From the Paper "Author Sheila Fitzpatrick examines in her book, The Russian Revolution: 1917-1932, the most basic aspects of the revolution--causes, the aims, social support, the impact on the Russian society, the political outcome, and the time span of the revolution itself. Her essential theme is that the Russian Revolution differed from other revolutions in that it peculiarly has been described by various historians as ending at different times. Fitzpatrick treats the February and October Revolutions of 1917, the Civil War, the interlude of the New Economic Policy and Stalin's initial Five Year plan as successive stages in the overall revolution (p. 3).
Fitzpatrick compares her view to that of Crane Brinton in Anatomy of Revolution, suggesting that revolutions have a form of their own, passing through the stages of enthusiasm for radical..."
From the Paper "Edmund Burke v. Thomas Paine
This paper will discuss the philosophical conflict between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine concerning the French Revolution at the end of the Eighteenth Century. The first part of the paper will present a brief overview of the dispute. The second and third parts of the paper will present the main arguments of each man. The last part of the paper will briefly explain why Thomas Paine's views eventually gained more adherents than those of Edmund Burke.
Burke and Paine came from two opposite ends of the political spectrum. Burke was basically conservative, valuing tradition and the status quo. Paine was a firebrand of the left, advocating revolution and popular democracy. Ironically, Burke had sympathized with the colonists in North America during the period of troubles.."
Abstract This paper examines the Battle of Gettysburg which took over a period of three days during July, 1863. It describes how the battle was fought by 75,000 Confederate soldiers under the leadership of General Robert E. Lee and almost 84,000 Union soldiers who came under the command of General George G. Meade. The paper discusses how, with about 51,000 casualties and more than 10,000 soldiers dead, Gettysburg is considered to be one of the most tragic battles of the American history and one that changed the course of the Civil War.
From the Paper "As the South fought to gain the higher ground General Lee ordered approximately 12,000 soldiers to march across an open field so that the center of the Federal army could be taken. This seemingly desperate assault was called the 'Pickett' s Charge' and was doomed to failure. The soldiers had more than a mile to cross and by the time the battle ended more than half the Confederate army was killed, wounded or captured. The battle had ended and the Civil War was accepted to be the victory for the North and yet, there was no joy for in the words of Joshua Chamberlain, ?In the presence of real tragedy you feel neither pain nor joy nor hatred, only a sense of enormous space and time suspended, the great doors open to black eternity, the rising across the terrible field of that last enormous, unanswerable question.? [Shaara, Foreword 6.]"
A paper that discusses whether the American decision to drop atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima was justified - and the future ramifications of this decision.
Abstract This paper analyzes the consequences of the United States dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It discusses this in light on future developments in the arms race, the cold war and world hysteria of the nuclear bomb. It states the opinion the Americans have double standards when it comes to this issue because they are the only country ever to have used atomic warfare and at the same time have always lead the nuclear disarmemant war.
From the Paper "The United States? decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan in WWII was motivated by a desire for a decisive victory, an unnecessary act against a country that was would have surrendered without the use of the bomb, and a disturbing use of force that created worldwide fear and horror about the use of nuclear weapons. The bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States were justified by the American government as a reasonable means to bring a quick end to a bloody and long war that had engulfed the world for years. However, critics have argued that dropping the bombs was a completely unnecessary act, as a beleaguered Japan would have surrendered to the United States within days, even if the bombs had never been dropped. Further, critics argued that the United States? decision was ultimately motivated by a political desire to assert itself as a military and political power. Further, the bombing is now often seen as one of the cornerstone events that led to worldwide hysteria and fear about the effects of nuclear weapons that developed in the time of the Cold War between the United States and the U.S.S.R. Ultimately, given these important considerations, the United States should not have dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
Abstract This paper takes a step by step approach to looking at the way in which Adolph Hitler rose to power in post-WWI Germany. The writer asserts that, even though one may not agree with his teachings, it is clear that Hitler was one of the most influential people in modern history.
Table of Contents:
The Treaty of Versailles
Young Hitler
Hitler's Political Beginnings
Formation of the Nazi Party
The Beer Hall Putsch
The "Mein Kampf"
Reorganization
The Depression
Taking Control
From the Paper "In February of 1920, Hitler urged the Party to holds its first mass meeting. On the 24th, Hitler was thrilled when he entered the large meeting hall in Munich and saw two thousand people waiting. He proceeded to outline the Twenty Five Points of the German Workers' Party, which included; the union of all Germans in a greater German Reich, the rejection of the Treaty of Versailles, citizenship determined by race, a thorough reconstruction of the national education system, and a strong central government for the execution of effective legislation (Hanser 212-217)."
Tags: Germany, Austria, war, power, Naziism, racism
Abstract This paper questions whether the anti-war sentiment in the US shortened the Vietnam War. The author contends that protesters succeeded in creating a certain consciousness of war activities within the American public. It is argued that the public had only begun to question the war once it was apparent that it had continued for many years, and that there was some feeling that once committed, America could not withdraw without achieving victory. By analyzing the government's reaction to several anti-war incidences in US, the paper argues the government did not have a deep understanding of the anti-war sentiment. Therefore, the anti-war movement could not have impacted the war to such an extent as to shorten it.
From the Paper "Vietnam was a situation that seemed to develop slowly in the consciousness of the American public so that much of the country seemed to discover rather suddenly that the nation was enmeshed in a growing war to which there seemed no end. In truth, America had been involved in Vietnam for many years before the issue became the catalyst for social protest and political reprisals in the U.S., and for much of that time the public ignored what was taking place. American involvement actually started in 1954, and at that time it was the French who had been caught in the Vietnamese quagmire (Chafe 259). Full American involvement was contemplated prior to 1954 and rejected, in part because Eisenhower did not believe that a military victory was possible because of the political situation in the region, since the people supported the Viet Minh and identified Ho Chi Minh as the leader of their independence movement (Scheer 274-275)."
Abstract The paper looks at the founding of the religion and its basic tenets-- from the belief that there is one God (Allah) to the existence of Muhammad as his prophet. The paper begins with the history then leads through the growth and rebuilding of the religion into the present situation of Islam, with two main sects. The writer concludes with a look at the fundamentalist movement that is growing as Muslims desire to return to a stricter past.
From the Paper "The events of Muhammad's life took on extraordinary significance as the practice of Islam evolved. Muhammad was married and had one daughter, Fatima. After his revelations began he spent ten years (611-621) preaching and attempting to reform religious practice in Mecca. But the town was very hostile toward him and very attached to its polytheistic practices. In 622 Muhammad finally fled Mecca with some followers and was much more successful with his preaching in the city of Medina. This flight to Medina was called the Hijra and it became the starting date for the Muslim calendar since it was "the beginning of Muhammad's public and organizational life on a large scale" (Ellwood & McGraw 381). In the remaining ten years of his life Muhammad's successful preaching managed to unite all of Arabia under his religious and civil leadership."
Abstract This paper introduces and analyzes the book "Common Sense," by Thomas Paine. Specifically it discusses whether British Imperial policies were responsible for the coming of the American Revolution. It examines how tariffs and taxes and the inability to trade products with countries in Europe other than England were certainly some compelling reasons to break ties with the mother country and form a own nation but they were not the only reasons Americans chose revolt. It shows how Paine's writing clearly indicates that the American public felt the English government and king were tyrannizing them.
From the Paper "Perhaps Paine's most compelling argument is one aimed toward those who wanted to reconcile with England because of their defense capabilities, which were much greater than the colonial defenses. "Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others the most improper to defend us" (Paine 40). True, a country that wants to control her child will only defend them so far ? their main goal would be to subdue and subjugate them. Clearly, the society in America had grown and prospered until it was time to break away from the chains of colonial rule. Britain's Imperialistic controls on trade, politics, and taxes all led to revolution and revolt in the colonies. In today's language, the people were "mad as hell and not going to take anymore.""
Abstract This paper argues that some of the actions of the United States were just as morally corrupt as those of the Axis powers during WWII. Similar to the Nazi's imprisonment of Jews in Europe, the U.S. government imprisoned Japanese Americans on the West Coast. The paper argues that the internment of Japanese was more of an act of racism than actual perceived threat. The author of the paper is of the opinion that the internment of Japanese in 1942 was a decision motivated by race rather than defensive strategy. It chronicles the events leading up to the internment, the presence of racism before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and concludes by comparing the imprisonment of Japanese in America with the current war on terrorism.
From the Paper "Racism against the Japanese people living in the U.S. was not a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but rather something that had been built up over time. The media and government for decades before the onset of World War II targeted Japanese and Chinese. California, in particular, passed laws and approved regulations aimed at slowing Japanese immigration into the state (Daniels 10). As early as 1905, California politicians and media were denouncing the Japanese as ?undesirable,? and "transient" (Daniels 10)."
Abstract This paper is on the topic of baseball and war. World War I and II affected baseball, but baseball played an important role in the lives of Americans during the war.
Abstract This paper discusses the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, 1836, a Mexican army, estimated at 1,800 to 6,000 men and commanded by General Santa Anna, began a siege of the Alamo in Texas. The small Texan defending force was supplemented by some later arrivals, and amounted to about 184 men. For 13 days the Alamo's defenders held out before being slain on March 6. The Alamo thus became for Texans a symbol of heroic resistance.
Abstract This paper discusses Carlo Levi's book, "Christ Stopped at Eboli" in terms of how the political, economic and social forces of world history have bypassed the lives of the Italian villagers of Eboli, and analyzes what effects social stratification, the actual and imagined role of the state; and brigandage and rebellion have had on Southern Italy.
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 The Romantic Age was an age in which artists employed many different techniques to create certain effects and feelings in their paintings. This paper focuses on some of the key pieces of art from the Romantic Age and analyzes each painting to reveal its true meaning and explain what aspects of each painting make it a Romantic work of art. It also examines how each painting reflects a certain aspect of both European and world culture at the time. This includes social, economical, and political aspects of life. The paintings include "The Raft of Medusa" by Theodore Gericault and "Hunting in the Pontine Marshes" by Florace Vernet.
From the Paper "One painting, The Raft of Medusa, by Theodore Gericault, is a painting of a small raft that is afloat in the sea which is covered with people sprawled out over the raft. There is a wide range of emotions shown by the people floating on the raft, as some are waving a white flag trying to catch the attention of a passing ship in the far distance, to the dead bodies of those not fortunate enough to make the journey on board the raft. In fact the range of emotions seems to follow a pattern from the top right to the bottom left. In the top right a ship can be seen very far off in the distance, which symbolizes the chance of rescue. Then moving downward and leftward there are a couple people trying to get the attention of the ship. Then there are some people who seem rather indifferent and are standing about, then there are people who seem worried, which gradually advances to into mourning, some people have their hands clasped over their faces, and finally there are the sick and then the dead. The elements of art which are important in this painting are line, space, and color. The line in this painting by Gericault is much defined by the way he outlines the bodies and faces to shape their expressions. Gericault also uses symbolism, using people to represent possible human emotions for dealing with such an event, and he expresses individualism by showing almost each person with their own emotion. Finally he uses the horizon very well by giving the painting a sense of depth."
