than employing peasants to work on the land. Although, after the Plague it is clear that the number of peasants renting land from their lords increased, Myers suggests that Lords had began leasing demesnes before the black death because of an economic depression. Before the Black Death the growth of the population put a strain on resources and there was a slump in the economy. The Landlords increased the labour obligations of peasants in an effort to increase production."
Tags: disease, medieval, plague, lords, church, land
Abstract This paper evaluates both the short and long term significance of the New Deal. It concerns not only the New Deal's immediate recovery efforts but its wider influence on the development of capitalism itself. The writer shows how Roosevelt's plan totally changed the economic governing to date and took America and ultimately the world economy out of the depression of the 1930's. The paper includes a number of quotes from politicians and analysts of the time.
From the Paper "There can be no doubting the significance of the New Deal. In addition to its critical immediate effects, the New Deal set a remarkably different economic trend for the twentieth century. Gauged by the program's two distinct phases of influence ? its short and long term impacts ? the New Deal's monumental significance is clear. In the short term the program led to a recovery of the United States economy and the comprehensive reform of American industry, agriculture and commerce."
Abstract A slaveholder and a crusader for human freedom, Thomas Jefferson seems to be, at first, a man of obvious contradictions. However, Jefferson made many attempts on paper to express his feelings against the institution of slavery, but usually faced obstacles. These obstacles are analyzed in this paper, as well as the documents and proposals that Jefferson made to the government during his lifetime. A reference to his alleged love affair with a female slave is also mentioned in the paper.
From the Paper "The name Thomas Jefferson is, to many people, the embodiment of everything that stands for human rights and freedom. However, he was also a slave owner. This obvious contradiction can be explored by comparing the two sides to the man behind the name. He was indeed a crusader for the gradual emancipation of slavery, albeit a mostly defeated one. He once defended a man, whose grandmother was a mulatto, in court, saying, ?Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it as his own will.? On the other side, he was also the owner of several large plantations and 200 slaves; this made him the second wealthiest man in his county and one of the richest men in Virginia. His lifestyle oftentimes somewhat went against his beliefs, but Jefferson always stuck by his human freedom ideals. Jeffersonian scholars have concluded that although Jefferson may have been flexible in his methods in the emancipation of slavery, he was always committed to his desire to see the demise of slavery."
Abstract This paper examines the movie, "Braveheart", which tells the story of the thirteenth-century Scottish hero, William Wallace, who led his countrymen in a quest to gain freedom from the oppressive rule of King Edward I of England. It looks at how the movie distorts its two central characters and contains many inaccuracies, although it heroically depicts William Wallace and the conflict between England and Scotland. It analyzes how, although the basic plot of the film is historically accurate, it overly simplifies the characters of Wallace and Edward. It also shows how the film's representation of Wallace illustrates the attitudes and beliefs that the Scots have held for him throughout the years. Although William Wallace and King Edward were powerful and pivotal foes in the fight for Scottish Independence, Wallace's many faults are overlooked in the movie in order to depict him as a Hollywood hero. Additionally, Edward is villanized to the extreme, despite his legitimate actions as King.
From the Paper "Despite the oversimplification of his character in Braveheart, King Edward was actually a practical and effective ruler. Although Edward was a strict ruler, he became king at a time when feudalism was breaking down in Europe. A firm hand was needed to maintain stability in England as social structures changed. Additionally, his attempted occupation of Scotland would have also benefited England as a whole. Like many logical rulers of the time, Edward wanted to expand his United Kingdom. Increased land holdings were equated with increased royal superiority and national power. It was the aim of many rulers, not just Edward, to protect themselves and increase their power. Edward was given the opportunity, by the nobles of Scotland, to further this aim and acted accordingly."
Abstract Eugenia Ginzburg experienced the heart of the Stalinist Terror as few have who lived to tell about it. A staunch Communist supporter, Ginzburg found herself wrongfully accused of being an enemy of the people and subsequently thrown into jail. This paper examines her account of her years and months in prison camps in her book, "Journey into the Whirlwind". It also looks at how her story impacts the study of the Stalinist Terror.
From the Paper "Thrown into jail, Ginzburg found herself transferred from jail to labor camp across the country for years. What she found, to her surprise and intrigue, was that her supposed crime seemed to change with every facility to which she was transferred. She started out as an "enemy of the people", and by the time she was released, she found herself being referred to as an "international terrorist." This demonstrates just what a propaganda machine Stalin's regime was. It appears that Ginzburg's supposed crime was adjusted and changed whenever it suited the regime, probably depending upon whatever propaganda the regime was trying to propagate at the time."
Abstract This paper examines how the Cuban Missile Crisis holds a pivotal position in the history of United States and also played a crucial role in establishing its reputation as a military and nuclear giant. It explores the events leading up to the crisis, the threat of Communism, and the race to become the world's nuclear superpower. It also looks at how it can be viewed as a personal triumph of President John F Kennedy, who resolved this potentially explosive standoff in thirteen days and won the hearts and admiration of millions around the world.
From the Paper "The Cuban missile dispute came to the limelight when after receiving confirmed secret information from intelligence agencies, President John F Kennedy announced on Oct 22. 1962 that Soviet Union was establishing missile bases in Cuba, a small island just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. For United States, this was certainly an extremely precarious situation to be in because USSR was deliberately taking these measures to prove their nuclear strength to the world and specifically to the US. It is important to understand the background of this crisis because no major political or military dispute is without its fair share of deeper causes."
Abstract The famous battle of the American Civil War, Gettysburg, is the subject of Michael Shaara's book, "The Killer Angels". This paper shows how Shaara guides the reader through three days of battle in which many American lives were lost. He portrays the war through the eyes of those who fought in it, and in doing so, sends us a message about the horror of war and the bravery of the men who fought in this one.
From the Paper "The personal and professional relationship between Lee and Longstreet was depicted as being a bittersweet one. The two were polar opposites, each representing the past and future of war. Lee seemed bent on an offensive campaign, while Longstreet believed in a defensive strategy. I sometimes wonder if Lee knew that he would be "untouchable" when it came to responsibility for a defeat, thus was more likely to take the long shot, and take the offensive."
Abstract This paper details the social and political policies targeting German homosexuals, beginning with its early criminalization in Germanic provinces before unification, with the majority of the discussion centered on the treatment of homosexuals during Hitler's Third Reich. Included is discussion of Paragraph 175, Ernst Roehm's homosexuality, the 'Night of Long Knives', medical experimentation on homosexuals, and the imprisonment of gays in Nazi concentration camps.
From the Paper "It was Heinrich Himmler who would ultimately shape much of the Nazi's policy on dealing with the homosexual question. Himmler was the leader of the SS (Schutzstaffel), the elite guard of the Nazi party, and the chief architect of the concentration camp system begun in 1933 (Plant, 74). It was Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich who led Hitler to believe that a coup was being orchestrated by their rival Roehm, whose homosexuality Himmler abhorred. The result of this deception was the Night of the Long Knives in which Roehm and hundreds others connected to the SA were murdered in June of 1934 (Plant, 56). Himmler would later refer to the murder of Roehm as proof of the Nazi's willingness to rid Germany of homosexuals, "Two years ago...when it became necessary, we did not scruple to strike this plague with death, even within our own ranks" (Steakly)."
Abstract The chilling title of Phillip Gourevitch's book, "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families" (1998), is a reference to a group letter from members of the Tutsi clergy to an Adventist church leader, Elizaphan Ntakirutimana, pleading for his protection from the Hutu majority in Rwanda. Gourevitch's book concerns the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 in which the Hutu majority systematically massacred the minority Tutsi population. As a result of this effort at ethnic cleansing, an estimated 800,000 Tutsi were killed over the course of a 100-day period from April to July 1994. In fact, during the height of the massacre, Gourevitch reports that members of the Tutsi tribe were being massacred three times as fast as the Jews had been during the Nazi Holocaust. To better understand the events that contributed to this horrific slaughter in modern times, this paper provides a critical review of Gourevitch's book, including a discussion of how the religious, national, racial, and ethnic groupings in Rwanda were used as tools for the genocide. A discussion of how European colonialism, Rwandan politics, and the role of different aid organizations also contributed to the genocide is followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "In this book, Gourevitch paints a grim picture about the events that led to the 1994 genocide in which hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were massacred to the point where the Hutus almost succeeded in completely eliminating the Tutsi segment of the Rwandan population, as well as countless members of the Hutus themselves who opposed the slaughter in the first place. The systematic and institutionalized method by which this slaughter took place was not unique to Rwanda, of course, but Gourevitch suggests that a combination of a cultural acceptance of violence, the nefarious roles played by NGOs, Rwandan governmental agencies and the nation's churches, all contributed to the genocide that took place during those terrible months of 1994."
Abstract This paper presents a timeline of events and conceptual analysis of the events leading up to the genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus in Rwanda in 1994. The paper examines causes of, as well as events which occurred during the genocide. It also looks at the reaction of the international community and what can be done in the future to prevent such a tragedy happening again.
From the Paper "Many of the early requests and pleas for help were denied. There
was a peacekeeping force in Rwanda called the United Nations
Assistance Mission for Rwanda, but when Force Commander General
Dallaire became aware of the genocide and asked for soldiers and
logistical support, the UN Security Council refused and voted to
reduce UNAMIR down to 260 men. The international community did not
believe that they had any place or any reason to help in Rwanda.
Senator Robert Dole stated, "I don't think we have any national
interest here. I hope we don't get involved there." This was the
thought process of many government officials at this point."
Abstract The paper explains that Jack Weatherford began to examine the history of the Native American as he discovered that many agricultural products would not have been produced in farming without the knowledge that Indians gave those in the new world. The paper describes how Weatherford further stipulates that it is through these advances in agriculture that the United States has remained a strong contender in the global market ,and that without the influences of the Native Americans on the early settlers those new to America would not have survived. The paper analyzes how, through his work, "Indian Givers: How Indians of the Americas Transformed the World", Volume I, Weatherford brings an insight to a people that most individuals have been negligent in understanding. The paper concludes that it is Weatherford's purpose to demonstrate that Native Americans have been a misrepresented and forgotten people when the history of North America is discussed.
Abstract This paper discusses how the American Civil Rights Movement was primarily a nonviolent struggle by African-Americans to obtain full rights, protections and equality under the law. It looks at how, although in many aspects the Civil Rights Movement continues it struggle for equality today, it actually began with the start of the Civil War and really took off in the 1960s. It looks at how the Civil Rights Movement has seen many successes and failures including boycotts, sit-ins, ride-ins and victories in the Supreme Court and how it has been led by such leaders as W.E.B Dubois, Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther Jr.
Outline:
Introduction
Civil Rights Movement Background
Civil Rights Movement Timeline (1865-1955)
The Aims of the Civil Rights Movement
Major Players and Their Role in the Movement
Successes and Failures of the Movement
Other Movements with Roots in the Sixties
Conclusion
From the Paper "After the Civil War, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1865. The 13th Amendment outlawed slavery. In 1868, the 14th Amendment was passed. This amendment made anyone born in the United States a naturalized citizen and afforded them equal protection under the law. The amendment however although providing equal protection to all citizens, created what is known as the separate by equal doctrine or better known as segregation. In 1870, the 15th Amendment was passed which provided voting rights to all citizens regardless of race. But with the passing of this amendment it, it did not remove literacy tests to qualify voters. This test was particularly used to eliminate black voters. "
Tags: Martin Luther King slavery 14th Amendment segregation DuBois Thurgood Marshall
A position paper arguing that the Founding Fathers were more intent on preserving their self-interests, when they wrote the U.S. Constitution, than preserving democracy.
700 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 3 sources, 1998, $ 24.95
From the Paper "The American Constitution of 1787 established both a lasting government for the United States and, contemporarily, the most democratic government in the world. Nevertheless, it would be a grave logical fallacy to conclude that the Founding Fathers supported extreme democratization of American society merely because democratization was the result of their actions. Rather, the Founding Fathers shrewdly protected their own interests while drafting the Constitution. The Constitution epitomized self-interest of the Founding Fathers."
This essay examines Locke's social contract between people and sovereign and how Locke embraces the people's right of revolution, and assigns the sovereign reciprocal responsibilities to his subjects that Hobbes does not do.
2,160 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 3 sources, 2000, $ 67.95
Abstract To substantiate the social contract as a valid justification for the political order, I will primarily examine Locke's social contract between people and sovereign, rather than Hobbes's social contract among the people, because Locke's theory is generally superior and more contemporarily relevant. I will first examine the pre-political state of persons, which is the state of nature, and demonstrate that rational individuals are compelled to enter society by agreeing to the social contract. Secondly, I will discuss the principal advantage of the social contract, which is that the government is legitimized by the consent of the people. Thirdly, I will discuss the principal advantage peculiar to Locke's formulation of the social contract, which is that the sovereign is held accountable for his actions. To more thoroughly examine the validity of the social contract in justifying a political order, I will discuss a possible objection to the use of the social contract, namely, that the social contract cannot oblige any but those who originally formed such a contract.
From the Paper "After the English Civil War, justifying political authority became a particularly pressing concern. After all, the nation fought a bloody war to determine whether its supreme authority would be King Charles I, who claimed rule by divine right, or the Parliament. Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan was published in 1651, shortly after the Rump Parliament voted to execute the often-intractable Charles I in 1649. The chaos of the Civil War, regicide, and the establishment of Cromwell's Protectorate surely led Hobbes to favor a sovereign with absolute power. In contrast, Locke's Second Treatise on Government, published in 1690, was greeted by a starkly different English political culture. The 1688 Glorious Revolution, a bloodless coup in which the last Catholic monarch, James II, was finally deposed, allowed for the acceptance of the English Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights finally guaranteed the supremacy of Parliament and the political and civil rights of the people. Granted the historical fact of the Glorious Revolution, Locke embraces the people's right of revolution, and assigns the sovereign reciprocal responsibilities to his subjects that Hobbes does not do. Although Hobbes and Locke ultimately design markedly different states, each justifies the political order with a social contract. The social contract does, indeed, provide a convincing justification for the political order."
Tags: government, hobbes, john, leviathan, locke, on, second, thomas, treatise
